Britain and Spain want to use Hong Kong’s financial services to expand their presence in Asia, says Paul Chan

The political and business sectors in Britain and Spain have shown interest in Hong Kong’s traditional and emerging financial services, the top minister said after wrapping up a week-long visit to both countries.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday that the two countries wanted to figure out how to use the city to expand their trade presence to the rest of China and Asia.

The minister also urged society to remain engaged in future development activities as financial market sentiment improves and the country’s 75th founding anniversary approaches.

He recently returned from a seven-day visit to Spain and the UK, where he led a technology delegation, during which the group shared the city’s latest developments and opportunities in the Greater Bay area.

“I also presented Hong Kong’s traditional and emerging financial services to the political and business sectors in Spain and the UK, which was met with great interest,” Chan wrote on his weekly blog.