Financial Secretary Celebrates 40th Anniversary of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong

Speech by FS at French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong Gala Dinner

Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong Gala Dinner this evening (June 5):

Consul General Christile Drulhe (Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macao, Mrs Christile Drulhe), Rebecca (Honorary President of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong, Mrs Rebecca Silli), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Bonsoir. Good evening, everyone.

Two weeks ago, I was in Paris. I wandered into a bistro, and the owner - upon knowing that I was from Hong Kong - broke into a smile and said, "I heard Hong Kong is a major buyer of French fine wine. Now that you're in Paris, you should have a few more glasses to pair with our delicacies." The place was gloriously noisy, full of laughter and warmth.

The vibe here tonight takes me right back to that evening.

And perhaps that's no surprise. There is an undeniable air of romance and elegance woven into the fabric of French cuisine, wine and the people.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong. Over these four decades, the ties between our two places have grown ever deeper and stronger - 700 members, 400 enterprises, 10 000 French citizens calling Hong Kong home. These are not merely statistics. They speak to a conscious choice: the choice to put down roots here, to make this city their own, and to build lasting relationships rather than simply conducting transactions.

That is a testament to the true depth of what we share.

Last year, bilateral merchandise trade between Hong Kong and France reached HK$88 billion - a rise of more than 10 per cent.

Wine is very much part of the story: 11 million bottles, accounting for 70 per cent of the total value of our wine imports. French visitors went up by nearly 20 per cent, and that momentum has carried well into the first four months of 2026.

Clearly, the affection is mutual.

When I was in Paris meeting policymakers, asset managers and financial institutions, one thing came out clearly: Europe is undergoing a profound repositioning, driven by a strong desire to change and diversify.

We see that ambition at work: in seeking new trading partners and growth opportunities; in channelling savings into technology, innovation, digital transformation and green transition; and in deepening collaboration with China and the broader Asian region.

With our strategic location and the unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" framework, Hong Kong is the natural connector and enabler.

The National 15th Five-Year Plan places strong emphasis on high-level opening up. As the Chinese market continues to open, it is creating greater room for premium foreign goods and services to take hold. For French enterprises, this represents more than market expansion - it signals a rising sophistication among consumers, an area in which French brands have long excelled.

And Mainland companies going global are seeking opportunities in Europe. They will bring investments and create jobs. Hong Kong is the platform supporting them with financing, professional services and cultural connections.

Going forward, artificial intelligence (AI) is fast reshaping the global economic landscape. Hong Kong has adopted "AI+" as a key economic strategy and launched "AI Training for All" to equip our people with the skills needed for tomorrow. France, too, counts many world-leading names in deep tech and artificial intelligence.

We each bring complementary strengths to this partnership - France, with its tradition of bold scientific thinking and deep expertise in AI research; Hong Kong, with its vibrant innovation ecosystem, entrepreneurial energy, and unmatched connectivity across Asian markets.

Different in character, but equally formidable.

In fact, French start-ups have always been a vital part of Hong Kong's innovation landscape, and our doors remain wide open to them.

Because in the end, opportunities shared will allow co-creation of a bigger pie, and turning ideas into real-world impact is never the work of any one party alone.

Ladies and gentlemen, this 40th anniversary is not just a milestone - it is a new beginning. The chapters ahead, I believe, will be even more compelling - led by technology, sustainability and finance, enriched by mutual appreciation, and shaped by the participation of each one of you in this room tonight.

I thank the French Chamber for 40 years of deep engagement with and support to Hong Kong. I wish the Chamber continued success, and French wine and style as excellent as ever.

Merci beaucoup. Thank you very much.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong Gala Dinner today (June 5). Photo shows Mr Chan (third left); the Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macao, Mrs Christile Drulhe (second left); Honorary President of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong Mrs Rebecca Silli (fourth left); and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Peter Lam (first left), and other guests at the dinner. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, speaks at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong Gala Dinner today (June 5). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards

The Department of Health (DH) today (July 14) convened the 14th Meeting of the International Advisory Board (IAB) on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS) to review the reference standards for 16 types of Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) commonly used in Hong Kong, and to discuss the future development of the HKCMMS. Over 60 experts from the Chinese Mainland, overseas and Hong Kong attended the meeting.

Since 2002, the DH has been implementing the HKCMMS project in phases to develop standards for commonly used CMM in Hong Kong to ensure their safety and quality.

In his opening remarks, the Director of Health and the Chairperson of the IAB, Dr Ronald Lam, said, "One of the key initiatives of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) under the DH is the implementation of the HKCMMS. With the publication of the Volume 12 of the HKCMMS, standards for 357 types of CMM have been established so far. They have become widely recognised international reference standards for Chinese medicine testing and certification, thereby promoting the high-quality scientific development of Chinese medicine. In addition, the work of GCMTI is closely aligned with national priorities. The National 15th Five-Year Plan made it clear that we need to 'advance the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine' and 'promote the integration of Chinese and Western medicine'. It also calls for us to 'strengthen the conservation and utilisation of Chinese medicine resources', 'improve the quality of Chinese medicine, and build up and strengthen the Chinese medicine industry'. These are exactly the goals that the HKCMMS Project is helping to achieve - by setting rigorous quality standards for CMM and conducting applied research and development on testing methods that underpin the entire industry, establishing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as a bridgehead for the global expansion of Chinese Medicine."

Dr Lam emphasised that the success of the HKCMMS project depends on the active collaboration of stakeholders across different sectors. He expressed his sincere appreciation to the four research partners attending the meeting, commending their dedicated contributions to advancing the project's research efforts. They were the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the China Medical University. He also thanked the Government Laboratory for conducting inter-laboratory verification studies. Dr Lam emphasised that these collaborations are crucial for establishing a rigorous and solid scientific foundation for the HKCMMS and gaining international credibility. The DH is also deeply grateful to the National Medical Products Administration, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission for their continuous valuable advice and support in developing the HKCMMS. To align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to advance the inheritance, innovation and high-quality development of Chinese medicine, expand and promote Chinese medicine culture, the DH will continue to steadfastly promote the development of Chinese medicine and better integrate into and serve the overall national development.

The two-day meeting brought together experts from the Chinese Mainland, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as representatives from research institutions, the DH and the Government Laboratory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The 16 types of CMM commonly used in Hong Kong that were discussed at the meeting included Bambusae Caulis in Taenias, Pyrolae Herba, Natrii Sulfas, Dichroae Radix, Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma, Cynanchi Atrati Radix et Rhizoma, Jasmini Flos, Tinosporae Caulis, Inulae Flos, Haematitum, Lasiosphaera seu Calvatia, Vespae Nidus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Aconiti Kusnezoffii Folium, Meliae Cortex and Tripterygii Wilfordii Radix.

Previous editions of the HKCMMS can be accessed at the website of the Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office of the DH.

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases