過去一周，香港的會展場地格外熱鬧：多場金融峰會、國際展覽接連舉行，吸引世界各地行業領袖和旅客雲集香江。這些盛事不僅匯聚人流和商機，更把香港「超級聯繫人」和「超級增值人」的角色，從金融和貿易延展至生活品味和體驗，促進交流、創造價值，為本地經濟注入顯著的動力。 這些活動主題各異，卻同樣吸引大批海內外行業領袖和高增值旅客參與。其中，在機場亞博館舉行的「世界鑑賞家盛典」，由海外知名會展集團首次引入香港。今年《財政預算案》預留了一億元專項撥款，以吸引嶄新大型國際展覽來港，這是首個受惠項目。活動從構思到落實，歷時不足一年，三天活動吸引了超過3,000名來自世界各地的訪客參與。 這項盛典涵蓋九項生活品味領域，當中最特別之處，在於嘗試突破傳統展覽的單一場地框架，把展覽融入本港多個地標和場景，以實景呈現展品，既帶來「沉浸式」體驗，也讓旅客感受香港城市的獨特魅力。其中，亞博館特意翻新了水岸設施並建造了專屬碼頭，讓遊艇在實景中展示，打造了香港首個「海陸雙舞台」的展覽。這次海濱展區的成功嘗試，也讓人對機場城市SKYTOPIA的遊艇港灣發展充滿期待。 […]

The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai and the streets of Central will be abuzz over the next few days. Two flagship international financial events—Hong Kong FinTech Week and the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit—will get under way tomorrow, together with a host of related activities. Fintech professionals and investors from more than 100 economies will join the heads of the world’s leading financial institutions in Hong Kong to discuss the issues shaping global finance and technology, exchange insights and explore new investment opportunities. Hong Kong’s strengthening economy sets a positive tone for these two international financial events. This Tuesday, we will release the advance estimates of GDP for the third quarter of this year. Early indications suggest that, supported by accelerating exports growth and solid domestic demand, year-on-year economic growth in the third quarter will come in above market expectations and pick up from the second quarter. This would mark Hong Kong’s 15th consecutive quarter of economic expansion. Real GDP year-on-year growth for the first three quarters combined is also set to be the strongest for the corresponding period in five years. With the economy maintaining its strong momentum, the full-year economic growth forecast is expected to be revised upwards again. A closer look at this phase of growth reveals that technology and innovation are the major driving forces. The global AI investment […]

This week, the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises welcomed its seventh batch of 18 strategic enterprises, half of them come from outside the Chinese Mainland. Several have a market capitalisation or valuation exceeding HK$100#160;billion. Together with the previous six batches, a total of 142 strategic enterprises have now established or expanded their operations in Hong Kong. They are expected to bring in around HK$84#160;billion in investment and create some 27,000 jobs over the next few years. More importantly, these corporate investments are steadily materialising. As at the end of September this year, enterprises from the first six batches had invested HK$28.3#160;billion and employed more than 10,300 people—exceeding their original interim targets by 30% and 34% respectively. Their confidence in Hong Kong is translating into tangible economic benefits. Beyond the figures, talent was a recurring theme in my conversations with enterprise representatives at the signing ceremony. As these companies bring capital and technology to Hong Kong, their ability to take root and thrive depends on attracting the right talent, building strong teams, sustaining research and development (R&D), and expanding their businesses. They require not just specialists in individual fields, but multidisciplinary teams capable of bridging research, engineering, commercialisation and business management. Notably, among the first six batches of enterprises, around 70% have […]

Last week, I attended the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in Bangkok. Discussions on the global economic outlook, both at the meetings and on the sidelines, centred on two powerful forces: the shock of persistently high energy prices driven by war, and the AI wave sweeping the globe. Together, they are reshaping the global economic landscape. The IMF’s latest forecast projects global economic growth of 3.1% this year, down from 3.5% last year. More fundamentally, growth is becoming increasingly uneven, with a widening divergence in economic prospects. Growth forecasts for economies affected by war have been revised down substantially, while some economies deeply integrated into the AI supply chains have seen their growth forecasts upgraded. Asia as a whole continues to grow considerably faster than the global average. The IMF has also raised its growth forecast for Hong Kong to 3.8% this year, though our own assessment is even more positive. Slower growth is not the only cause for concern. We must also remain alert to the nature of the risks confronting the global economy. Risks such as geopolitical conflicts, energy supply pressures, rising inflation, extreme weather, trade frictions and tight financial conditions are not isolated challenges. They interact and, at times, reinforce one another. The current situation of global public finances illustrates this clearly. Government bond yields in many Western countries have […]

Having served for more than three decades, the Lok Ma Chau Control Point completes its historic mission today. Tomorrow, the new Huanggang Port will continue to serve this Hong Kong–Shenzhen corridor with upgraded facilities. With a total gross floor area of approximately 690,000 square metres, the new port's joint inspection building is the world's largest single-building land boundary control facility. It is designed to handle 200,000 passenger trips daily—five times the design capacity of the old port. Under the "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" arrangement, travellers will be able to complete immigration procedures for both sides in approximately five minutes, down significantly from around 30 minutes at the old port. Round-the-clock clearance will be maintained. For residents, business travellers and visitors who regularly travel between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, this will make their journeys much more convenient. As new infrastructure strengthens our connections with the Mainland, a major international event will also reinforce our links with the wider world. In just over a week, Hong Kong will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting for the first time. Finance ministers and representatives from economies across the region will gather here to explore how fiscal policy and financial services can strengthen regional economic ties. APEC's 21 member economies have a combined population of around three billion and […]

