FS to explore new markets and capital sources

Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Sunday unveiled plans to visit Europe, the United States, Australia and the Middle East in the second half of the year. On his official blog, the finance minister said the visits aim to strengthen ties with traditional markets, as well as to explore new markets and capital sources. He noted that Hong Kong has a strong international presence in finance, business, culture and people-to-people exchanges, making it a vital player in global trade and resilient in the face of challenges. Separately, Chan said Hong Kong's overall economy remains relatively stable and continues to grow. He mentioned that key drivers of the economy like exports and investment spendings both continued to rise, supporting a 3.3 percent year-on-year economic growth in the second quarter. But changes in tourist and consumer spending patterns, along with a strong Hong Kong dollar are bringing some pressure to private consumption, Chan added.