‘Hong Kong-Asean free-trade deal to be signed by November’: Philippine minister

Region’s businessmen urged to use city as gateway to mainland China

Reading Time:2 minutes

Secretary for Trade and Development Ramon Lopez at an Asean-themed conference in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 8:30am, 13 Jul 2017Updated: 8:30am, 13 Jul 2017

The Philippines’ trade minister revealed on Wednesday a long-awaited free-trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Hong Kong was expected to be signed in November, as he urged the region’s businessmen to use the city as a gateway to mainland China.

Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez said the agreement was set to be signed on the sidelines of the 31st Asean summit in the Philippines in November, taking relations between Asean and the city to a new level.

Lopez claimed the deal would take relations between Hong Kong and Asean to a new level. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

“This is a great opportunity to expand economic cooperation between Asean and Hong Kong,” he said at an Asean-themed conference in the city. “Asean is Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner, after China.”

“Since China launched its ... open-door policy in 1978, Hong Kong has become the premier gateway into and out of mainland China.”

This is a great opportunity to expand economic cooperation between Asean and Hong Kong

Ramon Lopez, Philippine trade minister

The minister cited the city’s small population in claiming there was a general perception that “there is nothing much to be gained in having an FTA with Hong Kong”. But he said he was aware of its large number of tourists, many from the mainland.