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SFST showcases to UK community Hong Kong's determination to expand international financial co-operation (with photos)
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     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said on June 10 (London time) during his visit to London, the United Kingdom (UK), that Hong Kong is at the forefront of global finance and the digital asset revolution. The city shares the same vision and has complementary expertise with the UK, allowing the two places to drive transformative economic growth through partnership in an era of innovation and sustainablity.
      
     Speaking at a luncheon held by the Hong Kong Association of the UK on June 10 (London time), Mr Hui highlighted Hong Kong's commitment to three key pillars, namely the 3Es that define the city's strategic vision as a premier international financial centre. The 3Es refer to extending financial value chain across equities, fixed income, currencies and commodities; embracing fintech and green finance; and enhancing opportunities for Chinese and international businesses.
      
     He said Hong Kong's ability to offer a diversified, resilient and innovative financial ecosystem and the Government's determination to extend the financial value chain are creating a robust development platform that serves both regional and international markets. The vibrant capital markets in Hong Kong, driven by geopolitical developments and the Mainland's technological advancements, are also offering global investors, including those from the UK, a gateway and access to invest in Asia's burgeoning tech sector by leveraging Hong Kong's deep market liquidity and robust regulatory framework.
      
     While mentioning the UK's expertise in commodities trading, Mr Hui remarked that Hong Kong's integration into the London Metal Exchange's global warehouse network in January this year not only enhances Hong Kong's commodities infrastructure but also creates significant opportunities for UK firms. Riding on Hong Kong's proximity to Asia's industrial markets, Hong Kong can partner with the UK to jointly tap into the growing demand for new-energy metals and support global industrial transformation and sustainable development.
      
     Among the highlights of the UK leg was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) and TheCityUK to establish a partnership in sharing insights and best practices to advance transition finance, collaborating on workforce development to address evolving market requirements, as well as establishing a framework to conduct an annual review to assess progress in collaboration and explore new opportunities. The MOU was signed by the Executive Director of the FSDC, Dr King Au, and the Managing Director of Public Affairs, Policy and Research of TheCityUK, Mr John Godfrey.
      
     Mr Hui, together with the Leadership Council Chair of TheCityUK, Mr Bruce Carnegie-Brown, witnessed the signing of the MOU on June 10 (London time). Mr Hui said that the MOU reflects a shared vision to harness the strengths of Hong Kong and the UK, creating opportunities that benefit both places and the global financial ecosystem.
      
     Prior to the signing ceremony, Mr Hui had a roundtable meeting with members of the TheCityUK, which represents an industry contributing over 12 per cent of the UK's economic output and employing nearly 2.5 million people in financial and related professions. Mr Hui said that investors nowadays are gravitating towards markets that provide clarity, consistency and credibility, which are qualities that Hong Kong embodies in abundance. Moreover, Hong Kong continues to uphold the mission of striking a balance between innovation and investor protection through its regulatory framework in the process of integrating traditional financial services with innovative digital asset technologies for facilitating real economy activities. All in all, Hong Kong is an ideal partner for the UK to work with in unlocking horizons for growth and prosperity, especially in areas of wealth management and digital assets.
      
     Earlier in the day, Mr Hui had a bilateral meeting with the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Mr Alderman Alastair King, to update him on Hong Kong's latest developments on the financial services front, which benefit from the unique convergence of global and Mainland advantages. He also met with the Chief Markets Officer of PwC UK, Mr Carl Sizer, to discuss the role the auditing and accounting profession can play to support Mainland enterprises going global.
      
     In the morning of June 9 (London time), Mr Hui attended a members briefing of a British independent think-tank, Asia House, to enlighten its members on the latest financial developments of Hong Kong as well as the Greater Bay Area at large. In a Q&A session moderated by the Chief Executive of Asia House, Mr Michael Lawrence, Mr Hui responded to members' questions about Hong Kong's financial outlook. The members were particularly interested in Hong Kong's connectivity with international markets and the city's fintech development.
      
