This year marks a major milestone in the financial relationship between Hong Kong and mainland markets, celebrating ten years since they first became interconnected. The Hong Kong Financial Affairs and Treasury Bureau announced that the Hong Kong stock market now has a counter for trading in Renminbi, one of mainland China's official currencies. This means that 24 high-value stocks can be bought and sold in either Hong Kong dollars or Renminbi.

The next step in this integration is to allow investors from mainland China to use Renminbi to buy stocks listed in Hong Kong. To achieve this, Hong Kong authorities are in talks with their mainland counterparts. If successful, this will connect the Renminbi counter to the Hong Kong Stock Connect, a program that allows investors to buy and sell stocks listed on the Hong Kong and mainland China stock exchanges.

This increased integration between the two financial markets will make it easier for investors to invest in companies listed on the other market. This will increase investment and trading between the two markets. The development of the financial integration of the two markets will also attract more investors from other parts of the world.

The interconnection of the two markets has been a success story in the financial industry. The launch of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect nine years ago allowed investors to buy and sell stocks listed on the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges. The success of this program led to the launch of similar programs, such as the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect and the Bond Connect.

The continued integration of the two markets will increase Hong Kong's position as a major financial hub and gateway to mainland China. Mainland China's financial authorities have taken steps to support Hong Kong's position as a global financial center. These steps include the expansion of the Bond Connect program, which allows investors to buy and sell bonds listed on the mainland China and Hong Kong stock exchanges.