CUHK
News Centre

The Faculty of Engineering of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) hosted the virtual “2020 CUHK Conference on Financial Technology (FinTech)” today (2 November), solely sponsored by Hang Seng Bank, and with the support from the Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, the Centre for Financial Engineering (CFE), the Centre for Innovation and Technology (CINTEC), and CUHK Business School. The conference titled “How FinTech is Transforming Organisations – Theory and Practice” attracted hundreds of registrations from industry practitioners, academicians, researchers, government officials and regulators to review the impact of FinTech on organisations, and discuss the theory and practice behind it. 

The conference was officiated at by Professor Rocky S. TUAN, Vice-Chancellor and President, CUHK, Mr. Joseph CHAN, JP, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, Ms. Rebecca PUN, JP, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Professor Martin D.F. WONG, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, CUHK, Professor Lin ZHOU, Dean, CUHK Business School, and Mrs. Eunice CHAN, Chief Operating Officer, Hang Seng Bank Ltd. Wide ranging topics, including artificial intelligence (AI), biometrics, crypto assets, cybersecurity, decentralised finance, FinTech in banking, machine learning, new career opportunities, regulatory technology (RegTech) and tokenization were covered in the conference. 

Professor Rocky S. TUAN remarked in his opening speech, “This conference is a part of the FinTech education series of the Hong Kong FinTech Week 2020 organised by InvestHK. It is also the fourth annual FinTech Conference organised by CUHK. We hope that through this conference, the University can continue to strengthen our educational exchanges and cooperation with industry, and explore new opportunities in the application of FinTech. At CUHK, we are committed to developing FinTech talents in people who will ultimately empower the local financial industry and sustain Hong Kong’s status as an international financial hub. We pioneered the provision of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in FinTech in Hong Kong through two innovative and multi-disciplinary programmes offered by the Faculty of Engineering. In this endeavour, support from the Government and industries is of paramount importance.”

Professor Martin D. F. WONG said, “Today marks the official establishment of the CUHK Engineering FinTech Applied Research Academy, building upon the many applied research projects successfully undertaken by our MSc FinTech students who have been working closely with industry sponsors from banks and technology companies. The Academy is expected to expand the current collaboration with industry and to elevate our efforts in developing a larger pool of FinTech talents for Hong Kong.”

Professor Lin ZHOU said, “With rapid technological advancements and greater demand for FinTech talents in the future, CUHK business school is committed to training the next generation of business leaders with modern managerial skills and knowledge that are suitable for high-tech industries.  We look forward to working closely with the Faculty of Engineering and leading corporations to create the most cutting-edge educational programme.”

Mr. Joseph CHAN, JP, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, “The Government will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach in promoting and supporting FinTech adoption, and provide a clear regulatory environment, while at the same time inviting funding and encouraging talent for the FinTech ecosystem, so as to ensure the sector thrives with manageable risks.”  

Ms. Rebecca PUN, JP, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, said, “Hong Kong’s FinTech community has been flourishing. We have been providing an environment conducive to the development of the FinTech ecosystem through facilitation, funding, talent and technology.”

Mrs. Eunice CHAN, Chief Operating Officer, Hang Seng Bank Ltd., stated, “FinTech is playing a pivotal role in transforming the banking industry. As a local market leader, Hang Seng is actively participating in various FinTech initiatives. We are delighted to have partnered with CUHK on various projects to support the development of young FinTech talent in our city and we look forward to more collaborations in the future, which include supporting research projects and offering scholarships and internships to CUHK students.”

With Hang Seng Bank well established as a leading innovator in the banking industry in Hong Kong, senior executives from the Bank shared their insights into and views on how FinTech is transforming financial organisations and reshaping the future of wealth management. Scholars from CUHK and other speakers, including representatives from the technology and legal sectors as well as the financial sector regulatory authorities, also shared their knowledge and gave their opinions on the application and development of FinTech in the current market and in the future.

