HK tours thrill financial forum elites

Some 100 elite finance and business leaders of the Asian Financial Forum held in Hong Kong joined themed tours in the city, with many expressing willingness to revisit Hong Kong and recommend the city to others.

The tours were hosted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board after the two-day forum, a major regional financial event that brought more than 3,600 participants from all over the world, kicked off at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday.

The campaign is part of the board's efforts to attract high-yield visitors to the city and promote the development of Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions tourism.

The board invited 100 A-list speakers to join two themed tours from Monday to Wednesday, enjoying night views in Victoria Harbour and exploring cultural heritage in Central.

Marc Baghadjian, chief executive and cofounder of Hypercard American Express, was among the 50 guests who boarded the Chinese junk Aqua Luna, relaxing in style on Victoria Harbour with a cocktail on Tuesday night.

He was impressed with the city's night view, saying: "When you're doing business and you're in our rooms negotiating, you don't see how beautiful parts of the city are," he said.

"But when you take a tour like this and you see all the buildings, you see the Hong Kong dream here.

"It's beautiful."

Baghadjian also said the city's East-meets-West characteristics allowed him to expand his network with global financial and business practitioners and he hoped to expand the company's business to Hong Kong.

Other guests included former World Bank chief economist and senior vice president Justin Lin Yifu and chief investment officer of treasury of Fingerboard Family Office, Advance Bei Saville.