Speeches

Chinese New Year Reception in Surabaya Indonesia

Following is the speech by the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Mr Law Kin-wai at the Chinese New Year Reception in Surabaya, Indonesia today (February 28):

Consul General Gu Jingqi (Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Surabaya, Indonesia, Mr Gu Jingqi), Kwan Ho (Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council Indonesia, Mr Leung Kwan Ho), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening! Thanks a lot to join us on this occasion to celebrate Chinese New Year. Let me wish you all a very happy and prosperous year ahead!

Our office, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, strives to enhance the bilateral relations between Hong Kong and ASEAN, including Indonesia. I took up the post of Director-General two months ago, and I am very happy to be able to make my first trip to Surabaya this soon.

Recent major developments
No doubt you will share my feeling that Indonesia and Hong Kong are getting closer than ever. President Jokowi and our Chief Executive, Mrs. Carrie Lam, met with each other twice in Jakarta and Hong Kong in May 2017 and in April 2018 respectively to strengthen our bilateral relations. More than 580 athletes from Hong Kong came to Indonesia to participate in the Asian Games last August and they brought home 46 medals. Our Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, participated in the IMF/World Bank Group annual meetings in Bali last October. Just a month ago, our Secretary for Labour and Welfare met with Indonesian Minister of Manpower in Jakarta to discuss cooperation on the well-being of Indonesian domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, we continue to enhance our city’s strengths and competitiveness. There is huge potential for Indonesia and Hong Kong to build closer relations, particularly on trade, investment and professional services.

The Belt and Road Initiative provides much impetus for further economic development. Hong Kong is now the 4th largest source of foreign investments into Indonesia. The footprints of Hong Kong companies can be seen in many sectors, including banking, insurance, property developments, advertising, ports and logistics, as well as professional training. Further down the road, I am confident that, Indonesia and China, including Hong Kong, would develop ever stronger ties in investment, economy, trade, culture, education and tourism.

Meanwhile, the Greater Bay Area Development also presents huge potential. The Outline Development Plan has just been promulgated. Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen were identified as core cities, as well as core engines for driving regional development. The Outline Development Plan clearly supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing our status in various aspects including financial services, trade, aviation, Renminbi business, asset management and risk management. We encourage our friends in Indonesia to explore the potentials in the Area by making use of Hong Kong.

Another exciting news is that the Free Trade Agreement and the related Investment Agreement between Hong Kong and ASEAN are now in the final stage of ratification by individual ASEAN Member States. We believe the Agreements will enter into force in the very near future. On this, we are delighted that the Indonesian Parliament has recently approved the Government’s plan to ratify the FTA through a Presidential Regulation soon.

The Agreements are comprehensive in scope, encompassing trade in goods, trade in services, investment, economic and technical co-operation and dispute settlement mechanisms. They will bring more legal certainty, better market access and fairer and more equitable treatment in trade and investment. There would be new business opportunities and greater trade and investment flows between Hong Kong and ASEAN, including of course Indonesia. We do encourage Indonesian businessmen to make the most out of the benefits of the Agreements.

Conclusion
Once again, I thank you all for your support and look forward to working together to further strengthen the ties between Hong Kong and Indonesia, as well as ASEAN.

Please enjoy the evening. Thank you!

Ends/Thursday, February 28, 2019