The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, attended the 2025 Lujiazui Forum and related events in Shanghai yesterday (June 18) and today (June 19). Addressing a seminar titled "Collaborative Development of Shanghai and Hong Kong International Financial Centres" today (June 19), he said that Hong Kong and Shanghai are unlocking many more new opportunities for collaborative development with their positions as the country's "dual engine" financial centres, providing strong support for the country's "dual circulation" strategy. Mr Hui also met with relevant heads of financial institutions during his stay in Shanghai.
      
     This year's Lujiazui Forum is themed "Financial Opening-up and Cooperation for High-Quality Development in a Changing Global Economy". Mr Hui attended the opening ceremony and plenary session of the Forum yesterday and addressed today's seminar where the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council and the Shanghai Research Center for Financial Stability and Development jointly released a research report on the "Synergistic Development of Shanghai and Hong Kong as International Financial Centres in the New Era".
      
     Speaking at the Plenary Session IV titled "Deepening the Cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong as International Financial Centers" yesterday, Mr Hui said, "Riding on the solid foundation of Stock Connect, mutual-market access between financial markets on the Mainland and Hong Kong has been expanding in scope and capacity. Programmes such as Bond Connect, the inclusion of Exchange Traded Funds into Stock Connect, and Swap Connect have been implemented. These programmes enhance not only the product offering for domestic and foreign investors but also the attraction for more capital influx into the capital markets of the two places, promoting long-term development of the markets.
      
     "At the same time, Hong Kong needs to further enrich the offerings of its offshore Renminbi (RMB) market to facilitate the adoption of RMB by global market participants. To this end, we will step up efforts in four areas, namely enhancing offshore RMB liquidity, increasing products, improving infrastructure, and expanding new markets."
      
     When talking about stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), Mr Hui pointed out that by utilising the innovative capabilities of private institutions, stablecoins are meant to create and implement new use cases for the digital economy with the integration of the financial system with the real economy. Hong Kong's stablecoin regulatory framework takes into account both innovation and systemic risk prevention, covering the establishment of a transparent reserve asset system, the introduction of independent third-party institutions for regular audits, and the establishment of risk assessment mechanisms. Separately, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority is currently engaging the industry to carry out initial exploration on wholesale CBDCs.
      
     "In future, we anticipate closer collaboration with Shanghai in areas such as financial innovation and green finance to achieve synergy effects."
      
     Yesterday morning, Mr Hui signed the Action Plan for Collaborative Development of Shanghai and Hong Kong International Financial Centres on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government with Shanghai to promote collaborative development, with a view to further forming a "dual hub" landscape of the two financial centres of Shanghai and Hong Kong, for better promotion of the internationalisation of RMB, thus contributing to a joint effort to building the country into a financial powerhouse. The Action Plan covers a number of measures, including supporting the Shanghai Clearing House (SHCH) to strengthen co-operation with Hong Kong banks and offshore Chinese banks in Hong Kong, supporting Mainland banks and financial institutions headquartered in Shanghai to set up regional headquarters in Hong Kong, and pressing ahead with the linkage of the Faster Payment System in Hong Kong with the Internet Banking Payment System on the Mainland.
      
     During his stay in Shanghai, Mr Hui also visited several financial institutions, including the Shanghai Gold Exchange, the SHCH, and the Shanghai Futures Exchange, and met with Deputy Chief Executive of the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Mr Wang Huabin, and the President of Bank of Communications, Mr Zhang Baojiang, to discuss and exchange views to explore opportunities and models for co-operation regarding matters such as promoting gold market development in Hong Kong, enhancement to the offerings of the offshore RMB centre, and fostering collaborative development with the Mainland in financial derivatives and futures markets.
      
     Mr Hui will return to Hong Kong this afternoon.

                

     Shun Fung Tat Engineering Limited was fined $120,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (June 19) for violating the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.

