Chan meets former governor in London

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po met former Hong Kong governor David Wilson during his current visit in London.

The SAR administration released a photo of Chan and 88-year-old Wilson talking at a dinner on Wednesday hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for around 400 leaders and professionals from different sectors in Britain.

But it did not reveal details of what they talked about.

Wilson, a retired British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist, was the penultimate governor between 1987 and 1992.

As governor, he had to deal with the fallout in Hong Kong from the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

A few months later, Wilson proposed the airport move from Kai Tak to Lantau.

The 78-kilometer Wilson Trail on Hong Kong Island is named after him.

He also defended Hong Kong police during the 2014 Occupy Central movement, claiming their actions were "largely appropriate" and opposed the British government's stance during the 2019 social unrest.

In addressing the guests, Chan said the national security law "had reinforced the confidence of international investors and the businesses in Hong Kong."

"The situation has demonstrated that the common law system and the rule of law are alive and well in Hong Kong, and the law has effectively safeguarded national security and maintained social stability," he said.

Chan also said Hong Kong has fully emerged from the pandemic and reconnected with the mainland and the world.

"The Hong Kong economy is also steadily recovering, with large-scale activities, meetings and events to be organized one after another locally," Chan said.

"Hong Kong will continue to perform unique roles and functions in connecting the mainland and the world," he added.

With staunch support from the central government, he said, Hong Kong will actively consolidate and enhance its status as a financial, asset and wealth management center and an offshore yuan hub.

"Hong Kong will also press ahead with innovation and technology development by actively strengthening collaboration with sister cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area," Chan said.

"More innovative policies will be taken to spur development of the Northern Metropolis as an innovation and technology hub. In particular, there are promising prospects for green tech and green finance."

The amount of investment in infrastructure will be massive and the SAR welcomes UK enterprises and investors, he said.

TDC chief Peter Lam Kin-ngok said the SAR's fundamental strengths continue to make it the go-to platform for UK firms eyeing the vast China and Asia markets.

"The TDC will continue to help UK businesses succeed in Asia by connecting them with arising opportunities in the region," he added.