discours cg fete nationale hk 2014

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French National Day 2014
Cocktail Reception (Hong Kong, 14/07/2014)
Speech by Mr Barthelemy, Consul General of France in Hong Kong & Macau
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Honourable Chief executive, dear CY Leung,
Secretaries,
Members of the Legco,
Commissioner,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Mes chers compatriotes,
Let me first thank you, Chief executive, for officiating at our ceremony despite a notoriously
heavy schedule. Let me also thank Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School for performing tonight.
We obviously chose its students for their great musical skills, not for my ability to pronounce
their school’s name.
I also want to express my gratitude to the major partner of our National Day, New World
Development Company, as well as to our faithful sponsor Pernod Ricard.
Last by not least, let me welcome the members of the French community whose massive
presence reflects the dynamism: “Je suis ravi de vous accueillir ici et je veux vous remercier
pour votre presence ce soir. Mais aussi et surtout pour ce que vous faites tout au long de
l’année pour promouvoir la France à HK. Vous êtes une communauté dynamique, vous êtes
une communauté soudée, vous êtes une communauté qui fait honneur à notre pays et que je
suis heureux de représenter.
Chief Executive,
Tonight we are celebrating the intense relationship between France and HK. It is so diverse,
indeed, that it sometimes takes unexpected forms. After having won the Mc Lehose trailwalk
and a major mahjong competition last year, we decided this year to bring pandas to HK. That
is why, 3 weeks ago, at the official opening of the renovated Police Married Quarters, I had
the privilege to hand over to you a papier maché panda. It was a new avatar of “panda
diplomacy”, in line with an old Chinese diplomatic tradition. And this was particularly
appropriate since we are celebrating this year the 50th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and France.
This historical decision, made by the then French President Charles de Gaulle, was visionary
and it was courageous. It created between our countries a strong relationship of trust and
friendship, [dear Commissioner]. This relationship was given a new impulse with the
reciprocal visits of our Heads of State, President François Hollande and President Xi Jinping,
during which 50 commercial agreements were signed, representing 18 billion euros.
Of course, Hong Kong plays a key role in this relationship. Like others, we praise Hong Kong
as an international hub and as a gateway to Mainland China.
Press contact :
Pauline DYKMANS, Press Officer, Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau
26/F, Admiralty Centre Tower II, 18 Harcourt Road, Central, HK
Tel: (+852) 3752 9921 / Fax: (+852) 3752 9905 / Email: [email protected]
Website: www.consulfrance-hongkong.org / Facebook: www.facebook.com/franceinhk
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We immensely value its structural advantages, deriving from the “one country, two systems
principle”, starting with the rule of law and legal security as well as the openness to mainland
Chinese market and mainland Chinese visitors. These combined advantages are unique and
we are confident that they are longlasting. They explain HK’s economic success that Fce is
happy to contribute to and to benefit from.
Indeed, French business is thriving in HK: thousand firms are members of the French
Chamber of commerce, generating a turnover of 120 billion HKD and employing 33000
people. Exports have doubled in just five years making HK our second biggest trade surplus
in the world for the 4th consecutive year. More generally, the growing presence of my
170000 fellow countrymen doesn’t exactly go unnoticed, and some even refer to some parts
of HK as “the little Paris”.
Of course we do not see our ties as a one way relationship. You have, CE, legitimate
ambition for HK to reach the highest standards in innovation. I want to assure you that
France has a lot to offer in that respect to help HK “unleash its potential” –to use the terms of
your policy address.
And indeed, in HK, French know-how is not only in what you eat, what you drink, what you
wear or what you carry to go out. All these are well recognized additions to HK lifestyle.
But few people know that all HSBC transactions are secured with French technology. That
Hong Kong ID cards use a French operating system. That the GFS is exclusively operating
French helicopters. Or that French start-ups are the second most represented foreign
companies at Cyberport.
This is already impressive but there’s much more to be done.
Chief Executive,
During your next official visit to Paris at the end of October we will show you successful and,
we hope, inspiring, examples of innovative cooperation between clusters, universities,
research centres and corporates.
Your visit will also be devoted to trade and investment, with the major business event called
“Think Asia, Think Hong Kong” being held in Paris by the HKTDC. I am grateful for the
choice of France for this event. It is in line with the booming bilateral business ties I just
mentioned, as much as with the vocation of HK to be a “connector” between Mainland China
and the rest of the world. This is particularly true, and particularly timely, for outbound
Chinese investment which is just starting its rise.
I have to confess that, over the last few years, with some of my European colleagues; we felt
a bit lonely trying to convince our interlocutors that the euro was here to stay.
Well, it seems that we were right. Europe has become appealing again to foreign investors,
and France is of course part of this appetite. France reclaimed its position in the top 10 most
attractive countries for foreign investment, according to the AT Kearney FDI Confidence
Index. Some HK investors have already seized opportunities in luxury, real estate or tourism.
After Mandarin Oriental and Shangri La, three top luxury hotels will further improve hospitality
landscape in Paris thanks to HK investments: the Peninsula hotel, opening in August, as well
as the renovated Crillon and the Champs Elysées Marriott, all emblematic buildings of the
French capital.
Press contact :
Pauline DYKMANS, Press Officer, Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau
26/F, Admiralty Centre Tower II, 18 Harcourt Road, Central, HK
Tel: (+852) 3752 9921 / Fax: (+852) 3752 9905 / Email: [email protected]
Website: www.consulfrance-hongkong.org / Facebook: www.facebook.com/franceinhk
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Chief Executive,
Another of your policy priorities is to “nurture the next generation” with a view to create a
diversified pool of young talents. There again, we are glad to contribute, by welcoming a
quickly growing number of HK students in our best universities. The second edition of the
Virtual education fair will happen next autumn, with the interactive 3D online platform being
made even more accessible from mobile phones or tablets.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am approaching the end of this speech and I have not yet mentioned, because it is maybe
too obvious, the role of HK as the world leading financial centre. In that field, the last months
have been extremely rich and promising.
2014 has been a booming year for Paris as an RMB offshore centre. In March, France was
the first Eurozone country granted with an 80 billion RMB quota so that financial institutions
can invest directly on Chinese financial markets. In June, a MoU was signed between the
French Central bank and the PBOC to establish an RMB payment system in Paris. Last but
not least, just a few days ago, Bank of China issued the first RMB denominated bond ever in
Paris. The operation was large and it was successful. It demonstrates that developing Paris
as an RMB offshore centre meets real financing needs from financial institutions as well as
corporates. This development will obviously boost our ties with Hong Kong, the 1st RMB
offshore centre in the world.
Chief Executive, Ladies and gentlemen,
While commemorating the Bastille day today, we celebrate the values of freedom and justice
of the French Republic. These values have inspired many countries around the world. They
find a strong echo in the system HK is rightly proud of, with an independent and efficient
judiciary, freedom of press, freedom of speech and an accountable government. These
values decisively contribute to the territory’s attractiveness, prosperity and stability.
I am convinced that France and Hong Kong, sharing these common values and a long
history of friendship will continue to build a prosperous and inclusive future together.
In the name of all involved in bringing France and China, France and HK, closer together, let
me now carry a toast: “To the people of the People’s Republic of China and to the people of
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”.
Press contact :
Pauline DYKMANS, Press Officer, Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau
26/F, Admiralty Centre Tower II, 18 Harcourt Road, Central, HK
Tel: (+852) 3752 9921 / Fax: (+852) 3752 9905 / Email: [email protected]
Website: www.consulfrance-hongkong.org / Facebook: www.facebook.com/franceinhk