Hong Kong positioned as green gateway for belt and road firms: John Lee

Hong Kong is well positioned to help companies deploy green services and technologies across belt and road countries, the city’s leader and a mainland Chinese official have said, with authorities noting that at least five enterprises have signed up.

They made the remarks at the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference, which opened in Hong Kong on Monday. It is the first time the event has been held outside the mainland, as the city seeks to act as a bridge for expanding the global market for green technology.

“From finance to green transformation, Hong Kong is well placed to serve as a superconnector and super value-adder, connecting people and opportunities and helping turn collaboration into concrete results,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said.

“In building a greener, more prosperous and sustainable future, Hong Kong is your reliable partner. We look forward to continuing to collaborate, contribute and connect with you across the Belt and Road Initiative and beyond.”

Lee added that green transformation was a shared endeavour and that multilateral collaboration could achieve more than a unilateral approach.

The Belt and Road Initiative, spearheaded by the Chinese government and launched by President Xi Jinping in late 2013, aims to improve trade and economic integration across Asia, Europe and Africa.

More than 400 officials and experts are expected to attend the conference.

China’s minister of ecology and environment, Huang Runqiu, echoed Lee’s remarks at the event.

“Hong Kong has served as a major global financial and trading hub, a magnet for top international tech talent, and a springboard for China’s opening-up,” Huang said.

“The city is expected to leverage its distinctive advantages to act as a green connector, advancing global policy exchange, knowledge-sharing and pragmatic collaboration.”

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan also said the government aimed to halve its carbon emissions, while working with mainland partners and the city’s two power companies to develop new zero-carbon energy.

In this year’s policy address, Lee announced the launch of the Green Technology Bridgehead Programme, which will bring together mainland and overseas technology companies using Hong Kong as a springboard to “go global” or “land” on the mainland.

“By showcasing green solutions and technology applications through EcoPark, and taking advantage of Hong Kong’s legal, financial and environmental expertise, these companies can export green solutions to B&R countries,” Lee said in the blueprint released in September.

As part of the drive, authorities also established a Belt and Road Sustainable Green Development Training Centre in Hong Kong in May to offer courses to personnel from countries along the route.

According to authorities on Monday, at least five mainland and overseas companies are expected to join the Green Technology Bridgehead Programme next year and receive training to help them promote their green services overseas.

The training will cover environmental protection technologies, green finance, legal frameworks and the compliance requirements for overseas expansion.

As of last month, more than 100 Belt and Road firms with a combined market capitalisation exceeding HK$340 billion (US$43.6 billion) were listed in the city, while some infrastructure firms from Central Asian states were also eyeing a debut on the local exchange.