The National Day Golden Week has brought a vibrant festive atmosphere to Hong Kong. In its first three days, the city recorded more than 732,000 visitor arrivals from the Mainland, up about 8.4% year-on-year. Many restaurants and shops, particularly those in the tourist areas, have enjoyed a boost in business. On National Day, I visited a Hong Kong-style café in Central, where I met local residents and visitors alike amid a lively and welcoming atmosphere. The Immigration Department expects around 1.29 million Mainland visitor arrivals during the Golden Week, with average daily arrivals increasing by more than 5% year-on-year. Beyond the Mainland, arrivals from Europe, the United States (US) and some emerging markets have also recorded considerable growth since the start of the year. Apart from a buoyant tourism sector, Hong Kong's financial markets have remained active. In the first nine months of this year, average daily turnover in the stock market reached HK$272.9 billion, up 6.4% from the same period last year. The initial public offering (IPO) market was similarly vibrant, with 116 companies listing in Hong Kong and raising more than HK$388 billion—more than double the amount raised in the same period last year and already exceeding last year's full-year total. However, long-term US Treasury yields have climbed to a 24-year high, fuelling concerns about the global economic outlook and inevitably weighing on sentiment in Hong Kong's stock market. Short-term market […]

During the recent Mid-Autumn Festival, many members of the public enjoyed gatherings with family and friends amid a strong festive atmosphere under the bright full moon. Activities featuring unique district characteristics were also held throughout the city. For example, the “World Lantern Boulevard” at Victoria Park was well received, bringing together more than 3,000 distinctive lanterns from 20 countries and regions, each showcasing its own charm. In response to the overwhelming public reaction, the Lantern Boulevard will remain on display until October 4. While the Mid-Autumn Festival embodies the Chinese people's cherished tradition of family reunion, the National Day on October 1, which falls in this week, carries profound national sentiments and bears witness to the extraordinary journey of New China — transforming from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. Over the past 77 years, through perseverance and unremitting efforts, the country has steadfastly advanced its reform and opening-up, continuously steering Chinese-style modernisation towards new stages through high-quality development. This process is most clearly seen at the industrial level: the manufacturing sector is accelerating its transformation towards high-end, smart and green development; emerging industries such as new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, commercial space and quantum technology are growing rapidly; and last year, the Chinese Mainland's research and development […]

For the first time since its establishment as a trading port, Hong Kong has drawn up a comprehensive five-year development plan of its own. The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was released last week, on the same day when the Chief Executive delivered his latest Policy Address. Setting out the direction, objectives, indicators and timetable, the Five-Year Plan serves as Hong Kong's development blueprint for the next five years. The Policy Address, meanwhile, provides the annual action agenda for putting that blueprint into practice, with the flexibility to respond to changing conditions at home and abroad and realities on the ground. The two documents are closely aligned and mutually reinforcing. The value of planning lies not merely in the document itself, but also in viewing the present through the lens of the future and translating a vision into indicators and action plans that can be reviewed year by year. The more volatile the external environment, the greater the market's need for certainty beyond the annual horizon. The Government sets the direction, invests in infrastructure and drives institutional innovation, while the market allocates resources and unleashes dynamism. These roles complement and reinforce each other. With a clear understanding of where Hong Kong is headed over the next five years, businesses will be better placed to work with the Government to harness the combined strengths of […]

In last week's blog, we explored the deepening co-operation between Hong Kong and the Middle East. Events over the past week have brought this growing partnership into sharper focus. Sohar International, Oman's second-largest bank, opened its first office outside the Middle East in Hong Kong, becoming the first Omani bank to establish a presence here. On the same day, the Oman Investment Authority announced plans to participate in the Hong Kong SAR Government's Innovation and Technology Venture Fund by investing approximately HK$250 million in partnership with a local fund management company. It is the first Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund to participate in the scheme. Co-operation between the Middle East and Hong Kong is expanding beyond finance into industry-oriented innovation and technology (I&T), opening up new avenues for trade and investment. The 11th Belt and Road Summit, held last week, further underscored this trend. More than 6,000 government and business leaders and other participants from over 70 countries and regions gathered in Hong Kong, with memoranda of understanding and agreements covering a wide range of sectors signed both at the Summit and on its sidelines. During the Summit, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, the Dubai Financial Services Authority and Nasdaq Dubai announced the establishment of a strategic working group to put financial connectivity between Asia and the Middle East on a more […]

