Engaging the US and Europe still critical to Hong Kong’s aspirations
- Financial secretary’s joint tour with Guangdong and Macau delegations to France and California help secure the city’s rightful position on the world stage
Engaging the world is not just essential for the government as it seeks to bring Hong Kong back onto the international stage following the pandemic. It is also pivotal for maintaining the city’s uniqueness under “one country, two systems” amid the changing political and economic environment.
It appears to be mission accomplished as Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po wrapped up his joint Greater Bay Area (GBA) delegation visit to France and the United States.
The veteran finance chief is well suited to the task, being one of the few top ministers who maintains relatively cordial relations with the Western world. This is also the first joint delegation organised by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, focusing on business promotion and cooperation on environmental protection.
From Paris to San Francisco, the feedback was reportedly positive.
Among the highlights were the Bay to Bay Dialogue between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and the US-China High-Level Event on Subnational Climate Action, during which landmark deals were signed to strengthen exchanges on climate issues and bilateral trade. Chan also briefed politicians and business leaders in France and the US on the latest developments and opportunities in Hong Kong and the GBA, a national drive to turn the area into an economic powerhouse.
We hope the financial secretary was not just trying to talk up the visit when he said the French community was impressed by the city’s development. But he rightly stressed the importance of the government actively going out and engaging with friends from various sectors, saying the direct exchange could keep other communities abreast of the city’s development and clear up rumours and misunderstandings.
This is especially important as international confidence remains fragile.
Hong Kong still has a role to play on the world stage despite growing geopolitical tensions, and must continue to do so. This view also is shared by Chan, who stressed the city could help boost cooperation between the bay areas of the US and China.
As a unique international Chinese city, it can leverage its strengths under the one country, two systems principle and play the role of “superconnector” and “super value-adder” between the country and the world. This is as much in the interests of the state as of the city.
As the government explores new markets and allies overseas, it cannot afford to give up on those who have become more critical of Hong Kong’s recent developments. Even though misunderstanding and bias may still prevail as the city moves ahead under the new political and economic order, dialogue and engagement remains essential to its aspiration as a world city.
