Speech by CS at Opening Ceremony of Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2026
Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Opening Ceremony of Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2026 today (September 7):
Martin (Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Martin Liao), Winfried (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. I am pleased to welcome you to the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum, delighted to note that this is the Forum's 10th anniversary.
You're here over these next two days to get the latest intelligence and insights from a wide variety of high-profile local and international speakers. And all under the innovative theme of "Leaping for Impact."
This year's theme draws inspiration from the Olympic and Paralympic values. Philanthropy, like sport, required focus, discipline and resilience. It demands inclusion, a shared purpose, and the drive for excellence. And these values guide us toward greater collaboration and meaningful change.
Hong Kong has always been a society built on compassion and a deep sense of giving. We are home to more than 11 000 tax-exempt charities. Just last year alone, we recognised more than 400 new charitable organisations.
The Hong Kong SAR Government is fully committed to raising our city as a global centre for philanthropy.
Under the "one country, two systems" principle, and as a bridge between East and West, we are uniquely positioned to deploy global capital for the greater good.
Our status as a global business and philanthropic hub is underpinned by our simple, transparent and internationally recognised tax regime.
To encourage public generosity, donations made to approved charities in Hong Kong are tax-deductible.
Thanks to the generosity of our people and businesses, approved donations exceeded US$1.5 billion in the 2024-25 assessment year.
Hong Kong is not just a financial hub. We are a wealth management powerhouse. We are now home to more than 3 300 single family offices – a 25 per cent increase over the past two years. And more than half of them have second-generation members in leadership roles, reflecting that ultra-high-net-worth families trust Hong Kong for generational wealth transfer.
Projections show that over US$5.8 trillion in wealth will be handed over to the next generation in the Asia-Pacific region in the coming years. And they are choosing Hong Kong to do it.
To make that as easy as possible, the Government has created comprehensive measures in support of family offices.
Through Invest Hong Kong's dedicated team, we provide a seamless, one-stop service for family offices interested in setting up in Hong Kong.
And through initiatives such as our annual "Wealth for Good in Hong Kong" Summit, we are creating a home where global asset owners can meet, exchange ideas and align their financial goals with social purpose.
We are also among the world's largest cross-boundary wealth-management centres. Last year, the sector's total assets under management reached US$5.4 trillion, more than 12 times our GDP.
And more than half of these funds came from investors beyond Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.
Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong looks forward to working with you. With our enabling tax regime, dedicated family office strategy, and our unwavering commitment to doing good, we can make a difference for you and your philanthropic legacy.
This year's Forum is the perfect place to start. I invite you, over these next two days, to embrace the spirit of the theme, "Leaping for Impact". Let us work together to build a brighter, safer, and more sustainable future for us all – and for the generations to come.
I wish you all a rewarding conference and our many visitors an enjoyable stay here in Asia's world city. Thank you.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the Opening Ceremony of Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2026 today (September 7). Photo shows (front row, from fifth left) the Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Martin Liao; Mr Chan; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, and other guests at the forum. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, speaks at the Opening Ceremony of Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2026 today (September 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK highlights Hong Kong's unique advantages as go-global platform for Mainland enterprises in Fujian
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (September 7) took part in Two-Way Cross-Border Investment Promotion Exchange and High-Quality International Development Matchmaking Session for Going-Global Enterprises hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, held on the eve of the opening of the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen, Fujian Province. In the afternoon, InvestHK, together with the Department of Commerce of Fujian Province and other departments, jointly organised the Fujian enterprises going global and Fujian-Hong Kong economic and trade promotion and exchange seminar. The events encouraged Fujian enterprises to make use of Hong Kong's advantages as an ideal platform for Mainland enterprises to go global, and to leverage Hong Kong fully to achieve high-quality international development under the national Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Fujian-Hong Kong economic and trade co-operation mechanism.
