Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui met businesspeople and university scholars in Chicago yesterday, as he continued his visit to the US.
 

Mr Hui started the day by attending a breakfast seminar co-hosted by the Hong Kong Business Association of the Midwest and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
 

He informed participants of the latest developments in Hong Kong's financial industry, and expressed his hope for the association to continue collaborating with the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York (New York HKETO) and the HKTDC.
 

At a lunch with scholars from the University of Chicago, Mr Hui talked about development opportunities in fintech and green and sustainable finance. 
 

He stressed that Hong Kong is taking concerted action on several key fronts to accelerate the development of fintech in the city, elaborating that these include the Commercial Data Interchange platform, a government-led data sharing initiative, as well as Project mBridge and e-HKD.
 

Explaining that Hong Kong’s green and sustainable finance market affords opportunities for diverse talent to work in the city, Mr Hui said students from the University of Chicago should seize the chance to gain work experience in Hong Kong.
 

“What’s more, graduates from the University of Chicago should not miss our Top Talent Pass Scheme as the scheme targets graduates from the world’s top 100 universities,” he added.  
 

Besides joining a discussion session with scholars led by the William Claude Reavis Professor in the Department of Political Science Prof Dali Yang, Mr Hui also visited the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the university’s Chicago Booth School of Business.

 
In the evening, Mr Hui attended a Hong Kong Spring Reception co-hosted by the New York HKETO and the HKTDC. Addressing the reception, Mr Hui highlighted that more than 80 mega events have been or will be held in Hong Kong in the first half of 2024 alone.
 

He also reported that Hong Kong’s economy is gaining momentum and that growth in real gross domestic product of 2.5% to 3.5% is expected for the year.
 

Earlier yesterday, Mr Hui paid a courtesy call to the Chinese Consul General in Chicago Zhao Jian. 
 

Concluding his visit to the US, Mr Hui said New York and Hong Kong are both leading international financial centres, while Chicago is also a major global financial hub. He noted that the three cities are all densely populated metropolises in which multinational enterprises operate.
 

Mr Hui added that in his meetings with representatives from the US business sector, academia and financial institutions, he had promoted Hong Kong’s stable business environment, its unique strengths in areas such as asset and wealth management and offshore Renminbi business, in addition to the key initiatives demonstrating its determination to embrace financial innovation and nurture the talent required to support the financial services industry’s future development.
 

“Apart from telling good Hong Kong stories, we also had meaningful exchanges,” he said.
 

“In the face of global common concerns like fintech innovation, tackling climate change and enhancing risk management, I hope Hong Kong will continue to play its role as the gateway between the world and the Mainland, and explore collaboration with overseas regions, so as to promote sustainable and high-quality development for the well-being of a community with a shared future for mankind.”
 

Mr Hui will return to Hong Kong tomorrow night.