World Economic Forum | Carrie Lam to remind world leaders of HK’s strengths

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam will lead a top-level delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this week with the aim to remind global political, business and media leaders that Hong Kong’s enduring strengths and advantages continue to serve it well.

The delegation, named TeamHK and comprising senior officials of the Hong Kong SAR government and major businesses, will be the largest and most high-powered Hong Kong delegation to attend the WEF in more than 20 years, it said.

Lam, who is scheduled to arrive in Davos tomorrow, said she understood the global interest in Hong Kong and would take the opportunity to engage as many Davos attendees as possible to impress upon them Hong Kong’s strengths and advantages.

“Much has happened in Hong Kong over the past year, and challenges remain. But our fundamentals remain strong and our future remains bright,” she said.

“We are a free and open society and a highly competitive international business and financial hub. This is the message I and TeamHK will take to Davos,” she added.

Lam said she would stress the resilience and flexibility of Hong Kong and its people.

“This is not the first time we have faced a crisis. We always bounce back – that is the enduring power of Hong Kong,” she said, adding that the enhanced presence at the WEF serves to update, reassure and remind people that Hong Kong is very much “ON” and will remain a globally significant place.

The Chief Executive also said that whether addressing the current social unrest or paving the way for future development, Hong Kong would strictly adhere to the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, which provides Hong Kong with a unique set of advantages in China and globally.

“Hong Kong continues to play an important role in China’s further opening-up and reform,” she said. “There are significant, long-term opportunities for Hong Kong in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and under the Belt and Road Initiative.”

Lam said she would inform WEF audiences that the local government was dealing with deep-seated issues and would not accept violence in any way, shape or form to resolve them.

“Hong Kong is not alone in facing social problems related to topics such as upward mobility, youth discontent, income disparity and housing affordability,” she said. “We know we need to deal with these issues, and we will.”

Lam said she would reinforce the message that Hong Kong remains safe and welcoming for business and investment. She also emphasized Hong Kong’s advantages such as strong institutional strengths, a legal system underpinned by independent judiciary, smoothly-operating stock market, money market and banking systems, as well as substantial fiscal reserves.

“These are very solid foundations which continue to serve us well,” she said. Xinhua