Hong Kong and Mainland China Discuss Deepening Financial Market Access and Cooperation

2026-08-02 20:07 Last Updated At：20:18

CE meets Chairman of China Securities Regulatory Commission

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (August 2) met with the Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Mr Wu Qing, at Government House to exchange views on deepening the mutual access between Hong Kong and Mainland financial markets. The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; the Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC), Dr Kelvin Wong; and the Chief Executive Officer of the SFC, Ms Julia Leung, also attended the meeting.

Mr Lee welcomed Mr Wu and his delegation to Hong Kong. He said that Hong Kong enjoys unique advantages of having strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle, and possesses a highly internationalised market environment and mature financial infrastructure. The National 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial centre, strengthening its functions as a global offshore Renminbi (RMB) business hub, an international asset and wealth management centre, and an international risk management centre. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is pressing ahead at full speed with the preparation of Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, and is fully committed to its formulation to proactively seize the opportunities brought by the development of the country, continuously advance the high-quality development of Hong Kong as an international financial centre, and support the high-level opening up of the Mainland's financial markets.

Mr Lee said that global demand for RMB in trade finance, investment and reserves is steadily rising. Hong Kong, as a hub for global offshore RMB transactions and financial activities, with the world's largest offshore pool of RMB funds, has been actively advancing the upgrading of its financial infrastructure, product innovation and market expansion in various key areas. He was pleased to note that the launch of Mainland government bond futures in Hong Kong tomorrow (August 3) provides an effective offshore risk management tool for investors, and helps attract international investors to participate in the Mainland bond market and to hold RMB treasury bonds on a long-term basis. This is a key step in enhancing the RMB product ecosystem, and further consolidates Hong Kong's status as the world's offshore RMB business hub. Mr Lee thanked the Central People's Government and relevant Mainland regulators for their continued support, and said that he looked forward to further deepening co-operation with the Mainland and enhancing the liquidity of offshore RMB to facilitate the prudent and solid advancement of the RMB's internationalisation.

Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government will continue to work closely with Mainland regulators to jointly implement pragmatic measures to deepen co-operation between the two markets. Hong Kong will continue to expand the mutual access between Hong Kong and Mainland financial markets, building on the existing foundations of Stock Connect, Bond Connect and Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect, to offer a wide range of investment and risk management products to the market. Hong Kong and the Mainland will achieve complementary advantages and promote synergistic development and product innovation in the financial markets to contribute to the development of the country as a financial powerhouse.

Sport For All Day 2026 Promotes Fitness and Celebrates Asian Games in Hong Kong

CE takes part in Sport For All Day 2026 (with photos/video)

The Sport For All Day (SFAD) 2026 was held this afternoon (August 2). The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, took part in the activities held at the prime venue at Kowloon Park Sports Centre, conveying to the public the benefits of regular exercise for physical and mental well-being.

With the 20th Asian Games to be held this September, SFAD 2026 was themed "Asian Games in Motion, City in Action", cheering for the Hong Kong athletes participating in the Games.

Joining Mr Lee at the event were the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Commissioner for Sports, Mr George Tsoi; the Chairman of the Community Sports Committee, Professor Patrick Yung; the Chairman of the Major Sports Events Committee, Mr Wilfred Ng; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; the Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), Miss Winnie Chui; the District Officer (Yau Tsim Mong), Mr Eric Lee; wushu athlete Juanita Mok; and swimming athlete Adam Mak.

Participating guests enjoyed the wushu performances, the fitness exercise and skateboarding illustrations, virtual football, equestrian and rowing, as well as the handball and floorball fun activities. They also visited the games booth of the Festival of Sport organised by the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC).

Thirteen Principal Officials also showed support to SFAD 2026. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa; the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai; and the Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, joined the leisure activities at the sports centres in various districts, enjoying the fun of sports and welcoming the Asian Games together with members of the public.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department organises the SFAD every August. This year, leisure facilities were, for the first time, open for free public use for two consecutive days on August 1 and 2. Echoing the event, the SF&OC today held the "69th Festival of Sport - Sport for All Experience Day" at DPARK, Tsuen Wan. A number of supporting organisations also opened their facilities or rolled out leisure programmes for the public free of charge yesterday (August 1) and today.

The SFAD 2026 was co-organised with the SF&OC, the Department of Health, the Sports Medicine Team of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Sports Medicine and Health Science Alumni Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China and the Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China.