The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Mr Paul Chan, attended a webinar on May 12 to update the Canadian political and business community on Hong Kong’s edge and competitiveness as an international financial centre, its active role in national development and the ample opportunities for Canadian businesses.
In his opening remarks, Mr Chan highlighted that, despite the pandemic’s economic fallout and the social unrest that preceded it, Hong Kong’s financial market has functioned well with its unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle, the rule of law and other institutional strengths including an independent judiciary and the free flow of information, people and capital. “There have been rumours of fund outflows in the past two years, but the reality is we have not seen any significant fund outflow from Hong Kong’s banking system. On the contrary, a total inflow of US$50 billion into the Hong Kong dollar system had been recorded as at the end of last year. Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre remains solid and its competitiveness remains strong,” he said.
Mr Chan added that the upbeat prospects for Hong Kong’s future are affirmed by the National 14th Five-Year Plan, which continues the Central Government’s support for and promotion of Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, transportation and trading centre, a global offshore Renminbi business hub and an international asset and risk management centre, and supports the city’s development as an international hub for both aviation and innovation and technology. Hong Kong’s integration into national development not only contributes to the development of the country, but also creates new impetus for the city’s economic growth, which enables improvements in the economy and people's livelihood.
The 14th Five-Year Plan also outlines high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), which supports the expansion of mutual access between the financial markets of Hong Kong and the Mainland. The cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect scheme, under which residents in Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in the GBA will be able to invest in wealth-management products distributed by banks in the region, will be rolled out soon.
Addressing concerns about the stability of Hong Kong’s society, Mr Chan emphasised the restoration of social and political stability through the enactment of the national security law and the impending improvements to the electoral system of Hong Kong, which has created a safe and secure environment conducive to business and investment for the people of Hong Kong, for Canadian business and investment and for companies from all over the world. “In 2020, there were over 9 000 overseas and Mainland companies operating in Hong Kong, of which 1 500 had their regional headquarters in the city, reflecting the companies’ confidence in Hong Kong,” he said.
The webinar was organised by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. More than 100 participants joined the webinar. The question-and-answer session of the webinar provided an effective platform for Mr Chan to discuss with participants topics including the HKSAR Government’s policies and support for promoting green and sustainable finance and innovation and technology, as well as the city's anti-epidemic measures and core competitiveness in professional services.
財政司司長向加拿大政商界強調香港作為國際金融中心的優勢和競爭力
香港特別行政區（香港特區）政府財政司司長陳茂波於五月十二日出席網上研討會，向加拿大政商界介紹香港作為國際金融中心的優勢和競爭力、在國家發展大局中的積極角色，以及為加拿大企業提供的廣闊機遇。
陳茂波在開場發言時強調，儘管受到疫情及其前的社會動亂影響，香港憑藉在「一國兩制」下的獨特優勢，以及法治、司法獨立及資訊、人才和資金自由流通等制度優勢，其金融市場依然運作良好。他表示：「過去兩年，曾經有流言說資金從香港流走，但事實是香港銀行體系不單沒有明顯的資金流出現象，相反至去年底合共有500億美元資金流入港元體系。可以說，香港國際金融中心的地位依然穩固，競爭力強勁。」
陳茂波續說，國家《十四五規劃綱要》展示中央政府繼續支持香港作為國際金融、航運及貿易中心、全球離岸人民幣業務樞紐和國際資產及風險管理中心的定位，並支持香港發展為國際航空和創新科技樞紐，進一步確定了香港的光明前景。香港融入國家的發展大局，可以在貢獻國家發展的同時，為香港的經濟創造新的發展動力，讓經濟和民生可以不斷改善。《十四五規劃綱要》亦勾劃了粵港澳大灣區的高質量發展，擴大香港與內地金融市場的互聯互通。就此，雙向跨境理財通亦很快會落實推出，讓包括香港、澳門和大灣區內九個城市的居民可跨境投資區內銀行銷售的理財產品。
陳茂波在回應有關香港社會的穩定性的關注時強調，《香港國安法》的制定和完善香港選舉制度使香港恢復社會和政治穩定，為香港市民、加拿大企業和投資，以及來自世界各地的企業創造了安全穩定和有利營商投資的環境。他表示：「在二○二○年，在香港營運的內地和海外企業共有超過9 000家，其中1 500間是地區總部，正好反映來自各地的企業對香港充滿信心。」
是次網上研討會由加拿大亞太基金會舉辦，共超過100人出席。陳茂波並在研討會的問答環節，跟與會者就香港特區政府推動綠色及可持續金融和創新科技的政策和支援、香港的抗疫措施，以及專業服務業的競爭優勢等議題交換意見。
