Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, delivered the opening speech at the 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Carnival, emphasizing the rise of AI agents as a significant milestone this year. According to Foresight News, Chan noted that the intersection of AI and Web3 technologies is transforming the landscape, enhancing transaction efficiency and expanding business domains from finance and trade to wealth management, supply chain operations, and logistics. This convergence is expected to create numerous opportunities while posing challenges related to infrastructure payment, settlement systems, and regulatory frameworks.
Hong Kong's approach to Web3 and AI remains consistent under the 'one country, two systems' principle. As an international financial center, Hong Kong embraces innovation, with stablecoins, tokenization, and AI becoming integral components of the mainstream future. The city's regulatory bodies are tasked with the dual mission of prudent regulation and market development, encouraging and supporting innovative applications while refining institutional frameworks based on accumulated experience. Chan expressed confidence that Hong Kong will become a pivotal hub for the responsible scaling and widespread application of new-generation technologies.