Newly appointed Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) chairman Frederick Ma Si-hang articulated the roadmap for his two-year tenure, including a comprehensive strategic review of the Council's 51 overseas offices, as well as an initiative to enhance the exhibition capacity of the city.
Ma, who assumed office last week, acknowledged the weight of his appointment amid escalating geopolitical tensions and trade wars, anticipating numerous challenges during his term.
Yet, with both challenges and opportunities, he highlighted Hong Kong's unique role as both a "super-connector" and "super value-adder."
As US-China trade talks resumed after a diplomatic thaw, he emphasized the importance of strengthening the city's position as a global financial and trade hub.
He revealed plans to comprehensively review the Council's 51 international offices, questioning whether their current locations — including just two African outposts in Nairobi and Johannesburg — still serve the city's evolving trade needs.
In light of increasing competition among various organizations vying for talent, the TDC chief emphasized the necessity to revitalize the flagship initiative, the Asian Financial Forum. The revitalization aims to expand its focus beyond the financial sector and incorporate additional markets, including those in the Middle East.
He also proposed adding new events targeting thematic exhibitions — from machinery to education — to better reflect societal and economic trends.
Highlighting small and medium enterprises as Hong Kong's "lifeline," Ma pointed to the Digital Trade Masterclass for SMEs organized by the Council to provide insights into digitalizing different segments of the supply chain, aligning with the government's adoption of the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records.
With just 90,000 square meters at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, combined with 70,000 square meters at AsiaWorld-Expo — dwarfed by regional rivals — Ma backed the idea of studying new venues, expressing hope to establish new exhibition grounds in the Northern Metropolis.
Ma succeeds Peter Lam Kin-ngok as the HKTDC chairman on June 1, with his term running to May 31, 2027. Bringing decades of cross-border trade expertise to the role, he pledged to work relentlessly with my team to sharpen Hong Kong's competitiveness.
