PH invites HK to put up trade office in Manila

HK Chief Executive Carrie Lam talks with then Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (file photo)

THE Philippines has invited Hong Kong to put up a trade office in Manila following the signing of the HK-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Free Trade Agreement in November.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters on Dec. 3 that more business and trade potential would be available if a Hong Kong trade office in Manila would be set up. Cayetano met with Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and other Hong Kong officials on Dec. 1.

Presently, Hong Kong has a trade office in Jakarta and Singapore.

“They said they will consider it. You know it’s a big comfort for Hong Kong businessmen to have a trade office in Manila and to go there and have their own people. When we talk about the protection of investments, it’s still different if they have a representative there,” he said.

Cayetano also took the opportunity to thank Chief Executive Lam for the hospitality extended to the close to 219,000 Filipinos working in the special administrative region.

DFA Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Manuel A.J. Teehankee said the Hong Kong Trade Development Council has expressed “great interest in the Philippine market”.