Hong Kong and EU find common ground, but with a striking difference
Hong Kong and the EU have pledged to strengthen ties in areas such as decarbonisation, even as the bloc's top representative to the city said they would continue to critique the financial hub in a 'constructive manner'.
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Delivering a pair of opening remarks at an event on Friday to mark Europe Day, both Harvey Rouse, the head of the European Union Office in the city, and Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po stressed the two sides' long-standing ties amid global challenges.
Chan said that opportunities for cooperation between the EU and Hong Kong were 'long-term and far-reaching'.
He said the city was keen to cooperate with the EU in decarbonisation, highlighting opportunities in technology partnership, green finance and climate risk disclosures.
Hong Kong could also serve as a strategic gateway for European firms looking to enter the mainland Chinese market, while the city was a global leader in asset and wealth management, he said.
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'Let us work together to seize that promise for our economies and our people,' Chan said. 'May our long-standing ties continue to flourish.'
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