Speaking at the Caixin Summer Summit 2026, Chan said Hong Kong’s core advantage was its role as a bridge between mainland China and international markets, offering geographic proximity, cultural affinity and a deeper understanding of Beijing’s policy direction.
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But the finance chief added that the city needed to add value to its own development and to younger generations, rather than simply serving as a bridge.
For example, if Hong Kong could integrate with the bay area to develop its innovation and technology sector, the city would be in a competitive position that neither New York nor Silicon Valley could replicate, Chan said.
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In his budget speech in February, Chan outlined a dual “Finance+” and “AI+” strategic framework to deploy capital market infrastructure to fund technology development, while using artificial intelligence to boost productivity across industries.

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