Head of Malaysian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong expected to move into new role
Gan Khai Choon, the head of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macau since its inception in 2014, told the Post on Monday he might switch to a senior but less hands-on role.
Gan spoke to the Post after the chamber's annual general meeting. He was reelected to the executive committee, but a leadership reshuffle is expected later.
He said he remained confident in Hong Kong's future and that the city would continue to prosper amid economic and geopolitical challenges.
'We are very confident, and that's why we continue to stay,' said Gan, who is also managing director of the Hong Leong International (HK) investment firm.
'Hong Kong will continue to prosper, although we have hiccups now and then, which is natural in any situation because the world is moving very fast, technology is going very fast, and geopolitical problems arise from time to time.'
Gan lauded the city's 'well-built foundation', pointing to its legal system, schools, abundance of professional talent and wealth of international companies.
'All our Malaysian businesses that are in Hong Kong are ... in very good shape, although the general economy is facing a slowdown,' he said.
Malaysia is part of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the city's second-largest trading partner in 2022 and eighth-biggest last year.
Gan said the chamber would decide on the new leadership 'in the next couple of weeks', stressing the new office-bearer would be someone 'senior and experienced enough'.
He said he might take up another position, such as chairman adviser, adding the leadership change would inject new blood into the chamber.
'We are going to make it even stronger. This is the intention and this is the plan, to be more sustainable and to be able to do more things for the chamber,' he said.
'By adding new blood and by adding more younger people, we will have a full range of executive committee members who are capable of working in the chamber. So you have the best of everything, so to speak. Versatility, sustainability and also quality improvement.'
Gan said the chamber had been able to expand its membership from 100 to close to 800 and grow its finances from HK$2 million (US$254,770) to HK$4 million over the past 11 years.
He said the lobby group provided a platform for Malaysian companies in Hong Kong to network, which had led to more business successes and opportunities.
The chamber also opened doors for businesses and served as a bridge to connect them with politicians, the government, other chambers and companies in Hong Kong, he added.
Gan noted the chamber had also brought businesses to mainland China and visited major corporations across the border.
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