The Payment Connect officially launched on Sunday (22nd), which Morgan Stanley said would facilitate small-scale immediate person-to-person remittances and utility payments in RMB and HKD between Mainland and Hong Kong residents. It also aligned with the emphasis on China's financial openness highlighted at the Lujiazui Forum by shoring up efficient current account transactions.Morgan Stanley considered the Payment Connect as moderately positive for financial stocks in its research report. Considering the interest rate differential between Mainland and Hong Kong, it is believed that the Payment Connect will attract more liquidity to Hong Kong, especially with the removal of any documentation requirements.Related NewsSPDB Int’l Expects US Fed to Resume Rate Cuts as Early as Sep, Observes Whether Tariff Is One-off Impact on InflationWhile the ban on opening new securities accounts is still strictly enforced, the new scheme can help direct funds to existing securities accounts, supporting the trading volume of Hong Kong stocks and the stock price of HKEX (00388.HK) +1.000 (+0.241%) Short selling $128.79M; Ratio 11.552% . Meanwhile, it will also be beneficial for AIA (01299.HK) -0.050 (-0.071%) Short selling $76.74M; Ratio 8.854% as the mechanism can simplify the process of purchasing insurance in Hong Kong.(HK stocks quote is delayed for at least 15 mins.Short Selling Data as at 2025-06-25 12:25.)