     The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on August 7, 2023, at a sports centre in Kwai Chung. While a worker was carrying out leak control work on an elevating work platform (EWP), the EWP suddenly overturned, and the worker fell from the EWP onto the ground. The worker sustained serious injuries and passed away on the same day.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the Fun Day of Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre (SWHCC) from 1pm to 5.30pm on June 21 (Saturday) and 22 (Sunday) to celebrate the reopening of SWHCC after renovation and improvement works. Members of the public are welcome to join.

     An array of programmes blending Chinese and Western cultures, with youth and community engagement as highlights, will be held at the Fun Day. Programmes include a lion dance performance by the acclaimed dragon and lion dance team of the Buddhist Ho Nam Kam Secondary School, an exhilarating Chinese drum performance by the Hong Kong Drum Ensemble, a street dance and busking performance by the Youth Outreach's School of Hip Hop, and a performance of various styles of jazz music by young musicians from the group Fountain de Chopin. Young musicians curated by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and the Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong will also stage performances of diverse music pieces.

     Moreover, the ceremony of the Fun Day will be held at the Theatre of SWHCC at 1pm on June 22, with exciting lion dance and majestic Chinese drum performances for public enjoyment.

     A number of workshops will also be available at the Fun Day, including the "One Day in the Theatre" workshop by the Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection (AFTEC), the venue partner of SWHCC, for participants to try being an actor or working backstage in a theatre setting, and to take part in a showcase performance on the same day. Furthermore, the AFTEC will present the "Re-imagine Theatre" exhibition at the foyer of SWHCC from June 21, guiding audiences into the world of theatrical plays as the protagonists' companions.

     On June 21, a stage tour will be available for members of the public at the Theatre of SWHCC to introduce participants to the new and advanced stage equipment and facilities after the renovation of SWHCC and to learn about the operations behind the scenes in a stage production.

     Admission is free. For details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/swhcc/aboutus/funday.html.

          

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Federal Open Market Committee of the United States Federal Reserve (the Fed) announced early today (June 19, Hong Kong time) after its two-day meeting that it had decided to keep the target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25-4.5 per cent.

     The policy decision is in line with market expectations. The "dot plot" released following the meeting indicated that the Fed might cut rates by a total of 50 basis points before year end. However, the market generally considers that the pace of future rate cuts remains quite uncertain as it is dependent on US inflation and labour market data developments, as well as the impact of tariff and other economic policies on economic activities.

     In Hong Kong, the monetary and financial markets have continued to operate in an orderly manner. The Hong Kong dollar strengthened in early May and triggered the strong-side Convertibility Undertaking under the Linked Exchange Rate System (LERS). The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) sold Hong Kong dollars to the market in exchange for US dollars in accordance with the LERS. As a result, the Aggregate Balance increased, and thus bringing down interbank interest rates. The interest rate differential between the Hong Kong dollar and the US dollar widened, incentivising carry trades, leading to the easing of the Hong Kong dollar towards the weak-side Convertibility Undertaking level of 7.85 over the past few weeks. Going forward, the outlook for the Hong Kong dollar market and for interbank rates remains uncertain due to various factors, including carry trades, the supply-demand conditions for Hong Kong dollars created by capital market activities, as well as other seasonal factors. If carry trades are to persist, the Hong Kong dollar exchange rate may weaken further, and may even trigger the weak-side Convertibility Undertaking. In such a case, the HKMA would then sell US dollars in exchange for Hong Kong dollars in accordance with the LERS, leading to a corresponding decline in the Aggregate Balance, hence driving Hong Kong dollar interbank rates to gradually increase.

     The extent and pace of future US interest rate cuts are subject to considerable uncertainty, and the prevailing interest rate environment in Hong Kong may evolve due to the various factors mentioned above. The public should take into account the possibility of a rebound in Hong Kong dollar interest rates, and to properly manage the associated risks when making decisions about property purchase, investment or borrowing. The HKMA will continue to closely monitor market developments and maintain monetary and financial stability.

     Police today (June 19) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tsing Yi.

     Cheng Tik-lun, aged 28, went missing after he left his residence in Hong Wah House, Cheung Hong Estate on June 9 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on June 16.

     He is about 1.65 metres tall, around 59 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen in unknown clothing.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1173 or 9078 1880 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.