UK Held Hong Kong Finance Talks as Democracy Trials Unfolded
- Reeves, Starmer seek to deepen economic ties with China
- Discussions held as cases of Jimmy Lai, Benny Tai, played out
Rachel Reeves with Andrew Bailey in Beijing, China, on Jan. 11.
Source: BloombergThe UK stepped up private discussions to deepen financial services ties with Hong Kong, people familiar with the matter said, even as democracy advocates were being jailed there last year.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves in the fourth quarter of 2024 deployed Treasury officials to hold talks with their counterparts in Hong Kong to explore improving economic relations, according to the people, who asked for anonymity discussing behind-the scenes negotiations.