Financial Secretary Highlights Hong Kong's Growth and Innovation at FSDC Annual Cocktail Reception

Speech by FS at Financial Services Development Council Annual Cocktail Reception 2026

Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) Annual Cocktail Reception 2026 today (February 2):

Benjamin (Chairman of the FSDC, Mr Benjamin Hung), FSDC Board Members, King (Executive Director of the FSDC, Dr King Au), Rocky (Executive Director-designate of the FSDC, Dr Rocky Tung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. It is a pleasure to join you tonight at the Financial Services Development Council's annual cocktail reception. This gathering is a welcome opportunity to reconnect with friends and partners across our financial community - and to look ahead as we begin a new year.

2025 was a good year for Hong Kong's financial services sector. We saw solid momentum across multiple segments and a renewed sense of confidence, but we should be clear-eyed. In a geopolitically fast-moving and complex world, compounded by technology disruptions, we must never stop moving. The question is how to position Hong Kong for the next phase of high quality and resilient growth.

Two weeks ago, I was in Davos. The discussions among world leaders on the global arena were highly relevant to Hong Kong's role as an international financial centre.

First, asset reallocation. In a world marked by heightened geopolitical tensions, many global investors are reassessing exposures, seeking greater diversification and looking to allocate more to markets where policy clarity, connectivity and compelling opportunities converge.

Second, technological transformation is creating new investment opportunities. The global community expressed strong and sustained interest in AI, quantum computing, robotics, biotech and new energy. With our country advancing rapidly in these areas, new avenues are opening up for long term capital deployment.

Against this backdrop, Hong Kong's enduring value proposition is clear. We are not only an international financial centre connecting China and the world; we are also an emerging international innovation and technology hub that attracts global talent and capital. One focus of our next phase of development will be very much on this dual role, where we harness our capital markets to power technological innovation and drive the real economy.

In this light, the work of the FSDC continues to be both important and impactful. The Council continues to look ahead to the frontiers of financial services, and I am delighted that it has been putting forward concrete recommendations in several high potential areas.

One example is developing our bond market, and that includes deepening the ecosystem and broadening funding channels to meet growing investor interest in high quality fixed income and longer-tenor instruments. Another is impact investing, where Hong Kong can leverage our position as a trusted international platform, to mobilise capital to support low carbon transition, inclusive growth and philanthropy.

I would like to thank the FSDC for its continued contributions through policy research, market engagement and international outreach. Your work helps sharpen our thinking on how we can reinforce Hong Kong's attractiveness as a preferred market to invest and grow.

Finally, on a personal note, may I extend my warmest wishes to Dr King Au, Executive Director of the FSDC, on his retirement from the Council. King, we are grateful for your dedicated and outstanding service for the past six years.

Ladies and gentlemen, in about two weeks, we will be celebrating the Year of the Horse, an emblem of vitality, agility and perseverance, which are the very qualities that sustain Hong Kong's success on the global stage. Looking ahead, despite complex headwinds, I remain confident that Hong Kong will continue to thrive as an international financial centre of choice.

For now, I hope you will enjoy the evening and the company, over a drink or two. Thank you very much.

Speech by FS at Financial Services Development Council Annual Cocktail Reception 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by FS at Financial Services Development Council Annual Cocktail Reception 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CHP investigates two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 2) investigating two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters affecting a total of four persons. The CHP reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent foodborne diseases.

The clusters involve one male and three females aged between 30 and 59. They developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever about 25 to 38 hours after having dinner at L'Amour located at Shop A & B, G/F, Grand Progress Building, Nos. 58-62 D'Aguilar Street, Nos. 15-16 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, on January 27.

One of the affected persons sought medical advice but did not require hospitalisation.All of the affected individuals are currently in stable condition.

A preliminary investigation revealed that raw oysters and salad were the food items that the affected individuals had in common at the aforementioned restaurant. Officers of the CHP and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (including personnel of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch) conducted a joint investigation and examined the handling processes and food hygiene at the restaurant. The CFS's field investigation revealed that affected persons may have contracted food poisoning from consuming raw food. The CFS immediately instructed the premises concerned to suspend serving the incriminated food items and to carry out cleaning and disinfection of the premises. The officers have also provided health education related to food safety and environmental hygiene to the staff of the premises.

The investigation of the CHP and the CFS is ongoing.

To prevent foodborne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out, one should:

Avoid eating raw seafood;

Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters at a buffet;

Choose pasteurised eggs, egg products or dried egg powder for dishes that often use undercooked eggs;

Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;

Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hotpot or barbecue meal;

Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;

Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked foods;

Avoid patronising illegal food hawkers;

Drink boiled water;

Susceptible populations, including those with weakened immunity, the elderly, pregnant women and young children, are at a higher risk of foodborne diseases, so they should not consume raw or undercooked foods;

Refrain from trying to use salt, vinegar, wine or wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and

Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

Source: AI-found images