The appointment comes as Hong Kong continues to work on developing closer capital and investment ties with the mainland.

An independent non-executive director at Citibank in Hong Kong and China Securities Co, Stephen Po, has been named honorary advisor to the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association.

In the newly-minted role, Po will be contributing to HKIFA’s goals, including strengthening links between Hong Kong and the mainland. As reported here, the Wealth Connect system, originally starting in 2020, aims to foster stronger two-way capital flows between the city and mainland, as well as the wider region. The scope of the Connect scheme widened earlier in 2024.

Po’s term ends in August next year, the association said in a statement yesterday. 

In previous roles, Po was executive director at the Hong Kong Insurance Authority and senior director at the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. He also served as a member of the International Advisory Council of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and as chairman of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Committee 3 on the Regulation of Market Intermediaries.