HONG KONG: Hong Kong's strengths as a global financial hub have not been undermined by months of protests, the Chinese-ruled city's chief executive, Carrie Lam, said on Monday (Jan 13).
Protests in Hong Kong escalated in June over a now-withdrawn Bill which would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party. They have since broadened to include demands such as universal suffrage.
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READ: Our coverage of the Hong Kong protests
Speaking at the opening of a regional financial forum, Lam said the city's financial system remained stable thanks to lessons learnt since the Asian financial crisis. Lam cited the listing of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd as a boon for other listings by mainland companies.
The city's "strengths and resilience, just like our financial systems, have not been undermined despite (the fact) that we experienced considerable social unrest and challenges", Lam said.
She added she was confident the city will bridge divisions, and realise its goals of a reunited community and "flourishing" economy.
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Finance Secretary Paul Chan, speaking at the same event, said Hong Kong's banking system was running smoothly and had ample liquidity despite the city facing "unprecedented" turbulence.
Many protests involved violent clashes between protesters and the police on central streets lined by the city's tallest towers hosting top finance companies.
Some financial firms have been caught in the middle, with branches of mainland banks repeatedly vandalised as protesters vented their anger at what they perceRead More – Source
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