APEC finance meeting boosts Hong Kong's ability to host high-end visitors, lawmaker says
Hong Kong lawmakers said the APEC finance ministers' meeting helped showcase the city's safety, boost its status as a financial hub, and enhance its capacity to host high-end visitors. They also highlighted potential for promoting digital infrastructure standards and yuan trading.
Lawmaker Lam Wai-chun, representing the business sector, said on a radio programme that the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) finance ministers' meeting in Hong Kong allowed foreign dignitaries to experience the city's safety firsthand, dispelling some previous unfounded rumours and consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre.
Financial sector lawmaker Chan Chun-ying said on the same programme that the meeting served as a demonstration of achieving tangible results. He cited the introduction of ongoing projects by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in digital infrastructure financing, adding that Hong Kong could gradually promote its local standards as regional standards for the Asia-Pacific. Since Hong Kong's market rules align with international practices, he believed more Asia-Pacific countries would dare to adopt Hong Kong's digital infrastructure model, ultimately helping to promote the use of the yuan in trading.
Lawmaker Chan Chung-yi, representing the Election Committee, said hosting the APEC finance ministers' meeting helped enhance Hong Kong's ability to host high-end dignitaries and business travellers. This included representatives from many commercial organisations, and media from 21 economies continuously broadcast Hong Kong's programmes, serving as an opportunity to promote the city internationally.
Technology and innovation sector lawmaker Yau Tak-keung noted that APEC comprises different economies at various stages of development with different economic incentives, making it difficult to reach consensus. He said the post-meeting statements were the result of multiple rounds of discussion.