First, we will start by disrupting ourselves. Over the years we have built great pipes and connectivity that are our backbone and our strength. But the competitive landscape has changed dramatically. We don’t just compete with other exchanges, we now compete with fintech companies, digital asset platforms and other start-ups. We need to evolve from an infrastructure-led model to a client-led model and we have to go beyond our current offering, rethink our systems, go further to understand what our clients want. We need to think ambitiously about how we are going to compete in a more global and a more crowded market.

Second, by diversifying our business and embracing megatrends. Clients are demanding access to new asset classes, like digital assets, ESG investments, and data and information services. Take digital assets for example, in a short time the global market for digital assets has grown significantly and moved into the mainstream and for ESG investment products it is a similar story, with Bloomberg estimating that total global ESG AUM will reach US$41 trillion at the end of 2022, compared with US$22.8 trillion in 2016.

Thirdly, by developing flexible and effective infrastructure. Customer experience is paramount and we need to provide seamless access to HKEX’s product and service suite and create client journeys for issuers and investors that put their requirements first, generating platform solutions that directly respond to their needs. To do this we are already investing in digitised infrastructure and embracing Big Data and analytics, open APIs for easy access to platform services, and cloud services to evolve our infrastructure and broaden our platform capabilities. 

And finally - we need even more great people. We need really great people who are excited about being at the forefront of the global financial market evolution. People who want to be where the action is, who want to challenged and see the tangible results of all that they do. Who are empowered to lead from the front, who are purpose-driven and incredibly proud of the role they play in contributing to our shared sustainable future. 

These elements - focusing on the customer, being ambitious and competitive, attracting the best talent, diversifying our business, developing flexible and effective infrastructure, and working for all our stakeholders are at the core of our vision for the Marketplace of the Future and deliver nothing less than a transformation in our business.

Change and transformation are in our DNA: we have the desire to enhance the effectiveness and attractiveness of our markets, our home in one of the world’s greatest and most business-friendly cities, and our unrivalled positioning for what I like to call the ‘Big Bang of Finance’. We are poised and ready for the journey, and for success.

With our vision for the Marketplace of the Future we know that we can help create great things that will have an impact for our clients and communities for years to come. We are looking forward to embracing the changing and transforming world around us, challenging ourselves to go further, and writing the next chapter in the HKEX story: the future is happening, and it’s happening now.

Happy Anniversary HKEX!