Apec in Hong Kong: what to know as 500 delegates descend on the city

Global attention will turn to Hong Kong this week as about 500 senior officials and delegates from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s 21 member economies gather in the city for the Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It is the first time Hong Kong has hosted the meeting, with Beijing’s support, as mainland China prepares to host the Apec leaders’ summit in Shenzhen next month.

Hong Kong joined Apec in 1991 and has continued to take part in the economic forum’s affairs under the “one country, two systems” framework since the 1997 handover of sovereignty to China.

The South China Morning Post lists the key things you need to know about the meeting.

Why is Hong Kong hosting the meeting?

Some analysts believe Beijing’s decision to hold the finance ministers’ meeting in Hong Kong is a calculated move to bolster the city’s standing as an offshore renminbi hub and present it as a safe harbour amid lingering geopolitical tensions.

Hosting the international event can also raise Hong Kong’s global profile as a financial hub, particularly by highlighting its role as a gateway connecting China with the rest of the world.

The meeting is one of Apec’s most important ministerial exchanges. Beijing also hopes to use the occasion to champion its vision of a multipolar world.

China is Apec’s host for 2026, with meetings taking place in cities including Suzhou and Guangzhou. The finance ministers’ meeting is a precursor to the Apec leaders’ summit in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19.

What is on the agenda?

The two-day meeting begins on Tuesday, with China’s finance minister, Lan Foan, due to deliver a keynote speech. Chen Xu, chair of the Apec 2026 Senior Officials’ Meeting, will brief delegates on this year’s priorities and latest developments.

Delegates and guests are also being offered a packed social programme from Monday evening to Wednesday, giving them a taste of Hong Kong’s soft power and technological strengths.

Highlights include giant pandas, open-top bus rides, a Chinese cooking class, traditional opera, a harbour cruise, the Big Buddha, The Peak, the Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport.

A heavy police presence is expected around the venue, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, with officers patrolling around the clock.

What comes next?

The Shenzhen summit is seen as especially high-stakes and historic, with Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin all expected to attend.