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The bilateral exchange programme is the beginning of a new avenue where Hong Kong and Shanghai financial talents will join hands in complementing each other and work towards the financial reform of our country.
The Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Miss Au King-chi, made the remark when addressing a group of Shanghai post-secondary students under the Pilot Scheme for Cross-border Study Tour for Post-secondary Financial Talents during their visit to Lingnan University today (July 28).
"Hong Kong and Shanghai have a long and celebrated history in financial cooperation. Shanghai is also our vital onshore partner in internationalising Renminbi through offshore business," she said.
Miss Au said she believed the Shanghai post-secondary students could experience the unique international appeal of Hong Kong through their study tour here.
"Our financial sector genuinely showcases the global flavour of Hong Kong. We have often been named as one of the top global financial centres alongside London and New York. We openly embrace overseas and Mainland financial talents and financial institutions. As an essential player in the global financial arena, Hong Kong has built a fair, open and orderly financial system on a par with international best practice. And we contribute positively to standard setting on various international platforms for better risk management and investor protection."
Miss Au wished the Shanghai students would return home with first-hand exposure to Hong Kong's financial sector.
Also speaking at the function, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Human Resources Development in the Financial Services Sector (FinMan Committee), Mr Edward Kwan, recalled the pleasure of leading a group of Hong Kong post-secondary financial students under the scheme to visit Shanghai in June.
Mr Kwan said that he trusted the visit programmes and attachments to financial institutions would help deepen the Shanghai students' understanding of the financial systems, institutions and talents in Hong Kong as well as the opportunities for cross-border work and further studies in future.
Today's visit is the last leg of a series of visit programmes for the Shanghai students. They have toured the campus and participated in interactive activities with the university's students.
The Shanghai students come from six universities in Shanghai and will stay in Hong Kong for five weeks. They have visited the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, the Securities and Futures Commission, Hong Kong Baptist University as well as Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
They have also started a four-week attachment programme in local financial enterprises.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Advancing Hong Kong-Shanghai Financial Co-operation signed by Hong Kong and Shanghai in 2010, the FSTB, with the support of the Shanghai Municipal Government Financial Services Office, launched the inaugural tour under the scheme this year. The scheme is organised by the FinMan Committee and involves financial institutions and universities' active participation.
Established by the FSTB, the FinMan Committee advises the Government on the strategic development of human resources in the financial services sector. The committee comprises members from the financial sector, academia and training institutions, regulators and the Government.
Ends/Saturday, July 28, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:26
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