Chen Maobo: Hong Kong is definitely in a position to become a “foothold, bridgehead, charging station, and propulsion” for Chinese car companies and industrial chains to go overseas

The Zhitong Finance App learned that on June 11, Hong Kong Financial Secretary Chen Maobo attended the 2025 International Automobile and Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong) exchange dinner and delivered a speech. He said that Hong Kong is definitely in a position to become a “foothold, bridgehead, charging station, and propulsion” for Chinese car companies and industrial chains to go overseas. On the one hand, Hong Kong has a booming and full-chain financing market and high-quality financial services, connecting global capital and investors to support the global layout of the new automobile industry in mainland China through finance. On the other hand, Hong Kong is making every effort to promote the development of innovation and technology. It is cooperating with sister cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to become an international innovation and technology center with a full range of functions, from R&D and commercialization to advanced manufacturing. It also provides a wider range of test space and application scenarios for industries such as new energy vehicles, smart transportation, and the Internet of Vehicles.

As a “super contact” and “super value-added person” connecting the mainland and the international community, Hong Kong has always been an important gateway for mainland enterprises to enter the international market. Under the unique advantages of “one country, two systems,” Hong Kong is definitely in a position to become a “foothold, bridgehead, charging station, and propulsion” for Chinese car companies and industrial chains to go overseas. Hong Kong's contribution is particularly unique in two of these.

The first is to support the global layout of the new automobile industry in mainland China with finance. There are thousands of upstream, middle, and downstream enterprises involved in the automotive industry, and they need capital to continuously promote scientific research, innovation, and development. Hong Kong has a thriving and full-chain financing market and high-quality financial services. From angel funds and venture capital to private equity and listed securities markets, it can connect global capital and investors to provide the necessary financial support for enterprises in various fields.

Last month, Ningde Times went public in Hong Kong, making it the world's largest IPO (initial public offering) since this year. About 90% of the capital it raised was used for the construction of a factory in Hungary, which is a model of “Hong Kong's fund-raising to support international expansion”. Unafraid of the current geopolitical environment, international investors are interested in and hoping for Chinese innovation and technology companies to bring more international capital to Hong Kong to seek investment projects. I believe that companies related to the automobile industry chain and supply chain can find good investors more easily. Furthermore, Hong Kong's unique advantages of “internal and external communication” under “one country, two systems”, familiarity with international regulations and customs, and a global network can help mainland enterprises go overseas and enter the international market. Everyone is encouraged to set up an international business headquarters, supply chain management center, and treasury center in Hong Kong.

Second, Hong Kong is making every effort to promote the development of innovation and technology as the new engine of the Hong Kong economy, and has joined forces with sister cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to become an international innovation and technology center with a full range of functions, from R&D and commercialization to advanced manufacturing. Among them, the advantages of Hong Kong standards being highly integrated with the international community, improving intellectual property protection systems, and gathering mainland and international data and talents have all given industries such as new energy vehicles, smart transportation, and the Internet of Vehicles a wider range of test space and application scenarios. In fact, many companies in this field have already settled in Hong Kong and have become important partners in Hong Kong. Many of their upstream and downstream enterprises have also arrived in Hong Kong to set up R&D and talent training bases.

The future development of the automotive industry is inseparable from a global perspective and resource integration. Although the world is currently facing protectionism and tariff wars, the international community continues to promote a green transformation. Coupled with the rapid expansion of emerging markets and the competitiveness of China's new energy vehicles, I believe the entire industry is ushering in a new blue ocean of development.