John Lee signals ‘satisfaction’ with results as first overseas trip as Hong Kong’s leader ends
- Lee says city has entered ‘new era’ despite retaining some coronavirus restrictions and reaction at Apec conference was encouraging
- Chief executive meets leaders of Thailand’s biggest companies in bid to beat the drum for investment in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s leader said on Sunday he was “satisfied” with his first overseas trip as chief executive as he spent the last day of the visit on a tour of some of Thailand’s biggest businesses in a bid to attract investment.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu signalled Hong Kong had entered a new period that had encouraged many to visit, despite the city’s remaining Covid-19 restrictions, as he prepared to leave Bangkok after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.
Lee added the string of meetings he had with some of Thailand’s most influential business leaders were “a promotion programme to introduce Hong Kong’s new era”.
He declined to reveal if the meetings had resulted in sealed deals to boost investments, but the CEO of a major Thai company said Lee had invited his company to get involved in building a smart city in the city’s latest development project.
Lee said he told other delegates to the Apec meeting, which ended on Saturday, that the city was headed towards a full reopening despite the three-day restaurant dine-in ban and regular coronavirus tests faced by inbound travellers.
“They appreciated my thinking and they would like to come to Hong Kong,” he said. “I’m very glad to hear that.”
