Top choice: Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Prof KC Chan encourages Vietnamese enterprises to make use of Hong Kong's listing platform to raise capital.

Hong Kong has established itself as the premier capital-formation hub in Asia, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Prof KC Chan says in Vietnam, adding Vietnamese enterprises should make use of the city's listing platform to raise capital.

Speaking at a a conference highlighting Hong Kong's attraction as a centre for initial public offerings in Ho Chi Minh City today, Prof Chan said Hong Kong - the international financial centre at the heart of Asia, with strong global links, and with China as the resourceful hinterland - provides an unparalleled and unrivalled capital-formation and global-investment platform.

He said enterprises around the world are attracted to Hong Kong's capital market not just for efficient access to capital, but also for its high corporate-governance standards and Hong Kong's internationally recognised regulatory standards for the badge of quality.

Noting the Securities & Futures Commission and the Exchanges & Clearing published a joint policy statement to facilitate listing of overseas companies, he encouraged Vietnamese enterprises to raise capital in Hong Kong.

Attractive platform

Prof Chan also highlighted Hong Kong as the top choice for foreign investors to tap the tremendous business opportunities in Mainland China. He said investors eyeing the growing Mainland market will find Hong Kong's equity market an ideal and attractive investment platform.

He said Hong Kong's success as a fundraising centre for Mainland enterprises showed the deep and large pool of liquidity in the city's market.

"We are confident that with our extensive experience in financing the growth of enterprises in Mainland China, we are capable of providing equally quality service to Vietnamese enterprises, be they state-owned or private, seeking to tap the international market," Prof Chan said.

During the day, Prof Chan called on Ho Chi Minh City Vice-Mayor Nguyen Thi Hong and met leaders of the financial-services sector. He also exchanged views with the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange Vice Executive President Phan Thi Tuong Tam on financial-market developments in the two cities. 

Prof Chan will return to Hong Kong tonight.