John Lee thanks ASEAN for supporting Hong Kong to join RCEP

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu met and expressed gratitude to the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn on Wednesday for their support for Hong Kong’s accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). 

Lee welcomed Kao’s visit to Hong Kong with his delegation and pointed out that ASEAN has long been Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner. 

“Since the signing of the Free Trade Agreement and the Investment Agreement, the trade and investments between the two sides have recorded significant growth with the bilateral trade in goods between Hong Kong and ASEAN amounting to US$144.6 billion last year,” Lee said. 

Lee also said Hong Kong will continue to promote the co-operation between Hong Kong and ASEAN on trade and investments and noted that Hong Kong signed a latest amendment agreement with ASEAN early this year. 

“It enables Hong Kong businesses to more easily and effectively gain Hong Kong-originating status for an increased number of specified products, and thus enjoy preferential tariff treatment when expanding into the ASEAN market.” 

Lee again expressed his gratitude to Kao and ASEAN member states for their continued support for Hong Kong’s accession to the RCEP. 

He also said he looked forward to maintaining communication with the ASEAN Secretariat on relevant issues and soliciting support from other stakeholders for Hong Kong to join RCEP as soon as possible.