With promises of dim sum and a discussion about Hong Kong’s enduring strengths and advantages, people streamed into “Hong Kong Night”, and filled the entire venue by the time CNBC anchor Geoff Cutmore took to the microphone to begin the proceedings.
The night was an honest look at Hong Kong, with opening remarks from HKEX Chairman Laura M. Cha stating that the city is open for business. Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam then sat down to talk to Cutmore one-on-one, reiterating her faith in Hong Kong’s resilience.
HKEX Chief Executive Charles Li sat on a panel with Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman, with Li reiterating that ‘One Country, Two Systems’ is what makes Hong Kong so valuable. “China trusts us because of ‘One Country’, and the world trusts us because of ‘Two Systems’. As long as that remains, Hong Kong will always be here,” he said.
As Li and Friedman were talking, World Economic Forum Founder and Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab and his wife, Hilde Schwab, joined “Hong Kong Night”. He eventually took to the stage, thanking Hong Kong for sending such a big delegation to the Forum and wishing everyone a happy and healthy ‘Year of the Rat’.
Conversations on stage continued, including one on transportation in the Greater Bay Area that featured Airport Authority’s Chairman Jack So, Swire’s Merlin Swire, and MTR Chief Executive Jacob Kam. Swire reminded the room that his family has long been involved in promoting transportation links in the Greater Bay Area, launching a Hong Kong to Guangzhou vessel in 1885! Kam, Swire, and So talked at length about the potential, careers, and business opportunities brought about by a strong and connected Greater Bay Area.
It was great to see so many people in the audience listening, sharing their own thoughts, and pulling for Hong Kong. Many people in Davos have lived in Hong Kong, done business there, visited, or have just followed the city’s progress over the years. There is a genuine desire to see the city succeed, something that was very apparent by the large crowd who joined us for “Hong Kong Night” to close out Davos 2020.
A big thank you to everyone for helping to pull this night together and for making it so memorable!
See the photos below.
