Consulate General of India
Hong Kong
****
India - Hong Kong SAR Bilateral Relations
Background
Background
India’s
relations with Hong Kong are historical and date back to the 1840s when Hong
Kong became a British colony after the Treaty of Nanking as the result of the
First Opium War. From trading ties established in the middle of the 19th
century (1840 onwards), relations today span sectors such as investment
finance, services, maritime, shipping, logistics, culture, education and trade.
Political Relations and visits
2. The Commission for India, set up in 1951,
was re-designated as Consulate General of India on October 15, 1996, in advance
of China’s assumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong, which took place on July
1, 1997. The Consulate also has accreditation to Macau, which reverted from
Portuguese rule to China on December 19, 1999.
3. The early 2000s witnessed keen interest in
Hong Kong in India’s economic growth and its status as one of the fastest
growing economies in the world. Expectations here are that with deepening of
economic reforms in India in the coming years, India-Hong Kong relations should
deepen and trade and economic ties should expand.
4. In October 2010, Donald Tsang, the then
Chief Executive (CE) of Hong Kong along with the Governor of Guangdong province
led a business delegation on a visit to India. During the visit, he met
Governor of Maharashtra, MOS for External Affairs & Finance Minister during
his visit.
5. In February 2016, at the invitation of Chief
Minister of Maharashtra, the then Chief Executive (CE) of Hong Kong CY Leung
visited India in order to increase the level of economic engagement between
India and Hong Kong and provide boost to the business, investment and
people-to-people links. It was the first official visit to India by a Hong Kong
CE. He led a 40 strong multi-sectoral business delegation, the largest one
accompanying CE amongst his official overseas visits. During his visit, CE called
on Hon’ble Prime Minister, Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister. He
also addressed the business events organised by Indian and Hong Kong Chambers
of Commerce.
6. Hong Kong has always acted as a “Gateway to
China” for the companies in rest of the world. With the rapid growth in
engagement between the Chinese and Indian economies, Hong Kong presents a great
opportunity to act as a “Gateway to India” for the mainland companies and
become an important stakeholder and a beneficiary of this huge opportunity.
7. The period between 2015-2018 witnessed a
series of High Level visits:
a. May 2015: visit of Gujarat Chief Minister
Smt. Anandiben Patel
b. September 2015: visit of Finance Minister
Shri Arun Jaitley
c. September 2015: visit of Telangana Chief
Minister Shri K. Chandrashekhar Rao
d. May 2016: visit of Haryana Chief Minister
Shri Manohar Lal Khattar
f. May 2018: visit of MoS (Tourism) Shri K. J.
Alphons
g. May 2018: visit of MoS (H&FW) Shri
Ashwani Kumar Choubey
e. September 2018: visit of Jharkhand Chief
Minister Shri Raghubar Das
8. With effect from January 2017, Hong Kong
government made Pre-Arrival Registration a compulsory requirement for all
Indian nationals who intend to visit Hong Kong visa-free for 14 days.
Bilateral Agreements
9. Agreements signed between India and Hong Kong
include:
a. Agreement on Reciprocal Enforcement
of Judgements (1968), [which was re-notified by Government of India in July
2012 due to a change in the nomenclature of Hong Kong courts following handover
of sovereignty to China in 1997],
b. Agreement Constituted by Exchange of Letters
Between the PRC and India on matters related to the Consular Convention
(December 1991),
c. Air Services Agreement (1996), and an MoU on
Air Services Agreements pursuant to the Air Services Agreement (February 2012),
d. Customs Cooperation Agreement (1997),
e. Surrender of Fugitive Offenders (1997),
f. Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in
Criminal Matters (September 2009),
g. Agreement for Mutual Recognition Arrangement
in respect of Authorized Economic Operation (AEO) programs between Central
Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) of Government of India and the Customs and
Excise Department of the HKSAR Government (November 2013)
h. Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons (January
2015), and
i. Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)
(March 2018)
Commercial relations
10. There has been considerable growth in the
commercial relations between India and Hong Kong. Hong Kong companies also have
been increasingly looking at India as an investment destination. Many Hong Kong
companies have huge presence in India. This includes China Light and Power
(CLP), Li & Fung, Shangri La, Kerry Logistics and PeakRe, to name a few.
