UK remains ‘much valued business partner’ to Hong Kong, John Lee says

The United Kingdom remains a “much valued business partner” to Hong Kong, the city’s leader has said, while calling on British companies, investors and universities to explore opportunities in the Northern Metropolis megadevelopment.

Speaking at the annual summit of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said the development of the university towns in the megaproject near the mainland Chinese border offered a timely opportunity for both sides to collaborate more in higher education.

“We have long invested in each other’s economies, and we continue to do so,” Lee said.

He noted that merchandise trade between Hong Kong and the UK rose 26 per cent in 2024, while the number of British companies in the city increased by 7 per cent to 770 last year.

“Those numbers reflect the strong ties between us. They also underline the continuing confidence British companies and investors have in Hong Kong,” Lee said.

Pointing to the Northern Metropolis, which will transform 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of land into a technology hub and engine for economic growth, Lee said the megadevelopment would create vast opportunities in emerging sectors such as life and health technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, as well as education and research.

“I invite UK companies, investors, universities and research institutions to explore the opportunities arising from the Northern Metropolis, to work with Hong Kong and our Greater Bay Area partners to develop innovative solutions, services and businesses,” he said.

“The unique business proposition of the Northern Metropolis of Hong Kong is integrating technology, industry, education, talent and urban development, and doing so on the doorstep of the world’s second-largest economy.”

Lee added that, under Hong Kong’s first five-year plan, the government had sped up the development of the university towns in the Northern Metropolis to establish the city as an international educational hub. Those efforts would pave the way for universities on both sides to expand their long-standing partnership, he said.

“Hong Kong institutions have a long history of partnering with UK universities … I believe the time is ripe for expanding our post-secondary collaboration.”

Stressing that talent attraction was crucial to Hong Kong’s future growth, Lee said the city would continue to draw talent from around the world, including Britain.

He noted that recent career showcase events and campus engagement sessions held in the UK had attracted 4,500 participants, reflecting the interest of British talent in opportunities in Hong Kong.

Lee’s remarks came after a visit to Hong Kong last month by the UK’s Indo-Pacific minister Rosie Winterton. She toured the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop, the city’s flagship tech hub, and discussed plans to expand technological collaboration in the Greater Bay Area.

Winterton also said the UK hoped to strengthen business, education and people-to-people partnerships with Hong Kong.