Star-studded cast of advisers to help Hong Kong ‘ditch old way of thinking’ and stay competitive

Entrepreneur Allan Zeman is among the business titans and captains of industry tasked to help the government develop right policies to groom talent and boost innovation

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Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 8:45pm, 21 Mar 2018Updated: 9:26am, 22 Mar 2018

As Hong Kong seeks to fortify its position as an international financial centre, a high-level group comprising captains of various industries has been mobilised to chart new drivers of economic growth and help the city stay competitive.

Victor Li (left) has been appointed successor to his father, billionaire tycoon Li Ka-shing’s business empire. Photo: Sam Tsang

Among the star-studded cast of 36 advisers are Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, who has been anointed successor to his billionaire tycoon-father Li Ka-shing’s business empire; former chief secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen; recognised geneticist Tsui Lap-chee, who used to head the University of Hong Kong; and the son of flamboyant real estate tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung, Lau Ming-wai, who has been working with the government on youth policies.

Lau Ming-wai has been active in advising the city’s government on youth policies. Photo: Edward Wong

They will work directly with Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who since taking over last July, has prioritised diversifying the city’s economy away from its traditional dependence on financial services, trading and logistics, tourism and professional services.

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In Lam’s maiden policy address and last month’s budget, the government pledged billions of dollars towards promoting venture capital, strengthening research and development infrastructure and grooming local talent, among other things.