FS begins visit to Europe
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, arrived in Paris, France, yesterday (May 18, Paris time) to begin his visit to Europe.
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The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (third right), met with board members of a think tank, Asia Centre Paris, in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, met with board members of a think tank, Asia Centre Paris, in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Photo shows Mr Chan (right) talking to its board members, Mr Evrard Didier (left) and Mr Jean-Yves Colin (centre). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (first right), met with key members of the French Asset Management Association in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (fourth left), met with key members of the French Asset Management Association in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (third right), called on the Chinese Ambassador to France, Mr Deng Li (second right), in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (right), called on the Chinese Ambassador to France, Mr Deng Li (left), in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Upon arrival, Mr Chan called on the Chinese Ambassador to France, Mr Deng Li, to exchange views on China-France and China-Europe relations, as well as the latest developments in Hong Kong.
In the afternoon, Mr Chan visited the French Asset Management Association and met with a number of representatives from the industry to exchange views on promoting investment co-operation between the two places. The French Asset Management Association is a major professional association representing the French asset management industry, with about 400 members, including about 330 asset management companies. Together, they manage about 90 per cent of the assets of the French asset management industry, with a total scale of 5 trillion euros.
At the meeting, Mr Chan pointed out that Hong Kong's economy registered steady growth in 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, and that its financial system remained robust. The International Monetary Fund and two major credit rating agencies have recently given positive assessments of Hong Kong's economic and fiscal policies. Hong Kong's stock market rose by 28 per cent in 2025 as a whole, while its initial public offering fundraising ranked first globally, with a number of leading Mainland innovation and technology enterprises listing in Hong Kong one after another. The asset management industry in Hong Kong has reached nearly 3.9 trillion euros in scale, and there are now over 3 300 family offices, most of which manage assets exceeding US$50 million, demonstrating a thriving asset and wealth management ecosystem. Meanwhile, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has a relatively affluent population of 87 million and a Gross Domestic Product of over 1.7 trillion euros, generating substantive demand for offshore asset allocation.
Mr Chan said, "For French investors seeking both capital security and investment returns, Hong Kong is an ideal destination for asset diversification with its advantages under 'one country, two systems', including the free flow of capital and talent, a vibrant financial ecosystem, and capital markets connected to the Mainland and the world. It is an opportune time for French financial institutions to leverage Hong Kong's advantages to expand their asset and wealth management businesses in Asia."
Mr Chan also visited a think tank, Asia Centre Paris, and met with a number of its board members in the afternoon. The Centre focuses on the study of geopolitical strategy, international relations and governance, and economic and social development dynamics. It is one of the important institutions in France specialising in Asian strategy and geopolitical analysis.
At the meeting, Mr Chan shared the latest economic and social situation of Hong Kong, as well as the directions and priority areas for its future development, and exchanged views with the board members on the international economic and trade landscape and China's development.
Mr Chan pointed out that the "one country, two systems" arrangement in Hong Kong will be upheld in the long run, and that Hong Kong's competitive advantages are built on multiple aspects, including the common law system, free port status, low tax regime, a stable business environment, predictable economic and financial policies, and mutual market access with the Mainland's capital markets, making Hong Kong the best gateway for international capital to connect with China opportunities. In recent years, apart from continuously developing trade and finance, Hong Kong has been actively nurturing the innovation and technology industry, making dedicated efforts to attract enterprises and talent to Hong Kong, and promoting the development of emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and biomedicine. The vast market of the Greater Bay Area and the development of emerging and future industries will create broader application scenarios and development space for European products and enterprises. In addition, under the country's dual circulation strategy, more Mainland enterprises will set up factories and expand their businesses in Southeast Asia and Europe through Hong Kong.
He welcomed more multifaceted exchanges between Asia Centre Paris and Hong Kong, including organising delegations to visit Hong Kong, so as to enhance in-depth mutual understanding between the two places and facilitate the financial and business sectors of both sides in exploring more opportunities for mutually beneficial co-operation.
Mr Chan will continue his visit in Paris today (May 19, Paris time) and attend the "No Money for Terror" Ministerial Conference.
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (third right), met with board members of a think tank, Asia Centre Paris, in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, met with board members of a think tank, Asia Centre Paris, in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Photo shows Mr Chan (right) talking to its board members, Mr Evrard Didier (left) and Mr Jean-Yves Colin (centre). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (first right), met with key members of the French Asset Management Association in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (fourth left), met with key members of the French Asset Management Association in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (third right), called on the Chinese Ambassador to France, Mr Deng Li (second right), in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (right), called on the Chinese Ambassador to France, Mr Deng Li (left), in Paris, France, on May 18 (Paris time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
