Financial Secretary Paul Chan began a visit to Europe yesterday as he arrived in London.

Mr Chan met representatives from family offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and briefed them on the investment opportunities in Hong Kong’s finance and innovation and technology (I&T).

He also told them about the city’s vibrant ecosystem for philanthropy and impact investing, and its high-quality living environment, and invited them to establish a presence in Hong Kong.

In addition, he held a meeting with a financial institution that is planning to set up operations in Hong Kong.

Mr Chan paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the UK Zheng Zeguang, to exchange views on Hong Kong’s future development and China-UK relations.

In the evening, the finance chief attended a “Hong Kong Dinner” hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

In a keynote speech at the event, he updated political and business leaders in the audience on the latest developments and emerging opportunities in Hong Kong.

He observed that exchanges between Hong Kong and the UK have become more frequent over the past year, including through growth in bilateral trade and an expansion of two-way investment.

He reiterated that the “one country, two systems” principle continues to be the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s prosperity, adding that the city’s rule of law and common law system remain robust, and are widely recognised internationally.

As a clear reflection of international confidence in Hong Kong’s business environment, Mr Chan said, international capital has continued to flow into Hong Kong, and more multinational enterprises have expanded their presence in the city over the past year.

He also highlighted Hong Kong’s strengths in finance and I&T, notably the Northern Metropolis, which he said will serve as a key platform for driving I&T development.

Mr Chan told his audience that the Government is accelerating development in the area, including easing planning restrictions and adopting more flexible development models. Preferential policy packages will also be introduced to attract top-tier enterprises.

He explained that the Lok Ma Chau Loop area will become a cross-boundary innovation corridor, where capital, talent, goods, data and even biosamples will flow seamlessly from the Mainland to Hong Kong. This will offer opportunities to international firms in the fields of AI and biotech, he said.

In concluding, the finance chief said Hong Kong’s development prospects remain bright, and invited more UK companies and professionals to expand their business in the city.