This year's event celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Forum, attracting close to 300 business leaders from 35 countries and regions to explore business opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the broader Asian region. Key topics covered included smart living, innovation and technology (I&T), digital innovation, and lifestyle and creativity.

Fundamentals intact, Hong Kong continues to attract the world's best

In her opening remarks to forum delegates yesterday, Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director, said: "Hong Kong is undoubtedly going through a challenging time, but the city is characterised by adaptability and resilience. More importantly, its fundamentals remain strong. It has a free and open economy, sound legal system and a positive attitude to international business, and our functions - from the stock market, trade, legal and financial systems to our international transportation network - are operating without disruption."

Ms Fong said that business goes on, highlighted by the recent IPO activity in the city, Hong Kong's continued role as a two-way investment hub for Mainland China, and the HKTDC's own commitment to ensuring its events go ahead as scheduled. "But a global city is more than a business and trade platform. Creativity, art, heritage, lifestyle and more are all part of the mix and on this front Hong Kong is thriving. The sound fundamentals, international business confidence and rich cultural, educational and lifestyle qualities indicate that Hong Kong will continue to attract the best in the world to live, work and do business," she said.

Achieving Hong Kong's vision under key national strategy

On the opening day of the forum, the first session of the day was titled "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: Hong Kong's Vision". Patrick Nip, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), shared how the HKSAR Government is planning for the development of the Greater Bay Area and the role that Hong Kong will play in it.

New opportunities arising from Greater Bay Area through Hong Kong

The development of the Greater Bay Area is a key national strategy in the mainland's new era of reform and opening up. At a session this morning, expert speakers - including Ann Kung Yeung, Deputy Chief Executive, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited; Nisa Leung, Managing Partner, Qiming Venture Partners; Catherine Tsang, Partner, PwC Hong Kong; and Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Science Park - shared the latest developments in the Greater Bay Area and discussed how to leverage the complementary advantages of its various cities to capture new opportunities.

Continues on http://acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/56059/