Financial Secretary Paul Chan has started his three-day Dublin trip to boost economic co-operation between Hong Kong and Ireland.

Mr Chan began his visit by meeting representatives from Irish fintech companies already operating in Hong Kong or looking to establish themselves in the city.

He updated them on the latest efforts to support the development of fintech and encouraged them to make use of Hong Kong’s platform in expanding their operations in the city, the Mainland and Asia. 

He then met Hong Kong people living in Dublin to learn more about their daily lives.

In a seminar organised by Invest Hong Kong and Enterprise Ireland, Mr Chan introduced Hong Kong's latest developments in fintech and the aircraft leasing business.

He said Hong Kong's ever-deepening economic integration with the Mainland, including the Belt & Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development, will bring more opportunities unavailable elsewhere.

Hong Kong and Ireland can work together in capitalising on the massive opportunities ahead, he added.

Also attending the seminar was Irish Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market & Data Protection Pat Breen.

Mr Chan then met the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland Philip Lane and discussed the global economic outlook and maintaining financial stability.

Along with the Minister of State at the Irish Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform Michael D’arcy, he later attended a cocktail reception and dinner to mark the launch of direct flights between Hong Kong and Dublin.

Mr Chan said the flights, which launch this month, will further strengthen the close cultural, tourism and trade ties between the two places.