Lee Ka-chao: The SAR government will continue to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong's financial markets and further consolidate and elevate its status as an international financial center.

On August 3, the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission announced a series of new measures to further deepen pragmatic cooperation and collaborative development between the two markets, reinforcing Hong Kong's status as an international financial center. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government warmly welcomes these measures. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stated: The series of measures announced today will help support the development of enterprises in Hong Kong and the mainland as well as cross-border financing. By deepening collaboration in areas such as indices, futures, and exchange-traded funds, we will further promote the connectivity between the Hong Kong and mainland markets. Hong Kong enjoys a unique advantage under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, backing the nation while connecting with the world. As an important bridge in the national financial system, Hong Kong will continue to play its role in bringing in and going out, better integrating with and serving the overall national development. Hong Kong is proactively aligning with the national 14th Five-Year Plan and is expediting the formulation of its first five-year plan, actively promoting the internationalization of the RMB and cross-border capital flows, and driving high-quality market development. I sincerely thank the Central People's Government and relevant ministries for their strong support for Hong Kong. The SAR government will continue to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong's financial markets, further solidifying and elevating Hong Kong's status as an international financial center, serving the high-level opening-up of the national financial sector and contributing to the long-term development of the national financial market. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po stated: The ten new measures cover various areas including cross-border listings, exchange-traded funds, index cooperation, RMB-denominated futures products, simplifying the application process for mainland qualification, and strengthening financial regulatory cooperation. These measures are beneficial for domestic and foreign investors to seize the vast investment opportunities brought by the steady and high-quality development of the national economy and the establishment of a modern industrial system through Hong Kong. They will also enhance and solidify Hong Kong's hub function of connecting the mainland market with global capital. The related measures will further promote the collaborative development of the capital markets of both regions on a foundation of greater openness, stability, and efficiency. We sincerely thank the Central People's Government, relevant ministries, and mainland regulatory agencies for their strong support for Hong Kong and will closely cooperate with relevant mainland agencies to expedite the implementation of these measures. The China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission announced today a series of new measures to further deepen pragmatic cooperation and collaborative development between the Hong Kong and mainland markets. The SAR government and regulatory agencies will actively cooperate to promote these measures.