Hong Kong chief executive election 2022: John Lee vows to make reopening borders a priority for city to remain competitive
- Goal is to remove obstacles to satisfy requirements for reopening even though there will be ‘lots of challenges’, Lee says
- Business groups willing to work with officials, entrepreneurs help attract foreign talent, travellers to come to Hong Kong
Chief executive candidate John Lee Ka-chiu has vowed to make reopening Hong Kong’s borders with mainland China and the rest of the world a priority, as international business chambers warned that travel curbs had undermined the city’s competitiveness.
The former chief secretary on Thursday also said he would require his ministers to head overseas to attract foreign businesses and travellers to come to Hong Kong.
Lee, who is expected to win Sunday’s election as the sole candidate, said his goal was to “remove the obstacles” to reopening Hong Kong’s borders even though there would be “lots of challenges”.
“Border reopening is the first task on my mind. I know there will be lots of challenges,” he said. “In Hong Kong, there are still hundreds of new coronavirus infections each day, while on the mainland, authorities are also trying to bring things under control.
“We need to do our job well … and my goal is to remove the obstacles to satisfy the requirements for reopening.”
Lee said he earlier held two virtual meetings with business groups, including international chambers, small and medium-sized enterprises, the textile and garment industry, and associations of Hong Kong people on the mainland.
“The chambers’ representatives say they are willing to work with senior officials and entrepreneurs in telling the Hong Kong story to the world,” Lee said. “I also mentioned in my manifesto that when the timing is appropriate, and when the epidemic situation allows, our ministers will take the initiative in travelling abroad to promote Hong Kong’s strengths.”
