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Healthy competition between Singapore and Hong Kong benefits global trade, says PM Wong

The visit marks Mr Wong’s first trip to Hong Kong as prime minister. He said he was delighted to return, noting that his last official visit was in 2019, when he was still a minister.

“Many things have happened in Hong Kong,” he said, adding that he was keen to learn about the city’s new developments, including its five-year plans and the Northern Metropolis project, a 30,000-hectare development bordering Shenzhen aimed at boosting housing and urban growth.

“I’d like to see what Hong Kong is doing and how Singapore can participate in some of these opportunities too,” he said.

During the meeting, both leaders discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation in new and emerging areas, such as tourism, research and innovation, and youth and community engagement, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Mr Wong is scheduled to visit key sites in the Northern Metropolis during the trip.

Hong Kong is the second leg of Mr Wong’s four-day visit to China, following an earlier stop in Hainan.

DEEP ECONOMIC AND PEOPLE TIES

Beyond diplomacy, the two cities are deeply intertwined economically and socially.

Singapore and Hong Kong were each other’s fifth-largest trading partner last year. More than 5,000 Hong Kong companies operate in Singapore across sectors including financial services, maritime, supply chain and logistics, and tourism and hospitality. 

Singapore firms, in turn, have established around 60 regional headquarters, 100 regional offices and 430 local offices in Hong Kong as of end-2025.

Hong Kong is also home to the largest Singaporean expatriate community in Asia, with over 20,000 residents. Tourism flows reflect the close ties as well – Singapore welcomed more than 330,000 visitors from Hong Kong last year, while over 470,000 made the trip in the other direction.

Earlier on Friday, Mr Wong met with Hong Kong business leaders. He will also attend a reception with Singaporeans based in the city later in his trip.

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