Finishing touches at Hong Kong’s M+ museum as venue prepares to host banking giants for tour and dinner ahead of financial summit

The chief of Hong Kong’s biggest cultural hub has expressed hope of bridging arts and business when banking titans attend a dinner at one of her museums on Tuesday night, saying it is a “once-in-a-lifetime” chance to promote the West Kowloon district to financial leaders from around the world.

The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority’s chief executive officer, Betty Fung Ching Suk-yee, told the Post of her aspiration as the banking heavyweights gather in the city this week for the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit – the largest top-level executive gathering since the pandemic began three years ago.

The three-day banking summit, organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, will bring together about 200 global financial leaders from more than 100 major institutions, including more than 40 global group chairs or chief executives.

The conference kicks off on Tuesday with a by-invitation closed-door meeting at the HKMA’s office in Central. The participants will join an hour-long tour at the M+ contemporary art museum at 6pm, and then a two-hour dinner at the venue.

The programme on Wednesday and Thursday comprises two days of forums, to be live streamed for public viewing. There will be half a dozen panel discussions, from sustainable finance to technology and innovation, according to a programme seen by the Post. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will deliver the opening remarks on Wednesday morning and Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po is expected to deliver a keynote speech before lunch.

More than half of the summit’s attendees flew in from overseas.

“When the Hong Kong Monetary Authority contacted us saying they wanted to host a dinner in M+ for the leaders, we were overwhelmed and very excited, because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to promote M+ and West Kowloon to these important people,” Fung said.