Hong Kong Finance Chief to Lead Delegation to US and Europe for Greater Bay Area Promotion

Hong Kong’s finance chief, Paul Chan Mo-po, is set to embark on a high-profile visit to the US next Monday as part of a groundbreaking joint delegation with officials from Macau and Guangdong. The mission? To promote business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

This historic trip comes on the heels of Chan’s current visit to Paris, where he is engaging in a charm offensive to bolster ties with European partners. The US leg of the tour is expected to last four days and will include stops in San Francisco and Berkeley, California.

The Greater Bay Area initiative is a national development plan that aims to transform Hong Kong, Macau, and nine Guangdong cities into an economic powerhouse and innovation hub. Dubbed the Chinese equivalent of Silicon Valley, the bay area project is a key focus of Beijing’s economic strategy.

During his time in the US, Chan will participate in key conferences such as the Bay to Bay Dialogue and the US-China High-Level Event on Subnational Climate Action. He will also engage with local business communities and technology leaders to showcase the latest business opportunities in Hong Kong.

Chan’s visit will mark his second trip to San Francisco in six months, highlighting the importance of strengthening ties with American partners. The delegation includes other senior officials from Hong Kong, such as Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah and Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung.

While Chan is away, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun will step in as acting financial secretary. This visit underscores Hong Kong’s commitment to expanding its global reach and fostering international partnerships in the business and financial sectors.