3 January 2025
1. Holding an internal seminar for the Strategic Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (SPPRFS)
The Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU) held an internal seminar for the SPPRFS to discuss the research outcomes of the funded project titled “The Development of Fintech, Insurtech, and Regtech Manpower to Sustain Hong Kong as a Leading Global Financial Center”. The seminar was chaired by Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, with Professor Tam Kar-yan, Vice-President for Administration and Business of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), introducing the research outcomes. The CEPU Expert Group members Mr Kevin Chan and Professor Francis Lui; think tank representatives Professor Terence Chong, Executive Director of Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Fang Yulin, Director of the Institute of Digital Economy and Innovation of the Business School of the University of Hong Kong, and Dr Lee Shu-kam, Director of the Business, Economic and Public Policy Research Centre of the Hong Kong Shue Yan University; Mr Shang Hailong, Member of the Legislative Council (LegCo); Professor Daniel Shek, Chairman of the Assessment Panel of the SPPRFS; and representatives from relevant bureaux, were also invited to participate in the internal discussion.
 The CEPU held an internal seminar for the SPPRFS. |
 The CEPU held an internal seminar for the SPPRFS, with Professor Tam Kar-yan, Vice-President for Administration and Business of the HKUST, introducing the research outcomes of the project titled “The Development of Fintech, Insurtech, and Regtech Manpower to Sustain Hong Kong as a Leading Global Financial Center |
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| The CEPU Expert Group members, think tank representatives and the LegCo Member actively shared their views and participated in the discussion. | |
 The seminar was chaired by Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU. |
2. Meeting with the delegations of BASF and the German Industry and Commerce Ltd. Hong Kong (GIC)/German Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong (GCC)
BASF is the largest Germany-based chemical company in the world. Its broad portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, oil and gas to agricultural innovative solutions.
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Andreas Fechtenkoetter, Senior Vice President, Dispersions Asia Pacific, and Mr Dennis Espinas, Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Business Solutions Dispersions of BASF, and their delegation; Mr Johannes Hack, President of the GCC, Hong Kong; and Ms Ursula Klingenberg, Chief Operating Officer of the GIC, to exchange views on issues such as BASF’s development strategy with Hong Kong as its Asia Pacific headquarters and the vocational and professional education and training (VEPT) system in Germany.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, visited BASF’s Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. |
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with the delegations of BASF and the GIC/GCC to exchange views on issues such as BASF’s development strategy with Hong Kong as its Asia Pacific headquarters and the VEPT system in Germany. |
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and BASF exchanged views on issues such as BASF’s development strategy with Hong Kong as its Asia Pacific headquarters and the VPET system in Germany. |
3. Meeting with Dr Suyud Margono, Chairman of the Indonesian Intellectual Property Attorneys Association (AKHKI)
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Mr Nicholas Kwan, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met with Dr Suyud Margono, Chairman of AKHKI, to exchange views on the development of intellectual property regimes in Indonesia and Hong Kong.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Mr Nicholas Kwan, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met with Dr Suyud Margono (second left), Chairman of AKHKI. |
4. Meeting with Mr Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, together with two deputy heads, Ms Hinny Lam and Dr Wang Chunxin, met with Mr Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs, to exchange views on the latest diplomatic situation and Sino-European relations.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, together with two deputy heads, Ms Hinny Lam and Dr Wang Chunxin, met with Mr Wu Hongbo (third left), Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs. |
5. Meeting with Ms Mao Ning, Deputy Director General of the Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with Ms Mao Ning, Deputy Director General of the Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy of the MFA and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, to exchange views on the overall development of Hong Kong and explore ways to better tell the good stories of Hong Kong.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with Ms Mao Ning (third left), Deputy Director General of the Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy of the MFA and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson. |
6. Meeting with Mr Kong Dan, President of the CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies and the former Chairman of the CITIC Group
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, together with two deputy heads, Ms Hinny Lam and Dr Wang Chunxin, met with Mr Kong Dan, President of the CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies and the former Chairman of the CITIC Group, to exchange views on the future development of Hong Kong and the planning of the Northern Metropolis.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, together with two deputy heads, Ms Hinny Lam and Dr Wang Chunxin, met with Mr Kong Dan (third right), President of the CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies and the former Chairman of the CITIC Group. |
7. Meeting with Mr Li Zijun, Deputy Commissioner of the National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met and conducted exchanges with Mr Li Zijun, Deputy Commissioner of the National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration, and his team.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met and conducted exchanges with Mr Li Zijun (middle), Deputy Commissioner of the National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration, and his team. |
