Advertisement

Hong Kong finance minister Paul Chan pledges more connection plans with mainland

Minister hinted at the launches of more links that will better connect Hong Kong markets with those on the mainland

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Financial Secretary Paul Chan spoke to a forum in Shanghai on Thursday. Photo: Bund Summit
Daniel Renin Shanghai
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po hinted at the imminent launches of more connection links that will better connect Hong Kong’s financial markets with those on the mainland, as he pledged to offer global investors more risk-management tools.
Advertisement

Speaking on Thursday at the Bund Summit, a financial forum in Shanghai, Chan called on international investors who are eager to trade mainland bonds and equities to use Hong Kong as a pipeline.

“We will work to incorporate more risk management tools into the connect schemes to meet the needs of investors”, he said. “Hong Kong is the preferred conduit to access the mainland’s financial markets.”

Chan did not offer details on potential market liberalisations that would affect cross-border trading of stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as well as swap contracts.

But he stressed that Hong Kong’s role as a bridge between the mainland and global markets would get stronger because of the new plans for the connect schemes.

Advertisement

At present, Hong Kong and the mainland have links that allow for cross-border trade in stocks, bonds, ETFs, and interest swap contracts.

In addition, regulators in Beijing and Hong Kong have approved what is known as a dual-counter model, which enables investors to use offshore yuan funds to buy yuan-denominated shares that are listed on Hong Kong’s stock exchange.
Advertisement