Supported by China's Ministry of Commerce and the HKSAR government, the Mainland-HK Belt & Road Business & Professional Services Council was established in Hong Kong on 14 December. The Bank of China Deputy CEO Mr. Lin Jing-zhen served as Chairman for the Mainland and Sunwah's Chairman Dr. Jonathan Choi served as Chairman for Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Mrs. Carrie Lam, China's Ministry of Commerce International Trading Arbitration representative Mr. Fu Zi-ying, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR Commissioner Xie Feng, Liaison Office of the CPC Deputy Director Chou Hong, HK Financial Secretary Mr. Paul Chan, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Mr. Edward Yau, and Secretary for Commerce for Taiwan, HK and Macau Mr. Sun Tong, officiated at the ceremony. More than 500 guests and representatives from the Chambers of Commerce, professional institutes and corporations attended the ceremony.

The officiating guests spoke respectively at the ceremony. Hong Kong was the prime platform and a key link for the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong was best placed to be the platform for provision of professional and comprehensive services for Belt and Roadrelated projects as well as in facilitating capital flows and financing.Hong Kong had a rich pool of professionals who were experienced in project financing and funding, bond issuing, legal and dispute resolution, accounting, insurance, business consultancy, risk assessment and management, construction, architecture, transport and more.

Hong Kong had been performing unique functions in the process of the reform and opening up of the country in the past 40 years, and would continue to contribute proactively to the Belt and Road Initiative, including the promotion of the five areas of connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative, namely policy co-ordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds.

The establishment of the Council was jointly initiated by the Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the China International Contraction Association. The Belt and Road Initiative provided a platform to integrate with the country's development strategy, complemented each other's strengths and offered new potentials and opportunities.