HKETO Newsroom

January 18, 2022

HKETO Director updates Canadian business community on Hong Kong’s latest business developments

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, on January 18 joined the "Hong Kong Deep Dive: Quantifying the Economic Impact of China and Hong Kong in Canada" webinar to update the Canadian business community on Hong Kong’s latest business developments, which make the city an ideal destination for Canadian companies to tap into the Mainland China and Asian markets.

The webinar was organised by the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) and Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) to release the “Hong Kong-Canada Economic Ties” report on a CCBC-commissioned research by the China Institute at the University of Alberta. It examined the history and current status of trade and investment between Canada and Hong Kong, as well as an analysis of issues and trends that may influence Hong Kong’s future role and relationship with Canada.

The report pointed out that Canada’s relationship with Hong Kong is distinct, and that economic and business opportunities between the two places remain abundant and profitable.  It concluded that Hong Kong is an important nexus of international trade due to its free port status and its special relationship with mainland China and access to Asia, and the city has remained one of Canada’s top ten trading markets.  In terms of investment, Hong Kong was the world’s third largest foreign direct investment destination in 2020.  In the same year, Canadian direct investment flows to Hong Kong more than tripled to 4.6 billion Canadian dollars, making the city the second-largest destination worldwide for Canadian direct investment abroad, behind only the US.   With the relatively high number of Hong Kong descent living in Canada and vice versa, the report noted that these connections forged not only in economic exchanges but in the flow of people and culture are crucial to building and preserving vibrant Canada-Hong Kong relations.  

Despite political uncertainty and recent headwinds, the report noted that Hong Kong’s role as a gateway connecting the mainland China to international markets, as an international financial, transportation, trade, and innovation hub has proved resilient to economic, political and social shocks.   It suggested that Canada and Hong Kong’s future collaboration may lie increasingly in financial services, transportation, education, food and beverages, and arts and culture. There are also great opportunities for technology and research related cooperation. 

In her welcome remarks at the event, Ms Emily Mo reassured participants that despite the social disorder years ago, Hong Kong has welcomed the restoration of stability, socially and politically, with the support from the Central government. 

Citing global indices, Hong Kong has climbed back to third place in the Global Financial Centres Index, behind only New York and London.  “The Fraser Institute once again ranked Hong Kong as the world’s freest economy.  The World Investment Report 2021 published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, ranked Hong Kong the world’s third-largest recipient of foreign direct investment last year. These rankings demonstrate that Hong Kong remains an attractive place for investment,” Ms Mo continued. 

Besides, she highlighted that there are ample development opportunities for Hong Kong with the support of the Central Government. “China’s National 14th Five-Year Plan enhances the status of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub, an international I&T hub, a regional IP trading centre, and a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world,” Ms Mo said.  

Following the welcome remarks, an interactive Question and Answer session moderated by the National Chair of HKCBA, Ms Cindy Ho, and panel discussions were arranged for participants to gain insights from how companies of different sizes benefitted from their presence in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong’s significant role in Canadian trade diversification under the new Indo-Pacific strategy.

January 18, 2022

香港經貿處處長向加拿大商界簡介香港的最新商貿發展

香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處(香港經貿處)處長巫菀菁於一月十八日出席「深層探討香港:量化中港對加拿大的經濟影響」網上研討會,向加拿大商界簡介香港的最新商貿發展,推介香港是是加拿大企業進軍中國內地及亞洲市場的理想目的地。

網上研討會由加中貿易理事會及港加商會合辦,會上發表加中貿易理事會委托阿爾伯達大學中國研究所撰寫的「港加經濟關係」報告,研究加拿大與香港之間的貿易及投資歷史和現狀,並分析可能影響香港未來角色及港加關係的議題及發展趨勢。

報告指出,加港關係獨特,兩地的經貿和商機持續穩健並利好發展。報告總結,由於香港擁有自由港地位及與中國內地和通往亞洲的獨特優勢,而香港亦是國際貿易的重要紐帶,並一直是加拿大十大貿易市場之一。在投資方面,香港在二○二○年是全球第三大外來直接投資目的地。同年,加拿大對香港的對外直接投資流出更增加超過三倍,達到 46 億加元,使香港成為加拿大直接投資海外的全球第二大首選地點,僅次於美國。報告指出,鑑於居住在加拿大的香港人或在香港的加拿大人人口相當高,兩地的聯繫不僅在經貿交流方面,其人脈和文化方面的互動亦是建立和維繫加港緊密關係的重要元素。

報告又指出,香港雖然曾經出現政治不穩和近期面對的挑戰,但作為連接中國內地與國際市場的門戶以及國際金融、運輸、貿易和創新樞紐,香港足以證明其抵禦經濟、政治和社會衝擊的能力。報告建議,加拿大及香港未來可以在金融服務、運輸、教育、食品以及藝術文化方面有更多合作,並在技術及科研相關的項目上也有許多合作機會。

巫菀菁在研討會上致歡迎辭時向與會者保證,香港在年前雖然經歷過社會不穩,但感謝中央政府的支持,香港的社會和政治已經回復穩定。

引用全球指數,香港在《全球金融中心指數》報告中的排名重回第三位,僅次於紐約和倫敦。巫菀菁續說:「菲沙研究所亦再次把香港評為全球最自由的經濟體;聯合國貿易和發展會議發表的《2021年世界投資報告》把香港列為全球第三大外來直接投資目的地。這些排名說明香港仍然是一個吸引投資的地點。」

此外,巫菀菁強調,在中央政府的支持下,香港有無限發展機遇。她表示:「國家《十四五規劃綱要》支持提升香港發展成為國際航運樞紐、國際創科中心、區域知識產權交易中心以及促進中國與世界各地進行文化藝術交流的樞紐。」

致辭後設有答問環節,由港加商會全國主席Cindy Ho主持,與會者亦透過專題探討不同規模的公司如何透過香港加強公司的營商優勢,以及香港在加拿大的印度太平洋貿易多元化新策略下所發揮的重要作用。