Following is a question by Dr the Hon Elvin Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (February 25):
 
Question:

     The Central Government has earlier on announced that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministers' Meeting 2026 will be held in Hong Kong in October this year. There are views that the international meeting is a major diplomatic and financial event drawing global attention, while providing Hong Kong with an opportunity for international promotion, telling the world good stories of our country, Hong Kong and Chinese culture. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the SAR Government will take the opportunity of holding the aforesaid meeting to actively introduce and promote Hong Kong's unique culture to visitors such as dignitaries and corporate executives attending the meeting, and promote the fine traditions of Chinese culture;

(2) whether the Government will, during and around the aforesaid meeting, organise activities similar to Chinese Culture Week and arrange a series of cultural and artistic programmes with distinctive themes (such as thematic exhibitions on Chinese culture, introduction to and experiential activities of Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage and visits to historic buildings), with a view to deepening the understanding of participants of the meeting and visitors about Hong Kong and Chinese culture through immersive experiences and interactive engagement; if so, of the specific publicity strategies put in place by the Government so that there will be extensive coverage and reports on such activities by international media, thus strengthening the effect of telling the good stories of Hong Kong and Chinese culture; and

(3) when it will finalise the dedicated promotional strategies and related proposals for the aforesaid meeting and announce the relevant details to the public?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     China is the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2026 and is responsible for preparing for and chairing the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, as well as a series of ministerial and other meetings under the theme of "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together". The Central People's Government announced earlier that the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting (FMM) will be hosted by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and will be held in Hong Kong under the arrangements and organisation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. The HKSAR Government will spare no effort in making comprehensive and meticulous preparations to support our country in successfully hosting APEC 2026. Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government will also seize this opportunity to deepen international exchanges and co-operation, further reinforcing and elevating Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre, thereby better integrating into and serving the overall national development.
 
     The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to the relevant preparatory work. The Steering Committee on the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting 2026 preparatory work (Steering Committee), chaired by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, has convened its first meeting to review the preliminary preparatory work and discuss key follow-up tasks for the FMM with relevant policy bureaux, departments, and organisations. The Steering Committee, comprising senior representatives from 20 policy bureaux, departments, and organisations, oversees areas of work including meeting arrangements, transportation, security, publicity, cultural and arts activities, etc. The HKSAR Government will facilitate the successful hosting of the FMM in Hong Kong through close interdepartmental collaboration.
 
     In response to the question raised by Dr the Hon Elvin Lee, our reply is as follows:
 
(1) With reference to past arrangements, the FMM will bring together finance ministers and senior finance officials of the 21 APEC member economies, as well as representatives of observing international organisations (such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian Development Bank). We expect that around 500 visitors (including accompanying persons of delegates and visiting international journalists) will come to Hong Kong in mid-to-late October this year for the three-day FMM and related activities. We will make good use of this high-level international platform to actively showcase and promote Chinese culture to visitors from around the world, along with Hong Kong's unique appeal and boundless opportunities as an international metropolis. This includes the thriving development of Hong Kong's financial sector and its robust capabilities in organising meetings, conventions and exhibitions, and incentive travel activities.
 
(2) Finance ministers, senior finance officials, and representatives of international organisations participating in the FMM would typically need to attend multiple international conferences around the world, including the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group to be held in Bangkok in October this year. Given their tight schedules, the time they could spend in Hong Kong before and after the FMM will be limited. The HKSAR Government will leverage the FMM programme arrangements and incorporate elements of Chinese culture, as well as the unique characteristics of Hong Kong, into the venue set-up (including exhibition booths around the conference area) and the design of side events (including welcoming dinner, cultural performances, and site visits) to enable participants to experience and interact with these cultural elements firsthand, thereby effectively telling good stories of our country and Hong Kong.
 
(3) Hong Kong has long been recognised as an events capital for hosting major international conferences, and has extensive experience in managing media affairs and promotional activities for such events. The Steering Committee will formulate publicity and promotion strategies, with details to be announced in an opportune time after consulting the MoF.

Ends/Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:45

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