AMTD Group and a group of senior Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials launched a new initiative aimed at encouraging young people to enter the local fintech industry.
The Hong Kong Youth Fintech Association was formally announced by AMTD during Hong Kong Fintech Week.
“Through this platform, we will guide Hong Kong’s youth to better embrace innovation, creative thinking, appreciation of Hong Kong’s strategic positioning and strengths, [and] take full advantage of the Greater Bay Area development potential,” said Calvin Choi, chairman of AMTD Group.
Choi will serve as the association’s chairman. He is also vice chairman of the China Youth Entrepreneurs Association, as well as chairman of the Hong Kong Youth Association.
The launch drew a range of high-level government officials, who stressed Greater Bay Area links and a desire to develop “patriotic” youth for the city and the region’s fintech industry.
For example, the most senior mainland official, Yang Chengwei, deputy director general of the Hong Kong Island Sub-Office of the Hong Kong Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, said: “The Association acts as a platform to foster collaboration, create favorable conditions and pathways for young fintech talents in Hong Kong to grow and develop. At the same time, I hope that Hong Kong youth will continue to work hard, not willing to lag behind others, take advantage of our Country’s new era, embrace a new phase of monumental development opportunities in Hong Kong, expand across the world, being rooted in Hong Kong but backed by the motherland, stay innovative and curious, propel the bright development of Hong Kong fintech industry, and contribute their wisdom and strength to achieve the China national dream.”
Other senior figures endorsing the new association include:
- Song Lai, deputy director general of the Department of Youth Affairs of the Hong Kong Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government
- King Leung, head of fintech at Invest Hong Kong of the Hong Kong SAR Government
- Professor Witman Hung, JP, executive vice chairman of the Association, Hong Kong deputy to 13th National People’s Congress and principal liaison officer for Hong Kong, Shenzhen Qianhai Authority
- Bernard Chan, under-secretary for commerce and economic development of HKSAR government
- Annie Wu, standing committee member of the 10th, 11th, and 12th CPPCC National Committee; as well as founder of Beijing Air Catering, the first Sino-foreign joint venture company in China; lifetime honorary board member of the World Trade Centers Association; and chairlady of AMTD Global Advisory
A number of private-sector partners are also backing the new fintech youth group as joint promotors, including Deloitte. Robert Lui, digital assets leader and partner at Deloitte Hong Kong, will serve as executive vice chairman of the Association.
Other promoters include the Hong Kong Youth Association, the Greater Bay Area Young Entrepreneurs Association, 36kr (a mainland China media group), Zebras, Shared Value Initiative Hong Kong (the local branch of a U.S.-based non-profit promoting stakeholder capitalism), FinStep Asia, and the Regional Banks+Strategic Cooperation Alliance.
DigFin is owned by AMTD Digital, the fintech and digital arm of AMTD Group.
