FS concludes visit to UK (with photos/video)

     â€‹The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit to London, the United Kingdom (UK), yesterday (September 27, London time). In the morning, he attended a roundtable meeting organised by The CityUK, an industry-led body representing UK-based financial services. He engaged in in-depth discussions with over 20 leaders from the UK's financial community. At the meeting, Mr Chan briefed participants on the economic situation in Hong Kong, and highlighted that the city's financial markets are undergoing continuous reforms and innovations, with good progress achieved in the stock market, asset and wealth management, offshore renminbi business, green finance, fintech, etc. He said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is actively working to reinforce and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre, and he looks forward to strengthening co-operation with the UK financial sector to promote mutual development.

     Mr Chan then attended a luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Association of the UK, where he delivered a speech to about 150 guests from the UK political and business communities. He said that with the solid support of the Central Authorities, Hong Kong's economy is steadily advancing, and the city is fully committed to promoting the development of the "Eight Centres". He emphasised that financial services and innovation and technology are the city's key future dual economic engines. Citing green finance as an example, Mr Chan highlighted that Hong Kong is developing itself into an international green tech and green finance centre; where the city fully supports the development of technologies in addition to green and sustainable financing. Hong Kong is also actively aligning with international green standards, including developing green classification frameworks, and pressing ahead with sustainability disclosure requirements in financial reporting. Mr Chan also introduced the four main areas of innovation and technology development in Hong Kong and explained how the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, as "patient capital," can leverage capital to guide more long-term private market investments into strategic industries, accelerating the development of its ecosystem.

     Mr Chan will leave London today (September 28, London time) and arrive in Hong Kong in the afternoon of September 29.