Hong Kong Bankers Association: Bond Connect optimization arrangements enhance Hong Kong's offshore renminbi hub competitiveness.

The Hong Kong Association of Banks welcomes a series of external optimization arrangements for the Bond Connect. Hau Wai-yi, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Banks, believes that these arrangements will help to increase market depth and breadth, further deepen the interconnection between the mainland and Hong Kong financial markets, and consolidate Hong Kong's competitiveness as an offshore RMB center. The industry will continue to maintain close communication with relevant departments, actively implement the new guidelines, promote the participation of domestic and foreign investors, and enhance the popularity of the Bond Connect. Hau Wai-yi stated that she welcomes the People's Bank of China and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's announcement of a series of external optimization arrangements for the Bond Connect, following international market practices. These include the introduction of multiple convenient new measures for both the "southbound" and "northbound" Connects, such as expanding the eligibility of investors for the "southbound" Connect to include domestic securities firms, funds, insurance companies, and wealth management non-bank financial institutions, as well as optimizing the participation of investors in the "northbound" Connect in offshore RMB bond repurchase transactions, further improving market support and enhancing the attractiveness of the Bond Connect to international and domestic institutional investors.