The national 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports Hong Kong in leveraging its strengths in professional services to assist enterprises in going global, giving full play to Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world. In October 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and other central authorities issued the "Guiding Opinions on Further Improving the Overseas Comprehensive Service System", which sets out how the advantages of Hong Kong and Macao in cross-border investment and trade, finance and legal services will be harnessed to jointly strengthen the capacity to serve enterprises going global. In February this year, the Ministry of Commerce and the Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government signed the Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening co-operation and exchange in the provision of comprehensive overseas services, providing solid top-level policy support for the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force).
Held under the theme "Connecting the World through Hong Kong", the morning promotion and exchange seminar and business matching session was jointly organised by the Ministry of Commerce, the Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce, InvestHK, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong (GDETO), and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). During the policy interpretation of the seminar, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Foreign Investment Administration of the Ministry of Commerce Mr Wu Di explained the policies relating to "bringing in" and "going global", while Associate Director-General of InvestHK Ms Loretta Lee outlined Hong Kong's policies for investment promotion.
MsLee said, "Under the 'one country, two systems' framework, Hong Kong, as an international financial centre, boasts a world-leading capital market that offers convenient and diversified financing channels. It is also deeply integrated with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, where complementary strengths facilitate global supply chain management for enterprises. Hong Kong is now actively developing the Northern Metropolis to build a world-class innovation and technology hub. Hong Kong is not only a 'super connector' but also a 'super value-adder' that creates tangible value for enterprises. InvestHK serves as one of the core members of the GoGlobal Task Force, which is steered by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, providing one-stop, tailored support for enterprises establishing a presence in Hong Kong."
In the afternoon, the Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce and the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Commerce, together with members of the GoGlobal Task Force, including InvestHK, the GDETO, and the HKTDC, jointly organised the Fujian-Hong Kong Joining Hands for Win-Win Development Seminar and Fujian Enterprises Going Global and Fujian-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Promotion Exchange Seminar. The event was attended and supported by Second-level Inspector of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Commerce Ms Yang Hao and Deputy Director-General of the Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce Mr Lin Bendong.
In his welcome remarks at the seminar, the Director of the GDETO, Mr Anthony Li, said, "Exchanges and co-operation between Fujian and Hong Kong enjoy natural advantages and deep-rooted ties. Hong Kong has long been Fujian's largest source of foreign investment, as well as a bridgehead for Fujian enterprises going global. Hong Kong can serve as a 'home port' platform for enterprises going global, helping them guard against risks and operate in compliance throughout the process, while pooling global capital and opening up business opportunities worldwide. Through the trio of the overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices, InvestHK and the HKTDC, the GoGlobal Task Force builds bridges for Mainland enterprises in overseas markets and helps them find overseas partners. In early June, the Chief Executive led a delegation to two Central Asian countries. Among the Mainland enterprise representatives on the mission were two Fujian enterprises, which were successfully connected with the Central Asian market, helping them tap new markets under the BRI."
The afternoon's promotion and exchange seminar concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Deputy Director of the GDETO and the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of InvestHK Guangzhou Office, Ms Helen Yip. Representatives from the HKTDC, Hong Kong financial and legal professional services providers, and a representative from a Mainland enterprise using Hong Kong to go global, shared views on how Hong Kong's advantages can empower Fujian enterprises to expand into overseas markets.
InvestHK highlights Hong Kong's unique advantages as go-global platform for Mainland enterprises in Fujian Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK highlights Hong Kong's unique advantages as go-global platform for Mainland enterprises in Fujian Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK highlights Hong Kong's unique advantages as go-global platform for Mainland enterprises in Fujian Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK highlights Hong Kong's unique advantages as go-global platform for Mainland enterprises in Fujian Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK highlights Hong Kong's unique advantages as go-global platform for Mainland enterprises in Fujian Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK highlights Hong Kong's unique advantages as go-global platform for Mainland enterprises in Fujian Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK highlights Hong Kong's unique advantages as go-global platform for Mainland enterprises in Fujian Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
