British Chamber Year in Review - 2020 The past 12 months in Hong Kong and around the world have been unprecedented. The year was dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic. In Hong Kong social unrest carried over from 2019 for a short while and we continued to contend with the global trade tensions. In June the National Security Legislation in Hong Kong added a further dimension. The economic and societal challenges which have confronted business across the board have been unique. Navigating these hurdles has been a clear imperative for the Chamber; we have worked alongside many of our members to represent their business interests and engage with the Government as part of our continued effort to maintain and improve Hong Kong as the place to do business in Asia. The Committee structure is one of the great strengths of the Chamber and the backbone of the policy work that we engage in. This year, more than ever, has shown how strong the Chamber community is. Key policy submissions that we have made during the year include the following topics: • • • • • • •
Greater Bay Area (GBA). Policy Address and matching exercise. Digital healthcare strategy. Cancer care strategy. Restoration of safe and trusted international travel. The National Security Legislation and its practical impact for business. Business support to offset the impact of Covid-19, particularly for the SME community.
It is through the support from the diverse and experienced Chamber membership, and specialist Committees, that the value of these submissions is seen by the Hong Kong Government. Our regular closed-door meetings with senior members of the administration, supported by stand-alone policy or position papers, are intended to assist and inform the Government in relation to the issues facing the international business community. Our events programme pivoted at the beginning of the year and, like many others, we joined Zoom so that we could continue to share insights on business-relevant topics and engage virtually with our members. We welcomed some senior industry leaders including Edward Yau, Eddie Yue, Christopher Hui, Kevin Sneader and Sir Lynton Crosby. We also
