Chief Executive John Lee on Thursday announced that Hong Kong is “onstage again” and is ready to help build closer ties between other cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and ASEAN cities.

Lee was speaking at the Hong Kong-ASEAN summit, where he noted that leading investors all over the world are converging in Hong Kong for two major financial events – the FinTech week and the Global Financial Leaders Investment Summit – and this shows Hong Kong and its financial system remain “strong, sure and enviably secure”.

“We have been living in the eye of a pandemic for nearly three years now. And we know first-hand the extraordinary turbulence and the unprecedented chaos it has created for economies, businesses and communities all over the world, Hong Kong included,” he said.

“It may take a crystal ball to tell whether we are now living and working in a new normal or simply working to revitalise the old normal. But what I can tell you loud and clear is that Hong Kong is onstage again, we have our doors open.”

Lee said Hong Kong’s judicial system, free trade, and its location within the Greater Bay will help it facilitate the connection between ASEAN countries and the GBA.

“Hong Kong remains the ASEAN community’s critical partner in realising the far-reaching opportunities offered by the fast-growing GBA and its combined GDP of nearly US$2 trillion,” he said.

Lee said Hong Kong’s good supply of talent is also helping it come back onstage, and he said the government’s keen to bring in more professionals and companies to meet Hong Kong’s strategic needs.