Hong Kong and Peru Sign Free Trade Agreement, Boosting Economic Ties and Opportunities

Remarks by CE at media session in Peru (with photo/video)

Following are the remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session in Lima, Peru on November 16 (Lima time):

Chief Executive: I would like to take this opportunity to summarise our visit here in Lima, Peru.

In the past few days, I attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and related activities, which included the APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Dialogue with Guests, the APEC Economic Leaders' Dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council, and the Gala Dinner hosted for participating guests. I had bilateral meetings with the leaders of Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

The President of Peru and I jointly witnessed the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Hong Kong and Peru. This agreement will create new business opportunities for Hong Kong and boost bilateral trade and investment flows.

Later tonight (November 16, Lima time), I shall also attend a dinner with the Peruvian business leaders in Lima, to highlight Hong Kong's attractiveness recognised by the international community as well as the significance of the FTA in fostering our economic development and partnership.

My visit to Peru and my participation in the APEC Meeting have achieved three results:

First, we demonstrate Hong Kong's commitment to promote regional economic and trade co-operation, and to explore diverse development opportunities. The Leaders' Declaration from this year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting outlines the common goal of fostering economic integration, inclusive development, and sustainable growth. These objectives align closely with this year's APEC theme: "Empower. Include. Grow". Hong Kong has all along been firmly committed to promoting international free trade and multilateral trade. Through active participation in APEC, Hong Kong will continue to support and promote regional economic integration and contribute to regional economic development.

Second, we explore new growth areas for Hong Kong and explore market opportunities in South America. The FTA signed between Hong Kong and Peru is the ninth of Hong Kong and the first under this administration. Currently, Hong Kong has already signed FTAs with 21 economies worldwide.

In terms of trade in goods, over 98 per cent of Hong Kong's originating goods will enjoy tariff-free access to the Peruvian market. For trade in services, Hong Kong service providers across more than 150 sectors will benefit. These sectors include professional services, research and development, financial services and transport services.

Peru ranks fifth among Hong Kong's merchandise trading partner in Latin America. With a burgeoning consumer market and ongoing infrastructure development, Peru presents significant opportunities. I look forward to Hong Kong's traders and investors grasping the opportunities brought by the FTA.

I am pleased to note that following the signing of the FTA, Hong Kong and Peru have also commenced negotiations on a separate Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement. I trust that Hong Kong and Peru will further enhance bilateral investment flows to bring about mutual economic growth.

Third, we enhance connections and relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economies, as well as built connections with other economies.

Hong Kong values our close relations with the ASEAN region. ASEAN has been our second-largest merchandise trade partner for more than a decade, accounting for 80 per cent of Hong Kong's total foreign trade value.

In Lima, I met with the leaders of three ASEAN countries: the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the President of Vietnam, and the Prime Minister of Singapore. Our discussions focused on enhancing economic and trade relations as well as cultural exchanges.

Since my last visit to these three countries, we have strengthened co-operation at various levels and achieved tangible results. Hong Kong is actively promoting further collaboration, including the plan to establish an Economic and Trade Office in Malaysia. We have gradually increased direct flights between Hong Kong and several ASEAN countries to facilitate greater people-to-people exchanges. I have also made use of the opportunity to establish link with other attending leaders and build connections.

We will continue to strive for regional co-operation and expand our business networks. Thank you.

Reporter: What messages have you got from President Xi Jinping when you talked to him during the APEC Summit? Second, how confident do you think the Hong Kong business community will tap into the South American market, given that there are language and time difference barriers? What will the Government do to unleash the potential of the FTA? Thank you.

Chief Executive: President Xi has always been caring about Hong Kong. I have reported to him Hong Kong's situation regarding the economy and development. He is well verse of our development and has given me encouragement.

In our conversation, he talked about Peru's culture and its agricultural resources. He also talked about China's agricultural development. We also talked about the role and contribution of the construction and the operation of the Port of Chancay in Peru, because it is a new development that will facilitate trade in goods, logistics and also the shipping industry. It will also help supply chain.

I am very much impressed and inspired. I thank President Xi for his care and guidance.

In regard to the signing of the FTA and resultantly the benefits and potential that will be available to Hong Kong businessmen, it will be important for, first of all, Hong Kong businessmen to understand and appreciate the contents of the FTA: what are the areas covered, what is the facilitation and what is the accession facilitation they will get. There is probably a difference in language, because in Peru, usually the business language and official language is Spanish, but a lot of them also speak English. In my dealing with a lot of officials, they are multilingual. Hong Kong people are also versatile. Hong Kong people have been doing business with different parts of the world, including the Middle East, countries such as Korea and Japan, so obviously, language is an issue but not a barrier. I believe in businessmen's versatility and adaptability. What is important is, where there are business opportunities, then our entrepreneurs will be able to find good ways to ensure that they will be able to grasp the opportunities and realise the benefits.

