The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, today (January 11) met with overseas delegations from the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) and the Singapore business sector respectively for exchanges on trends of the global financial landscape, the promotion of listings in Hong Kong, and discussions about enhanced collaboration in knowledge sharing. The meetings were held on the sidelines of the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) 2023.
 
     The WAIFC delegation, composed of representatives from Korea, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Germany, is led by the Managing Director of the WAIFC, Dr Jochen Biedermann. The Alliance, of which Hong Kong is a member, facilitates co-operation between financial centres and the exchange of best practices. During the meeting, Mr Hui shared with the delegation Hong Kong's latest efforts in developing virtual assets, as well as bringing fintech into mainstream finance to help promote financial inclusion and improve the quality of life.
 
     The Singapore delegation was led by the Chairman of the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association, Mr Dennis Chiu, with members from the top management of the country's private equity, banking and commercial trust industries. The two sides shared their views on the plentiful opportunities brought about by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. Mr Hui also promoted listings of Singapore and Southeast Asian companies in Hong Kong, coupled with an introduction to the city's competitive listing regime by a representative of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited.
 
     Mr Hui expressed that he very much welcomed the delegations' visit to Hong Kong after the AFF was held in a virtual format during the previous two years. The event this year is the first international forum since Hong Kong's travel restrictions have been relaxed, and Mr Hui expects more business travellers to participate in international conferences in this vibrant city. 
 

Ends/Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:30

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