Finance secretary says Beijing ‘very positive’ about Hong Kong joining new Asian infrastructure investment bank
In the run-up to the AIIB’s inaugural meeting, John Tsang’s shares insights on SAR joining as a non-sovereign member
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said on Friday morning the central government had responded favourably to the city’s intention to join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Tsang on Friday flew to Beijing to attend an opening ceremony and the inaugural meeting of the bank over the weekend. Tsang was to be part of the Chinese delegation for the meetings.
Speaking at Hong Kong International Airport before departing for Beijing, Tsang said the bank’s board of governors would discuss its future plans during the inaugural gatherings on Saturday and Sunday.
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It was understood that Tsang would not meet any Chinese state leaders on Friday and that his team would spend the day preparing for Saturday’s meeting.
He said Hong Kong, which intended to join the bank as a non-sovereign member, had expressed its wish to the central government.
“The response by the central government has been very positive,” he said.
Tsang expected the board of governors would discuss arrangements for sovereign states to join the bank and then deal with interested non-sovereign members. He also said Hong Kong had been actively participating in the bank’s activities since last year.
Initiated by Beijing, the bank represented a new multilateral development bank designed to help fund infrastructure development in Asia.
