The Policy Address presents a comprehensive set of measures, ranging from the economy and trade and people’s livelihood to high-calibre talent attraction and youth development. Leveraging Hong Kong’s one country, two systems advantages, the policies will fuel the city’s continued economic growth.

Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: “The Policy Address highlights the Hong Kong SAR Government’s efforts in seeking innovation and change, while striving for excellence. It addresses a wide range of areas covering economic growth, trade and investment, SME support, culture and creative as well as construction and planning. Riding on Hong Kong’s eight centre advantages, the Policy Address promotes new quality productive forces and high-quality economic development.”

The annual address announced various measures to reinforce the city’s status as an international financial, shipping and trading centre. Dr Lam believed the move echoes the 20th Central Committee’s Third Plenary Session’s Resolution to develop Hong Kong into a supply chain service centre: “The HKTDC will continue to proactively promote Hong Kong’s eight centre advantages and enhance the development of high value-added supply chain services. We will step up cooperation with InvestHK to set up a mechanism and enhance the interface for attracting mainland enterprises to establish their international or regional headquarters in Hong Kong and provide one-stop diversified professional advisory services to help them go global via the Hong Kong platform.”

He added that the HKTDC will strengthen advisory services of its Transformation Sandbox (T-box) programme to cover a wider range of areas and support Hong Kong enterprises as well as mainland companies in Hong Kong in regard to business transformation, sustainable development and operational upgrade. Businesses are encouraged to leverage the HKTDC’s trade platforms and events to go global and explore international market opportunities, especially in the high-potential ASEAN region.

Dr Lam welcomed the HKSAR Government’s SME support measures, including the relaunch of the Principal Moratorium scheme, a HK$1 billion injection into the BUD Fund and an additional HK$500 million provision for the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions 2.0. He believes the measures will foster SMEs’ sustainable development and reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a leading convention and exhibition hub.

The Policy Address stated the Hong Kong Shopping Festival will be relaunched in the next two years to help SMEs tap into the mainland e-commerce sales market. Dr Lam said: “The inaugural Hong Kong Shopping Festival organised by the HKTDC in August this year received an enthusiastic response. Not only did it raise participants’ brand exposure, but also provided them with practical experience in e-commerce operations. We will build on this year’s success and host the second edition of the Festival next August, and in the ASEAN market in due course, to enable Hong Kong SMEs to explore market opportunities via e-commerce and social media platforms.”

To help SMEs understand e-commerce marketing, the HKTDC will publish research reports and analyses on e-commerce ecosystems in different markets, such as ASEAN, to help businesses lay a solid foundation in e-commerce operations.

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