HK lawmakers call for deeper economic links with Taiwan
Hong Kong legislators representing various trades in the city on Friday called for deeper and higherlevel economic cooperation with Taiwan to help both places achieve greater success.
As a bridge linking Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, the special administrative region could help Taiwan explore new opportunities arising from the nation’s key strategies, such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative, they said.
Han Kuo-yu — mayor of Taiwan’s southern port city Kaohsiung — arrived in the SAR on Friday, kicking off a week-long tour of four cities across the Taiwan Straits to strengthen ties and boost economic cooperation. Three of the cities he’s visiting — Hong Kong, the Macao SAR and Shenzhen in Guangdong province — are in the Bay Area.
On Friday, Han witnessed the signing of seven trade agreements worth NT$2.3 billion ($74.6 million, or HK$585 million) between two Kaohsiung business groups representing farmers and fishermen and business groups and organizations from Hong Kong and the mainland.
Lawmaker Steven Ho Chun-yin, who represents the agriculture and fisheries sector, urged the SAR government to work for deeper economic collaboration with Taiwan to achieve a win-win situation.
“The government must show its willingness and determination to unleash the potential for more cooperation opportunities,” he said.
In his view, Hong Kong and Kaohsiung have much to offer in the agricultural and fisheries industry. The SAR has strict quality control standards and a global trade network, while Taiwan is rich in natural resources, advanced technologies and operating models in this field.
With these advantages, Taiwan products could be sold to broader markets via Hong Kong, such as cities in the Bay Area, as well as countries and regions along the Belt and Road routes, Ho said. Hong Kong’s quality control, which has won international recognition, will also add value to Taiwan products in global markets.
Lawmaker Wong Ting-kwong, representing the import and export sector, said Hong Kong should adopt a more active approach in boosting cooperation with Taiwan, especially with Kaohsiung, in the wake of Han’s visit.
“In the past, Hong Kong and Kaohsiung have not had a close relationship due to a lack of communication. But, following Han’s visit, which offers a great impetus, both trade and business ties between the two cities will hit a new level,” he said.
Wong called for relevant government departments and organizations, such as the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, to set up offices in Kaohsiung to explore opportunities for cooperation in southern Taiwan.
At present, the Hong Kong SAR Government has only one liaison body in Taiwan — the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei.
Legislator Yiu Si-wing, who represents the tourism industry, believes that Han’s visit, aimed at strengthening communication between the people of Hong Kong and Kaohsiung, will encourage more Hong Kong tourists to explore Kaohsiung, as well as other cities in Taiwan, and vice versa.
He reckoned that closer tourism cooperation between the two cities could also help promote multi-destination travel in southern China.
With convenient transportation, mainland visitors arriving in Hong Kong could easily go to Taiwan, thereby increasing their willingness to explore the island, Yiu said.
To achieve that goal, he urged the relevant authorities to lower the threshold for mainland tourists to enter Taiwan. Feasible measures, he said, could include allowing tourists from more mainland cities to visit Taiwan in an individual capacity, and issuing them single permits to visit Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
Following Han’s visit, which offers a great impetus, both trade and business ties between the two cities (Hong Kong and Kaohsiung) will hit a new level.’’ Wong Ting-kwong, Hong Kong lawmaker