A private-sector organization to encourage closer ties and new partnerships between businesses in Hong Kong and Thailand was launched at a special inauguration dinner held in Hong Kong on 25 Sept 2002.

The body, the Hong Kong-Thailand Business Council, has Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, Tung Chee-hwa as its patrons. The first Chairman of the Council is Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Executive Director and Deputy Managing Director of Asia Financial Group.

The inauguration at the Island Shangri-La Hotel was attended by Mr Korn Dabbaransi, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Antony Leung, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR, Mr Henry Tang, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, and Mr Ji Peiding, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People''s Republic of China in Hong Kong SAR, as well as advisors and founding members of the Council.