Former commerce chief Frederick Ma to head Hong Kong Trade Development Council

SCMP | Feb. 18, 2025, 9:11 p.m. | Original

Hong Kong’s former commerce chief Frederick Ma will take over as head of the city’s Trade Development Council. Photo: Eugene Lee

Former commerce minister and ex-chairman of the MTR Corporation Frederick Ma Si-hang will take the reins at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, at a time when the city is actively seeking new business partners and diversifying its markets.

The government also confirmed on Wednesday that outgoing council head Peter Lam Kin-ngok would return to the Tourism Board as chairman.

Lam, whose six-year stint at the council will end in May, will take over from Tourism Board chairman Pang Yiu-kai after his second three-year term comes to an end on March 31.

The arrangement will see Lam, 67, balancing leadership positions at the council and the board for two months, before 72-year-old Ma starts in June.

“I am honoured by this appointment and will do my best to support Hong Kong businesses on the global stage, building on [the city’s] long-established position as an international trade and financial centre, ‘superconnector’ and ‘super value-adder’,” Ma said.

The reshuffle is seen as a bid by the government to boost the economy through the commerce and tourism sectors, while securing overseas and domestic business opportunities.

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