Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee led a business delegation comprising Hong Kong and mainland enterprises to the Middle East and brought good news yesterday (May 12). The CE announced in Qatar that starting immediately, Hong Kong SAR passport holders can visit Qatar visa-free for 30 days; Qatari nationals can also visit Hong Kong visa-free, providing greater convenience for travel between the two places.
"This is a new milestone in Hong Kong-Qatar relations, further highlighting Hong Kong's international role as a 'super connector.'"
At a high-level business luncheon in Doha, Qatar, Lee announced that Hong Kong SAR passport holders can now visit Qatar visa-free for 30 days, a more convenient arrangement compared to the previous "visa on arrival" policy. Qatari nationals can also visit Hong Kong visa-free. The visa-free policy not only facilitates Hong Kong tourists in exploring Qatar but also provides more efficient travel conditions for businesspeople.
"These measures will make it easier to establish partnerships, conduct business, and enjoy life," he noted.
Museum of Islamic Art to hold exhibition at Hong Kong Palace Museum in June
Lee noted that Hong Kong is committed to enhancing its friendliness toward Muslim tourists. Currently, over 170 restaurants have obtained halal certification, a 70% year-on-year increase, and more than 60 hotels and attractions have also received relevant recognition, demonstrating Hong Kong's efforts in cultural inclusivity and laying the foundation for interaction between the two peoples.
The CE also mentioned exchanges in culture and education, such as an upcoming exhibition by Qatar's Museum of Islamic Art at the Hong Kong Palace Museum next month. Hong Kong's M+ Museum will also exhibit works about the well-known architect I.M. Pei in Qatar. Besides this, he welcomed Qatari youth to join over 4,000 students from the countries of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in studying at Hong Kong's internationally renowned universities.
At the luncheon, Lee witnessed the signing and exchange of 35 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and agreements. He later posted on social media to add that these included an MOU between the two governments to strengthen investment promotion cooperation; a mutual recognition arrangement for "authorized economic operators" signed by the customs authorities of both sides to facilitate the clearance and movement of goods; two agreements reached between mainland and Qatari enterprises to provide financial services and support for high-end manufacturing; and a letter of intent jointly signed by Hong Kong, the mainland, and Qatar to advance cooperation in fintech, including Web 3.0 and AI collaboration, leveraging each region's technological strengths for mutual development. This underscores Hong Kong's role as a "connector within and beyond" and further solidifies the foundation for cooperation.
CE: Trip "fully met and even exceeded" expectations
At a media briefing later, Lee summarized his visit to Qatar, describing it as fully meeting and exceeding his expectations.
"Before the trip, I set three goals: to establish government-to-government relations, explore areas of cooperation, and expand our network. Significant results have been achieved in all three areas." He particularly thanked Qatar's head of state and prime minister for taking time out of their busy schedules to meet with him and noted that the signing of 35 MOUs and agreements was the culmination of efforts from both sides, reflecting the consensus between the governments and enterprises of both regions on future cooperation.
According to him, specifically, Hong Kong and Qatar have largely completed negotiations on an investment promotion and protection agreement and will also negotiate mutual recognition of their respective authorized economic operator programs. Significant progress has also been made on an MOU for legal cooperation.
Lee added that Hong Kong, as a "super connector" linking mainland China with international markets, played a key role in this visit. Among the outcomes were two agreements reached between mainland and Qatari enterprises and a letter of intent jointly signed by Hong Kong, the mainland, and Qatar. "These collaborations demonstrate Hong Kong's ability to 'connect within and beyond,' closely linking mainland enterprises with the Middle East market."
During his visit to Qatar, John Lee led the delegation in numerous exchanges, tours, visits, and meetings. He also introduced Hong Kong's strengths in finance, professional services, and innovation and technology to Qatari leaders, reaching consensus on strengthening cooperation in various fields. John Lee stated that the delegation expanded its network in their respective fields, showcasing the advantages of Hong Kong and the mainland to the Middle East.
He added that the Middle East is a vibrant region with abundant capital and rapid development, actively seeking partners and investment opportunities, which aligns with the economic development direction of the nation and Hong Kong, particularly in new energy, green initiatives, and technological innovation. Regarding the Hong Kong SAR government's plan to establish a second economic and trade office in the Middle East, John Lee revealed that the new office is planned for Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and discussions with the local government are actively underway, with both teams accelerating related work.
SAR officials: Opportunity is now
Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, together with delegation members, met with representatives of the Qatar Foundation yesterday morning. He introduced Hong Kong SAR's unique advantages to attendees, including its status as a leading international financial center; its role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" linking the mainland, Asia, and the globe; its ability to provide full supply chain services and world-class professional services; the free flow of capital, goods, and information; its independent judiciary and final adjudication rights; and its five universities ranked among the world's top 100. More importantly, Hong Kong can help investors tap into the vast mainland market.
"We welcome any economy, including Qatar, to seek more opportunities through Hong Kong."
Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, stated that an important aspect of this trip was meeting with financial institutions in Qatar to promote Hong Kong's advantages and latest developments as the world's third-largest international financial center, laying the groundwork for future cooperation.
He mentioned that during the meeting with Qatar Financial Centre representatives, as noted by Qatar Financial Centre CEO Mr. Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, the ties between Qatar and the mainland, as well as Hong Kong, have deepened and expanded over recent decades, especially under BRI.
Hui particularly highlighted that attendees included representatives from institutions involved in establishing and operating Hong Kong's financial systems, institutions, platforms, and standards. He hopes to leverage friendships to drive new collaborations and consolidate the status of both financial centers.
(Source: Wen Wei Po, Ta Kung Pao; Journalists: Tang Wen, Yi Hao; English Editor: Darius)
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