(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government today launched the Pilot Green & Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme to encourage local practitioners and prospective practitioners to receive training related to green and sustainable finance.

It launched the scheme in response to the new trend of developing a low-carbon and sustainable economy.

The three-year pilot scheme is open for application by Hong Kong residents, who are market practitioners or prospective practitioners of green and sustainable finance ie students and graduates in relevant disciplines.

After completing eligible programmes, full-time student applicants can apply for a subsidy of up to 100% of the relevant fees, while others can reimburse up to 80% of the fees, subject to a ceiling of $10,000.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said: “We are committed to developing Hong Kong into a regional hub for green and sustainable finance, and nurturing talent is a crucial task in supporting such development.

“The Government would launch the pilot scheme and earmark $200 million to provide subsidies to eligible people participating in the training, with a view to building up the local green and sustainable finance talent pool and thereby supporting the development of green and sustainable finance in Hong Kong.”

So far, 19 programmes, provided by the professional and continuing education schools of local universities, professional institutions, international training providers etc, have been registered as eligible programmes under the scheme.

The list of will be updated from time to time, the Government added.