Hong Kong ‘optimistic’ on economic growth despite global slowdown, Paul Chan says. The government is more “optimistic” than the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about Hong Kong’s economic growth for the year, the finance chief has said, pointing to the city’s unique position to capitalise on international capital flows and the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Writing on his blog on Sunday after attending the IMF and World Bank Group’s annual meetings in Bangkok, Financial Secretary Paul.