Financial Secretary Paul Chan will depart for Davos, Switzerland this evening to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, due to take place from Monday to Friday.

This year's meeting will bring together nearly 3,000 leaders from across politics, business, finance, technology, the arts and culture, as well as representatives from international organisations, non-governmental organisations and think tanks, to jointly explore important global issues. More than 130 countries and regions will be represented.

Taking “A Spirit of Dialogue” as its theme, the meeting will cover topics such as co-operation in a contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, deploying innovation at scale in a responsible manner, and "building prosperity within planetary boundaries".

Mr Chan will attend, speak and join in discussions at several keynote meetings, lunches and dinners. He will also meet political, business and financial leaders to brief them on Hong Kong's situation and opportunities.

Mr Chan will leave Davos on January 23 and arrive back in Hong Kong on the morning of January 24. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will act as Financial Secretary during his absence.