THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Northern Metropolis offers ASEAN firms gateway to Greater Bay Area ... Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has called on ASEAN enterprises to invest in the Northern Metropolis, saying the mega development will help Hong Kong strengthen its role as a gateway between Southeast Asia and the Greater Bay Area. Speaking at the GBA-Asean Summit, Lee said Hong Kong is accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis into an international hub for innovation and technology, as well as post-secondary education. He said the project would create new opportunities for ASEAN businesses seeking to tap into the Greater Bay Area, one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions. Lee said ASEAN has been Hong Kong’s second-largest merchandise trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching US$214 billion last year, up 29 percent from a year earlier. He said ASEAN and the Greater Bay Area are among the world’s most vibrant economic engines, adding that their geographical proximity and aligned development directions offer strong room for cooperation. Hong Kong, he said, can serve as a connector between the two regions and help create new business opportunities. Meanwhil…

Hong Kong positioned to link Asean, Greater Bay Area amid geopolitical shifts: John Lee Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to connect Asean with the Greater Bay Area and build a “powerful and complementary partnership” amid a shifting geopolitical landscape, the city’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made his remarks at the South China Morning Post’s GBA-Asean Summit 2026 on Tuesday, which also saw the launch of a new chamber of commerce for the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the city. The summit brought together government officials, business...

‘Not giving up on any market’: John Lee on his strategy to push Hong Kong’s interests Hong Kong is determined to expand into new markets while consolidating ties with traditional partners and “will not give up any markets” despite geopolitical pressures, the city leader has said. In an interview with the South China Morning Post reviewing his past four years in office, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the United States remained an important market for Hong Kong despite volatile relations between Beijing and Washington, while also stressing the interactions would mostly be...

news.gov.hk - HK can be ASEAN-GBA connector A local chamber of commerce believes Hong Kong firms can grow their business in Southeast Asia by leveraging the city’s strengths in integrating various industries in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Chief Executive John Lee will visit Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, three members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), at the end of this month, and his delegation on the trip will include Chairman of The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Jonathan Choi. Mr Choi, whose family has been investing in Vietnam since the 1970s, highlighted the emphasis Vietnam and Cambodia have placed on the new energy industry in recent years. He believes the GBA offers a platform via which Hong Kong firms can help to connect ASEAN markets with the mainland’s rapidly advancing new energy automobile and energy storage sectors, and other related industries. “Hong Kong is part of the GBA, nine plus two cities, and we are one of the core cities in the GBA,” he said. “Hong Kong’s strengths, we are strong in finance, services and training, while China in the GBA is strong in manufacturing, especially in innovation and technology or new energy business.” “…

HK's strategic engagement with ASEAN will boost regional stability, growth Amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s upcoming visit to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam marks a pivotal moment for East Asian economic cooperation. This visit, his third to Southeast Asia since taking office, holds significant promise for advancing regional growth, stability and collaboration. The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations has long been integral to Hong Kong’s trade, finance and tourism sectors. Historically, Hong Kong has served as a crucial intermediary between ASEAN and the Chinese mainland, fostering economic synergy across the Asia-Pacific region. With recent political and social stability reinforced in Hong Kong, the city is better positioned to expand its economic potential and forge stronger partnerships with ASEAN. According to Hong Kong’s Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, ASEAN is the city’s second-largest trading partner after the mainland, with bilateral trade in goods reaching a record high of HK$1,294 billion ($165.7 billion) in 2022, underscoring ASEAN’s vital role in Hong Kon…

John Lee Highlights Hong Kong-ASEAN Partnerships at ... HK Speech by CE at South China Morning Post GBA-Asean Summit 2026 Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the South China Morning Post GBA-Asean Summit 2026 today (June 30): Your Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay (Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister for Tourism and Environment of Timor-Leste), Your Excellency Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque (Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines), Ms Tammy Tam (Publisher of the South China Morning Post), Dr Daryl Ng (Chairman of the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation), Consuls-General and officials from around the world, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. It is a great pleasure to join you today for the Greater Bay Area-ASEAN Summit. I understand some 300 of you are here for the two-day gathering – from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and throughout the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region, not counting those who are watching online. Hong Kong shares a strong and long-standing partnership with ASEAN. Indeed, ASEAN has been our se…