     Mr Hui told the members that Hong Kong has been experiencing a flourishing financial market amid the challenging global financial landscape. The securities market of Hong Kong recorded an average daily turnover of US$31 billion for the first five months of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 120 per cent. The Government is also taking bold moves to boost fintech development, such as introducing the Stablecoins Ordinance which is scheduled to be enacted this August.
      
     During a lunch meeting with representatives of the ICBC Standard Bank on the same day, Mr Hui introduced to its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Wang Wenbin, and other senior management, the international gold trading market and commodity trading ecosystem that Hong Kong is shaping. Both parties had a very productive discussion about the vast potential that Hong Kong may bring about. The bank serves as a global banking platform for commodities, fixed income and currency products for clients.
      
     In the afternoon, Mr Hui met with the Economic Secretary to the Treasury of the UK, Ms Emma Reynolds, and other financial officials to reinforce the financial partnership between the two leading international financial centres. At the meeting, he gave them an update on the latest situation of capital markets in Hong Kong.
      
     Mr Hui also paid a courtesy call on Minister of the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom Mr Wang Qi.
      
     After concluding the UK leg, Mr Hui proceeded to Oslo, Norway, on June 11 (London time) to continue his visit.
 
Ends/Wednesday, June 11, 2025
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The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, attended a luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Association in London, the United Kingdom, on June 10 (London time). Photo shows Mr Hui giving a keynote speech.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, attended a luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Association in London, the United Kingdom, on June 10 (London time). Photo shows Mr Hui giving a keynote speech.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui (second right), chats with members of the Hong Kong Association at its membership luncheon held in London, the United Kingdom, on June 10 (London time).
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui (first right), chats with members of the Hong Kong Association at its membership luncheon held in London, the United Kingdom, on June 10 (London time).
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, attended the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between the Financial Services Development Council and TheCityUK in London, the United Kingdom, on June 10 (London time). Photo shows Mr Hui congratulating the two parties in establishing a partnership for collaboration on strengthening financial co-operation between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui (second right), together with the Leadership Council Chair of TheCityUK, Mr Bruce Carnegie-Brown (second left), witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) and TheCityUK in London, the United Kingdom, on June 10 (London time). The MOU was signed by the Executive Director of the FSDC, Dr King Au (first right), and the Managing Director for Public Affairs, Policy and Research of TheCityUK, Mr John Godfrey (first left).
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, attended a roundtable orgranised by TheCityUK in London, the United Kingdom, on June 10 (London time). Before the meeting, Mr Hui (centre) is pictured with the Chair of TheCityUK China Market Advisory Group and President of the China-Britain Business Council, the Lord James Sassoon (first left); the Leadership Council Chair of TheCityUK, Mr Bruce Carnegie-Brown (second left); the Managing Director of Public Affairs, Policy and Research of TheCityUK, Mr John Godfrey (second right); and the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, Miss Fiona Chau (first right).
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui (right), had a bilateral meeting with the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Mr Alderman Alastair King (left), in London, the United Kingdom, on June 10 (London time).
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui (third right), met the Chief Markets Officer of the PwC UK, Mr Carl Sizer (fourth right), in London, the United Kingdom, on June 10 (London time). Also joining the meeting was the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, Miss Fiona Chau (fourth left).
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui (centre), gave members of a British independent think-tank, Asia House, an introduction on the latest financial developments in Hong Kong, and answered their questions at a members briefing in London, the United Kingdom, on June 9 (London time). Next to him are the Chief Executive of Asia House, Mr Michael Lawrence (left), and the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, Miss Fiona Chau (right).
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, had a lunch meeting with representatives of the ICBC Standard Bank in London, the United Kingdom, on June 9 (London time). Mr Hui (fourth right) is pictured with the Chief Executive Officer of the ICBC Standard Bank, Mr Wang Wenbin (third right), and other senior management. Also attending is the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, Miss Fiona Chau (second left).
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui (first right), met with the Economic Secretary to the Treasury of the United Kingdom (UK), Ms Emma Reynolds (first left), in London, the UK, on June 9 (London time). Next to Mr Hui is the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, Miss Fiona Chau (second right).
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui (left), paid a courtesy call on Minister of the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom Mr Wang Qi (right) in London, the United Kingdom, on June 9 (London time).