The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, started his visit to Singapore today (June 8) to foster closer ties between Hong Kong and Singapore.

     Upon arrival in Singapore, Professor Chan first met with the Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Mr Ravi Menon, to exchange views on the economic outlook, developments in financial regulation and financial technologies in both places.

     He then held a meeting with the Minister for Finance of Singapore, Mr Heng Swee Keat, to discuss matters of mutual concern, including challenges faced by the global economy, fiscal positions in both places and international tax co-operation.

     In the evening, Professor Chan attended the gala dinner organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Speaking at the event, he highlighted that with the staunch support of the Central Government, together with the hard work of the Hong Kong people, Hong Kong had made significant progress in many aspects in the past two decades.
 
    He said, "Since 1997, Hong Kong has not only weathered the challenges from a number of upheavals but grasped every opportunity to emerge as a stronger and more vibrant and resilient global hub of financial services and commerce, as Asia's world city."

​    Expressing hope to take regional co-operation to a higher level, Professor Chan said Hong Kong would like to conclude and sign the Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN within this year, so that businessmen and investors can benefit from the stronger ties between Hong Kong and ASEAN countries.

     Professor Chan will continue his visit tomorrow (June 9) to visit the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and the Singapore Exchange, and meet with key personnel from the banking sector before returning to Hong Kong in the evening.

Ends/Thursday, June 8, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:31

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