The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, started his visit programme in Germany after arriving in Frankfurt yesterday (October 23, Frankfurt time).
 
     Mr Lau started the day by visiting Ginmon Wealth Management where he was briefed on the algorithm-based portfolio management technology the company had developed that promises excess long-term returns for investors. He shared that as a premier international asset and wealth management centre in the region with highly developed information and communications technology and a vibrant financial technology (Fintech) ecosystem, Hong Kong provides an ideal platform for them to market their FinTech solution for portfolio management business. He welcomed German financial institutions to establish their presence in Hong Kong.
 
     Mr Lau then paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Consul-General in Frankfurt, Mr Wang Shunqing. Mr Lau took the opportunity to brief the Counsul-General on Hong Kong's latest developments and thank him for supporting and offering assistance to Hong Kong people.
 
     Next, Mr Lau attended a business luncheon co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin. In his keynote speech, Mr Lau highlighted Hong Kong's paramount role as a capital raising and asset and wealth management centre. Describing Hong Kong as a gateway city to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Southeast Asia and the economies along the Belt and Road, Mr Lau told the attending business leaders that the city's global outlook, international connections and cosmopolitan flavor have made it a sure welcoming place for German businesses, German institutes and German professionals.
 
     In the afternoon, Mr Lau visited Plug and Play Fintech Centre, a global innovation platform specialising in growing technology startups. He met with the management team and was briefed on their accelerator programme, innovation services provided for startups and venture capital investment. He also encouraged Plug and Play to expand their accelerator programme to Hong Kong.
 
     Mr Lau then departed for Zurich, Switzerland in the evening and will continue his visit tomorrow (October 24, Zurich time).

Ends/Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Issued at HKT 9:07

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