According to a recent report, the 19th Hong Kong Forum, which opened at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide (FHKBAW), attracted more than 360 business leaders from 30 countries and regions.
The key topics of discussion at the forum included innovation and technology (I&T), the role of start-ups, and the development of fintech.
This year’s forum had representatives from Mainland China as well as Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.
As a newly joined member of the FHKBAW, the Hong Kong-Korea Business Association is taking part in the forum for the first time.
Delivering the opening remarks at the forum this morning, HKTDC’s Executive Director stated that amid a challenging time of uncertainty, specifically with the Sino-US trade conflict and with rising concern over the stability of the global economy, she noted that, it is crucial for companies to look further afield for new opportunities.
It was added that the importance of innovation and the huge potential presented by new technologies are currently hot topics in Hong Kong, with I&T made the key focus in the latest Policy Address by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
This year’s Hong Kong forum, therefore, focused on I&T, examining cutting-edge technologies in the areas of biotech, artificial intelligence (AI), digital healthcare and fintech. Speakers discussed how Hong Kong can leverage its advantages to develop into a technology hub, while the creative forces behind some of Hong Kong’s hottest start-ups will share their disruptive ideas that are poised to transform various industries.
The speaker also highlighted the business opportunities presented by greater cooperation within the region.
She noted that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development is set to build a highly competitive, internationally recognised city cluster and provide abundant new opportunities for local and international businesses alike, especially in the areas of technology and innovation, adding that the free trade agreement and related investment agreement signed between Hong Kong and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), which will start to take effect next month, will further promote investment and trade between the two sides and enhance the city’s role as a two-way investment and business hub.
Recent years have seen the rapid development of cutting-edge technologies, many of which are now helping to transform various industries. In the first session of the forum, it was noted that the HKSAR Government has in recent years given strong support to the development of cutting-edge technologies, investing HK$10 billion in the medical sciences through innovative platforms such as Hong Kong Science Park.
It was noted that Hong Kong is equipped with world-class biotechnology capabilities that have great potential for further development, and he hoped that DNA technology could be made more widely and freely available in Mainland China under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA Development, helping to advance medical technology and benefit more people.
Moreover, Hong Kong’s start-up ecosystem is currently booming. In another session, experts shared their game-changing ideas which are helping to disrupt and transform various industries in the city.
Currently, technology is sweeping across the world’s financial landscape, including in Hong Kong. Executives from leading corporations discussed the disruptive changes that are happening in the industry and the opportunities being brought about by new finance-related technologies.
