The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Friday announced the appointment of 34 members to the second term of the Chief Executive's Council of Advisers, which will take effect on Tuesday.

While retaining 31 existing advisors, the advisory council has welcomed three new members for a two-year term, which will end on June 30, 2027.

A high-level body, the council advises the city's leader on the SAR's strategic development, leveraging opportunities from national and global developments. It is organized along three broad streams – economic advancement and sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship, and regional and global collaborations – to facilitate more focused and in-depth dialogues.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in a statement that the council was established in 2023, comprising members who are distinguished and eminent leaders in their respective fields, or internationally renowned scholars or experts.

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“They have been providing me with valuable insights and wise counsel to the benefit of the strategic development of Hong Kong.”

He added: “I look forward to council members continuing to offer advice on strategic issues such as how Hong Kong can further consolidate its competitiveness during the period of economic restructuring, actively dovetail with national strategies and integrate into the national development, deepen international exchanges and co-operation, and enhance regional co-operation, with a view to building a better Hong Kong together.”

Reappointed as an adviser on the council, businessman Allan Zeman said he was motivated to continue his membership by the council’s effectiveness to date as a high-level strategic advisory body.

“Maybe Hong Kong is lacking in certain areas where we need to catch up. I think he (CE Lee) is very open-minded and he realizes the problems. If you suggest maybe some shortcuts to make things move quicker, he will act on it,” said Zeman, a long-standing adviser to consecutive Hong Kong leaders.

He lavished praise on the Kai Tak Sports Park project, stating that he believes the SAR government has done an excellent job in constructing what he considers to be one of the best stadiums in the world.

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Highlighting that Hong Kong has enjoyed significant success in attracting family offices, he said, “There (are) approximately 400 to 500 more family offices that within the next four years will be coming to Hong Kong and signing up. That will make Hong Kong actually maybe with 3,100 or 3,200 family offices – we will be number one in the world for family offices.”

Referring to several delegations the CE led on trips overseas and to the Chinese mainland since taking office, Zeman said these visits will benefit Hong Kong and enhance its profile internationally.