EU and Hong Kong in talks on new financial services dialogue, envoy says Senior officials from the European Union and Hong Kong are in talks to launch a financial services dialogue in November, with companies from the bloc keen to explore opportunities in the Northern Metropolis, the EU’s top representative in the city has said. Ambassador Harvey Rouse, head of the EU Office in Hong Kong, made the remarks at the Greenway 2026 forum on Tuesday, where he highlighted opportunities for cooperation on sustainable innovation and the green transition. In a keynote address, Rouse said Hong Kong had established itself as one of Asia’s leading centres for green and sustainable finance, and that the city and the EU, as “two of the world’s leaders” in the field, had an opportunity to deepen cooperation. “Indeed, this cooperation is already under way,” he said. “Senior exchanges between Hong Kong and the European Commission have intensified over the past year, with visits by EU officials to Hong Kong and vice versa. Both sides are looking at starting soon a financial services dialogue to enhance cooperation.” In his closing remarks, Rouse further elaborated that the dialogue was set to take place in Brussels in November, and that further cooperation on green finance would be an “important part of that agenda”. Rouse said European firms could also provide investment and expertise to support Hong Kong’s green transition. “This is particularly relevant as Hong Kong develops the Northern Metropolis,” he said, referring to the city’s 30,000-hectare (74,131-acre) megaproject near the border with mainland China. “European companies can contribute world-class expertise in sustainable urban planning, smart infrastructure, energy efficiency, mobility and digital technologies.” He also highlighted green shipping and sustainable aviation as further areas for cooperation. Greenway is a flagship sustainability forum co-organised by the EU Office and the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. The fifth edition of the event brought together more than 300 business leaders and industry experts from Europe and Hong Kong to discuss emerging developments in areas such as sustainable urban development, green transport and transition finance. Sustainability and the green transition continue to be key areas of cooperation between the EU and Hong Kong, as well as with the rest of China, even as trade relations between Brussels and Beijing remain strained. Speaking exclusively to the South China Morning Post earlier this year, Piotr Serafin, the European commissioner for budget, anti-fraud and public administration, said the bloc would remain open to capital from the mainland and Hong Kong even as it pursued a “de-risking” strategy in certain key sectors, highlighting opportunities to collaborate with the city on green bonds. Acting Hong Kong chief executive Paul Lam Ting-kwok said in a keynote speech at Tuesday’s forum that sustainable development and innovation would feature prominently in the city’s first five-year plan, which is undergoing public consultation. He noted that the city has issued HK$240 billion (US$30.6 billion) in green bonds as of last August, and highlighted a recent tranche denominated in euros under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan, in another keynote speech, described European firms as “crucial partners” in the green transition, highlighting areas where such companies were already active in the city, such as advanced waste treatment. “This foundation sets the stage for deeper and more impactful cooperation between Hong Kong and the EU towards a sustainable future,” he said. Other government officials who spoke on Tuesday included Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu, acting financial secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun and Kevin Choi Kit-ming, permanent secretary for innovation, technology and industry. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, European Chamber of Commerce chair Johannes Hack said business surveys and discussions with industry leaders showed that those on the ground could see the opportunities available for European firms in the city and the rest of China. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3358017/eu-and-hong-kong-talks-new-financial-services-dialogue-envoy-says?pgtype=live (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: South China Morning Post