MR CHAN CHUN-YING (in Cantonese):
President, yesterday Hong Kong officially became a member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (“AIIB”). BRO immediately stated that, as a member of AIIB, Hong Kong can provide AIIB with various types of investment and financing services, further consolidating its status as an international financial centre. The market also predicts that in the next five years, the potential demands for infrastructure in the countries along the Belt and Road amount to over US$4,000 billion. In this regard, can the Government tell me, as there are a number of developing countries along the Belt and Road which present immense business opportunities as well as considerable risks, how the Government will help the commerce-related sectors in Hong Kong engage in these businesses while
avoiding risks, and whether the implementation of these measures will be taken charge of by BRO or Policy Bureaux?
SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (in Cantonese):
President, I very much agree with the Honourable Member’s views. As Hong Kong is a leading corporate treasury centre in Asia with very comprehensive financial infrastructure, we can play an effective role in the Belt and Road Initiative, especially in the development of financing. As regards risk assessment of Belt and Road countries, we note that many authorities, such as the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce of China, have undertaken assessments and studies. BRO will keep a close watch on this and share information with the industries. Members can also note that the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (“TDC”) has set up a website to provide a brief introduction on each Belt and Road country and region, as well as information of related projects,with a view to assisting the Hong Kong industries, particularly the professional industries, in promoting their services, be it infrastructure, financing or commercial and trading services, through the TDC website.