8. Meeting with Mr Gao Changlin, General Manager of the Beijing-Hong Kong Exchange of Personnel Centre under the Hong Kong Office of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Gao Changlin, General Manager of the Beijing-Hong Kong Exchange of Personnel Centre under the Hong Kong Office of the MOST, to exchange views on developing Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talents.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Gao Changlin (left), General Manager of the Beijing-Hong Kong Exchange of Personnel Centre. |
9. Meeting with Mr Wang Yongqi, Deputy General Manager of the Precious Metals Business Department of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), and his team
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Wang Yongqi, Deputy General Manager, Mr Hua Yubin, Leader of the Research and Development Team, and Mr Ni Jun, Head of the Internal Risk Control Office of the Precious Metals Business Department of the ICBC, and their team to exchange views on the development of and opportunities for Hong Kong as an international gold trading centre.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Wang Yongqi (fourth right), Deputy General Manager, Mr Hua Yubin, Leader of the Research and Development Team, and Mr Ni Jun, Head of the Internal Risk Control Office of the Precious Metals Business Department of the ICBC, and their team. |
10. Meeting with Mr Stephen Hsu, President of the Beijing Law Society of the Belt and Road
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Stephen Hsu, President of the Beijing Law Society of the Belt and Road, to exchange views on taking forward the Belt and Road Initiative.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Stephen Hsu (left), President of the Beijing Law Society of the Belt and Road. |
11. Meeting with Mr Martin Chen, DNV’s Area Business Development Director, Hong Kong and Taiwan
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Martin Chen, DNV’s Area Business Development Director, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and his team to discuss matters on maritime finance in Hong Kong.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Martin Chen (left), DNV’s Area Business Development Director, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and his team. |
12. Meeting with the Web3 Harbour (W3H) team and fintech experts
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Peter Brewin, Member of the Advisory Committee of W3H cum Partner of PwC; Mr Lawrence Chu, Vice-chair of W3H cum Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of IDA; Ms Kathy Brewin, Head of Association of W3H; Mr Sean Lee, Co-chair of the Policy and Regulatory Subcommittee of W3H cum Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of IDA; and Mr Syed Musheer Ahmed, Founder of FinStep Asia, to discuss the opportunities of Web3 development in Hong Kong.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with the W3H team and fintech experts. |
13. Visiting the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence
The CEPU team visited the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence to commemorate the martyrs of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, was given a tour by Mr Terence Cheung, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Museum of History, and gained a deeper understanding of the history of the War of Resistance in Hong Kong as well as the changes in coastal defence and military affairs. Dr Wong presented virtual flowers through the electronic screen in the museum to pay solemn tribute and express deep condolences to the martyrs.
 The CEPU team took a photo outside the museum. |
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, presented virtual flowers to the martyrs through the electronic screen. |
14. Visiting the Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Ms Hinny Lam, Deputy Head of the CEPU, visited the Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre and met with Mr Saeed Uddin, Chairman of the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong (the Board of Trustees (BOT)); Mufti Muhammad Arshad, Chief Imam of the Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre; Mr Qamar Minhas, Honorary Treasurer of the BOT; and other BOT members to exchange views on issues such as the Halal certification as well as the promotion of cultural diversity and inclusion in Hong Kong.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Ms Hinny Lam, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met with Mr Saeed Uddin (middle), Chairman of the BOT; Mufti Muhammad Arshad (third right), Chief Imam of the Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre; Mr Qamar Minhas (second left), Honorary Treasurer of the BOT; and other BOT members. |
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Ms Hinny Lam, Deputy Head of the CEPU, visited the Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre. |
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, and Ms Hinny Lam, Deputy Head of the CEPU, visited the Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre. |
15. Meeting with the team of Ernst & Young (EY)
Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with the team of EY, including Mr Wilson Cheng, Tax Leader of Hong Kong and Macao and Greater China Tax Controversy Co-leader at EY; Mr Ming Lam, Partner of Financial Services Tax at EY Tax Services Limited (Asia Pacific); and their team, to discuss the public finance policies in Hong Kong.
 Dr Stephen Wong, Head of the CEPU, met with the team of EY, including Mr Wilson Cheng (second left), Tax Leader of Hong Kong and Macao and Greater China Tax Controversy Co-leader at EY; Mr Ming Lam (second right), Partner of Financial Services Tax at EY Tax Services Limited (Asia Pacific); and their team. |
16. Meeting with Ms Huang Cui, Director, and Mr Huang Yuanhong, Deputy Director of the Zhuhai Municipal Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Bureau, and their team
Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met with Ms Huang Cui, Director, and Mr Huang Yuanhong, Deputy Director of the Zhuhai Municipal Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Bureau, and their team to exchange views on issues such as further promoting co-operation between Hong Kong and Zhuhai.
 Dr Wang Chunxin, Deputy Head of the CEPU, met with Ms Huang Cui (third left), Director, and Mr Huang Yuanhong (third right), Deputy Director of the Zhuhai Municipal Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Bureau, and their team. |