CHAIR'S MESSAGE

Dear Members,

If like me, you are thinking that time is indeed flying past this year, perhaps we can collectively take a moment to reflect on some of the remarkable activities and achievements of the past months. We have continued our advocacy work with specific inputs to the HK SAR Governments budget for 20242025. The Budget has been poured over and analysed in various fora and provides many positive actions for the business community We continue to work with Government, the Bureaux and agencies to translate policy into business opportunities and are encouraged to see new arrivals and returnees to Hong Kong Like our community the Chamber has displayed exceptional resilience and adaptability, and I thank each and every one of you for your continued support and contributions and wish for green shoots to become strong branches.

One of the flagship events in the Chambers calendar is our Symposium and this year we held a very lively and highly engaging Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Symposium. This event followed the International Women's Day (IWD) campaign which was once again a resounding success, featuring captivating photos, inspiring quotes, and thought-provoking interview videos from our BritCham members And of course, DEIB is about so much more than gender and we are really pleased to see the actions being taken by companies and individuals to support, what to me is the super important aspect of “inclusivity” where everyone can be their very best.

As in the years before COVID, we saw a numerous of visitors arrive to hold business meetings and events around those important dates in our annual event calendar, Art Basel, the Rugby 7’s and others, to support local colleagues. Wonderful traditions to be continued and to be made, and of course the farewell to Hong Kong Stadium for the Rugby 7’s after 30 years of entertainment was a moment not to be missed. New traditions will be made! Many thanks to KPMG for the BritCham & KPMG Rugby 7’s dinner – a celebration of sporting excellence and business connections!

It gives me particular pleasure to note an uptick in our participation in the arts and cultural scene, with our participation in events such as the Design Trust, photography exhibitions at Fortnum and Masons, Art Basel events, Art Central, as well as the Team GB Reception at the Consulate ahead of the Rugby 7’s These events not only showcased our support for creativity but also provided excellent networking opportunities for our members.

In advance of the influx of sporting and cultural visitors we were delighted to host the esteemed Lord Mayor of London Michael Mainelli and the Sheriff of London Bronek Masojada, at a luncheon kindly hosted by HSBC in their magnificent dining room atop their Headquarters. Sadly, the mist rolled in from the South China Sea and the vista was not evident, it did mean we could all focus on the points of discussion around the diversity of the businesses which make up the City of London, divided somewhat equally among engineering and science, financial services as well as technology and related services.

We continue to foster relationships with Governments, including those in the HKSAR and UK, as well as having meaningful exchanges with the China Liaison Office. And in the spirit of collaboration, we are pleased to share that between Hong Kong and China. In a similar view, I am pleased to share that the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) has announced our former Chair Peter Burnett will be their CEO, taking over from Andrew Seaton who served as British Consul General in HK, and thereafter as the CEO of CBBC Connections will continue!

I would also like to specifically highlight two networking events which are to me the essence of creating an environment for connecting, the first is a networking drink organised for our YNetwork, providing a platform for young professionals to connect, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations. The second is a new member induction networking event, where new members will have the opportunity to meet and network with our existing members, enabling them to establish fruitful connections within our vibrant business community We look forward to meeting new as well as younger members at these and many other events in the weeks to come

As this will be my last edition of the magazine, I wish to express my sincere thanks to the members of the Chamber, the executive teams past and current, and to all friends of the Chamber – you have been a hugely influential and inspiring part of my life for over 25 years. Over these years I have seen many changes but also the constant of the Chamber being a place where business gets done and networks and friendships are created. At the Annual General Meeting in June, I will hand over the baton as my term concludes, with confidence that the changes we have seen in my tenure will take the Chamber forward in a resilient manner

With deepest gratitude to each and every one of you – too many to name – who have shaped and made the Chamber what it is today, and to those who will shape it going forward.

I encourage each of you to actively engage with our Chamber's activities, committees, and initiatives. Your involvement not only enhances your own professional growth but also contributes to the collective success of our Chamber and the business environment in Hong Kong.

Thank you for being an integral part of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Together, we will continue to thrive, adapt, and shape a prosperous future.

Ir Dr Anne Kerr

Chair, The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong