Financial Secretary Paul Chan is pitching the SAR as a global "safe haven" for capital and talent amid rising geopolitical tensions, as he wraps up a visit in Beijing and prepares to speak at the China Development Forum 2026 which opened on Sunday.

Writing on his weekly blog, Chan noted the forum focuses on issues that global enterprises are concerned about, including expanding consumption, the green transformation, technological innovation and industries of the future.

He said energy resilience has now become a more urgent issue worldwide, and Hong Kong's strengths in green finance and green technology would have even broader room for development.

Over the past few days, after exchanging view with guests from different places in Beijing, Chan said he found they all agree Hong Kong has the country's solid backing and the status of a free port under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.

He noted that capital and talent view Hong Kong as a rare "safe haven" amid a complex geopolitical environment, as well as a place to invest, with capital, enterprises and talent accelerating their convergence in the city.

Chan also said he met with various central government departments and financial regulatory bodies to have in-depth exchanges on the macroeconomic situation, the current situation and development of the financial market, and how Hong Kong could play a better role in the country's 15th Five-Year Plan.

He said the director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Xia Baolong, supported Hong Kong's development, and also gave important guidance on Hong Kong's initiatives to align with the 15th Five-Year Plan.

"We deeply feel the concern and support of various ministries and institutions for Hong Kong, and also realised that we need to have a more accurate understanding of the country's development direction, key areas and strategies, so that Hong Kong can accelerate its integration and serve the overall development of the country, and play the best role with its own advantages," Chan wrote.



Edited by Tony Sabine