Hong Kong firms should step up ties abroad to tackle Western bias: Regina Ip

Hong Kong’s business and academic circles should step up exchanges with their overseas counterparts to help counter the bias of Western governments against the city and Beijing, a top government adviser has said.

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who is the convenor of the key decision-making Executive Council, said on Friday that the non-government efforts could help build trust and in turn influence officials and politicians abroad.

Ip was addressing a 2½-hour forum organised by the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, which gathered business and political elites to share views on making use of the city’s advantages and deepening international cooperation.

In her keynote address to the about 200 guests, Ip emphasised the importance of “Track II” diplomacy, which is the use of non-government level contacts to facilitate communication, build trust and resolve conflict.

“Some US congressmen make radical comments about China. But they have not been to China before,” said Ip, citing tensions between Washington and Beijing.

“We can step up exchanges with think tanks, or opinion leaders [in the US] who understand China’s perspectives better. Like in the past, when we had some trade issues with the US, we would talk to the US importers, hoping they could lobby their government.”