2016年CRI Hong Kong in Full Swing to Participate in ＂Belt and Road＂ Initiative

 

Speaking at a now-concluded "Belt and Road" Summit in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung says the city is both well-positioned and well-prepared to play a bigger role in the development blueprint¹.

"The Initiative offers unprecedented² opportunities to all territories, Hong Kong included. With the combined advantages of 'One County, Two Systems", Hong Kong can serve as a 'super connector' between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world. In areas such as finance, investment, professional services, trade, logistics, culture, creativity, innovation technology, Hong Kong's unique 'super connector' role can bring together the strength of 'Belt and Road' economies."

CY Leung says his administration plans to establish a special Belt and Road office to promote Hong Kong's role in the plan.

Hong Kong Commerce Secretary Gregory So says plans are already underway to try to make the city more accommodating for countries outside China participating in the "Belt and Road" plan.

"We as the government will continue to build infrastructure³ that facilitate the free flow of investment, trade and people. We are also keen to continue encouraging further trade and investment liberalization, these include, for example, establishing more free trade agreements, investment promotion⁴, and protection agreements, double taxation⁵ avoidance arrangements as well as other formats⁶ of regional plural⁷ and multilateral trade rules."

Hong Kong and Indonesian authorities have signed a Memorandum⁸ of Understanding this week in areas such as promotional exchanges and best practices.

Hong Kong-native Leung Lun has been running a toy factory in Indonesia for over the past 10-years.

He says his company is already benefitting from "Belt and Road," says they're now able to reduce costs and obtain financing through programs underway in Indonesia sponsored by Beijing.

As a result, Leung Lun says his sales have increased by close to 50-percent since the "Belt and Road" plan was first put forward.

"Our injection machines are our biggest costs. We made a one-off payment in the past. But now, we can pay via three-year loans. At the same time, customs clearance⁹ in Indonesia is now faster. It used to take two or three days to get our containers. Now it only takes one day."

A non-governmental "Belt and Road" research institution was established in Hong Kong earlier this year.

Deputy Director Alan Lee says they have invited dozens of experts to create an "investment risk rating" among countries and businesses participating in "Belt and Road" sometime next year.

"The first of our concerns is the spirit of law, because laws are fundamental. We will also consider local religions and customs. We will use Hong Kong as the base-line, and give our ratings based on how a particular country or business operates compared to Hong Kong."

It's also being suggested a dispute resolution mechanism¹⁰ for trade disputes also be set up in Hong Kong for companies and countries along the "Belt and Road."

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua.

1 blueprint   

n.蓝图，设计图，计划；vt.制成蓝图，计划

参考例句：

• All the machine parts on a blueprint must answer each other.设计图上所有的机器部件都应互相配合。
• The documents contain a blueprint for a nuclear device.文件内附有一张核装置的设计蓝图。

2 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

5 taxation   

n.征税，税收，税金

参考例句：

• He made a number of simplifications in the taxation system.他在税制上作了一些简化。
• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。

6 formats   

n.（出版物的）版式( format的名词复数 )；[电视]电视节目的总安排（或计划）

参考例句：

• They are producing books in all kinds of different formats. 他们出版各种不同开本的书籍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A true GUI includes standard formats for representing text and graphics. 真正的图形用户界面包括表示文字和图形的标准格式。 来自互联网

7 plural   

n.复数；复数形式；adj.复数的

参考例句：

• Most plural nouns in English end in's '.英语的复数名词多以s结尾。
• Here you should use plural pronoun.这里你应该用复数代词。

8 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

9 clearance   

n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理

参考例句：

• There was a clearance of only ten centimetres between the two walls.两堵墙之间只有十厘米的空隙。
• The ship sailed as soon as it got clearance. 那艘船一办好离港手续立刻启航了。

10 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。