Hong Kong leader John Lee to visit Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam on third Asean trip in 2 years

High-level delegation will include officials, lawmakers, business chamber heads and representatives from various sectors

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The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations accounted for nearly 13 per cent of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade last year. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:54pm, 26 Jul 2024Updated: 10:20pm, 26 Jul 2024

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu will begin a six-day visit to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam on Sunday, accompanied by a high-level delegation of officials, lawmakers, business chamber heads and representatives from various sectors to explore opportunities and expand connections.

It will be the chief executive’s third trip to Asean countries since he took office two years ago. He said in a statement on Friday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations accounted for nearly 13 per cent of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade last year and represented substantial economic potential for the city.

Lee’s entourage will include Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah. The officials will be joined by 30 representatives from the financial services, transport, logistics, innovation and technology, and tourism sectors.

Chief Executive John Lee will head off on Sunday. Photo: Sam Tsang

IT-sector legislator Duncan Chiu, who also joined Lee’s visit to Asean member countries Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia last July, said being part of the city leader’s delegation guaranteed meetings with top officials overseas. That would help pave the way for Hong Kong businesses to engage these officials more effectively in the future, he added.

“If we go there by ourselves, there’s a good chance we won’t meet the right people,” he said.

“By having the chief executive open the door for us, we can get to know each other and when I bring Hong Kong businesses to revisit the place, they will attach more importance to it.”

Agnes Chan Sui-kuen, chairwoman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, will visit all three countries as part of the delegation.

She said robust economic growth and influx of foreign investment in these countries had driven demand for professional services, a traditional strength of the city.