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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Engineering hosted earlier the 2024 CUHK Conference on Financial Technology, attracting nearly 300 attendees, including government officials, regulators, industry practitioners, academics, researchers and students, to delve into the transformative world of fintech. Sponsored by IBM China/Hong Kong Ltd., Hang Seng Bank and Deloitte China, the conference was themed “The Booming Green FinTech Sector”, highlighting innovative strides to merge financial technology with sustainable practices and discover cutting-edge solutions. It also served as a networking platform for industry leaders to drive a greener, more sustainable future.

The officiating guests included Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong government; Professor Tsang Hon-ki, Dean of CUHK’s Faculty of Engineering; Ms Mimi Poon, General Manager, IBM China/Hong Kong Limited; Ms Nancy Cheng, Head of Partnership and Innovation, Hang Seng Bank; and Mr Robert Lui, Hong Kong Digital Asset Leader, Deloitte China. Mr Joseph H. L. Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong government, delivered the keynote address.

During the conference, experts from the banking, technology and legal sectors, together with CUHK scholars, participated in four panel discussions and a series of featured talks, sharing insights on integrating financial technology with environmental responsibility.

In his welcome remarks, Professor Tuan said: “Green fintech is paving the way for a more sustainable economy. To support sustainable development, Hong Kong needs skilled fintech professionals. CUHK is proud to offer the city’s first bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fintech, and we work closely with regulators and industry partners to offer real-world experience to our students.”

Mr Chan remarked that the government aims to attract and rapidly develop talent: “It is important to groom talents to support the sustainable development of fintech and green finance. We have launched the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme to encourage eligible local and prospective practitioners to participate in training related to green and sustainable finance. Additionally, the Talent List of Hong Kong, which covers experienced financial professionals in environmental, social and governance (ESG) and in fintech, can attract them to come and settle in Hong Kong.” He concluded by emphasising the importance of developing green fintech for the future growth of the financial sector.

Ms Cheong said: “The Hong Kong government is dedicated to supporting the development of green fintech through strategic policies, investments and collaborations. Such measures will enable us to embrace the ample employment and business opportunities arising from the huge market potential. By leveraging our collective strengths, we can address the pressing environmental challenges and create a more sustainable and resilient financial ecosystem.”

Professor Tsang stated: “The CEFAR Academy (CUHK Engineering FinTech Applied Academy) seeks applied research projects in various domains of financial technology and engages our professors and students to tackle real-life problems provided by sponsoring organisations. This year, with support from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Cyberport and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, we received enthusiastic responses from sponsoring organisations and collected about 80 thematic case studies for the projects undertaken by our students in the fintech MSc programme.” He highlighted that the collaboration would benefit both sides, offering students valuable experience and providing industry practitioners with potential solutions and new business opportunities.

For more details about the conference, please visit: https://conference.cefar.cuhk.edu.hk.