The Chief Executive, CY Leung, says Hong Kong will play an active role in the implementation of the Belt and Road initiative. Photo: Courtesy of Information Services Department
The Chief Executive, CY Leung, says he will chair a new committee for steering Hong Kong's involvement in the central government's "One Belt and Road" initiative.
Speaking during his Policy Address, he said a "Belt and Road Office" will also be set up to coordinate work between the government and other organisations, as well as mainland authorities.
Leung said Hong Kong will play an active role in the implementation of the initiative. He also played up the city's advantages as a financial hub, saying Hong Kong could provide various countries along the Belt and Road route with the capital required for constructing infrastructure.
Leung went on to say that stronger economic ties with the mainland will see the yuan more widely accepted, and Hong Kong would continue to promote the offshore yuan business.
He said HK$200 million will be set aside to support the professional services sector for publicity and exchanges with the countries. Additional Economic and Trade Offices will also be set up in there, starting with Indonesia this year followed by South Korea as soon as possible.
To attract more students from the countries along the route to study in Hong Kong's tertiary institutions, the government will inject HK$1 billion into the Target Scholarship Scheme and widen its scope to cover students from the whole Belt and Road region.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1235319-20160113.htm
