The Governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), Pan Gongsheng, said in his speech at the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) that the next step will be to focus on four key directions to fully support the construction of Hong Kong as an international financial center (IFC).

The PBOC supports the development of Hong Kong's capital market and continues to deepen the Connect of the financial markets of both places, Pan said, furthering the prosperous development of the capital market is the core and cornerstone of Hong Kong's IFC.

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The Chinese central bank will explore the expansion of its macro-prudential and financial stability functions, and work with Hong Kong's financial management units to support the healthy development of the capital markets of the mainland China and Hong Kong, to support the listing of more quality enterprises in Hong Kong and the issuance of bonds, and to continue to optimize the expansion of the Connect between the mainland China and Hong Kong in equities, bonds, financial management and interest rate swaps, and to deepen the financial cooperation in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Pan also mentioned that the asset allocation of China’s foreign exchange reserves in Hong Kong will be substantially uplifted so as to open up broader room for Hong Kong's financial development.