Hong Kong’s finance chief Paul Chan vows to do his ‘best’ and attend banking summit in person after contracting Covid-19, as event triggers political war of words
- Government is gearing up to host Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit next week
- Top advisers to city leader forced to defend event after two US lawmakers say attending makes American bankers ‘complicit’ in human rights abuses
Hong Kong’s finance chief has promised to do his “best” to attend a high-powered banking summit in person next week after contracting Covid-19 during an overseas investment tour, but is also preparing to take part either online or deliver pre-recorded remarks, his office has told the Post.
The government is preparing to host the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit, the biggest event of its kind the city will have hosted since the pandemic emerged nearly three years ago. But on Friday advisers to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu were forced to defend the summit after two United States lawmakers said American bankers taking part would be “complicit” in human rights abuses by Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.
“The financial secretary’s condition is getting better gradually,” a spokesman said. “If this is not possible, he may participate in the event via video-conferencing or recorded speech.”
Aside from the summit, Chan was also expected to give keynote remarks on Monday at the main conference of this year’s Hong Kong Fintech Week, which runs until Friday and is expected to attract about 20,000 global financiers and investors.