The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit in Beijing today (March 22).

     Mr Chan attended the opening session and a thematic symposium of the China Development Forum 2026 in the morning. He also spoke at the thematic symposium titled “Global Green, Low-carbon Transition and Sustainable Development” in the afternoon.

     In his remarks at the symposium, Mr Chan said that, from an economic perspective, estimates project that by 2050 climate change could cause annual losses of up to US$38 trillion to agriculture, infrastructure and productivity. To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the world still faces an annual funding gap of more than US$4.4 trillion. While some countries have withdrawn from international co-operation frameworks, the momentum of the green transition continues to advance. Investment in clean energy exceeded US$2.2 trillion by 2025, accounting for about two-thirds of global energy investment, with China contributing about one-third.

     Mr Chan stressed that China is not only a participant in global climate governance, but also a steadfast practitioner and leader, making steady progress towards the “3060” dual carbon goals. The country’s 15th Five-Year Plan will embed green development deeply into industrial upgrading and infrastructure development, accelerating a comprehensive green transition across economic and social development and setting out a number of binding targets. As a Special Administrative Region of the country, Hong Kong is firmly advancing towards carbon neutrality, with targets of halving carbon emissions by 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. It has been making solid progress. In 2024, Hong Kong’s per capita carbon emissions fell to about 4.4 tonnes, roughly one-quarter of that of the United States and 60 per cent of that of the European Union. Looking ahead, Hong Kong will continue to take forward its decarbonisation work along four major directions, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction.

     He noted that Hong Kong is committed to contributing “Hong Kong’s strength” to the regional and global green transition, leveraging two core engines of green finance and green technology. First, Hong Kong will consolidate and enhance its role as a regional green finance hub. This includes maintaining its leading position in green and sustainable debt and integrating blockchain technology with green finance to attract more green capital. At the same time, Hong Kong will continue to align its green finance standards with international best practices. Second, Hong Kong will proactively develop innovative financial instruments to channel greater funding into green projects. Examples include infrastructure securitisation to mobilise global capital for renewable energy and other green infrastructure, as well as the issuance of catastrophe bonds to transfer major natural-disaster risks to the capital market. Third, Hong Kong will further foster a vibrant green technology ecosystem and step up investment in frontier green technologies, including through the deployment of “patient capital”. Hong Kong will also support Mainland green technologies in expanding into overseas markets.

     In the afternoon, Mr Chan called on the Minister of Finance, Mr Lan Fo’an. They had in-depth exchanges on the 15th Five-Year Plan, the national and global economic outlook and fiscal policies, as well as strengthening co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The Secretary for the Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, and the Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission, Dr Kelvin Wong, also attended the meeting.

     Mr Chan also attended the Beijing Night of the China Development Forum 2026 in the evening.

     Mr Chan will continue his programme in Beijing tomorrow morning (March 23) and will depart for Hong Kong in the afternoon.

The following is issued on behalf of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency:

     The 39th Awards Presentation Ceremony of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (SEYMF) was held at Hong Kong City Hall today (March 22). Nine hundred and fifty-eight students, four apprentices and five working adults were presented with scholarships and awards.

     Officiating at the ceremony were the Chairman of the SEYMF Council, Professor Christopher Chao, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr Brian Tsang, and other members of the Council and the Board of Trustees.

     In the 2025/26 academic year, the Fund disbursed $3.06 million. The awards presented this year included one scholarship award for overseas studies ($280,000); one overseas fellowship for a disabled student ($300,000); three fellowships for local postgraduate students ($50,000 each); six scholarships for local undergraduate students ($40,000 each); one local scholarship for a disabled undergraduate student ($40,000); six medals for students who achieved outstanding results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination ($5,000 each); 928 prizes for senior secondary school students and 12 prizes for students of the Vocational Training Council ($1,000 each); four awards for outstanding apprentices ($5,000 each); and five awards for working adults who underwent retraining and successfully applied what they learned in their new positions ($5,000 each).

     Competition for overseas fellowships and scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year was extremely keen. Among 205 applicants, Miss Fung Hoi-ching of Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School was selected as the awardee of the overseas scholarship. She intends to pursue an Integrated Bachelor-Master’s degree in Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular) at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

     The recipient of the 2026/27 overseas fellowship for disabled students is Miss Patti Lam. She intends to pursue a Master of Laws degree at Harvard University in the United States.

     The six students who were awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Medals for outstanding results in the 2025 HKDSE Examination are:

(1) Mr Ryan Yung of King’s College;

(2) Mr Puk Hoi-chun of Queen’s College;

(3) Mr Wong Wang-chi of Po Leung Kuk Tang Yuk Tien College;

(4) Mr Tsang Ming-chung of St. Paul’s Co-educational College;

(5) Miss Wang Yuen-ting of Hong Kong Taoist Association Tang Hin Memorial Secondary School; and

(6) Miss Yolanda Jiang of Diocesan Girls’ School.

     The four apprentices, nominated by the Director of Apprenticeship, who received the Outstanding Apprentice Awards are:

(1) Mr Chan Yuk-kit, who attained a Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering and is currently a technician;

(2) Mr Law Tsz-ho, who attained a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Building Services Engineering and is currently an assistant engineer I (electrical and mechanical);

(3) Mr Ko Man-dick, who attained a Certificate of Vocational Education (Building Services Engineering) and is currently a technician; and

(4) Mr Kong Man-lung, who attained a Diploma of Vocational Education – Earn and Learn Scheme (Electrical Engineering) and is currently a technician II.

     The five working adults, nominated by the Employees Retraining Board and the Construction Industry Council, who received the Awards for Self-Improvement for Working Adults are:
     
(1) Mr Cheng Wing-kit, who completed a Foundation Certificate in Electrical Wireman Training (Intermediate Trade Test) and is currently a skilled worker;

(2) Mr Lee Fu-wing, who completed a Foundation Certificate in Assistant Video Editor Training and is currently a video editor, compositor, and animator;

(3) Mr Tsang Chun-shing, who completed a Foundation Certificate in Electrical Wireman Training (Intermediate Trade Test) and is currently a skilled assistant;

(4) Mr Tse Ho-cheong, who completed an Intermediate Tradesman Collaborative Training Scheme – Repair, Maintenance, Alterations and Additions (Building Construction) and is currently a civil engineering technical apprentice; and

(5) Ms Claudia Yet, who completed a Foundation Certificate in Care Worker Training and is currently a care worker.

     Since its inception, the SEYMF has supported around 32 450 Hong Kong students under its major schemes. Over 2 920 scholars and fellows have completed their studies and are now working in different sectors in Hong Kong, contributing to the prosperity and development of society.

     In 2025/26, the Fund continued to provide an annual sponsorship of $600,000 towards the Young Friends of the Hong Kong Arts Festival to increase the exposure of secondary school and tertiary students to performing arts. During the year, around 4 300 students became members of the Young Friends, and around 13 000 students participated in various programmes and activities under this scheme.

     Seven Hong Kong films are being showcased at the Asian Pop-Up Cinema film festival in Chicago with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO), highlighting the creativity and global appeal of Hong Kong cinema. Now in its 20th edition, the festival runs from March 20 to April 12 (Chicago time).

     On the festival’s opening night on March 20, the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, presented the festival’s Extraordinary Actors Award to acclaimed Hong Kong actress, singer, and songwriter Gigi Leung, before attending the US premiere of “Pass and Goal” starring Leung and directed by Jil Wong. One of Hong Kong’s most beloved stars, Leung first captivated audiences with her wholesome, girl-next-door charm, before going on to demonstrate remarkable versatility across a wide range of roles. Ms Ho praised Leung for pushing boundaries and her commitment to taking on distinctive roles throughout her career. 

     Speaking at the award ceremony, Ms Ho said, “Hong Kong is Asia’s creative capital, and our filmmakers bring unique perspectives and exceptional storytelling to the global screen. The New York ETO has sponsored the ‘Spotlight on Hong Kong Cinema’ showcase at the Asian Pop-Up Cinema festival since 2016. We are committed to helping Hong Kong’s creative talent go global and share the city’s great stories with audiences around the world.”

     Aside from “Pass and Goal”, the “Spotlight on Hong Kong Cinema” showcase also includes four feature films: “Good Game”, “Night King”, “Someone Like Me”, and “Blades of the Guardians”, as well as the animated feature “Another World” and the animated short film “Blacky the Metal Arm Cat”. 

     Several of these productions have received government support. “Pass and Goal”, “Good Game”, “Someone Like Me”, and “Another World” received support from the Film Development Fund, while the production company behind “Blacky the Metal Arm Cat” was selected for the “Future Animation – AI-Assisted Animation Production Support Scheme” of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. 

     Adding to the festival’s Hong Kong presence, three Hong Kong filmmakers will also attend to present their works and take part in audience discussions. They include film directors Dickson Leung (“Good Game”), Nic Ho (“Blacky the Metal Arm Cat”) and producer Ivana Lai (“Blacky the Metal Arm Cat”). 

     On March 19, the New York ETO cohosted a spring reception with the Hong Kong Business Association of the Midwest and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The annual event brought together more than 120 guests from Chicago’s business, legal, academic and cultural sectors to celebrate the Year of the Horse and the enduring ties between Hong Kong and Chicago.

     In her welcome remarks, Ms Ho highlighted the “AI+” and “Finance+” policy frameworks set out in the 2026-27 Budget. These initiatives aim to further integrate AI across industries, strengthen support for technology enterprises, expand green finance, and advance Renminbi internationalisation, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong’s standing as a leading global financial centre. She added that these efforts will further strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, connecting capital, talent and ideas across borders.

     During her duty visit to Chicago, Ms Ho called on the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago, Mr Wang Baodong. Ms Ho also met with members of the Illinois District Export Council, led by its Chair, Mr Sam Odeh. During the meeting, Ms Ho provided an update on the latest developments in Hong Kong and discussed areas of mutual interest.