Chen Maobo: Hong Kong has sufficient contingency plans to deal with the market risks brought by conflicts in the Middle East.

The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Paul Chan Mo-po, stated today that there is not much direct trade and investment between Hong Kong and Iran, but the conflict in the Middle East has caused significant uncertainty to the global economy. He estimated that the financial markets may experience significant volatility due to the impact of the Middle East conflict, and capital flows may shift more quickly with uncertainty. Local funds may seek a "safe haven" in Hong Kong, so the SAR government needs to be prepared and handle financial risks carefully, as they already have sufficient contingency plans. He pointed out that this conflict may have short-term impacts on gold prices, oil prices, and international trade transportation costs, and the SAR government has been evaluating the related risks.