FS briefed on smart airports

May 25, 2024

Innovative initiatives:

Financial Secretary Paul Chan (front row, second right) listens to a presentation by Groupe ADP’s senior management.

Tech expo:

Mr Chan (first left) speaks to representatives of Hong Kong enterprises participating in VivaTech 2024.

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Voiceover:
Financial Secretary Paul Chan visited an innovation hub in Paris to learn about its efforts in promoting smart airports.

He noted that Hong Kong International Airport is accelerating its development as a green airport city, and encouraged the airports in Paris and Hong Kong to enhance exchanges in innovation and green initiatives.

On Friday morning, Mr Chan attended the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area & Europe (France) Economic & Trade Cooperation Conference, where he highlighted Hong Kong’s unique advantages under "one country, two systems”, making it an ideal base for French companies to tap into the Greater Bay Area’s vast opportunities.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan:
French companies which come to Hong Kong for listing may access both international and Mainland capital.

Our venture capital and private equity sectors are also thriving.

French companies at different stages of development will find the funding they need to support their business growth.

French companies can come to Hong Kong to raise funding in renminbi to support their business growth on the Mainland.

Voiceover:
The finance chief also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by Invest Hong Kong and three French enterprises.

Mr Chan then visited Europe's largest annual technology and startup event where Hong Kong has set up a pavilion for the first time, with over 10 Hong Kong startups from artificial intelligence, fintech and medical technology participating.

Mr Chan encouraged the participants to tell the good Hong Kong innovation stories to the world.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan called on Groupe ADP’s Innovation Hub, toured VivaTech 2024 and visited the Théâtre National de Chaillot during his trip to Paris, France.

Joined by Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong and Under Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Clement Woo, Mr Chan visited the Innovation Hub where he learnt about promoting the development of smart airports and low-carbon transformation, supporting the Paris Olympics, developing low-altitude aviation, and collaborating with aviation-related startups on innovation and technology.

As Groupe ADP manages Charles de Gaulle Airport as well as over 20 other airports worldwide, Hong Kong International Airport and its French counterpart could enhance knowledge and experience exchange in innovation and green initiatives, and foster further co-operation, Mr Chan pointed out.

The finance chief yesterday toured VivaTech 2024, Europe’s largest annual technology and startup event, where Hong Kong has for the first time, set up a pavilion featuring over 10 Hong Kong startups encompassing such fields as artificial intelligence, green technologies, fintech, medical technology and Internet of Things technology.

Mr Chan encouraged the participating Hong Kong enterprises to actively explore business opportunities, seek more exchanges and collaborations, and tell the good Hong Kong innovation stories to the world.

He also met VivaTech’s senior management to hear about their experience in organising a large-scale exhibition. Apart from scaling up Hong Kong’s participation in the event next year, he also invited the organiser to actively consider hosting related exhibitions and events in Hong Kong.

Yesterday, Mr Chan visited the Théâtre National de Chaillot and discussed with its director Rachid Ouramdane cultural and artistic co-operation.

Highlighting Hong Kong's blend of Chinese and Western cultures, he said the city could be a platform for international art to reach audiences in the Mainland and Asia, and encouraged the theatre to tour in Hong Kong to help promote deeper cross-regional cultural exchanges, as well as bring more diverse and international content to the city's mega events.

Meanwhile, Prof Sun was at Station F yesterday, a startup park in the centre of Paris, to learn about its operation mode and community network.

After completing his visit to Paris, the Financial Secretary will depart for San Francisco, the US, on May 27, while Prof Sun will arrive in Hong Kong tomorrow.