John Lee vows to build up Asean ties as Hong Kong becomes Indonesia’s No 2 investor

Indonesia’s ambassador to mainland China reveals Hong Kong has become second-largest investor in country during consulate-run forum in city

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The trade volume between Hong Kong and Indonesia reached US$6 billion as of September, one of the country’s diplomats has revealed. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 1:06pm, 1 Nov 2024Updated: 7:21pm, 1 Nov 2024

Hong Kong’s leader has said expanding relations with Asean countries is a “priority” for his administration, as an Indonesian diplomat revealed the city had become the country’s second-largest investor.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also thanked the country for supporting the city’s bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) during a speech on Friday at a trade, tourism and investment forum hosted by the Indonesia consulate in Hong Kong.

RCEP is the world’s largest free-trade pact, encompassing all 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states plus mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

“Expanding relationships with Indonesia and the countries of Southeast Asia is a priority for the Hong Kong government,” Lee said.

“Initiatives that benefit our Indonesian communities and those of the other nine Asean countries continue to highlight our agenda, as my policy address made clear.”

Djauhari Oratmangun, Indonesia’s ambassador to the mainland, also spoke at the forum, revealing Hong Kong had recently become the country’s second-largest investor.