Calvin Choi, as the sole representative of Hong Kong-funded financial institutions in the business delegation of the Hong Kong Government, accompanied Carrie Lam and Edward Yau to Malaysia and Thailand

Recently, Calvin Choi, Chairman and CEO of AMTD Group, as the sole representative of Hong Kong-funded financial institutions, was invited to join the business delegation of the government of HKSAR and accompany Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of HKSAR Government, and Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, to visit Malaysia and Thailand, promoting various advantages of Hong Kong in building “One Belt One Road”, looking for closer cooperation in economics and trade, and exploring new business opportunities. Other delegates include Bernard Chan, Convenor of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, Laura Shih, member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and Chairman of HKEX Group, Dr. Peter Lam, Chairman of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Dr. Patrick Lau, Deputy Chief of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Denis Yip, the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Tommy Yuen, Director for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs (Special Duties), Stephen Phillips, Director-General of Investment Promotion, Invest Hong Kong, Dr. Sunny Chai, Chairman of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Dr. George Lam, Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company, Leo Kung, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, Christopher Hui, Executive Director of Financial Services Development Council, and Willy Lin, Chairman of Hong Kong Productivity Council.

The delegation is composed of entrepreneurs and professionals from different sectors, including the chairman of the four major chambers of commerce in Hong Kong. It showcases Hong Kong's comprehensive strengths and advantages, including accounting, finance, insurance, real estate development and infrastructure, legal and dispute resolution, transportation and logistics, energy and environmental services, manufacturing, technology and telecommunications, cultural and creative industries and start-ups. Among them, AMTD Group is the sole representative of Hong Kong-funded financial institutions in the delegation.

The delegation first visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from November 25th to 26th, followed by Bangkok, Thailand from November 27th to 29th, and met and communicate with Lim Guan Eng, the Minister of Finance of Malaysia, Dato' Kamarudin Jaffar, Deputy Minister of Transport of Malaysia, Prayut, Prime Minister of Thailand, Somkid, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Weerasak Wangsupakitkosol, Deputy Minister of Commerce, as well as local business leaders and chamber of commerce representatives to discuss cooperation. On November 29th, Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Government of HKSAR, met with Prayut, Prime Minister of Thailand, in Bangkok and signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with Somkid, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, to strengthen Hong Kong's economic ties with Thailand. In addition, the delegation also visited Bai Tian, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Malaysia, and Lu Jian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand.

Malaysia and Thailand are both rapidly developing countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and Hong Kong has always maintained close ties with the two countries. Hong Kong signed a free trade agreement with ASEAN in 2017 and set up an economic and trade office in Bangkok this February. This visit further strengthened the relationship between Hong Kong and Malaysia and Thailand. As Hong Kong's leading comprehensive financial institution group and Asia's largest independent investment bank, AMTD will continue to increase its investment and strategic deployment in ASEAN regions including Malaysia and Thailand to promote communication and cooperation between Hong Kong and ASEAN countries.