Most HK Firms Positive About New Law, Chamber Says

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said on Monday that a majority of its members accept Beijing's plan to impose national security legislation on the SAR, and if any concerns need to be allayed it is those of foreign countries.

The chamber said a survey of members had found that around 60 percent think the new national security legislation will have a positive effect on their businesses in the long-run.

But the chamber's chief executive officer, George Leung, conceded that more than half of members also believe the law could have a negative impact in the short-term.

"That's why the chamber urges the authorities to release the details of the legislation's provisions and the implementation measures as soon as possible," he said, adding that the chamber believes more details will put business people's minds at ease.

Leung said Hong Kong business owners are not at all concerned that they or their staff might get arrested under the new legislation, and they think the law will actually help create a safer business operating environment.

But he urged the SAR government to do more to allay the concerns of other countries, especially the United States, so they can understand the situation better.

"We still need to let the US and our other trading partners know that Hong Kong is an international city. If any sanctions are imposed on Hong Kong, it will definitely affect their own businesses as well."

Leung also told RTHK's Priscilla Ng that their survey had found that international companies in Hong Kong are more concerned about the security law and possible sanctions than local firms are.