Lee off to Beijing to report on city's latest situation

Wallis Wang

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will be in Beijing from today until Saturday for a duty visit in which he will brief state leaders on the latest economic, social and political situation in Hong Kong.

Lee will be accompanied by his office's director, Carol Yip Man-kuen, and his private secretary, Vicki Kwok Wong Wing-ki.

Lee's interactive exchange question-and-answer session at the Legislative Council originally scheduled tomorrow has been canceled due to the visit.

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki will serve as acting chief executive until Friday afternoon, after which Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po takes over until Saturday.

During Lee's duty visit last year, in which he reported to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang - the first time two state leaders listened to the report together - Xi fully recognized Lee's work.

Meanwhile, at the Asian Insurance Forum yesterday, Lee said Hong Kong plays a "pivotal role in leading the development of insurance across the region and beyond."

He added: "In the face of an increasingly volatile global environment - marked by economic uncertainty, shifting geopolitical dynamics and the accelerating impacts of climate change - the insurance industry's role has never been more significant."

Hong Kong is home to about 160 authorized insurers, including six of the world's top 10 insurance firms, Lee noted.

He said Hong Kong is committed to supporting InsurTech - the innovative use of technology in insurance - and digital transformation, as technological innovation will be a key enabler of the growth of the insurance industry.

"Hong Kong's fast-evolving InsurTech business is helping the industry embrace AI, data analytics and blockchain, bringing tangible improvements to businesses as well as consumers," Lee said.

Talent development is critical to the insurance industry's future, he said, adding that authorities have provided internship opportunities for nearly 580 students and trained more than 18,500 participants in insurance-related training schemes.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com