Hong Kong to press ahead with expanding Middle East ties despite regional unrest

AdvertisementHong Kong economyHong KongPoliticsHong Kong to press ahead with expanding Middle East ties despite regional unrestChief Executive John Lee vows to keep pursuing business opportunities in the region, hailing Hong Kong as an ‘irreplaceable’ investment gateway2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenJess MaPublished: 3:00pm, 17 Mar 2026Updated: 3:44pm, 17 Mar 2026Hong Kong will continue its efforts to expand business opportunities in the Middle East despite recent geopolitical tensions, as the city remains a safe and stable investment hub amid global volatility, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said.Despite his optimism, Lee conceded that the conflict in the Middle East had affected Hong Kong due to a surge in fuel prices, urging suppliers to increase transparency in pricing and warning of regulatory action in cases of commercial wrongdoing.“[The advantage of] Hong Kong, as a safe place with development opportunities, would be pronounced under the current tensions in the Middle East,” Lee said ahead of an Executive Council meeting on Tuesday.AdvertisementLee, whose administration has been focused on exploring Middle Eastern markets amid global geopolitical tensions, defended his approach, emphasising that opportunities still outweighed risks for Hong Kong’s business collaboration with the Gulf states.He noted that the Middle East was a region of strong economic growth, adding that he had built good working relationships with countries there through his four previous visits, which had successfully fostered project deals and cooperation.Advertisement“After our trips, many projects had begun, with many contracts signed. This cooperation will not be affected by the [geopolitical situation] of the Middle East, especially for government-to-government cooperation,” Lee said.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x