Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto)

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, promoted Hong Kong’s strengths as an international green finance hub at a seminar on May 2.

The seminar, titled “Get to Know More About Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Issues”, was organised by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) (Toronto Section) in partnership with accounting firm MNP LLP, and supported by the HKETO, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) (Canada) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Canada (HKTDC).

In her opening address, Ms Mo first highlighted the collaborative efforts between Hong Kong and Canada towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, saying that both regions played a pivotal role in advancing ESG principles and fostering green finance initiatives. She added that Hong Kong took an exemplary leadership in promoting ESG principles, from implementing regulatory frameworks to issuing green bonds, which has created vast opportunities for Canadian enterprises and professionals.

“Hong Kong has solidified its position as a global green finance center, implementing mandatory ESG reporting for listed companies, investment fund managers, and ESG funds,” she said. “Moreover, Hong Kong has emerged as Asia's premier issuer of green bonds and debts, with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government alone issuing approximately US$24 billion worth of green bonds to attract global institutional investors.”

She added that the increasing demand for green projects and financing in Mainland China, particularly within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, presented significant prospects for global investors seeking ESG-related ventures and green investment opportunities.

Emphasizing that Hong Kong is committed to becoming a leading hub for green technology, promoting zero-carbon energy, energy-saving technologies, electric vehicles, and green building practices to combat climate change, Ms Mo encouraged companies and talents in the field to embrace the immense opportunities presented by Hong Kong.

Other speakers at the seminar included Edward Olson, Partner of MNP LLP specialising in the company’s ESG practices; Ms Grace Lau, Deputy Head of Investment Promotion of InvestHK (Canada); Andrew Yui, Director (Canada) of HKTDC; and Marcus Lam, Board Director of HKCBA.