Qiu Tenghua: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government provides targeted relief measures for industries affected by the epidemic
Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, February 22. The Director of the Bureau of Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Qiu Tenghua, stated on the 22nd that the two phases of the "Protecting Employment" program and the four rounds of anti-epidemic funds launched by the Special Administrative Region The industry provides targeted relief measures.
Qiu Tenghua attended the online interview session of "Asian Trade Week 2021" on the same day, said that the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic on different trade areas in Hong Kong varies, trade in goods has not been greatly affected, trade in services has been greatly affected, financial services and information technology, etc. There is strong growth.
The government launched the financing guarantee program for small and medium enterprises to increase the amount of planned commitments and ease the lack of cash flow of enterprises, which is widely welcomed by small and medium enterprises.
He pointed out that on the way to economic recovery, the epidemic will still put pressure on operating costs.
But the bigger challenge is whether epidemic prevention will become an excuse for trade barriers and whether protectionism will take the opportunity to rise.
However, international trade has also made gratifying progress. Hong Kong has signed free trade agreements with 13 of the 15 member economies in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
"Asian Trade Week 2021" is hosted by the British "The Economist" and brings together many economic officials, business leaders, trade negotiators, scholars and economists to discuss the main factors affecting future trade in Asia and other regions.