HKICPA Delegation visits London to promote Hong Kong as strategic gateway for Chinese Mainland enterprises going global

The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) has successfully concluded its three-day official visit to London, the United Kingdom (UK), which took place from 6 to 8 July 2026. Comprising HKICPA President Stephen Law, Vice President Jasmine Lee, Chief Executive & Registrar Arthur Lee, and Executive Director Elaine Chung— the delegation aimed to strengthen the accounting professional and business ties between Hong Kong and the UK. During the visit, the delegation met with local government officials, professional bodies, academia, think tanks, trade organizations, and business community representatives to actively promote Hong Kong as an ideal springboard for Chinese Mainland enterprises expanding internationally.

High-Level Exchange with the Lord Mayor of the City of London

During the visit, the HKICPA delegation paid a courtesy call on Dame Susan Langley, Lord Mayor of the City of London. The two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on international collaboration, talent mobility, UK-Asia market connectivity trends, and Hong Kong’s strategic role in supporting Mainland enterprises in expanding overseas. The delegation also shared how the accounting profession can contribute to cross-border economic and trade development by building trust, enhancing corporate governance, and strengthening connectivity.

Exploring Capital Market Connectivity and International Talent Pipelines

In addition, the HKICPA delegation met with representatives from key local institutions, including London Stock Exchange (LSE), InvestHK, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London (London ETO), the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) London Office, the School of Management at University College London (UCL), London Business School (LBS), the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Hong Kong Association, Hong Kong Business Network (HKBN), Asia House, and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC). The meetings focused on exploring cross-border business flows, professional services collaboration, capital market connectivity, and Hong Kong’s evolving role in supporting Mainland enterprises on their “Go Global” journey.

During the visit to the LSE, both parties explored pathways for Hong Kong-listed companies to pursue secondary listings and discussed how to deepen capital market connectivity between the two places. On the front of international exchange and talent development, the delegation also engaged with leading higher education institutions including UCL and LBS. During these meetings, all parties agreed to actively explore further collaboration opportunities to jointly nurture professional talent. The delegation also met with students who expressed strong interest in coming to Hong Kong for career development. Building on these productive discussions, the HKICPA will follow up to establish regular communication channels and create more opportunities for its members to support Chinese Mainland enterprises in their “Go Global” journey, while further facilitating cross-border collaboration in professional services.

Driving High-Standard Governance and Value Creation for Global Investors

Reflecting on the visit’s outcomes, HKICPA President Stephen Law remarked: “In today's increasingly complex global business landscape, Hong Kong's unique value lies in its role as a premier two-way strategic hub— a vital nexus where Chinese Mainland enterprises venture globally and international capital converges. The fruitful results of this London visit underscore that Hong Kong's robust financial infrastructure and world-class accounting profession are pivotal; they not only provide high-standard compliance and governance frameworks necessary for Chinese Mainland enterprises to expand globally, but also empower international investors and businesses to capitalize on the high-quality growth opportunities within the Asian and Chinese Mainland markets. The HKICPA remains committed to deepening these ties, transforming Hong Kong's institutional advantages into win-win opportunities for enterprises on both sides, while elevating the international standing of Hong Kong's accounting profession through sustained global engagement.”

Engaging the Business Community on Hong Kong's Strengths

In addition to the official meetings, the HKICPA delegation co-hosted two themed events with local organizations to share Hong Kong’s latest developments and regional opportunities with a number of participants, including HKICPA members, accounting and finance professionals, and UK business sector representatives.

On 7 July, the HKICPA, alongside the HKTDC London Office, InvestHK, London ETO, HKBN, and ICAEW, organized a morning seminar themed “New UK Opportunities from China’s ‘Go Global’ Wave — Where Hong Kong Fits and How UK Players Plug In”. In his speech, HKICPA President Stephen Law emphasized that Hong Kong serves not only as a connector between markets but as a platform driving more structured, disciplined, and sustainable cross-border growth. This was followed by a panel discussion joined featuring Vice President Jasmine Lee and various business and professional services representatives, who provided practical insights into how UK enterprises can effectively leverage Hong Kong's platform to expand into international markets. Chief Executive and Registrar Arthur Lee summarized the key takeaways of the fruitful panel discussions and reinforced Hong Kong’s strategic role for professional and business ties between the Chinese Mainland and the UK in his closing remarks. 

On the evening of the same day, the HKICPA, in collaboration with ICAEW and HKBN, hosted an exchange event titled “Hong Kong Insights: Asia's Growth, Global Opportunity and the Role of the Profession”. The event brought together top business and professional leaders from Hong Kong to exchange views and provide insights into Hong Kong’s latest developments, its evolving business landscape, and the emerging opportunities brought about by international connections and networks. HKICPA President Stephen Law shared insights on Hong Kong’s role in the “Go Global” initiative during his opening remarks, while Vice President Jasmine Lee and Chief Executive & Registrar Arthur Lee joined a panel discussion to explore how accountants, finance professionals, and advisors can enhance business confidence, corporate governance, transparency, and cross-border collaboration. The event also reinforced HKICPA’s reciprocal membership arrangements with ICAEW, highlighting the close ties between the Hong Kong and UK accounting professions and the importance of facilitating talent mobility across markets.

The HKICPA delegation visit reinforced the Institute’s role in fostering closer professional and business ties between Hong Kong and the UK, while showcasing how Hong Kong’s accounting profession can support Chinese Mainland enterprises in pursuing sustainable international growth. Looking ahead, the HKICPA will continue to shoulder its statutory responsibility for developing the accounting profession in Hong Kong, while enabling the profession to serve as a bridge connecting business and capital between the Chinese Mainland and other parts of the globe. Through sustained international engagement, the HKICPA will continue to promote the value of the accounting profession in supporting cross-border business growth.

^{The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) delegation has successfully concluded its three-day official visit to London, the United Kingdom.}

^{During the visit, the HKICPA delegation paid a courtesy call on Dame Susan Langley, Lord Mayor of the City of London.}

^{The HKICPA delegation met with representatives from a wide range of local organizations, provided opportunities to exchange views on cross-border business flows, professional services collaboration, capital market connectivity and Hong Kong’s evolving role in supporting Chinese Mainland enterprises on their “Go Global” journey.}

^{The HKICPA delegation co-hosted two themed events with UK-based organizations to share Hong Kong insights and introduce regional opportunities.}