Hong Kong Financial Delegation Concludes Suzhou Visit, Heads to Shanghai for Lujiazui Forum

2026-06-17 13:55 Last Updated At：16:13

SFST and financial delegation conclude visit to Suzhou and depart for Shanghai

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, and the financial delegation concluded their visit to Suzhou today (June 17) and departed in the afternoon for Shanghai, where they will attend the Lujiazui Forum in the evening. During their one-day stay in Suzhou, the delegation visited two enterprises and attended two networking events. They also met with the Secretary of the CPC Suzhou Municipal Committee and the Governor of the Jiangsu Branch of the People's Bank of China.

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SFST and financial delegation conclude visit to Suzhou and depart for Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Source: AI-found images

SFST and financial delegation conclude visit to Suzhou and depart for Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Upon arrival in Suzhou yesterday (June 16) at noon, Mr Hui and the delegation proceeded to a networking luncheon organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and engaged in in-depth discussions with representatives from 14 enterprises on how Hong Kong's investment and financing environment can support Chinese Mainland enterprises in going global as well as issues of concern to Mainland enterprises in the journey of going global. The discussion spanned a wide range of topics, such as cross-boundary financial support, international compliance requirements, cross-boundary tax planning, and the protection set-up for overseas industrial chains by establishing captive insurers. Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Suzhou Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of the Suzhou Municipal People's Government, Jiangsu Province, Mr Gu Haidong, and officials from the Financial Commission Office of the CPC Suzhou Municipal Committee also attended.

In his welcoming remarks, Mr Hui said, "Suzhou stands as a prominent manufacturing hub in the Yangtze River Delta. As the city launches its initiative to encourage Suzhou enterprises to go global, Hong Kong is undoubtedly your most reliable partner. We have the capabilities, expertise and global vision. We will work side by side with Suzhou enterprises in addressing challenges when they face risks or lack clear pathways in the journey of going global, supported by our wealth of professionals in finance, accounting, insurance, and legal services who are well versed in international markets and regulations. Hong Kong is well positioned to steer Suzhou enterprises through the waves as they expand overseas."

On the afternoon of the same day, the delegation visited Jiangsu Jinfu Digital Tech Group Company Limited and toured its key laboratories on digital finance and AI-driven financial applications in the company of its Chairman of the Board, Ms Qiu Xiaolan. They then went to Innovent Biologics Inc and met with its Senior Vice President, Mr Daniel Ding, to exchange views. The company has been listed in Hong Kong and was included in the Hang Seng Index.

In the evening, Mr Hui and the delegation attended a dinner hosted by Mr Gu.

The delegation continued its visit to Suzhou this morning. Mr Hui and the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Mrs Angelina Cheung, called on the Secretary of the CPC Suzhou Municipal Committee, Mr Fan Bo. They discussed and exchanged views on the needs of Suzhou enterprises expanding their businesses overseas and the support that the Hong Kong financial sector can offer.

They then joined the rest of the delegation to take part in a breakfast networking meeting with the Chairman of the Group Board, Zhongyifeng Holding Group Co Limited, Mr Gong Changyi, and Director of Zhongyifeng Holding Group, Mr Mo Lyuqun, ‎to learn about the company's development. The company has materialised the plan to establish in Hong Kong a holding subsidiary, which will engage in integrated energy management as well as the development of related software and hardware applications.

Before leaving Suzhou, the delegation met with the Governor of the Jiangsu Branch of the People's Bank of China, Mr Zhou Chengjun. They engaged in discussions on fintech and e-CNY (digital renminbi), and gained hands-on experience of distinctive use cases of e-CNY.

Mr Hui and the delegation departed for Shanghai at noon today and will attend the Lujiazui Forum this evening.

Hong Kong Universities Shine in QS World Rankings, Five in Top 100, Two in Top 20 for First Time

Hong Kong's higher education system hits new level, consolidating city's position as international education hub

A spokesman for the Education Bureau said today (June 18) that with the Government's full commitment to developing Hong Kong into an education hub, coupled with the support of a series of policy measures, the city's higher education system has again excelled. According to the latest 2027 World University Rankings published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), an international higher education institution, the eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) have achieved outstanding results, with five of them maintaining their positions among the world's top 100.

