European chamber chief in Hong Kong heads to Brussels to ‘reset city’s image’
The head of the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (EuroCham) aims to “reset” perceptions about the financial hub during the organisation’s first-ever “door-knock” mission to Brussels, emphasising that the city remains “significantly, fundamentally” distinct from its mainland Chinese counterparts. With Hong Kong set to unveil its first five-year plan on September 16 – the same day the…
Johannes Hack, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, is traveling to Brussels to "reset" the financial hub's image among European firms. During the organization's first-ever "door-knock" mission, Hack emphasized that Hong Kong remains distinct from mainland Chinese cities, highlighting factors such as its open society, government engagement, and widespread use of English.
The trip comes as tensions between Brussels and Beijing rise ahead of a deadline to avoid a trade war over China's record trade surplus with the EU. Data security concerns also pose a significant challenge for foreign firms in Hong Kong, leading to missed collaboration opportunities. While the door-knock mission aims to advocate for continued European engagement with Hong Kong, Hack acknowledged that officials may not agree with everything.
Instead, he hopes to gain their attention and present a clear narrative about the city's unique advantages. Hong Kong's upcoming five-year plan, set to be unveiled on September 16, will highlight its development projects and integration with national plans. However, convincing European head offices of the city's opportunities has been challenging due to a lack of familiarity with terms like "Greater Bay Area" and "Northern Metropolis."
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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