Chief Executive Highlights Hong Kong's Role in Strengthening Central Asia-China Economic Ties at South China Morning Post China Conference

Speech by CE at South China Morning Post China Conference: Central Asia 2026

Following is a video speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the South China Morning Post China Conference: Central Asia 2026 today (September 7):

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr Renat Bekturov (Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre), Ambassador Han Chunlin (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of Chinato the Republic of Kazakhstan), Ms Tammy Tam (Publisher of the South China Morning Post), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Hello from Hong Kong. I am pleased to join you today, virtually, at the China Conference: Central Asia 2026 cohosted by the South China Morning Post and the Astana International Financial Centre. It's indeed a pleasure to speak, once again, to our friends in Kazakhstan, shortly after my visit to your beautiful country this June.

Today's event brings together hundreds of senior policymakers, executives, investors and industry leaders from around the world. You are gathered here, in Astana, Kazakhstan, the legendary Silk Road hub that has transformed into a dynamic business, logistics and sustainability centre, to advance the strong co-operation between Central Asia and China, our country.

Central Asian countries are important economies of the Belt and Road Initiative. Actively diversifying your economic activities, and strengthening your global connections throughout the Belt and Road, Central Asia possesses immense potential and opportunities for businesses around the world.

I am most encouraged to see the steady growth in our bilateral economic and trade relations in recent years. Last year, the total merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Central Asia amounted to over US$324 million, representing a solid increase of 27 per cent as compared to 2020.

It is a clear testament to our deepening trade and investment ties, and we are fully committed to taking this partnership even further.

Under the unique "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong is the only world city that enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage. Hong Kong boasts a common law legal system shared by many global financial centres. Our business-friendly environment, simple and low tax regime, as well as wealth of multicultural talent and professional services help international companies, including those from Central Asia, tap into the vast Chinese Mainland market.

To explore the immense emerging opportunities in Central Asia, I led a delegation of high-level business representatives from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June.

During my visit in Kazakhstan, I had the honour of meeting His Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and His Excellency Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, where we explored collaboration opportunities in such areas as finance, trade, infrastructure, innovation and technology, and green development.

The visit was an unprecedented success, yielding fruitful results on various fronts. We established high-level ties between the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government and the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and advanced a hub-to-hub co-operation model to open up broader room for co-operation between Hong Kong and the Central Asian region.

A total of 96 co-operation agreements and MOUs were reached during the visit, involving specific amounts exceeding US$1.65 billion in total. The Astana International Financial Centre, which cohosts today's event, signed an MOU with Invest Hong Kong, our investment promotion agency, to facilitate mutual investments.

After my visit, a Hong Kong family office has signed an MOU with Kazakhstan's authorities to strengthen co-operation in sustainable energy. A bank in our delegation supported the Development Bank of Kazakhstan with US$785 million in financing, and I am pleased that the Kazakhstan national rail operator KTZ filed to list in Hong Kong.

I am glad to note that many of the enterprises in our delegation have successfully built strong rapport with their partners in Central Asia, and are commencing co-operation projects. Our GoGlobal Task Force (Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global), set up last year to link Hong Kong's world-class professional services and international network with Chinese Mainland companies expanding overseas, will continue to support enterprises in their expansion to Central Asia.

And we continue to deepen project matching between Hong Kong and the Central Asian region. Shortly after my visit, Alatau City of Kazakhstan organised an Investment Round Table in Hong Kong, introducing project opportunities in the innovative city of Alatau to our businesses and professionals.

The two governments also agreed to facilitate more convenient people-to-people exchanges with direct flights, and aviation and transport co-operation. A Hong Kong airline has recently announced the launch of a direct passenger service between Hong Kong and Almaty next January. With the opening of a direct flight linkage, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan could better develop our hub-to-hub working relationship, facilitating not only passenger but also business exchanges.

We have also expanded the work and coverage of our Economic and Trade Office network to Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, to boost bilateral trade and economic relations between Hong Kong and the region.

As we look ahead, the promise of Central Asia as a global growth engine is not to be missed. Hong Kong stands ready as your trusted partner, connecting markets, financing sustainable growth and driving seamless cross-boundary trade. Together, let us build new bridges of opportunity that deliver long-term prosperity for Eurasia and beyond.

My congratulations to the South China Morning Post for hosting this impactful conference in Kazakhstan, as our media organisations, much like our many successful enterprises, continue to expand their global influence. I wish you all an inspiring conference. Thank you.

South China Morning Post China Conference: Central Asia 2026, Photo source: SCMP

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing of duty-not-paid cigarettes

Two incoming male passengers were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 7) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted two incoming Mainland male passengers, aged 32 and 42, at Hong Kong International Airport on September 5 and 6 respectively, seized a total of 61 816 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $280,000 and a duty potential of about $205,000 from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases