SFST attends European Financial Forum to promote HK's strengths as IFC (with photos)

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, attended the 4th European Financial Forum (EFF) in Dublin yesterday (February 13, Dublin time) to promote Hong Kong's strengths as an international financial centre (IFC).

He attended the opening session in the morning and gave a closing keynote speech on how Hong Kong has evolved, from being a centre for investment flows and financial services to facilitate China's reform and opening up to a broader role that encompasses leadership in innovation and technology, sustainable trade and finance, and regional connectivity and development in the context of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Mr Lau also held an onstage conversation with the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform of Ireland, Mr Paschal Donohoe, during the closing session, which included sharing efforts to further financial development in both places.

Earlier in the morning, Mr Lau attended a Fintech (financial technology) roundtable where he met with representatives from a number of key Fintech companies in Dublin. He said he was pleased to note that these companies are seeking to leverage Hong Kong as a platform to expand their businesses to Hong Kong, the Mainland of China and Asia, and he updated them on the city's latest efforts to support Fintech development.

He later met with the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Mr Philip Lane. They exchanged views on the impacts of Brexit, trade friction between China and the US as well as Fintech advances in the context of global economic development and financial stability.

In addition, Mr Lau held a discussion with aviation financing experts of the Standard Chartered Bank to learn more about their experience in boosting aviation market development in Ireland and beyond.

Mr Lau also paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Yue Xiaoyong, in the evening.

Mr Lau will visit the Irish Stock Exchange in the morning today (February 14, Dublin time) before concluding his visit to Dublin. He will return to Hong Kong in the morning on February 15 (Hong Kong time).