Joint Business Community Luncheon with the Financial Secretary of the HKSAR

Speaking to a full house at the Hong Kong Business Community Joint Luncheon organised by the HKGCC on 13 March 2026, Financial Secretary Paul Chan’s speech was both aspirational and grounded. His confidence in Hong Kong’s economic outlook is clear, particularly as we look to leverage the opportunities within the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Hong Kong, with our distinct advantages, can contribute to the nation’s high-quality development in the key areas laid out in the blueprint. He also touched on AI+, saying that besides giving us all a 24/7 personal assistant that doesn’t take breaks, it also has huge potential to help Hong Kong take the lead in technological research in several sectors.

However, he acknowledged that while offering many advantages, it is important that people are not left behind, and that the right training and support is offered to people and businesses. We also need to have measures in place to prevent fake news, scams, and misuse of the technology. During the Q&A session hosted by HKGCC Chairman Agnes Chan about what kind of support the Government can offer SMEs to upgrade and capitalise on AI, the Financial Secretary said companies can apply for financial support through the government’s BUD Fund.

After addressing the room, the FS took the time to visit tables to speak with guests and take a photo. Thank you to all who attended the luncheon and making it such an enjoyable end to the week.

A comprehensive report on his speech was featured in the April 2026 issue of the Chamber’s Bulletin.

It was a pleasure to host the Financial Secretary, the Hon Paul Chan, for the 2025 Joint Hong Kong Business Community Luncheon. Chamber Chairman Agnes Chan opened the luncheon with a welcome address before the Financial Secretary took the stage to elaborate on his recent Budget Address and field questions from the audience.

In response to a question about attracting more investment to Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, he explained that during his recent trips to Europe and the US, he reached out to business communities to share perspectives and answer their questions. He emphasised that while people may not always agree, exchanging views is essential. Additionally, he urged businesses to share their views on the many opportunities and advantages that Hong Kong offers as a springboard into the Greater Bay Area, the Chinese Mainland, and Asia. Beyond business and market opportunities, he also highlighted that the benefits extend beyond market size, including world-class food and beverage options, excellent connectivity, quality education, amazing hiking options; not to mention the huge concentration of international executives in the city, all contribute to making Hong Kong a very vibrant and appealing city in which to live and do business.

A comprehensive report on his speech was featured in the April 2025 issue of the Chamber’s Bulletin.

It was an honour to hear from Financial Secretary Paul Chan at the Hong Kong Business Community Luncheon on 15 March 2024, where he outlined the 2024-25 Budget to Consuls General, chambers of commerce and business leaders in Hong Kong.

With economic drivers performing well, Chan said Hong Kong has skin in the game despite external factors like geopolitical conflicts and rising interest rates. He emphasised that the need of the hour was to restore confidence, especially amid concerns about public finance.

After the address, the Financial Secretary fielded questions from the floor. He also thanked the business community for their hard work, and urged them to share good stories about Hong Kong to their connections overseas.

A comprehensive report on his speech was featured in the April 2024 issue of the Chamber’s Bulletin

At a Joint Business Community Luncheon held on 16 March 2023, Financial Secretary Paul Chan shared key points from Hong Kong’s Budget Address with the business community, aiming to encourage an uplifting, joyful outlook after three years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He stressed the importance of laughing more, treasuring what the city has, and valuing friendships, before outlining how government initiatives could help restart economic momentum in the post-pandemic era.

Chan said he was guided by direction from China’s recent Two Sessions in Beijing. He explained that, in the national grand plan, Hong Kong has a special and integral role under “One Country, Two Systems,” particularly in preserving and enhancing its status as an international financial hub. Hong Kong, he noted, can serve as a platform for attracting talent and capital and as a testing ground for new reforms and policies.

A comprehensive report on his speech was featured in the April 2023 issue of the Chamber’s Bulletin.

We were honoured to have the Financial Secretary Paul Chan address over 500 executives from the business community about his 2022-2023 Budget at the Joint Hong Kong Business Community Webinar on 23 March.

He discussed a number of initiatives that had been introduced to help businesses cope with the extreme difficulties they are experiencing under the current fifth wave. He also explained some of the strategies to support Hong Kong’s competitiveness and economic growth through both policy measures and monetary resources.

During the Q&A session, he answered a wide range of questions from participants. He also said we should take current challenges as potential opportunities, such as the threat of delisting Chinese Mainland tech firms on the US stock exchange, as they could list in Hong Kong, which would raise Hong Kong stock market capitalisation by around $8 trillion. This webinar, which replaced the annual Joint Business Community Luncheon due to the Covid-19 situation, was organised by HKGCC and other commerce and trade bodies in Hong Kong.

A comprehensive report on his speech was featured in the April 2022 issue of the Chamber’s Bulletin.