Eric Li: Hong Kong stock market value has increased sixfold in the past 25 years and is committed to improving market liquidity with the Hong Kong Exchange.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attended the Hong Kong Stock Exchange's 25th-anniversary celebration and stated that over the past 25 years, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has played an important role in Hong Kong's development. Since its listing in 2000, the Stock Exchange has gone through an extraordinary journey, with the number of listed companies increasing from the initial 790 to over 2600 now. Some data is worth noting. In the past 25 years, the total market value of the Hong Kong stock market has increased sixfold, the daily average trading volume has increased ninefold, and Hong Kong welcomed the world's largest IPO since the beginning of this year last month. He mentioned that the significant growth in the number of IPOs and market turnover also reflects the strong confidence of the global community in Hong Kong's financial ecosystem. The Stock Exchange plays a crucial role in promoting Hong Kong as a super connector and super value-added between the country and the world. John Lee Ka-chiu pointed out that in the face of current global challenges, the Hong Kong SAR government is firmly committed to cooperating with the Stock Exchange and regulatory bodies to enhance market liquidity. He also mentioned that the London Metal Exchange has recognized Hong Kong as a delivery point in its global storage network and has approved seven warehouses in just a few months, demonstrating Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping, and trading center and supporting the establishment of a dynamic commodity trading ecosystem to attract more companies to settle in Hong Kong.