Better Hong Kong Foundation Links Hosting of Fortune CEO Roundtable to Support for Chief Executive’s Economic Development Policies

The Better Hong Kong Foundation’s hosting of the Fortune CEO Roundtable that has brought over 100 business and government leaders to Hong Kong for discussions today and tomorrow is “part of our support for the implementation of the economic development vision for Hong Kong articulated by Chief Executive C.H. Tung in his recent 1998 Policy Address,” said Foundation Chief Executive, George Yuen.

“It is our view that the public and private sectors must work together if Hong Kong is to quickly address the challenges presented by the current regional economic crisis,” he said. “The Fortune CEO Roundtable, which we are organizing with Fortune and Time magazines, has brought leaders from some of the world’s largest corporations to Hong Kong to meet with business and government leaders from our community and Mainland China. Through this interaction, these business people will see that Hong Kong’s dynamism and the role we are playing as a gateway to China remain as bright as ever,” said Mr. Yuen.

Robert Ng, a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, said during remarks at the program’s opening dinner this evening that the hosting of the Fortune CEO Roundtable was “consistent with the Foundation’s goal of serving as a facilitator in the creation of opportunities for business and government leaders from the Hong Kong SAR and other parts of China to exchange views with their international counterparts.” His statements came as part of an introduction of former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Mickey Kantor.

Commenting on the role that this program is playing in the promotion of both Hong Kong’s economic opportunities and Mr. Tung’s vision for Hong Kong, Mr. Yuen said, “Hong Kong’s continued competitiveness as an international business center depends on building on our already strong links with the international business community and the public and private sectors in Mainland China. As Mr. Tung said in his address, ‘Our strategic location, heritage and cultural background, together with our extensive experience in working with the Mainland place us in a position unmatched by anyone.’ This program reinforces that message with leaders of some of the world’s largest corporations,” he added.

Mr. Yuen said that the Foundation was particularly pleased that two senior Chinese Government officials were participating in the program. “The fact that the Honourable Shi Guangsheng, China’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and the Honourable Zeng Peiyan, Director of China’s State Development Planning Commission, have joined us for this program sends a strong signal to international business — that China is committed to ensuring Hong Kong’s continued position as the region’s leading business center,” he said.

“The Foundation is in full support of Mr. Tung’s Policy Address, in particular the measures in turning adversity to opportunity and his vision on developing innovation and technology as another engine of growth for Hong Kong,” he added. The Better Hong Kong Foundation is a privately funded, non-profit, non-political organization, formed by leading Hong Kong business people. Founded in 1995, the Foundation aims to reinforce Hong Kong’s role as the regional leading financial, shipping trading and communications centre. It also serves to enhance greater international understanding between East and West. The Foundation is committed to facilitating communication between Hong Kong and Mainland China and the international community.