Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po (center) and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau (left) meet World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Jan 19, 2024, during their visit to Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s finance chief has stressed that the city would continue to firmly support a rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core.

Paul Chan Mo-po made the statement while meeting with the WTO director-general, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in Davos on Friday, the last day of his visit to Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, according to a government statement.

Accompanied by Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah, Chan gave Okonjo-Iweala a briefing on Hong Kong's latest economic and trade situation.

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Hong Kong would actively promote free trade, so as to contribute to a better recovery of the global economy, he said.

The financial secretary thanked the WTO for reaffirming the free trade regime of Hong Kong, China and its position as one of the world's most important international trade and financial hubs in its Trade Policy Review conducted at the end of last year.

Before concluding his visit, Chan also met the chief executive officer of an international insurance company.

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He is scheduled to arrive back in Hong Kong on Saturday night.