From March 19 to 20, 2026, Hong Kong played host to the 4th HED Conference of Asia, a pivotal event that brought together over 300 industry leaders and more than 50 experts to explore the evolving landscape of asset management in the region. Organized by Finfo Global, the summit, themed “From Capital to Innovation: Rethinking Asset Allocation in a Disruptive Era,” delved into critical topics such as RMB internationalization, cross-border fund structures, AI applications, and the transformation of wealth management.
Hong Kong: A Gateway for Global Capital
The conference kicked off with a welcoming address by Zhu Hao, Founder and CEO of Finfo Global. Zhu emphasized Hong Kong’s strategic position as a unique gateway connecting Mainland China with the rest of the world. This role is further solidified by the acceleration of RMB internationalization, evolving cross-border fund architectures, and the burgeoning family office ecosystem. Finfo Global’s comprehensive platform integrates listed companies, institutional investors, and distribution channels, offering a one-stop solution for global asset managers.
Key Sessions and Expert Insights
Macro Outlook: Benjamin Deng, President of Sun Life Asset Management (Asia), set the stage with a keynote on the divergence of global interest rate cycles and the strategic value of commodities and gold. His insights provided a macro blueprint for asset allocation in an increasingly complex market.
Asset Tokenization: In a fireside chat, Allen Li, CEO of Precision Fund Services, and Janice Poon, Investor Relations Manager at Peakwater Management, discussed the practical applications of tokenizing traditional assets, from bonds to real estate, and the regulatory frameworks shaping this trend in Asia.
Private Credit: Ming Bi, General Manager of Genesis Financial Information Services, and Sam Clothier, Executive Director at VI Asset Management, debated the viability of private credit in Asia. They concluded that success in this sector hinges on localized deal-sourcing and legal enforceability across jurisdictions.
Offshore Structuring: A panel moderated by Teelie Chua, Risk Consulting Partner at EY, explored the pros and cons of Cayman, BVI, and Singapore VCC structures. Panelists, including Henry Young of Protege Fund Services, Vanisha Harjani of Loeb Smith Attorneys, and James Yeo of Auspac Investment Management, predicted that hybrid onshore/offshore models and tokenized funds will dominate the next three to five years.
Quant 2.0: Moderated by Alan Tse, CIO of AA Capital, this panel featuring Laurence Yang of LHG Capital Management, Roger Zhu of Winfield Global Capital, and Marcus Kim of Qraft Technologies, discussed the integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) to extract Alpha signals from unstructured data, marking a new era in quantitative strategies.
China’s Evolving Market and Wealth Management
Market Navigation: Jeff Huang, CEO of Nomura Asset Management Taiwan, provided a comprehensive overview of the changing landscape of Greater China capital markets, highlighting strategic positioning and opportunities.
True Diversification: Tiffany Gu, Business Development Director (Greater China) at Winton, explored the concept of true diversification, demonstrating how CTA strategies can act as a buffer during equity market drawdowns.
Tangible Assets: Patrick Lui, Managing Director at GRT Capital Management, presented the 2026 Market Outlook, proposing a “HALO Asset” strategy focusing on hard assets with low obsolescence, a concept that resonated with attendees.
ETF Innovation: A fireside chat moderated by Vijoy Chattergy, CEO of Molokai Capital, with Keat Leong of Simplify Asset Management and Michael Mills of Molokai Capital, highlighted the evolution of ETFs into vehicles for complex institutional strategies, emphasizing high liquidity and transparency.
Shifting Dynamics in Fund Distribution and Fixed Income
Fund Distribution: A panel moderated by Vickie Chong, BD Manager at iFAST Financial HK, analyzed the shift in Asian fund distribution from traditional banking to digitized, platform-driven models. Panelists Glory Lau of iFAST Financial HK and Davy Yuen of Nomura Asset Management discussed the implications of this transition.
Fixed Income: Moderated by Andre Kasmara, APAC Head of Fixed Income Sales at LSEG, the panel featuring Stefano Chao of Azimut and Henry Hau of Infinity Family Office, dissected duration risks and yield opportunities in the context of diverging global interest rates.
Blockchain and the Future of Finance
Blockchain Efficiency: Don Ng, Director of Digital Assets at China Asset Management (Hong Kong), shared insights on how blockchain technology can drive automated compliance, instant settlement, and reconciliation, addressing traditional pain points in the industry.
The Next Decade: A New Era of Wealth Management
The closing panel, moderated by Yuan Meng, Director of APAC Relations at SBAI, featured Stephen Pau of Hefeng Family Office, Darren Ng of WRISE Group, and Samantha Zhai of Heritvest Wealth Management (Hong Kong). They discussed the structural shift in the client base in Greater China, with high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and a new generation of entrepreneurs demanding wealth management services that offer global breadth and professional depth.
Through two days of intensive discussions, the 4th HED Conference of Asia not only connected global capital with Asian innovation but also provided a clear strategic compass for asset allocation in an uncertain market. Finfo Global remains committed to building high-quality exchange platforms, facilitating the two-way flow of global capital and Asian ingenuity.
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