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.
The Financial Services Development Council Annual Cocktail Reception 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
15th China Chest Pain Centers Congress convenes in Hong Kong: Chest pain treatment standards go global, joining hands to elevate care quality
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (April 3) that the 15th China Chest Pain Centers Congress (CCPCC 2026) is being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre over two days (April 3 and 4), bringing together about 3 000 medical professionals from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, the Belt and Road countries and regions and around the world. This marks the first time the Congress is being held in Hong Kong, with the city serving as an important bridge in bringing national chest pain treatment standards onto the international stage, representing a significant milestone for the Congress.
This year's Congress features 16 professional forums and over 200 specialised lectures, covering cutting-edge healthcare innovations, AI-assisted clinical decision-making, intelligent emergency response systems, and international accreditation standards. The event aims to establish a platform for academic exchange, innovation, and collaboration in chest pain centre development and cardiovascular medicine, facilitating the sharing of new medical knowledge and experience, and collectively exploring the latest directions in contemporary cardiovascular healthcare services.
The Congress is jointly organised by the HA, the National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, the Guangdong Chest Pain Centers Association, and the Chinese Cardiovascular Association. The opening ceremony was held this morning, officiated by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; Second-Level Inspector of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, Mr Wu Jingzen; Chairperson of the Organising Committee (Chinese Mainland), Academician Professor Ge Junbo; Chairperson of the Organising Committee (Chinese Mainland), Professor Yong Huo; Legislative Council Member for the Medical and Health Services functional constituency, Dr Hon David Lam; the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Philip Chiu, the HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan; and the HA Chief Executive and the Chairperson of the Organising Committee (Hong Kong), Dr Libby Lee.
Mr Fan stated that CCPCC 2026 being held in Hong Kong for the first time fully demonstrates Hong Kong's unique position as an international hub for medical exchange.
Mr Fan said "Countries and regions around the world are currently facing the severe challenge of a growing number of acute cardiac cases. Strengthening medical exchange and collaboration, and driving medical innovation, are therefore of paramount importance. I believe this Congress will bring fruitful academic achievements to all attendees and inject new momentum into the global development of cardiovascular medicine, ultimately benefiting more patients."
Dr Lee, in her opening address, stated that the HA has always been committed to enhancing the quality of acute cardiac services in public hospitals and actively collaborates closely with Chinese Mainland counterparts to promote the integration of high-quality medical services.
Dr Lee said "Hong Kong's healthcare system is renowned for its efficiency, professionalism, and excellence. The Chest Pain Centre at Queen Mary Hospital has achieved accreditation under the National Chest Pain Centre Construction Standards, and the Chest Pain Centre at Prince of Wales Hospital will also undergo accreditation in due course. Establishing chest pain centres have yielded significant results in improving chest pain treatment processes and enhancing service efficiency, benefiting patients and fully demonstrating Hong Kong's deep commitment to standardised care, multidisciplinary coordination, and timely intervention. Hong Kong's experience can also serve as an important reference for global chest pain centre development. I look forward to collaborating with the Chinese Mainland and international medical communities through this Congress to jointly promote innovation and sustainable development in cardiovascular medicine."
During the CCPCC 2026, the "Chest Pain Center Construction and Accreditation Standards (International Version)" has been officially issued. This standard provides a framework for healthcare institutions worldwide to establish high-quality chest pain centres, which aims to standardise treatment protocols, improve clinical outcomes, enhance clinical prognosis, promote the standardised development of chest pain centres internationally, and ultimately raise the overall level of global chest pain treatment.
The 15th China Chest Pain Centers Congress is being held in Hong Kong on April 3 and 4, bringing together about 3 000 medical professionals from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, the Belt and Road countries and regions and around the world. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The 15th China Chest Pain Centers Congress is being held in Hong Kong on April 3 and 4. The opening ceremony was held this morning (April 3), officiated by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (fourth left); Second-Level Inspector of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, Mr Wu Jingzen (third left); Chairperson of the Organising Committee (Chinese Mainland), Academician Professor Ge Junbo (second left); Chairperson of the Organising Committee (Chinese Mainland), Professor Yong Huo (first left); Legislative Council Member for the Medical and Health Services functional constituency, Dr Hon David Lam (fourth right); the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Philip Chiu (first right); the HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan (third right) and the HA Chief Executive and the Chairperson of the Organising Committee (Hong Kong), Dr Libby Lee (second right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
