HKPC Co-organizes Seminar in Guangdong to Promote Investment Opportunities in Hong Kong

Over 200 representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises today (7 April 2005) attended a seminar to obtain the latest updates on market investment and financing opportunities in Hong Kong for Guangdong enterprises.

The event was jointly organized by the Guangdong General Chamber of Commerce (GGCC), Guangdong-Hong Kong Association for the Promotion of Technology Enterprise (Hong Kong) Ltd. (GATE) and Guangzhou Association of Private Enterprises, with the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) as technical organizer.

Held at the Marriott China Hotel in Guangzhou, PRC, the opening ceremony for the two-day seminar was officiated by Dr Stephen Lee, Director (Product Productivity) of HKPC and Vice-President of GATE; Mr Thomas Tang, President of GATE; Mr Wu Kaili, Inspector and Member of Party Leadership Group, Economic and Trade Committee of Guangdong Province and Chairman of GGCC; and Mr Huang Shu Rong, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Administrative Bureau for Industry and Commerce and Chairman of Guangzhou Association of Private Enterprises.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Stephen Lee said, "The Mainland is now Hong Kong's largest trading partner and second largest source of foreign direct investment. On the other hand, Hong Kong is the Mainland's largest source of foreign investment.
Clearly, the economic ties between Hong Kong and Guangdong have become closer than ever today. Presently, there are 11 million workers in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region being employed by Hong Kong manufacturers. This is in fact over three times the Hong Kong workforce. It is also estimated that some 240,000 Hong Kong residents are presently working in different parts of the Mainland."

"Hong Kong has a favourable business environment, underpinned by a sound legal system, an independent judiciary, a low and simple tax regime, free flows of capital and information, and a clean and efficient government. Our economy is expected to maintain a steady growth over the next four years, with the government forecasting a GDP growth rate of 4 per cent in real terms from 2006 to 2009," Dr Lee continued.

"Through this seminar, we aim to provide hi-tech enterprises with the latest market information on Hong Kong, facilitating their entry into international markets through the formation of joint ventures, fund raising or stock listing. Indeed, many Mainland companies have made their foray into the world market through investing or raising funds in Hong Kong," Dr Lee said.

Other speakers at the seminar included Mr C L Chu, Head of Investment Promotion Division, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, HKSAR Government; Mr Lawrence Fok, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Development and Investor Services Division, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; Mr Joseph Poon, General Manager, CEPA Business Development and IP Division, HKPC; as well as professional representatives from Strategic Public Relation Group; RHL Appraisal Ltd.; So Keung Yip & Sin, Solicitors and Notaries; PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd.; KPMG Huazhen; Tai Fook Securities Group Ltd.; and P C Woo and Co., Solicitors and Notaries.

The seminar was co-organized by the Hong Kong SAR Government's Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong; Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and Smart Investment Consultants Limited.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Betty Lee
General Manager
Corporate Communications and Events
Tel: (852) 2788 6202
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
E-mail: annabell@hkpc.org

HKPC
7 April 2005