A Hong Kong business executive has proposed leveraging the unique advantages of the special administration region's unique international position to serve as a springboard for more Chinese mainland enterprises to go global in search of new development drivers.
Henry Tan, is the CEO of Luen Thai Group, a leading consumer goods supply chain group based in Hong Kong, and also a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, which is currently convening for its annual session in Beijing.
In an interview on the sidelines of the session, Tan said Hong Kong's unique strategic position at the crossroads of the East and West makes it an attractive destination for Chinese brands to expand globally. He believes Hong Kong companies are well placed to offer end-to-end support to help mainland firms establish a footing and grow sustainably in overseas markets.
"So I believe [at] this time that Chinese brands should go overseas. I believe Hong Kong companies can play an important role in helping this undertaking and with the success, we can then go overseas, especially in ASEAN countries. [Products from many] Hong Kong companies have been in most of the ASEAN countries' manufactured garments, for maybe the last 20-30 years. And many of us also participate in retail in those countries," he said.
Hong Kong will draft its first five-year development blueprint as part of efforts to better align itself with China's national 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which maps out China's overall economic and social development goals for the years ahead.
Tan said these efforts will help Hong Kong to more strongly integrate into national development strategies, while also playing to its strengths and furthering international cooperation.
"I think the difference in Hong Kong is that Hong Kong has more global exposure. We have more better conductivity overseas. It would be great if the Hong Kong industry in this particular sector would match our national Five-Year Plan in the same industry, and say that '1 + 1' will be bigger than two," Tan said.
Hong Kong's economy saw a 3.5 percent year-on-year expansion in 2025. The financial hub last year has also maintained its status as the world's freest economy, according to the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World 2025 Annual Report, and saw its global competitiveness ranking rise to third place.
Hong Kong can play key role in enabling Chinese brands to go global: CPPCC member
