John Lee to lead Hong Kong, mainland delegation to Qatar, Kuwait on Saturday

Hong Kong’s leader has said he will lead a delegation that for the first time includes representatives from both the city and mainland China on a visit to Qatar and Kuwait on Saturday, with the aim of driving more business and people-to-people ties with the Middle East.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also said that the coming visit – his second official trip to the Middle East after his 2023 visit to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates – would explore new development opportunities in finance, trade and technology.

“This visit will break new ground as the delegation includes not only Hong Kong government representatives, but also the city’s business representatives and mainland Chinese enterprise delegates,” Lee told reporters ahead of a meeting with advisers in the city’s top decision-making Executive Council.

According to Lee, the delegation would include over 30 Hong Kong business leaders from trade and professional services, and more than 20 entrepreneurs from the mainland provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong.

The mainland representatives were from various sectors, including innovation and technology, new energy, finance, trade and logistics.

Lee said he would hold talks with local officials, with the delegation kept informed of the cooperative policy direction between Hong Kong and the governments of both Gulf countries, while promoting more people-to-people exchanges.

The visit would also include visits to facilities and local companies to understand the latest developments in local finance, trade, technology and other areas, to explore new opportunities for collaboration, he added.