Lee seeks support for RCEP bid during Singapore trip

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu believes his second trip to Southeast Asia will help the SAR join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade agreement as he left with a delegation of 30 business and legal representatives yesterday.

Lee was given a red-carpet welcome at Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, greeted by Sino Group chairman and hotel owner Robert Ng Chee-siong. The hotel was decorated with SAR and Chinese flags.

Lee later met with Chinese ambassador to Singapore Sun Haiyan at the hotel, thanking Sun for arranging the visit.

Lee said his administration will promote business and cultural exchanges with Singapore and tell Hong Kong's good stories to ASEAN countries, expressing hopes to strengthen "high-level connection" with the Singapore government.

Lee will meet Singapore leaders and an enterprise today before attending a business dinner.

His delegation was welcomed by Singapore's Senior Minister of State of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Development Sim Ann, Consul-General of Singapore in Hong Kong Ong Siew Gay and Sun.

Lee will visit Indonesia and Malaysia afterwards.

"Hong Kong and ASEAN share a strong relationship as ASEAN is Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner and the world's fifth-largest economy with strong impetus for economic development and unlimited potential," Lee said.

He will meet local political and business leaders to introduce Hong Kong's advantages under the "one country, two systems" policy.

"I will encourage ASEAN enterprises to expand their businesses in Hong Kong and explore the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area market by making good use of the city's professional services and financing platform," he said.

Before departure, Lee said he attached great importance to the trip. The delegation will introduce the city's business opportunities to the countries, he said.

"We have signed a free trade agreement with ASEAN so we have a very good foundation [of collaboration]," Lee said. "I also wish to seize the opportunity to gain ASEAN countries' support for Hong Kong to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership."

Lee will fly to Indonesia tomorrow morning.

Delegation member Ronald Sum Kwan-ngai from the legal sector said they will introduce Hong Kong's advantages in arbitration.

Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group co-chairman George Lam Lee looks forward to cooperating with Indonesia and Malaysia in commercial satellites.

"There is a huge demand for satellites," he said. "I think Indonesia can cooperate with Hong Kong by becoming a major satellite manufacturing place. Indonesia is also an ideal place to launch satellites."

In Jakarta, a roving exhibition "Immersive Hong Kong" was launched.