Current and former Hong Kong trade officials stress that maintaining an open, globalized economy is essential for the city's future prosperity.

Hong Kong must remain an outward-looking economy and a free port to thrive, current and former leaders of the city’s trade promotion body have said, stressing the importance of working with mainland China and tackling challenges creatively. Hong Kong Trade Development Council chairman Frederick Ma Si-hang and four of his predecessors spoke on Tuesday at a panel discussion marking the organisation’s 60th anniversary. “Hong Kong has to maintain its outward-looking society and economy,” former...