Chief Executive John Lee called on more central ministries and met Hong Kong youths in Beijing today.

Early this morning, Mr Lee, together with Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau, Director of the Chief Executive's Office Carol Yip and other officials watched the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square.

The Chief Executive noted that it was his first time to watch the ceremony at Tiananmen Square since taking office and that he was particularly moved by and proud of the country's growing strength as he watched the national flag being raised.

At noon, Mr Lee attended a seminar for Hong Kong students studying in Beijing organised by the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities, where he exchanged views with the students to better understand their learning and daily life.

Addressing the event, he thanked the association for its efforts in providing a platform for university students from Hong Kong and Beijing to interact and exchange ideas, and encouraged young people from Hong Kong to continue their proactive learning path on the Mainland, so that they could contribute to the country and Hong Kong in the future.

Mr Lee called on the People's Bank of China and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) in the afternoon.

He first met People's Bank of China Governor Yi Gang, who said the bank would fully support Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre and provide conducive factors and environment through its policies and measures, while maintaining its effective and proactive communication and co-operation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the bank for its continuous support in consolidating Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre and in facilitating the city's integration into the national development of the reform and opening-up of the financial market.

He pointed out that as the world's largest offshore renminbi hub, Hong Kong could actively participate in the internationalisation of the currency.

The Chief Executive also said he looked forward to strengthening green finance co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and supporting the country in striving for the "3060" goal on peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality by making better use of the city's financing platform and professional services.

Mr Lee was told by CSRC Chairman Yi Huiman during their meeting that the commission would continue exchanges with the Hong Kong SAR Government in such areas as expanding mutual access between the financial markets of the Mainland and Hong Kong, and strengthening co-operation in green and sustainable finance in order to further support the city in leveraging its unique advantages and boosting its international competitiveness.

The Chief Executive thanked the commission for its continuous support in deepening mutual access between the financial markets of the Mainland and Hong Kong.

He noted that the Hong Kong SAR Government and the regulatory bodies in the city would continue to promote and implement relevant measures, including improving the mutual access of capital markets in the two places, increasing the choice of risk management tools for Hong Kong and overseas investors, and exploring further collaboration in bond markets between the two places, with a view to expanding the city's bond market and enriching the offshore renminbi fixed income ecosystem.

Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong tomorrow.