Hong Kong finance chief woos French wealth managers as European tour starts

May 19, 2026 - 03:27

Hong Kong's finance chief, Paul Chan, began a European tour on Monday with a stop in Paris, where he held meetings with representatives from the French asset management industry and the Asia Centre think tank, according to sources familiar with the visit.

The trip is part of a broader push by the city's government to strengthen financial ties with Europe and attract more capital from the region's wealth management sector. Chan's schedule in Paris focused on face-to-face discussions with key players in the French investment community, highlighting Hong Kong's role as a gateway for international funds looking to access Asian markets.

Sources said the meetings covered a range of topics, including regulatory frameworks, cross-border investment opportunities, and the stability of Hong Kong's financial system. The finance chief is expected to emphasize the city's advantages, such as its common law system, free flow of capital, and deep pool of financial talent, as it competes with other global hubs like Singapore.

The European tour comes at a time when Hong Kong is working to reinforce its status as a leading international financial center amid shifting global dynamics. Chan's outreach to French wealth managers signals a targeted effort to deepen relationships with European institutional investors and family offices, which have shown growing interest in diversifying their portfolios into Asia.

No further details on the discussions were released, but the trip is seen as a strategic move to counter recent narratives about capital outflows from Hong Kong and to reassure foreign investors of the city's long-term business viability.