Ambrose So and Henry Brockman (center)
The border normalization between Hong Kong and Macau will be “naturally implemented” if the former normalizes borders with the mainland, Ambrose So, honorary chairman of the Macau European Chamber of Commerce (MECC) and CEO of SJM Holdings Limited, said yesterday.
On the sidelines of the chamber’s anniversary party, he said that if Hong Kong manages to normalize border crossings with Shenzhen, border normalization with Macau will follow naturally. In addition, he sees that this as beneficial to Macau’s tourism industry revival.
Meanwhile, he thinks Macau is not too sensitive about the country’s diplomatic relations and conflicts. With regards to the boycott of the Winter Olympics, which will be held in February, So thinks the Olympic constitution should be complied and that politics should be left out of the sporting arena.
Furthermore, he finds it sometimes “difficult to read [the] minds of [foreign diplomats] and see what they really want,” but thinks the powers around the world should maintain constant dialogue.
China as key trading partner
Henry Brockman, chairman of the MECC, stressed on the sidelines that statistically the business sector is not overly concerned about the recent disputes between Europe and China.
Admitting that geopolitical issues are on and off in nature, he thinks that the business sector will focus on doing business, while leaving politics to the politicians.
He foresees that China would still be a key trading partner for all European countries. “Hengqin will be a new point of contact between China and European countries,” he said, adding that existing channels, such as the stock markets in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong would still have strong connections between the Asian and European countries.
However, with tight border restrictions still in place, European investors may not easily establish new businesses in this part of the world. Based on this, speaking about future prospects of the city business interactions with Europe, Brockman thinks it is a common practice that, when entrepreneurs venture into a new market, they start working with local partners.
His suggestion to local entrepreneurs is that they should start diversifying their businesses rather than focusing on existing products or services, “because there are new opportunities coming.”
Both Paulo Cunha Alves, consul-general of Portugal in Macau and Hong Kong, and Thomas Gnocchi, head of European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, addressed attendees of the event, with the latter presenting via video.
They both hope the relationship between China and Europe will strengthen in the coming year, by means of the MECC’s work.
