Expert Group on Hong Kong-Guangdong Financial Co-operation meets (with photos)
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     The Expert Group on Hong Kong-Guangdong Financial Co-operation held its fifth meeting in Guangzhou today (July 17) to discuss ways of enhancing financial co-operation between the two places.

     The meeting was co-chaired by the Director General of the Financial Affairs Office, People's Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Liu Wentong, and the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Miss Au King-chi.

     The Expert Group comprises representatives from the Guangdong provincial and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region governments; regulators of the securities, insurance and banking industries; and the exchanges of the two places.

     During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on ways to strengthen and enhance various financial co-operation initiatives, including cross-border Renminbi business, banking, securities and insurance. They also put forward new initiatives to deepen co-operation.

     Representatives of the securities sector in Hong Kong joined the delegation in visiting Guangdong today. The securities sectors of the two places participated in a forum held by the Guangdong provincial authority to share views on issues of mutual concern.

     The forum followed up on the consensus reached earlier, in response to market suggestions, to deepen exchanges between the securities sectors in Hong Kong and Guangdong. Participants had active discussions at the forum, which served as a communication platform for market participants from the two sides to enhance mutual understanding and promote further co-operation between the two places.

     Miss Au said that she was delighted to have made use of the visit to Guangzhou today to foster exchange between the securities sectors of the two places.

     She said, "This is the first time that the Expert Group on Hong Kong-Guangdong Financial Co-operation has organised an exchange activity for the financial industry. We hope to take the opportunity to enhance the communication between the securities sectors in Hong Kong and Guangdong, and assist market participants from the two sides to explore room for future co-operation with a view to leveraging the advantages of complementarity and mutual benefit."

     Securities organisations joining the forum today included the Hong Kong Securities Association, the Hong Kong Securities Professionals Association, the Hong Kong Association of Online Brokers Limited, the Institute of Securities Dealers Limited, the Chinese Securities Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Professionals Association and the Hong Kong Institute of Financial Analysts and Professional Commentators Limited.

Ends/Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:07

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