Hong Kong leader John Lee vows full support for Apec meeting in Shenzhen

Hong Kong will support an Apec summit in neighbouring Shenzhen next year in any way it can, the city’s leader has pledged, while revealing new initiatives to foster closer ties with Asean countries, including a high-level official visit to Singapore.

Wrapping up his attendance at this year’s Apec meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Saturday that he felt “thrilled” Shenzhen would host the event in November next year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced earlier in the day at a handover ceremony that China would use its role as next year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) host to work with countries to promote growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Xi also pledged to “vigorously” push for collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy.

Lee said: “We are thrilled in particular when Shenzhen is our neighbouring city. Our relationship is very close.”

He added the government was “fully prepared” and “very excited” to be able to take any role to support the successful hosting of the Apec conference. But he did not elaborate on the support his administration would provide.