Hong Kong’s upcoming financial summit has reportedly secured the attendance of top executives from about 20 global firms including the CEOs of Citi and Morgan Stanley.
About 20 firms have pledged to send at least a C-suite executive to the upcoming Hong Kong summit in November, according to a «Bloomberg» report citing unnamed sources, including Citi chief executive Jane Fraser and Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman. This is in addition to HSBC CEO Noel Quinn and, more recently, Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters who have both publicly declared their attendance.
This marks a turn of events after initial concerns about a limited turnout by senior executives abroad due to Hong Kong’s strict zero-Covid restrictions for arrivals.
Quarantine Exemptions Rejected
Previously, authorities explored the possibility of providing individual waivers for visiting bankers to attend the summit.
But executives rejected the suggestion due to sensitivities around perceived special privilege and the precedent of public uproar after a similar move was made by actor Nicole Kidman and JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon last year.
Summit Agenda
According to the report, the summit will be held on November 1 and 2 in Hong Kong’s Four Seasons Hotel. The agenda includes half a day for a closed-door exchange of views with Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) officials followed by a public conference of panel discussions and speeches the next morning.
Events were deliberately kept brief to allow travelling executives time to visit local clients and staff, though the agenda and attendees are subject to change.
«[We are] in discussion with relevant stakeholders about the appropriate arrangements to facilitate the hosting of the event,» said an HKMA spokesperson, adding that «good progress» was being made.