11. Hong Kong is host to a large number of Indian
professionals in banking, IT and shipping. Five public sector banks and two
private sector banks from India are currently operating in Hong Kong. Numerous
global financial majors, investment institutions and fund managers operating in
India have their regional headquarters in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is also a major
sourcing centre for Indian companies. It has emerged as a major re-exporter of
items it imports from India to Mainland China.
12. Hong Kong is a major hub for exhibitions and
conferences. Trade fairs in Hong Kong are an important opportunity as they
provide a platform for the buyers and sellers across the globe to come together
and interact. More than 60 fairs are held in Hong Kong annually. Indian
companies participate in many of these exhibitions to promote exports, mainly
through export promotion councils and sectoral promotion boards.
Bilateral Trade
13. Hong Kong was India’s 12th largest export market destination (after USA,
UAE, China, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Singapore) in FY 2022-23 The value of
exports of goods from India to Hong Kong decreased by 9.94% over a year earlier to $9.89billion.
On the other hand, Hong Kong was also the the 11th largest import destination (after China, UAE,
USA, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Switzerland). The value of imports of goods from Hong
Kong to India decreased by 4.3% over a year earlier to $18.27 billion.
India-Hong Kong bilateral trade was US$ 28.166 billion in FY 2022-23,
registering a decrease of 6.3%. The balance of trade during this period was in
Hong Kong’s favour amounting to US$ 8.3 billion.
14. Indian exports to Hong Kong primarily include
Gems & Jewellery, Iron & Steel, Electrical Machinery, Meat & Edible
Meat, Machinery, Mineral fuels, Fish & Crustaceans, Raw Hides & Skins,
Optical & Medical Instruments and Pharmaceutical products etc. while Indian
imports from Hong Kong include Electrical Machinery, Gems & Jewellery
Machinery, Optical & medical instruments, Plastic & articles thereof,
Organic Chemicals etc.
India - Hong Kong Trade
[Amount
in US $ million]
|
|
FY 2017-18
|
FY 2018-19
|
FY 2019-20
|
FY 2020-21
|
FY 2021-22
|
FY 2022-23
|
|
Export/Import
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
|
Indian Export to Hong Kong
|
14,690
|
4.58%
|
13,001
|
-11.49%
|
10,967
|
-15.65%
|
10,162
|
-7.34%
|
10,984
|
8.09%
|
9,892
|
-9.94%
|
|
Indian Imports from
Hong Kong
|
10,675
|
30.13%
|
17,987
|
68.48%
|
16,935
|
-5.85%
|
15,172
|
-10.41%
|
19,096
|
25.86%
|
18,274
|
-4.3%
|
|
Total Bilateral Trade
|
25,366
|
14.00%
|
30,988
|
22.17%
|
27,902
|
-9.96%
|
25,334
|
-9.2%
|
30,080
|
18.73%
|
28,166
|
-6.3%
|
|
Trade Balance
(for India)
|
4,015
|
|
-4,986
|
|
-5,968
|
|
-5,010
|
|
-8,112
|
|
-8,382
|
|
(Source: DGCI&S, India)
Trade and Investments
15. Hong Kong occupies the 14th position in FDI equity
inflows into India with cumulative FDI amount of US $ 4.7 billion (April 2000
to March 2023).
Cultural relations
16. Indian Council of Cultural Relations and the
Chinese University of Hong Kong signed an MoU on ‘Establishment of the ICCR
visiting professorship of Indian Studies’ in 2015. The MoU was renewed in May
2023.
17. The International Day of Yoga is celebrated in
Hong Kong every year since its inception. The event is well-attended, including
by members of the Consular Corps, Indian Diaspora, expatriates and locals. In
2022, the event was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre,
which was attended by around 400 persons.
18. Film festivals, painting exhibitions,
competitions, Indian classical music, dance, folk dance, tribal art events and
workshops to help promote Indian art and culture are held on a regular basis.
