[Paul Chan: Hong Kong Accelerating Efforts to Establish a Central Gold Clearing System, Aiming for Trial Operation Within the Year] BlockBeats News, January 18 – Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, published an article titled 'Seizing Development Opportunities Amid Complex International Situations,' in which he stated: The role of gold as a central bank reserve, investment product, and risk-hedging tool has been further strengthened. Gold prices have risen by more than 60% cumulatively since 2025, marking the largest increase since 1979. As of the third quarter of last year, the total global demand for gold increased by 44% year-on-year, reaching a value of $146 billion. Hong Kong's spot gold trading market has become significantly more active. As of November last year, the average daily trading volume of 99-gold on the Hong Kong Gold Exchange surged by more than twofold year-on-year, reaching HK$2.9 billion. Hong Kong is accelerating efforts to establish a central gold clearing system as a key financial infrastructure to enhance the reliability and efficiency of gold trading and physical delivery in Hong Kong, reduce transaction costs, and increase liquidity. The goal is to commence trial operations within this year and invite the Shanghai Gold Exchange to participate.