Xu Zhengyu: The company has received more than 30 applications for relocation and has approved 14 of them, continuing to attract more multinational companies to settle in Hong Kong.

Since May last year, Hong Kong has implemented a company relocation mechanism. The Financial Secretary and Treasury Bureau Director, Paul Chan, stated that the market response has been very positive. As of now, they have received over 30 applications, with 14 applications approved in the past 8 months. He mentioned that companies interested in relocating to Hong Kong are not just financial institutions, but also other types of companies and holding companies. Some have already submitted applications, and in the future, they will continue to cooperate with the Companies Registry and relevant regulatory bodies to provide comprehensive support to companies interested in coming to Hong Kong, attracting more multinational companies to establish in Hong Kong. He announced that this morning (January 26), AXA China Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, AXA Insurance Bermuda Limited, have officially obtained the relocation certificate from the Companies Registry, successfully establishing themselves in Hong Kong. Previously, there were rumors in the market that mainland authorities were considering tightening the threshold for mainland companies listing in Hong Kong. Paul Chan stated that the most important thing for Hong Kong is to ensure the sustainability of the quality of the stock market. January has already seen around 11 new listings, with over 350 companies in the queue, reflecting the continued enthusiasm for companies to raise funds in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government has always maintained close communication with mainland regulatory agencies to ensure that Hong Kong continues to be the premier platform for mainland, regional, and global companies to raise capital. Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China, Zou Lan, stated during the ASIA FINANCIAL forum today that they will firmly support and steadily advance the construction of the offshore RMB market in Hong Kong, and promote the listing of RMB government bond futures in Hong Kong. Paul Chan mentioned that the Hong Kong government has been maintaining close communication with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and relevant agencies on this matter, and the relevant work will continue, with updates to follow. In terms of enhancing the competitiveness of the capital market, Paul Chan mentioned several key focus areas for the coming year. Firstly, improving listing requirements, including the requirements for weighted voting rights, to further enhance the competitiveness and quality of the Hong Kong capital market. In secondary trading, they are also studying how to shorten the settlement cycle from the current T+2 to T+1 to synchronize with major global markets and enhance market efficiency.