Support is extended to Indian artists based in Hong Kong by giving them a
platform to showcase their talent. Local associations celebrate Indian festivals
like Diwali, Durga Puja, Onam, Baisakhi etc. with great enthusiasm. In 2022, a
Diwali family day was organized at the Asia Society Hong Kong, a week-long
tribal art on HK Walls event ‘Kathaa’ was organized in partnership with
MeMeraki and HKWalls in December. Numerous painting competitions and music and
dance events were also organized for the Indian diaspora.
Indian Community in Hong Kong
19. Hong Kong has for more than 150 years been
home to a large Indian community and its contribution to Hong Kong’s emergence
as a hub of global finance and trade is well known. Due to their long presence,
Indians have been able to integrate themselves into the mainstream Hong Kong
society. The Indian community is equally proud of its dual heritage and of
their relations with both India and Hong Kong. Members of the Indian community
established well known institutions in Hong Kong such as the Hong Kong
University, the Ruttonjee Hospital and the famous Star Ferry.
20. Increasingly, a large number of Indian
professionals are coming into Hong Kong, working in the service industry,
banking and finance, information technology, shipping, etc. The Indian
community in Hong Kong is estimated to be nearly 42569 (including Indian
nationals and People of Indian origin) and approximately 32796 hold Indian
passports. Sindhis, Gujaratis and Punjabis (Sikh) form the largest component of
the community. There are more than 40 Indian associations present in Hong Kong
that are run by diaspora/ people of Indian origin.
21. So far, four Hong Kong based persons of Indian
origin have been awarded the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award: Late Dr. Hari
Harilela (2003), Late Mr Rusy M Shroff (2006), Mr. Harindarpal Singh Banga
(2011), and Mr. Lal Lokumal Chellaram (2021).
22. In 2022,
the number of Indian students studying in Hong Kong universities was
580.
India- Macau SAR Bilateral
Relations
23. The mainstay of Macau’s economy is tourism and
gambling industry. Macau has become a major tourist destination for Indians.
24.
There is a small Indian community in
Macau, majority of who are of Goan origin. These include professionals, people
in Government Departments and those working in hotels and restaurants and in
the gaming industry.
25.
India has signed two bilateral agreements
with Macau. These are the Air Services Agreement signed in February 1998 and
the Agreement for the Exchange of Information with Respect to Taxes signed in
January 2012.
India-Macau
Trade: Table
[Amount in US $ million]
|
|
FY 2017-18
|
FY 2018-19
|
FY 2019-20
|
FY 2020-21
|
FY 2021-22
|
FY 2022-23
|
|
Export/Import
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
Total
|
Growth %
|
|
Indian Exports to Macau
|
13.89
|
818.6%
|
1.06
|
-92.4%
|
6.28
|
495.2%
|
8.96
|
42.6%
|
12.04
|
34.4%
|
4.35
|
-63.87%
|
|
Indian Imports from Macau
|
8.30
|
4.8%
|
6.29
|
-24.1%
|
5.09
|
-19.1%
|
24.52
|
381.7%
|
20.11
|
-18.0%
|
13.4
|
-33.37%
|
|
Total Bilateral Trade
|
22.19
|
135.6%
|
7.35
|
-66.9%
|
11.37
|
54.7%
|
33.48
|
194.5%
|
32.15
|
-3.9%
|
17.75
|
-44.80%
|
|
Trade Balance
(for India)
|
5.59
|
|
-5.23
|
|
1.19
|
|
-15.56
|
|
-8.07
|
|
-9.05
|
|
(Source: DGCI&S, India)
26. The total trade between India and Macau was
worth US$ 17.75 million in FY 2022-23, wherein India’s exports to Macau were
valued at US$ 04.35 million and Macau’s exports to India were valued at US$
13.4million. Major products of export from India are Machinery, Optical &
medical instruments, Pharmaceutical products and Other made up textile articles
while imports from Macau included Electrical machinery, Organic chemicals and
Plastic & articles thereof.
Useful Resources:
* Consulate’s
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CGIHongKongChina
* Consulate’s Twitter account: https://twitter.com/CGIHongKong
*
Ministry of External Affairs website: www.mea.gov.in
