China News Service, Hong Kong, June 15th. Title: Interview with the Secretary of the Hong Kong Bureau of Commerce and Economics: Hong Kong is still a very popular place for international companies.

　　China News Agency reporter Liu Chenyao Zhang Xiaoxi

　　"There is a French-backed, 500-largest international organization in the world, choosing Hong Kong as its global headquarters. The co-chair of the organization told me last year that it took him a while to explain to the board of directors whether there is any business in Hong Kong after the promulgation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. In the end, I’m sure to stay.” In a recent interview with a reporter from China News Agency, Qiu Tenghua, director of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s Bureau of Commerce and Economic Development (Bureau of Commerce and Economic Development), had no doubts about Hong Kong’s ability to attract foreign businessmen.

　　Recently, some foreign media published articles saying that major multinational companies are considering withdrawing from Hong Kong. It also claimed that many foreign businessmen hold a pessimistic view of Hong Kong's future.

　　In this regard, Qiu Tenghua, who is often in contact with foreign chambers of commerce and companies in Hong Kong, said that if you only read the headlines of newspapers, especially some foreign media, and describe them as if "the sky is going to fall", you will feel that the Hong Kong market is showing up. fluctuation.

However, what really affects the sustainable development of an enterprise in a place is not the headline, but the baseline, that is, whether the society is stable, whether the business environment is fair, open, and competitive, and the rule of law environment.

He believes that these baselines are what attracts more companies to come and stay in Hong Kong.

　　Qiu Tenghua said bluntly that when the "Regulations Amendment Disturbance" occurred in Hong Kong in 2019, foreign businessmen were mainly worried about the social stability of Hong Kong. However, by 2020, they no longer have much doubts about this, and they are more worried about the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, especially due to Due to the epidemic, normal personnel exchanges with other places cannot be achieved.

The SAR government has been doing related work for this, including signing free trade agreements with surrounding areas, etc., to provide enterprises with a good business environment in Hong Kong, and at the same time maintain exchanges with foreign chambers of commerce, enterprises, etc., to “answer questions” for them ", including explaining to them the specific provisions of the Hong Kong National Security Law, so as to reduce their unnecessary worries.

　　"Hong Kong is a very free place, especially for companies and business people, they can come and go freely." The Investment Promotion Agency of the Bureau of Commerce and Economics conducts regular surveys every year. According to the latest survey results, the headquarters will be established in Hong Kong in 2020. Or there are about 9,000 companies in the company. This number is similar to that of 2019. It is basically stable, but the distribution area has changed.

　　The above survey results show that compared with the past, more European and American countries have invested in Hong Kong. In recent years, due to regional development, the number of companies established in Hong Kong by the Chinese mainland and Japan has ranked first and second, and the United States and the United Kingdom have ranked third respectively. The fourth place, and the fifth place is Singapore, which is often regarded by the outside world as a "competitor" of Hong Kong.

"I also asked the Singapore Consul General in Hong Kong about this number. He confirmed that this number is increasing." Qiu Tenghua said.

　　He also added that since mid-2020, Hong Kong’s net inflow of funds has been increasing, and the total amount in the past year has exceeded US$50 billion. In the first quarter of 2021, Hong Kong’s IPO financing has reached US$17 billion.

At the same time, the GDP growth rate of Hong Kong in the first quarter of this year increased by 7.9% year-on-year, and the trade volume even increased significantly.

　　"So whether it is international companies using Hong Kong as a regional headquarters, or capital inflows and fundraising, it reflects that Hong Kong is still a very popular place for international companies." Qiu Tenghua also pointed out that Hong Kong has internationalized laws and operations under "One Country, Two Systems". The business environment and easy access to the mainland market are also increasingly valued by many international companies.

　　In addition, unique cultural and artistic characteristics are becoming a new advantage for Hong Kong to attract foreign businessmen.

According to Qiu Tenghua, Hong Kong has become one of the world’s three largest art trading markets in recent years. The convergence of Eastern and Western cultures has provided Hong Kong with new conditions and directions for development. The country’s "14th Five-Year Plan" also proposed support for Hong Kong’s development of Chinese and foreign cultures Art Exchange Center.

　　Qiu Tenghua believes that the professional services and exhibitions behind culture and art, as well as the new culture and art trade derived from modern warehousing and logistics, are all new directions for Hong Kong's economic development in the future.

"For example, in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong, many cultural facilities are being built one after another, including the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the M+ Visual Culture Museum." Qiu Tenghua said that these new landmarks include both Chinese history and culture and modern culture. Help Hong Kong's cultural and artistic development to a new level, and also broaden the way for economic development.

　　"I am less interested in the completed works." There is an "unfinished" painting in Qiu Tenghua's office on the 22nd floor of the Government Headquarters. Against the backdrop of the blue sky and white clouds, the West Kowloon Cultural District and the buildings on the Victoria Harbour are outlined with a line drawing technique. The group, with a large area of ​​blank space in the picture, seems to indicate that Hong Kong's future has unlimited possibilities.

(Finish)