The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, yesterday (October 16, Eastern Standard Time) arrived in New York to promote Hong Kong's financial services to banking and business sectors in the US.
Mr Chan started the day with separate courtesy calls to the Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the United Nations, Mr Zhang Jun, and the Acting Consul General of the PRC in New York, Mr Wang Lei. He briefed them on the latest situation of Hong Kong, and expressed his thanks for the support of the Central People's Government to the development of Hong Kong.
He said that during his brief stay in New York, he would meet with US financial and banking sector leaders to update them on Hong Kong's latest situation and promote Hong Kong's unchanging role as an international financial centre, and as a connector to opportunities related to the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Mr Chan then met with the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Mr John Williams, and discussed on various subjects, including the US and global economic outlook and interest rate benchmark reform, etc.
In the evening, Mr Chan had dinner with key players of the US banking and business sectors as well as the senior management of academic institutes and non-profit organisations that promote US-China bilateral relations.
He stressed that Hong Kong remains an international financial centre and an ideal place to do business, and that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region remains committed to upholding the "one country, two systems" principle and the Basic Law. Hong Kong's social incidents over recent months have not affected the city's core competitiveness, and the wide range of programmes and initiatives announced in the Policy Address yesterday that focus on healing and helping will support Hong Kong as it continues to move forward.
He encouraged US companies to make good use of Hong Kong's strengths to expand their businesses in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.
Today (October 17, Eastern Standard time), Mr Chan will depart for Washington, DC, to attend the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, which will be held on October 18.
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