Hong Kong can help boost other economies: FS

Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Sunday said Hong Kong could facilitate the development of other economies and enterprises while elevating itself. Chan made the remarks in his weekly blog after his recent visits to Nanjing and Bangkok. "Two major needs stood out very clearly: developing economies require capital and technologies, while mainland firms need international markets and professional services," he said. "Both demands converge in Hong Kong – a place that can channel global capital while connecting to the mainland’s technology and industries. "We can enable the development of others while further improve ourselves." With its highly efficient fundraising and financing capabilities, Hong Kong can support developing economies in building artificial intelligence infrastructure, Chan said. The SAR can also assist mainland enterprises in going global, he added. Meanwhile, the finance chief said the persistently high energy prices driven by global conflicts and the AI boom were reshaping the landscape of the global economy. But he also said the Hong Kong government was optimistic about the SAR's economic growth. Edited by Edmond Fong