Eddie Yue: What quality means to Hong Kong as an international financial centre Opening keynote speech by Mr Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, at the Hong Kong Management Association 2020 Quality Award Presentation Ceremony, Hong Kong, 14 October 2020. * * * Helmuth, YK, ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests, 1. Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to deliver the keynote speech at tonight’s prestigious ceremony. 2. The Hong Kong Management Association and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority are like twin brothers. Not only that we share the same HKMA acronym, but we also share similar beliefs. We both have a deep commitment to management excellence, developing human capital and upholding the highest standards of quality. 3. Ten years ago, at this same event, my predecessor Norman Chan shared his thoughts on how the HKMA – the Monetary Authority, that is – can achieve quality in public service. He said that the community expected nothing short of the highest standards of quality from the HKMA. And he highlighted the importance of professionalism, passion and pride to our organisation. 4. I believe the last ten years have demonstrated the truth of these words. So, tonight, I’d like to build on what Norman said at that time by taking a broader perspective on what quality means to Hong Kong as an international financial centre. Quality in an international financial centre 5. We can all discern quality in products and services.
In both dimensions, I believe this kind of long-term approach is the hallmark of a high-quality financial system. Concluding remarks 27. I hope these reflections have shed some light on Hong Kong’s distinctive qualities as an international financial centre. It is resilient – our institutions and markets remain safe and sound in good times and bad. And it offers huge opportunities to local and global participants, driven by the Mainland’s continued financial liberalisation, as well as developments in fintech and green finance. 28. My team and I are committed to upholding these qualities. We will continue to reinforce Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre of the highest quality. This journey has no end – and we will rely as always on strong support from everyone that we work with, including many of you. I am confident that, by working together, we can continue to build on Hong Kong’s unique foundation – and enhance our position as one of the world’s pre3/4  BIS central bankers' speeches  eminent financial centres. 29. It only remains for me to thank the Hong Kong Management Association for having me here tonight; to thank you all for your attention; and to congratulate the winners of the Quality Award – your achievements are rightly honoured today. 4/4  BIS central bankers' speeches