The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation which had drawn worldwide attention came to a successful conclusion in Beijing earlier on.  The Chief Executive called the trip “fruitful” and pointed out that countries around the world attached great importance to the significance of infrastructure in social and economic development.  In fact, with the Belt and Road Initiative progressing in full speed, Hong Kong is undoubtedly capable of playing to its unique strengths.  Our construction and engineering industry is adept at capitalising on the international market, enjoys a good reputation, boasts excellent and international professional services teams and professional talent from around the world, and maintains global commercial and social networks.  Therefore, it is highly experienced in exploring new markets, project management, aligning itself with international standards, etc.  We expect that members of the industry can seize the opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative and together extensively explore the infrastructure markets in the Belt and Road countries, so as to transform Hong Kong into a platform for providing high-end professional services for these countries.

Since our return to the Motherland, Hong Kong has benefited from the advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.  The construction, engineering and related industries have been actively participating in collaborations between the Mainland and Hong Kong.  Thanks to their drive and efforts, as well as initiatives such as the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the “early and pilot implementation” approach in Guangdong Province and the establishment of pilot free trade zones, Hong Kong’s industries have more opportunities to expand their business in the Mainland.  At present, about 1 500 Hong Kong professionals have obtained the relevant professional qualifications in the Mainland through the mutual recognition of professional qualification arrangement under the CEPA framework.  The liberalisation measures for cross-border services have also been extended from Guangdong to Guangxi and Fujian.  Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we expect that these measures will be taken to a higher and broader level and Hong Kong’s professional engineering skills and experience will be applied to the infrastructure projects in the Belt and Road countries.

Professional services of high reputation

The Chief Executive, after the trip to the Belt and Road Forum, said that the standards of Hong Kong’s infrastructure design, construction and management are well recognised, and opined that Hong Kong’s professional sectors, including planning, engineering, surveying, construction, landscape, and even finance and accounting, will have ample room for development in infrastructure construction in the Belt and Road countries.  In fact, many engineering consultancy firms in Hong Kong have accumulated valuable experience through their participation in infrastructure projects in the Belt and Road countries or cities over the past decade or so.  The types of works are highly diversified, including railways, roads and bridges, airports, ports and piers, water supply and sewage, energy projects, town planning and environmental assessment, project management, consultancy services, etc.  Besides, the scope of professional services provided has also been expanded from project feasibility study to engineering design and supervision.  In recent years, there are also successful examples of local construction companies in Hong Kong participating in the infrastructure and development projects in various places, such as the roads, railways, airports, commercial and residential development projects in Singapore, India, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and more.  Therefore, there are indeed successful examples of promoting Belt and Road development and they are not just empty talks.  I am very pleased that the professional services sectors of Hong Kong have earned a good reputation in the international community.

Promote actively and explore business opportunities

Next, we have to increase our pace of “going global”.  I recall that at the end of February this year, I led the Working Group on Professional Services (PSWG) under the Economic Development Commission and industry practitioners to visit Cambodia and Indonesia, member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to promote cross-sectoral professional services and explore business opportunities for the industry.  The trip was fruitful.  We took the opportunity to further familiarise the local sectors there with the advantages that Hong Kong’s professional services have in infrastructure development, including the successful “Integrated Rail + Property Development” model of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited (MTR).  After returning to Hong Kong, I am very pleased to learn that the MTR Academy signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mass Rapid Transit Jakarta in April to provide consultancy and training services for Indonesia’s first underground railway project.  This reflects enhanced mutual understanding with huge business opportunities on the horizon.  The Development Bureau (DEVB) and the PSWG will continue to work with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office to identify and visit other suitable places along the Belt and Road region, so that the industry can explore more business opportunities.

Co-operation between the two places to expand services

In addition, the DEVB has been maintaining close communication with the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development to enable Hong Kong’s industries to participate in the Belt and Road construction projects together with the Mainland enterprises.  In 2015, with the support of the Ministry of Commerce, two construction consultancy firms in Hong Kong participated in the country’s two foreign aid construction projects in Nepal and Cambodia respectively and helped provide project supervision services of international standards.  On the strength of these two successful examples, we will continue to work out with the Ministry of Commerce about providing further opportunities for Hong Kong’s consultancy firms to take part in more and different types of works projects and expand their scope of services, so as to further provide “full-range” services from project planning to completion.

Hong Kong is not only the springboard for many Mainland enterprises to expand overseas business, but also a popular gateway for multinational companies to enter the Mainland market.  The Belt and Road Initiative has aroused the interest of the Asian, African and even the European regions to invest in infrastructure and related projects.  It will definitely bring ample regional and international development opportunities to the construction industry of Hong Kong in future.  This is a great opportunity not to be missed by the Hong Kong people for any reason.  The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will continue to discuss with the Central Government and heads of states ways to strengthen international co-operation, with a view to achieving an all-win situation and leading the various professional sectors of Hong Kong to forge ahead.