National five-year plan to create enormous opportunities for Hong Kong's business sector: HKSAR chief executive

HONG KONG - The 14th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development will bring enormous opportunities to the business sector, Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said Thursday.

Lam made the remarks when briefing more than 200 members of the local and international business community at a webinar hosted by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.

The positioning of Hong Kong as set out in the five-year plan reflects the support of the central authorities for Hong Kong, Lam said, citing Hong Kong is recognized as an international financial, transportation and trade center, and a center for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

Hong Kong is encouraged to develop into an international aviation hub, an international innovation and technology hub, a regional intellectual property trading center, and a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, she said.

The plan also supports Hong Kong in fostering cooperation and exchanges with countries and regions around the world, she said.

Lam encouraged international companies and chambers of commerce to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages to access the mainland market and the market of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.