Chief Executive John Lee said Hong Kong's rule of law, free-flowing capital and global financial heft take on new weight as the Greater Bay Area (GBA) prepares to welcome Apec leaders for the first time this November.

Delivering a video speech at the Greater Bay Area Conference on Thursday, he said the upcoming summits will put the region in the global spotlight like never before.

"The spotlight is on our region. And we are ready," Lee said, noting that Shenzhen will host the Apec Economic Leaders' Meeting while Hong Kong will host the Apec Finance Ministers' Meeting in October.

He framed Hong Kong's role as unique and irreplaceable, supported by the advantages of operating under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.

"Hong Kong is the only world city that converges both the China advantage and the global advantage," Lee said.

"We offer a highly market-oriented environment, anchored in the rule of law. We maintain a common law system.

"Capital, information and talent flow freely. Our tax regime is simple and low, backed by world-class professional services.

"Taken together, these strengths make Hong Kong a gateway connecting the mainland and global markets."

Lee added that Hong Kong brings together ideas, capital and talent across boundaries, and connects the Greater Bay Area with global markets.

Echoing that vision, Financial Secretary Paul Chan in his video speech said the Greater Bay Area stands apart as "unique in the world" – a single region bringing together a leading international financial centre, one of the world's most dynamic innovation clusters, advanced manufacturing at scale, and a multimodal transport network.

"As the country's most internationally connected region, the GBA presents a strong value proposition for Asia-Pacific collaboration," he said.

"It rests on a simple conviction: when we partner, we do not merely add up our strengths – we multiply them, and extend their reach well beyond Asia."

Chan pointed to embodied intelligence – AI integrated into physical systems – as a prime example of that multiplying power.

Hong Kong offers world-class AI research and international reach, he said, while Shenzhen provides a robotics supply chain where "most components are within half an hour's drive".

That proximity, he said, allows ideas to move seamlessly from prototype to testing, mass production and global markets.

Chan framed the year-end Apec gatherings as a pivotal opportunity for the Greater Bay Area to act as a vital link, driving dialogue, deepening cooperation, and forging new partnerships.



Edited by Tony Sabine