Chief Executive Carrie Lam attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council via video conferencing today.

She and leaders of the other economies exchanged views with the council's representatives on the priority issues as economies emerge from COVID-19.

During a group discussion session, Mrs Lam noted that Hong Kong is among the most effective in the world in controlling the virus. It will continue to promote vaccination and work hard to resume quarantine-free cross-boundary people flow with the Mainland and other parts of the world.

While the Chief Executive stressed that Hong Kong will strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through a series of decarbonisation efforts, she also welcomed the business sector's participation.

Moreover, Hong Kong will promote green finance given its status as an international financial centre, she added.

Noting that economies should render support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which are particularly vulnerable during the pandemic, Mrs Lam highlighted that Hong Kong is in the process of developing the Commercial Data Interchange as a way to address the long-standing problem of SME financing.

This new financial infrastructure, expected to start operation next year, will offer a centralised platform to enable SMEs to make use of their own data to gain access to more convenient financing services.

It will facilitate secure data sharing based on the consent of enterprises and allow the local banking system to serve the real economy more efficiently.

Mrs Lam also reiterated Hong Kong's interest in its early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership while reaffirming the city's commitment to free trade and regional economic co-operation.