Government proposes planning team for Apec finance ministers’ meeting in Hong Kong

Some 500 guests are expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) finance ministers’ meeting in Hong Kong in October, the first to be held in the city, with authorities set to appoint a team led by two senior officials to oversee planning for the event.Speaking at a Legislative Council meeting on Monday, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu proposed to set up an event coordination team under his bureau to prepare for the meeting.“This meeting will provide an ideal platform for finance ministers of member economies to exchange views on regional and global economic outlooks,” he said.“At the same time, it will allow Hong Kong to showcase its latest advancements in finance and economic development to all participating members.”About 500 delegates, including finance ministers and senior officials from the 21 Apec member economies, as well as representatives from international organisations, were expected to attend the three-day meeting in October, Hui said.Chinese President Xi Jinping announced last year that China would host the 33rd Apec economic leaders’ meeting in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19.