That came as he told investors at the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in Central about the dedication that investors can expect of Hong Kong to strengthening its contribution to innovation.
“Our ambition is not only to finance businesses created elsewhere, but also to help create the enterprises of tomorrow,” Chan said.
“The Northern Metropolis is central to this effort.
“It will bring universities, research facilities and technology enterprises closer together, linking education, technology and talent more closely with industry.”
The mega development project in the northern New Territories would, Chan said, serve as a base for closer ties with other Greater Bay Area cities, allowing Hong Kong to draw on their strengths in commercialisation, engineering and advanced manufacturing.
Hong Kong was eager to pair promising businesses with capital and partners, as well as give investors trusted pathways into unfamiliar sectors and economies, he added.
Hong Kong had, Chan pointed out, also taken steps to widen its connections with various economies and broaden asset classes in various regions.
“In Southeast Asia, we are welcoming more enterprises from Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia to lease in Hong Kong,” he said.
“In the Middle East, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia have listed ETFs, tracking each other’s markets, giving investors new routes to invest.”
“In Central Asia, Kazakhstan has already tapped Hong Kong’s equity and bond markets. We welcome more issuers to raise capital here through listings and bond issuances.”
Chan added that Hong Kong would also continue to expand the range of assets and financial services to give investors more options to diversify.
This, he said, included a central focus on developing a commodity and gold trading ecosystem.