Legendary Hong Kong businesswoman Annie Wu Suk-ching said the enactment of the national security law will ensure the stable and peaceful business environment that Hong Kong is known for in the eyes of overseas businesspeople. 

Hailed as a pioneer for being among the first Hong Kong entrepreneurs to head north to invest on the Chinese mainland, Wu knows well the huge loss the Asian financial hub has suffered from the yearlong citywide violent protests, and the business community’s high hopes that peace and stability will return to the riot-hit city very quickly.

“Since 1980, I have led over 100 trade delegations for members of the World Trade Centers Associations to different cities on the mainland”, Wu, a lifetime honorary board member of the WTCA, told China Daily. “These trade delegations mainly utilized Hong Kong as the steppingstone for entering the cities on the mainland”, she said.

The national security law will ensure that overseas businesspeople using Hong Kong as their base will enjoy a peaceful and stable environment. Any businessperson will certainly welcome a safe community

Annie Wu Suk-ching, Hong Kong businesswoman

“They have enjoyed their business trips and also appreciated the services and conveniences Hong Kong has provided for their business development on the mainland since 1980. Yet last year they had to cancel their trips because of the riots and disturbances that have rocked the city,” Wu said.

Despite these problems, Wu said, trade delegations still prefer to utilize the unique resources of Hong Kong under “one country, two systems”. 

WTCA members have long preferred using Hong Kong as their base “owing to its free trade and low tax and the upholding of the rule of law in business transactions”, Wu said. This highlights the great significance of the national security law, which was passed unanimously on Tuesday by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the country’s top legislature, as a strong response to the business community’s clamor for peace and stability.

“With the passage of the national security law, the WTCA members can once again feel safe to visit Hong Kong and enjoy the facilities and conveniences of the services provided by Hong Kong. The law also ensures that Hong Kong is a safe haven to establish their Asian headquarters to convene their businesses effectively,” stressed Wu, who also serves as honorary chairman of Beijing Air Catering Co Ltd, founded in 1980 as the first mainland-Hong Kong joint venture.

“The national security law will ensure that overseas businesspeople using Hong Kong as their base will enjoy a peaceful and stable environment”, Wu said. “Any businessperson will certainly welcome a safe community to carry their businesses effectively in Asia”.

It has been a chaotic year for Hong Kong since violent protesters trashed their own city and destroyed the livelihoods of ordinary people. Since then, Wu, 71, has been at the forefront of hitting out at the rioters and speaking out for the city against those who have slandered and sullied its name in front of foreign governments and organizations.

In September, Wu gave a speech at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, harshly criticizing the violence and mob-like activities conducted by Hong Kong rioters, who are often referred to as “peaceful protesters” by Western media, and reiterating that “the views of a small group of radical protesters do not represent the views of all Hong Kong people”.

The WTCA is a worldwide business network organization with members in 320 cities in 90 countries. Total membership exceeds 1 million business units.

sophia@chinadailyhk.com