The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has confirmed that it is willing to collaborate with the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) for the trials of digital yuan in the special-administrative region.

Answering a set of questions raised by lawmaker Chan Chun-ying, the HKMA’s financial services and treasury secretary, Christopher Hui, publicized the monetary regulator’s stance towards the development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Hui detailed that the HKMA’s priority is to develop a digital currency for making cross-border  Payments  Payments One of the bases of mediums of exchange in the modern world, a payment constitutes the transfer of a legal currency or equivalent from one party in exchange for goods or services to another entity. The payments industry has become a fixture of modern commerce, though the players involved and means of exchange have dramatically shifted over time.In particular, a party making a payment is referred to as a payer, with the payee reflecting the individual or entity receiving the payment. Most commonly the basis of exchange involves fiat currency or legal tender, be it in the form of cash, credit or bank transfers, debit, or checks. While typically associated with cash transfers, payments can also be made in anything of perceived value, be it stock or bartering – though this is far more limited today than it has been in the past.The Largest Players in the Payments IndustryFor most individuals, the payments industry is dominated currently by card companies such as Visa or Mastercard, which facilitate the use of credit or debit expenditures. More recently, this industry has seen the rise of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments services, which have gained tremendous traction in Europe, the United States, and Asia, among other continents.One of the biggest parameters for payments is timing, which looms as a crucial element for execution. By this metric, consumer demand incentivizes technology that prioritizes the fastest payment execution.This can help explain the preference for debit and credit payments overtaking check or money orders, which in previous decades were much more commonly utilized. A multi-billion-dollar industry, the payments space has seen some of the most innovation and advances in recent years as companies look to push contactless technology with faster execution times. One of the bases of mediums of exchange in the modern world, a payment constitutes the transfer of a legal currency or equivalent from one party in exchange for goods or services to another entity. The payments industry has become a fixture of modern commerce, though the players involved and means of exchange have dramatically shifted over time.In particular, a party making a payment is referred to as a payer, with the payee reflecting the individual or entity receiving the payment. Most commonly the basis of exchange involves fiat currency or legal tender, be it in the form of cash, credit or bank transfers, debit, or checks. While typically associated with cash transfers, payments can also be made in anything of perceived value, be it stock or bartering – though this is far more limited today than it has been in the past.The Largest Players in the Payments IndustryFor most individuals, the payments industry is dominated currently by card companies such as Visa or Mastercard, which facilitate the use of credit or debit expenditures. More recently, this industry has seen the rise of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments services, which have gained tremendous traction in Europe, the United States, and Asia, among other continents.One of the biggest parameters for payments is timing, which looms as a crucial element for execution. By this metric, consumer demand incentivizes technology that prioritizes the fastest payment execution.This can help explain the preference for debit and credit payments overtaking check or money orders, which in previous decades were much more commonly utilized. A multi-billion-dollar industry, the payments space has seen some of the most innovation and advances in recent years as companies look to push contactless technology with faster execution times. Read this Term efficient, not for domestic circulation.

“Research findings pointed out that as Hong Kong already had efficient retail payment infrastructure and services, the application of CBDC would have greater potential at the wholesale and cross-border payment level,” Hui noted.

The central bank launched Project LionRock to work in this area and has partnered with the Thai counterpart for joint studies.

Digital Currencies Can Transform Cross-Border Transactions

The Hong Kong regulator’s interest in the PBoC’s digital currency is primarily due to its capabilities to improve cross-border transactions.

“If the Digital Currency/Electronic Payment (DC/EP) being developed by the People's Bank of China (PBoC) can be applied to cross-boundary payment, it would further promote the mutual  Connectivity  Connectivity Connectivity is defined as a term used for connecting devices to each other. In most cases, this refers to computer networking and more specifically includes bridges, routers, switches, gateways, and service as well as local networks. Connectivity can refer to simple forms, such as connecting a home or office to the internet or even connecting a digital camera to a computer or printer. Connectivity in FinanceConnectivity has taken on new meaning with the growth of fintech and Big Data collection. Today, financial institutions are often completely dependent on technology and data. This is more important than ever to improve, make transfers, lend, invest, and receive payments. Digital and mobile banking services also increase the level of customer convenience and accessibility. Blockchain assists with transactions, artificial intelligence helps with making smart investments, and multifactor authentication protects sensitive financial data. A blockchain is a form of connectivity, while connectivity is key to fintech disruption. Financial businesses need lightning-fast, low-latency, and secure networks to meet the challenges of fintech. A well-designed fiber-optic network offers exceptional connectivity. The superior connectivity provided by an enterprise-level fiber-optic network improves customer satisfaction, bolsters a financial organization’s reputation, and enables digital transformation through fintech. Today, connectivity providers are adapting financial markets by accelerating speedy networks such as 5G and alternatives. Connectivity also bridges brokers with liquidity providers to get fast trade execution. In this scenario, brokers can source liquidity from a single or multiple source, thereby delivering to their clients enough market depth for their orders to get filled. The main characteristic of liquidity is its depth, which will determine how quickly and how big of an order can be executed via the trading platform. Connectivity is defined as a term used for connecting devices to each other. In most cases, this refers to computer networking and more specifically includes bridges, routers, switches, gateways, and service as well as local networks. Connectivity can refer to simple forms, such as connecting a home or office to the internet or even connecting a digital camera to a computer or printer. Connectivity in FinanceConnectivity has taken on new meaning with the growth of fintech and Big Data collection. Today, financial institutions are often completely dependent on technology and data. This is more important than ever to improve, make transfers, lend, invest, and receive payments. Digital and mobile banking services also increase the level of customer convenience and accessibility. Blockchain assists with transactions, artificial intelligence helps with making smart investments, and multifactor authentication protects sensitive financial data. A blockchain is a form of connectivity, while connectivity is key to fintech disruption. Financial businesses need lightning-fast, low-latency, and secure networks to meet the challenges of fintech. A well-designed fiber-optic network offers exceptional connectivity. The superior connectivity provided by an enterprise-level fiber-optic network improves customer satisfaction, bolsters a financial organization’s reputation, and enables digital transformation through fintech. Today, connectivity providers are adapting financial markets by accelerating speedy networks such as 5G and alternatives. Connectivity also bridges brokers with liquidity providers to get fast trade execution. In this scenario, brokers can source liquidity from a single or multiple source, thereby delivering to their clients enough market depth for their orders to get filled. The main characteristic of liquidity is its depth, which will determine how quickly and how big of an order can be executed via the trading platform. Read this Term between the Mainland (including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) and Hong Kong,” he added.

“Government and the HKMA will continue to maintain communication, and explore the possibility of collaboration with the PBoC.”

The Chinese central bank has already completed the development of its digital currency and is now testing it in several cities and provinces, all within the mainland.

As Hong Kong’s monetary system remains separate, implications of the region’s willingness to test digital yuan can be significant.

“We will also continue to explore with the industry and Mainland authorities on the enhancement and expansion of channels for a two-way flow of cross-boundary RMB funds,” Hui concluded.