Official sees 'most opportune time' for foreign investors to Hong Kong

HONG KONG - Hong Kong sees unprecedented business opportunities lying ahead in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development, making "the most opportune time" for foreign investors to come to Hong Kong, an official of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said Monday.

"This is the most opportune time for foreign investors to come and leverage Hong Kong's advantages to drive business growth arising from these huge opportunities," Stephen Phillips, director-general of the HKSAR government's investment promotion department, said as he embarked on visits to Japan and South Korea.

The Belt and Road Initiative offers the long-term prospect of transnational and intercontinental connectivity, and will give rise to rewarding business prospects including new air, sea and land routes, additional ports, rails and roads connecting different regions, economic and trade pacts, and increased investment flow, Phillips said, adding that the Bay Area will serve as a powerful connection point for the Belt and Road Initiative.

With its enduring advantages ensured by the "one country, two systems" arrangement, Hong Kong can help connect the country with the rest of the world, as well as helping turn the Bay Area into an international innovation and technology hub, he added.

The Hong Kong official will speak at two upcoming seminars on Hong Kong's role in the Bay Area held in Tokyo and Seoul respectively.

He will also meet with local business leaders from a wide range of sectors to "update the local business communities on the opportunities Hong Kong has to offer in the Bay Area development," the department said in a press release.

"Hong Kong has maintained very close and friendly relationships with Japan and (South) Korea for many years. Through the two seminars in Tokyo and Seoul, we hope that Japanese and (South) Korean companies will gain a better understanding of Hong Kong's many advantages and opportunities, and leverage on Hong Kong's strategic location to further expand their businesses," Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative to Tokyo Shirley Yung said.