Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, promoted Hong Kong’s strengths as an international green finance hub at a seminar on May 2.
The seminar, titled “Get to Know More About Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Issues”, was organised by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) (Toronto Section) in partnership with accounting firm MNP LLP, and supported by the HKETO, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) (Canada) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Canada (HKTDC).
In her opening address, Ms Mo first highlighted the collaborative efforts between Hong Kong and Canada towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, saying that both regions played a pivotal role in advancing ESG principles and fostering green finance initiatives. She added that Hong Kong took an exemplary leadership in promoting ESG principles, from implementing regulatory frameworks to issuing green bonds, which has created vast opportunities for Canadian enterprises and professionals.
“Hong Kong has solidified its position as a global green finance center, implementing mandatory ESG reporting for listed companies, investment fund managers, and ESG funds,” she said. “Moreover, Hong Kong has emerged as Asia's premier issuer of green bonds and debts, with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government alone issuing approximately US$24 billion worth of green bonds to attract global institutional investors.”
She added that the increasing demand for green projects and financing in Mainland China, particularly within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, presented significant prospects for global investors seeking ESG-related ventures and green investment opportunities.
Emphasizing that Hong Kong is committed to becoming a leading hub for green technology, promoting zero-carbon energy, energy-saving technologies, electric vehicles, and green building practices to combat climate change, Ms Mo encouraged companies and talents in the field to embrace the immense opportunities presented by Hong Kong.
Other speakers at the seminar included Edward Olson, Partner of MNP LLP specialising in the company’s ESG practices; Ms Grace Lau, Deputy Head of Investment Promotion of InvestHK (Canada); Andrew Yui, Director (Canada) of HKTDC; and Marcus Lam, Board Director of HKCBA.
香港經貿處處長推廣香港作為國際綠色金融中心的優勢
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）處長巫菀菁於五月二日在商貿研討會上推廣香港作為國際綠色金融中心的優勢。
研討會的主題圍繞環境、社會及管治(ESG)，由港加商會（多倫多分會）及MNP LLP會計師事務所合辦，獲香港經貿處、香港投資推廣署加拿大辦事處及香港貿易發展局多倫多辦事處（貿發局）支持。
巫菀菁致開幕辭時首先指出香港與加拿大共同致力於二○五○年前達至碳中和水平，兩地在ESG實踐原則及推動綠色金融發展方面肩負關鍵角色。她指，香港從推行監管框架至發行綠色債券上均擔當卓越領導角色，全面推廣ESG原則，並為加拿大企業及專才創造龐大機遇。
她說：「香港的環球綠色金融中心地位穩健，針對上市公司、投資基金經理及ESG基金推行強制匯報政策。再者，香港已成為亞洲首屈一指的綠色債券及信貸發行人，單計香港特別行政區政府已發出價值近240億美元的綠色債券，以吸引全球機構投資者。」
巫菀菁續指出，中國內地的綠色項目和金融需求日趨殷切，尤以粵港澳大灣區為甚，因而為有意投資ESG相關行業及尋求綠色投資機會的全球投資者提供可觀機遇。
她強調，香港銳意成為領先全球的綠色科技中心，推動零碳能源、省能技術、電動車及綠色建築的發展，以應對氣候變化。她鼓勵綠色界別企業和專才積極擁抱香港呈獻的龐大機遇。
其他講者亦在研討會上分享心得，包括MNP LLP會計師事務所專責研究公司ESG常規的合伙人Edward Olson、投資推廣署副總監劉慧恩、貿發局加拿大代表芮紹能及港加商會董事林浩鋒。