While the University of Hong Kong has continued to hold its position at 11th in the world, the overall rankings of the other seven UGC-funded universities have all risen significantly compared to last year, which is highly encouraging. Notably, the Chinese University of Hong Kong rose 14 places to 18th. This represents the first time that two Hong Kong universities rank in the global top 20. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology rose 11 places to 33rd, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University climbed four places to 50th, entering the world's top 50 for the first time. These exciting achievements not only fully recognise the unremitting efforts of Hong Kong's post-secondary education sector to strive for excellence, but also bear testimony again to the significant progress made by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in developing Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub, as well as nurturing and attracting top-notch talent.

The spokesman said, "These achievements fully affirm the effectiveness of the HKSAR Government's steadfast investment in education and its full support through the UGC for institutions to continuously innovate, optimise, expand capacity, and enhance quality. The significant year-on-year rise in the overall rankings of our institutions further validates Hong Kong's strong appeal as a premier hub for international high-end talent. The stellar performance of UGC-funded universities in the international rankings is by no means accidental. On one hand, it relies on the tireless efforts of all institutions to actively recruit world-class scholars and invest in infrastructure. On the other hand, the HKSAR Government's stable resource investment, clear and supportive policy guidance, as well as the rigorous quality assurance implemented through the University Accountability Agreements, are also of paramount importance."

The HKSAR Government has been working closely with the higher education sector. Through the 2025-28 triennium, a crucial bridge has been built to align national strategies, Hong Kong's needs, and university development. Universities are also encouraged to review and launch programmes in response to government policy guidance, market demands, and industry trends, providing students with appropriate curricula to cope with future societal changes. In the 2025-28 triennium, UGC-funded universities have introduced a total of 27 new undergraduate programmes related to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and the 'eight centres', covering fields such as AI, creative industries, and data science, thereby creating opportunities for young people to give full play to their strengths. The Government will continue to promote the internationalisation and diversification of post-secondary education, which aims to not only enhance Hong Kong's development momentum but also make proactive contributions to the nation's development.

The spokesman continued, "This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The formidable strength demonstrated by Hong Kong's higher education system aligns perfectly with the strategic goals set out in the National 15th Five-Year Plan to build a leading nation in education, technology, and talent. In recent years, the HKSAR Government has introduced a number of forward-looking measures to attract global talent across the board, while continuously optimising the ecosystem for nurturing local talent."

Hong Kong's high-quality higher education has always been very popular among students from different places. In the 2025/26 academic year the eight funded universities hosted over 30 000 non-local students from more than 100 countries or regions, representing a year-on-year increase of about 14 per cent compared to the 2024/25 academic year (Note). To support the post-secondary education sector to grow bigger and stronger, the Government has raised the admission ceiling for non-local students in taught programmes at funded post-secondary institutions to 50 per cent, and increased the over-enrolment ceiling for self-financing places in funded research postgraduate programmes to 120 per cent, among other measures.

In terms of scientific research, the Research Grants Council (RGC) under the UGC offers more than 20 research grants, distinguished scholar schemes, and fellowship programmes, funding over 1 500 new projects annually. Furthermore, a new round of the Research Matching Grant Scheme with $1.5 billion in funding was launched in 2025, and the RGC Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme was newly introduced this year to further foster a vibrant research environment.

Concurrently, the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, comprising various HKSAR Government bureaux and departments, has fully commenced its work. In collaboration with major institutions, the Task Force is stepping up promotion of Hong Kong's excellent academic, research, and international collaboration resources on the Chinese Mainland and overseas. It also aims to attract outstanding talent from all over the world through initiatives such as expanding the Belt and Road Scholarship.

To support universities in strengthening their promotion of the "Study in Hong Kong" brand, the UGC has allocated approximately $40 million in the 2025-28 triennium to the Heads of Universities Committee's Standing Committee on Internationalisation, which comprises the eight UGC-funded universities, to organise and participate in various activities to promote the "Study in Hong Kong" brand globally.

The spokesman concluded, "Under the grand blueprint of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong's higher education is on course to usher in an unprecedented golden period of opportunity. We will continue to leverage the unique advantages of Hong Kong's highly internationalised and diversified post-secondary education, support institutions in building world-class universities and disciplines, and deepen Hong Kong's role as an international education hub. While integrating into the overall development of the country, we will continue to shine on the global stage."

Note: these are provisional figures

Hong Kong Financial Delegation Concludes Suzhou Visit, Heads to Shanghai for Lujiazui Forum