Hong Kong’s John Lee confident over Shanghai ties, says focus on economy not politics

Chief executive wraps up three-day visit to mainland China for world-leading expo, with deals signed to bring more companies to city

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Chief Executive John Lee (left) and Shanghai party chief Chen Jining. Lee says the two places “will continue to achieve complementarity and mutual benefits”. Photo: Handout

Willa Wuin ShanghaiandDaniel Renin Shanghai

Published: 8:12pm, 6 Nov 2024

Hong Kong’s leader has expressed confidence in deepening collaboration with Shanghai, while assuring businesses and professionals in the mainland Chinese city that his administration’s focus has shifted from politics to economic development.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu praised the close ties as he concluded a three-day visit to Shanghai on Wednesday, where he met officials and promoted Hong Kong’s opportunities to investors at the China International Import Expo (CIIE).

“Shanghai and Hong Kong have maintained deep cooperation and close relations in various areas such as the economy and trade, finance, innovation and technology, education, culture, and youth exchanges,” Lee said after a closed-door meeting with Shanghai party chief Chen Jining and mayor Gong Zhen.

“[I am] confident that the two places will continue to achieve complementarity and mutual benefits, fostering synergistic developments in different areas and contributing to the country’s high-quality development.”

Prior to speaking with officials, Lee met about 20 people, mostly representatives from Shanghai companies that were newly set up in Hong Kong, including electric vehicle manufacturer Nio.

The chief executive emphasised that Hong Kong was now more unified and had shifted its focus from politics to economic development, according to Federation of Hong Kong-Shanghai Associations chairman Andrew Yao Cho-fai.