The next step I have suggested to the Peruvian Government is that maybe we shall establish chambers, because through chambers' connection, business-to-business communication and assistance will be more easily established. I am sure that the business sectors will be examining how they will develop their network with the assistance and support of government-to-government contact. I am sure this FTA will open new doors for a lot of business activities to start. I have also explained that we are already embarking on the negotiation for an agreement on promotion and production of investment that will make the whole series of agreements in full coverage of both trading of goods and trading of services, as well as the protection of investment. With Hong Kong being a financial centre, hopefully with these two series of agreements, the opportunities that will be opened to our business community will be vast.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Remarks by CE at media session in Peru (with photo/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD issues Notice of Elimination of Vermin to Langham Place in Mong Kok

In response to media enquiries regarding the rodent sightings in Langham Place in Mong Kok, a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (July 30) that the department has long attached great importance to the prevention and control of rodent infestation, and it will proactively follow up on any premises where poor hygiene conditions lead to such infestation.

Upon learning of the rodent sightings at the shopping centre concerned this morning, the FEHD immediately deployed staff to inspect its common areas and food premises. During the inspection, signs of rodent activity and holes in false ceilings were found, and a licensed food premises was found to have an improperly covered rubbish bin in its food room. These could not only make it easy for rodents to enter and exit, but also provide them with food sources and hiding spots. The situation was deemed unsatisfactory. The FEHD staff provided hygiene education and advice on rodent prevention and control measures to the shopping centre's management and staff, which include the implementation of effective pest control measures and reminders to maintain personal, food, and environmental hygiene at all times. The department learnt that the shopping centre concerned has already arranged for a pest control company to conduct thorough cleaning and strengthen anti-rodent measures.

The spokesman stressed that owners or occupiers of private premises (including indoor venues such as shopping centres) are responsible for clearing rodents within their premises. The persons in charge of private premises must earnestly fulfil their legal responsibilities and proactively implement effective rodent prevention and control measures.

In view of the inspection results today, the FEHD officers issued a Notice of Elimination of Vermin, in accordance with Section 47(1) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), requiring the property management of Langham Place in Mong Kok to take necessary steps to remove conditions conducive to rodent infestation by August 6, failing which prosecution may be instituted. Meanwhile, the FEHD staff also issued a verbal warning to the person in charge of the relevant food premises, requiring rectification of the irregularity.

The FEHD will continue to monitor the hygienic condition of Langham Place in Mong Kok and take appropriate actions to safeguard environmental hygiene and public health. If any premises is found with poor hygiene condition, mishandling of food or refuse, or possibly causing rodent infestation, the department will adopt appropriate enforcement actions depending on actual circumstances, in accordance with the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) and its subsidiary legislation, with a view to safeguarding public health.

The spokesman reiterated that the FEHD has always attached great importance to environmental hygiene, and rodent infestation is of particular concern. The department implements targeted anti-rodent measures across all districts and strengthens inspections and enforcement according to risk assessments to stringently combat irregularities that could lead to rodent infestation or affect public health, including actively inspecting private premises and issuing statutory Notice of Elimination of Vermin to relevant property managements or building owners.

As for Mong Kok District, the FEHD has issued 10 statutory Notices of Elimination of Vermin over the past six months, and has also issued 122 fixed penalty notices to individuals who violated cleansing regulations in the vicinity of the shopping centre. In addition to daily cleaning and anti-rodent work in public areas, the FEHD had stepped up cleaning and anti-rodent measures in public places near the shopping centre concerned, including increasing the number of mouse traps and bait boxes in nearby rear lanes, as well as increasing the frequency of cleaning and inspections in these areas to enhance the effectiveness of rodent control.

Rodent control requires the participation of all sectors of society, focusing on three aspects, namely food, harbourage, and passages: cutting off food sources, eliminating hiding places, and preventing entry into premises. Examples include properly storing food and kitchen waste, keeping premises clean inside and out, avoiding the accumulation of refuse, and promptly sealing holes and crevices in walls, doors, pipes, and other areas that could allow rodents to enter, so as to reduce the risk of rodent infestation.

The FEHD will continue to strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders and to raise public awareness of environmental hygiene through publicity and education, encouraging the adoption of good living habits to reduce rodent infestation risks at source.

Source: AI-found images