CHAIR'S MESSAGE

Dear Members,

Kung Hei Fat Choi! May the Year of the Dragon bring success to your businesses and health and happiness to all.

In the period since my last message, there has been a lot of activity within the Chamber, in addition to all the festivities surrounding Christmas and the New Year’s holidays. We continue to enjoy the reconnection and restoration of the wonderful traditional gatherings around Chinese New Year which allow us to gear up for the traditionally busy spring months

A recent event that was full of energy and highly engaged was the successful BritCham DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) Symposium, which took place in February 2024. Thank you to the executive team and Women in Business who organised this event, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage in thought-provoking and practical applications of discussions on diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. The Symposium featured a keynote address by The Honourable Mrs Regina Ip Lau Suk Yee, Convenor of the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council; insightful panel discussions on managing diversity in a global business context; mental health, well-being, and what organisations can do to create a psychologically safe space to work; and LGBTQ+ inclusion in the context of belonging and workplace culture A design thinking workshop, networking opportunities, live music, and the chance to make new connections I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our amazing sponsors, partners, speakers, moderators, emcees, and supporters for their invaluable contributions to this outstanding event. Special thanks go to the Women in Business Committee for their tremendous effort in organising this brilliant symposium.

As part of our ongoing review of the governance of the Chamber and the evolution of the operations, I am pleased to announce we have introduced a quarterly meeting of all the individual committee chairs, to work more closely together across aspects of mutual and shared interests, and to endeavour to reach wider audiences and interest groups within the Chamber and beyond Thanks to our Vice Chair Jeremy Sheldon who has taken up the role of chairing the Committee Chairs Group meetings More will be shared in the coming months

As part of our ongoing external engagement with professional bodies, we enjoyed the company of the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers Anusha Shah when she visited Hong Kong in January. One of the key themes of her Presidential Address and for her year in office relates to sustainability in the design and delivery of projects, a highly relevant topic in Hong Kong and across the globe. The ICE Presidential Reception provided valuable networking opportunities and facilitated knowledge sharing among our members The meeting with the President of the Law Society allowed us to strengthen our partnerships and advocate for the interests of our members effectively I am also pleased to share that the joint chamber event with Dr Pang, the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, was a great success, providing valuable insights into the healthcare sector and fostering meaningful connections among professionals. Thanks to the Healthcare Committee for their ongoing engagement and sharing of practices across many jurisdictions.

The Mentorship Scheme Networking Drinks hosted by Counsel-General Brian Davidson CMG, marked the exciting kick-off of our 2024 Mentorship Scheme. This is particularly important to me as nurturing and empowering young leaders has always been a vital aspect of our work, and never more so than in the current day The resilience of the Chamber relies on us moving with the times and evolving to create an organisation that will endure and thrive and that remains culturally and contextually relevant, and thus the power of mentorship to shape the future of businesses in our community is vital. By connecting seasoned professionals with emerging talent, we aim to provide the guidance and support necessary for young leaders to flourish.

As we are entering the year of Dragon, I would like to express my thanks for the many invitations to participate in the Chinese New Year celebrations, including the Yantai Chinese New Year Dinner in Hong Kong which the Executive Director attended, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Chinese New Year celebration in London which I was delighted to attend and where I met many HK friends from both Hong Kong and London These events were wonderful opportunities to celebrate the Chinese New Year and strengthen our ties with various stakeholders.

This year, we will continue to explore opportunities within the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the development of the Northern Metropolis, unlocking the immense potential they offer for our members Embracing technology is another key focus, particularly in the realms of Finance, Healthcare, Sustainability, Innovation, and Infrastructure. We aim to empower our members to leverage technological advancements to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Lastly, we recognise the vital role of the Creative Industries in driving economic growth and will continue to support and promote this vibrant sector. Together, we will create a dynamic and inclusive business ecosystem that thrives on diversity, embraces innovation, and fosters collaboration across various industries

Looking ahead, the return of the BritCham & KPMG Rugby Dinner in April promises to be an evening filled with camaraderie, networking, and the celebration of sportsmanship We look forward to welcoming you all to this memorable event.

We are committed to working together to “get business done” and as we evolve and reshape our events and activities, we look forward to hearing your thoughts, suggestions and feedback, so please do get in touch.

Wishing you a prosperous Year of the Dragon filled with success in your business endeavours and the continued growth and prosperity of Hong Kong

Ir Dr Anne Kerr Chair The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong