CHAIR'S MESSAGE

Dear Members,

At the Chamber, we have had an exceptionally busy time since the last issue of the magazine. Not only did we have the retirement of David Graham and the welcome back of Paul McComb, we continued to deliver events, meet visitors to town, and enjoy Coronation celebrations and visitors from the UK House of Lords, to name but a few of the activities. Continuing our theme of connectivity with the Mainland and Greater Bay Area (GBA) specifically, and reflecting on some of the key activities, it really feels like Hong Kong is bouncing back and “going in the right direction” Many people ask “Is Hong Kong back to normal”? Having been on a series of business trips to capital cities that also claim to be in the world city league, nowhere has “returned to normal” but rather it’s a “new normal” that we all experiencing. In a recent webinar hosted by the BritCham China, the panellists including me, discussed business sentiment both within the local as well as overseas markets.

One of the constants is our love of food and entertainment mixed with business, and thus we were delighted to accept the kind invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to attend a barbeque lunch gathering along with other Chambers of Commerce and business partners, following the recent tour to the GBA This was a good chance to meet friends from other Chambers of Commerce and those who participated in the GBA tour, to share reflections and actions to be taken However, now it is the time for action and for converting business opportunities into projects.

Visitors to Hong Kong included the current and former Trade Minister for China, John Edwards and Richard Burn, respectively, and it was interesting to share reflections on business opportunities and perceptions about trade arrangements between Hong Kong, China, the UK and other locations. As ever, the focus of the discussions was around the GBA. The GBA and its potential for growth is a constant topic of discussion, but it seems that outside of Greater China, its potential may not be fully recognised. This is one of the reasons the Chamber representatives are engaging in fireside chats (Jeremy Sheldon and Paul McSheaffrey on 5 July 2023, in London), and workshops (upcoming in London in September 2023) to provide more details of the pipeline of major projects, opportunities for green investments, and so much more We will be sharing details of the upcoming Hong Kong Week in London in due course.

In May, we enjoyed two particularly engaging, yet different, fireside chats. Firstly, we had the pleasure of meeting Baroness Shriti Vadera, Chair of the Prudential plc and of the Royal Shakespeare Company. While the focus of discussion centred on business and the economic outlook, many were keen to exchange views in the form of rhyming couplets and quotes from Shakespeare. More seriously, we did learn about how the Royal Shakespeare Company took actors who were unable to perform on stage during the recent pandemic, and had them engage with school children to interpret the plays and works of Shakespeare, to understand their relevance to the modern day, and of course, to express themselves. There is clearly a strong link between the creative industry and business, we mused about the lessons from The Merchant of Venice and other works. Moving to our next fireside chat, we did not indulge in literature but rather the wonders of the world of engineering, with Keith Howells, the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), taking time to share his thoughts and direction for the delivery of infrastructure with cultural awareness in a climate of technical excellence, always with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the core principles UN Goal 11 is my personal favourite as it relates to Cities – and in Shakespeares words “What is the city but the people?”.

Another visitor who was returning to the city where he worked in an earlier part of his career was Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston, CBE, Minister of State in the UK Department for Business and Trade. We were pleased to hear stories from the past and also share prospects and directions for the future, especially in the context of how the business community perceives Hong Kong as an International Finance Centre (IFC) with a focus on green bonds and investments.

Continuing with this theme, the Director General of the Department for Business and Trade in Hong Kong, Chris Woodward, hosted a meeting with the Consul General of the British Consulate General Guangzhou, Matt Moody, where again the subject focused on understanding of the opportunities in the GBA.

Just to give a heads up for the diary, we are looking forward to Hong Kong Week in London in late September, and will be sharing plans and activities as they unfold Also, planning is well underay for the annual British Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong Summit, which will be held on 26 October 2023, with the focus on “Hong Kong Rebound”.Between now and then, there will be many activities, opportunities to connect and engage, so keep tuned in and stay connected.

Last but absolutely not least, our new Executive Director is delighted to share some thoughts after a month in the role, and upon his return to Hong Kong. Read his message on the next page!

Ir Dr Anne Kerr

Chair

The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong