The Chief Executive's Council of Advisers chaired by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, held its first meeting today (March 23) to discuss the future strategic development of Hong Kong.
 
     Hong Kong is now on the path to resume normalcy, seeking to rekindle momentum to return to the centre of the international stage as the most effective gateway between the world and the country. The Council at its first meeting therefore particularly focused the discussion on the opportunities and developments that Hong Kong faces in the current international environment and the global trends, covering China's modernisation, the global economy, international relations, geopolitics, the financial environment, energy and sustainable development.
           
     The meeting was held in the Central Government Offices and in three sessions according to the streams members belong to, namely the streams on economic advancement and sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship as well as regional and global collaborations. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Director of Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip; and the Head of Chief Executive's Policy Unit (CEPU), Dr Stephen Wong, among others, were in attendance. 
 
     At the meeting, participants had in-depth and lively discussions on the above-mentioned topics. Members of the Council expressed full confidence and optimism about the future development of Hong Kong. They took the view that Hong Kong, while consolidating and utilising its own strengths, should also develop a new mindset in formulating policies, actively integrate into the overall development of the country and continue to strengthen external exchanges and bolster regional connectivity.
 
     Mr Lee said, "The Council has a strong line-up and comprises elites from home and abroad. I sincerely thank them for attending today's meeting despite their busy schedules. The meeting is divided into three sessions according to the streams advisers belong to, allowing the advisers to have more time to express their views and enabling my team and me to have more in-depth, focused and candid exchanges with the advisers.  
 
     "At the meeting, all advisers keenly and frankly offered advice, and their valuable insights are particularly important at a time when there are full of uncertainties in the global economy and in view of the continual geopolitical tensions.
 
     "I have instructed the secretariat of the Council to collate valuable opinions and concrete suggestions raised by the advisers, and come up with a list of priority topics for further research and discussion, so as to assist in my formulation of policies and mapping out the next steps of the Council's work. I thank the advisers and look forward to continuing to listen to the valuable insights and wise counsel from them on the long-term strategic development of Hong Kong."
 
     Mr Lee hosted a welcome dinner for the members of the Council at the Government House after the meeting.
 
     The Government announced on March 17, 2023, the establishment of the Council to advise the Chief Executive on the strategic development of Hong Kong, leveraging on opportunities from national and global developments. For the membership of the Council, please refer to the website of CEPU (www.cepu.gov.hk) which is the secretariat of the Council.

Ends/Thursday, March 23, 2023
Issued at HKT 20:14

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