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

2026.03.17 07:20 Chief Executive John Lee says Hong Kong will keep strengthening Middle East ties despite regional unrest and fuel price pressures. Photo: AFP Hong 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 through 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. Lee, 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. “After our trips, many projects had begun with many contracts signed. This cooperation would not be affected by the [geopolitical situation] of the Middle East, especially for government-to-government cooperation,” Lee said. He visited Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in 2023, followed by Qatar and Kuwait last year. While reaffirming his confidence in the conflict-prone region, Lee also said Hong Kong’s advantages would become even more attractive to investors seeking to diversify amid continuing volatility. He said the city would remain “irreplaceable” for its safety and regional stability under the “One Country, Two Systems” frame

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