Other guest speakers included Professor Seen-Meng CHEW, Assistant Dean (External Engagement), CUHK Business School, Professor Wing-Cheong LAU, Associate Professor, Department of Information Engineering, CUHK, Professor Sherman Sze-Ming CHOW, Associate Professor, Department of Information Engineering, CUHK, Professor Darwin CHOI, Associate Professor, Department of Finance, CUHK, Professor Griffin Wenxi JIANG, Assistant Professor, Department of Finance, CUHK,  Mr. Herman CHENG, Head of Digital Banking, Hang Seng Bank Ltd., Ms. Rosita LEE, Head of Investment Products and Advisory Business, Hang Seng Bank Ltd., Mr. Nike KONG, Chief Information Officer, Hang Seng Bank Ltd., Ms. May WONG, Head of Communications and Corporate Sustainability, Hang Seng Bank Ltd., Dr. Lucas HUI, Chief Technology Officer, ASTRI, Mr. Adam WIELOWIEYSKI, Managing Director, Head of Collaborative Intelligence & Analytics, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Ms. Frankie TAM, International Technology Lawyer, Eversheds Sutherland, Dr. Florian M. SPIEGL, Co-Founder & COO, FinFabrik, Mr. Chris LEUNG, Cognitive/AI Practice Leader, Hong Kong, IBM Services, and Mr. Philip YU, Lead Solution Engineer, Tableau. Other speakers also gave their views during the two panel discussion sessions on Digitisation of Financial Services in Asia and Application Programming Interface (API) in Hong Kong. In addition, a number of demonstrations were made in the conference, including FinTecubator, a FinTech incubator programme initiated by Hang Seng Bank, and a customer behavioural analysis project by CUHK FinTech students.

About the Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, CUHK

The Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management was established in the year 1991 with a vision to create and disseminate knowledge and technologies of systems engineering and engineering management for an ever changing society. It offers undergraduate programmes including the Bachelor of Engineering programme in Financial Technology (B.Eng. in FinTech), and taught and research Masters and PhD programmes with more than 600 current students in the Department. To meet foreseeable strong demands for FinTech professionals in the coming decades, the B.Eng. in FinTech was launched in the academic year 2017/18, being the first of its kind in Hong Kong. The programme aims to nurture leadership and entrepreneurship among the next generation of local talent in support of Hong Kong’s endeavor to grow into an international FinTech hub.

About the Centre for Financial Engineering, CUHK

The Centre for Financial Engineering (CFE) is a strong group of experts in the quantitative aspects of finance including computer science, finance, mathematics and statistics. Established in 2013, CFE has achieved some remarkable progress in assembling research teams and organising seminars, conferences, distinguished lectures and short courses. It is currently offering a Master of Science programme in Financial Engineering. Its vision is to develop a multidisciplinary centre in financial engineering and financial technology renowned for the quality of its people and research, and train the next generation of leading academics and industrial leaders in the area.

About the Centre for Innovation and Technology, CUHK

The Centre for Innovation and Technology (CINTEC) is the technology transfer arm of the Faculty of Engineering, CUHK. Serving as a key bridge between the Faculty and the industry, CINTEC promotes communications, facilitates collaboration, and fosters technology transfer and commercialisation through a wide variety of meetings, conferences, exhibitions and discussion forums. The Centre also showcases the University’s latest research and technical achievements at the online platform CINTEC Online Exhibition, enabling the industry to explore potential projects for commercialisation. It also offers various types of incubation support, including coaching, infrastructure, and business connections to students and faculty entrepreneurs so that they can ultimately turn their innovations into business startups.

About CUHK Business School

CUHK Business School has blazed a trail for business education in Hong Kong and Asia since 1963, cultivating high-achieving graduates who steer and shape the global business landscape. This spirit of leadership and innovation goes to the very core of its legacy as the first business school in Asia to offer a full suite of BBA, MBA, and Executive MBA programmes. Today, its world class faculty and cutting edge research continue to develop nimble leaders, entrepreneurs and social stewards, with a proud network of more than 40,000 alumni making a meaningful impact in the Pearl River Delta and beyond.