Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Thursday said Hong Kong welcomes US enterprises and talent to come to the city despite trade tensions, as he continued a trip to the United States where he will attend annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

On the second day of his visit to New York City, Chan said US businesses and professionals can use Hong Kong as a gateway to access the mainland and other Asian markets.

He made the remarks as he attended a luncheon co-hosted by the National Committee on United States-China Relations and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York.

In a meeting with a dozen leaders from the finance, investment, pharmaceutical, creative industries, and think thank sectors, Chan said Hong Kong will "firmly uphold" its status as a free port, with free, open and predictable trade policies, despite recent signs of escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.

The finance chief also told participants that the SAR is proactively attracting global businesses, talent, and investment, and developing the Northern Metropolis as part of efforts to boost industrial cooperation within the Greater Bay Area.

Before the luncheon, Chan visited the United Nations where he met Fu Cong, the permanent representative of China to the international body, as well as a group of young professionals working there.

During his meeting with Fu, Chan said the SAR government is especially thankful to the central government for helping facilitate young Hong Kong civil servants joining the UN Junior Professional Officer programme.

"This has provided young professionals with valuable international exposure and experience. With the central government's support, the SAR government will continue to nominate and support young civil servants in participating in such programmes," a statement read.

Chan also met Chen Li, China's consul-general in New York, exchanging views on Sino-US ties, as well as Hong Kong's development.

The finance minister also took the chance to promote the SAR's financial market opportunities to a group of key US fund and asset management representatives during a roundtable discussion.

Chan said the city's asset markets "are showing an encouraging momentum", with "significant upturn" in equity markets following rising interest by global investors who bet on Chinese technological breakthroughs.