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Chief Executive John Lee’s Middle East delegation comprises 30 heavyweights from finance, tech and logistics sectors

  • The mix of delegates, who will promote the city to Arab political and business elites, indicates the industries Lee wishes to underpin growth
  • Among them are stock exchange boss Nicolas Aguzin and Cathay Pacific’s chief executive Ronald Lam, according to a list seen by the Post

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Hong Kong’s delegation during a meeting at the Abraj Atta’awuneya Center at the Ulaya district in Riyadh. Photo: Handout
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s first official visit to the Middle East underscores Hong Kong’s efforts to compete for investment and talent in the financial services, technology and logistics sectors.
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He is accompanied by 30 big hitters from those fields on his weeklong trip to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, according to a list provided by sources who did not wish to be identified.

They include the Hong Kong stock exchange’s boss, Nicolas Aguzin, China International Capital Corporation’s chief executive, Huang Zhaohui, Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation chairman Sunny Chai, and Cathay Pacific Airways’ chief executive Ronald Lam.
HKEX chief Nicolas Aguzin (left) and Saudi Tadawul Group CEO Khalid Al Hussan signed an MOU to boost cooperation. Photo: HKEX
HKEX chief Nicolas Aguzin (left) and Saudi Tadawul Group CEO Khalid Al Hussan signed an MOU to boost cooperation. Photo: HKEX
The mix of delegates, who will promote the city to Arab political and business elites, indicates the industries the Lee administration aims to emphasise and advocate to anchor Hong Kong’s development as it accelerates its return to the global stage.

Financial sector leaders

As well as CICC’s Huang and HKEX’s Aguzin – who facilitated the signing of an agreement between Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing and Saudi Tadawul Group Holding Company to work together on cross listings and other areas of interest – a number of other financial leaders are in Lee’s delegation.

Huang Zhaohui, chief executive officer and chairman of the management committee at CICC. Photo: Handout
Huang Zhaohui, chief executive officer and chairman of the management committee at CICC. Photo: Handout
Standard Chartered Bank’s Asia chief executive Benjamin Hung is one. He is chairman of both Standard Chartered Bank China and Standard Chartered Bank Singapore, as well as an adviser to the HKEX, which operates Hong Kong’s bourse.
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