‘Huge significance’: Hong Kong to have first discussion on free trade agreement with all 10 Asean members
Long-anticipated trade pact expected to be passed within a year, according to commerce minister Greg So
On Saturday, Hong Kong will for the first time meet with all 10 Asean members to discuss a long-anticipated free trade agreement, which is expected to be passed within a year, according to commerce minister Greg So Kam-leung.
So will join his Asean counterparts in Laos, where they will go over the progress and targets for negotiations on the pact.
Describing the talks as bearing “huge significance”, the secretary for commerce and economic development added that seven rounds of negotiations on the agreement had already taken place in previous years, with the eighth round expected at the end of this month.
The University of Hong Kong’s Chair Professor of Finance Lin Chen said it was natural for Hong Kong to seek stronger ties with Asean as its geographical advantages over the mainland had been diminishing quickly in recent years since China itself had joined more free-trade zones.
“It needs to find its clear positioning even after joining the free trade agreement successfully,” Chen said.
