Hong Kong can be “more than New York and Silicon Valley combined” by positioning itself as a hub integrating global financial depth with technological innovation and manufacturing capacity, the city’s finance chief has said.Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said at a financial forum on Friday that Hong Kong had a unique edge over New York and Silicon Valley in advanced manufacturing capabilities through integration with the Greater Bay Area, which its US rivals lacked.Speaking at the Caixin Summer Summit 2026, Chan said Hong Kong’s core advantage lay in its role as a bridge between mainland China and international markets, offering geographic proximity, cultural affinity and a better understanding of Beijing’s policy direction.But the financial chief added that the city needed to add value for its development and for younger generations, not simply serve as a bridge.For example, if Hong Kong could integrate with the Greater Bay Area to develop the innovation and technology sector, the city would be in a competitive position that neither New York nor Silicon Valley could replicate, Chan said.San Jose, USA. Finance chief Paul Chan says Hong Kong can be “more than New York and Silicon Valley combined”. Photo: Getty ImagesChan outlined a dual “Finance+” and “AI+” strategic framework in his budget speech in February to deploy capital market infrastructure to fund technology development, while using artificial intelligence to boost productivity across industries.