Hong Kong’s commerce chief to visit Singapore to bolster trade ties

Hong Kong’s commerce and economic development chief will visit Singapore next week in his latest global charm offensive to bolster bilateral trade ties as he described the city state as “a friend” rather than “a rival”.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah told the Post in an exclusive interview that he would spend two days in Singapore, meeting officials as he sought to reframe a persistent narrative of intense competition between the two Asian financial hubs as a relationship of mutual benefit.

“We see Singapore as a friend rather than a rival, because I think everybody is trying to paint a picture [that] Hong Kong and Singapore are rivals, competitors … [and that] Singapore is going to take over. I don’t think that is necessary,” Yau said on Friday.

The visit on August 31 is part of celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Hong Kong’s economic and trade office in Singapore. Yau also visited Sydney earlier this month to mark the 30th anniversary of Hong Kong’s office in Australia.

The Singapore trip is part of a wider government strategy of proactive international engagement, which has included officials leading delegations to the Middle East and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries over the past year.

“I think everybody is competing with everybody. So what we can do is to get into better understanding and collaboration with each other and complement each other, rather than seeing each other as an enemy,” Yau said.