The International Monetary Fund's latest global macroeconomic projections, released a few months ago, forecast growth of 3.8% and 4.5% for emerging market and developing economies this year and next year respectively—well above the rates for both the global economy and advanced economies. Indeed, emerging markets have been growing at a relatively faster pace for a quarter of a century. This sustained growth has fuelled demand for consumer goods and infrastructure in emerging markets. The progressive relocation of Mainland industrial chains to Belt and Road regions is a response to these expanding opportunities. Mainland enterprises have now established around 58,000 companies overseas, creating more than 2 million local jobs each year. Their outward investment stock has reached US$3.4 trillion, with nearly 90% in developing economies. Market demand is shaping the location of industrial chains, while economic growth is drawing in capital. The direction of trade and investment is clear, with vibrant flows in both directions—and Hong Kong stands at their intersection. Over the past five years, Hong Kong's merchandise trade with ASEAN, the Middle East and Central Asia has grown by an average of nearly 10% a year, with these markets' combined share of the city's total merchandise trade rising to about 17%. ASEAN has remained Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner since 2010. On the investment front, Hong Kong's direct investment in ASEAN reached US$16.5 billion last […]

The Northern Metropolis is a key new engine for Hong Kong's future economic growth. We recently announced the tender result for the first “large-scale land disposal” project in the Northern Metropolis — a new milestone in its development. For the 11-hectare pilot area in Hung Shui Kiu, we moved away from the traditional cash tender approach of awarding the land to the highest bidder. Instead, we adopted a “two-envelope approach”, which places greater weight on how much a tender proposal will contribute, over the long term, to Hong Kong's industrial development and the wider economy. The successful bidder is a company formed by a consortium of six enterprises from different sectors — local developers, Mainland state-owned enterprises and a leading e-commerce technology company — whose combined strengths cover infrastructure development, technological innovation, facility operation, supply chain management, business networks and ecosystem building. Price was not the only consideration in the tender assessment. Greater weight was given to whether the bidder could attract strategic industries, create jobs and drive the development of industry chains. This ensures that the successful bidder is not merely a property developer, but a long-term strategic partner with strong all-round capabilities and a proven track record of delivering concrete results in industrial development. The successful bidder will invest a total of about $16.8 billion in the project, which is […]

Every wave of technological innovation brings a fresh cycle of equipment upgrades and unleashes enormous consumer demand. This trend is clearly on display at the Hong Kong Computer & Communications Festival 2026 (HKCCF 2026), now being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Last week, I officiated at the opening ceremony and toured the exhibition booths. The venue was buzzing with activity. A number of exhibitors told me that the AI boom has sparked strong consumer interest in related electronic products, giving a further boost to their sales. This year's event is themed “AI Connect: Let's Link the Future!”. The venue features a number of themed and special zones covering innovation and technology in sports, green technology living and smart campuses, giving members of the public the opportunity to experience AI applications first-hand. For the first time, the organiser has also co-organised an AI and Digital Transformation Zone with the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), offering interactive workshops for enterprises on topics such as corporate technology transformation, cybersecurity and professional services. AI is advancing rapidly in the physical world, with robots becoming a key vehicle for its development. This theme has become increasingly prominent in various competitions and exhibitions. For example, ABU Robocon 2026, held today at Queen Elizabeth Stadium under the theme “Kung Fu Quest”, brought together 16 top […]

Following the Book Fair and Ani-Com & Games, the Food Expo is taking place this week at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. This highly popular large-scale exhibition and four concurrent fairs have drawn more than 1,800 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions around the world. This year also marks the first time that enterprises and representatives from all 11 ASEAN member states are taking part. In addition to business representatives exploring opportunities, the venue has been bustling with members of the public sampling delicacies and snacks. Hong Kong has long been a preferred destination for major exhibitions and conventions. In the first half of this year, the city's two flagship venues — the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo — hosted more than 170 events, attracting 3.5 million participants. Hong Kong's success as a convention and exhibition capital is underpinned not only by its role as a gateway connecting the Mainland and international markets, and by its vibrant commercial environment, but also by its dynamic city life and efficient, convenient global connectivity. At present, around 140 airlines operate flights connecting Hong Kong with more than 225 destinations worldwide, forming an efficient and convenient network for both point-to-point travel and transit, offering passengers flexible and diverse travel options. In the first half of this year, Hong Kong International Airport handled more than […]

Last week, I visited the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District to see the recently launched exhibition, The Forbidden City and the World. The rare and valuable works on display drew crowds of visitors, many of whom stopped to admire them. One piece that especially caught my attention was a Qing-dynasty hanging screen depicting a landscape. Set against a black lacquer ground, its mountains were embellished with kingfisher-feather inlay, while the pavilions, trees and rocks glow in blue-green hues against the darkness. The composition feels lively and intricate, with a striking sense of depth and layering. The superb craftsmanship of our country at the time – combined with the distinctive kingfisher feathers sourced from Southeast Asia – makes this cultural relic truly unforgettable. This exhibit is just one of more than 130 treasures on display. The exhibition also features 18 grade-one national treasures spanning paintings and calligraphy, jewellery, clocks and watches, and furniture. Tracing over 600 years of history across the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, the show highlights China's exchanges with the wider world in diplomacy, trade, ideas, religion and craftsmanship, inviting visitors to explore how these encounters shaped art and sparked innovation. Complementing The Forbidden City and the World is Ancient Egypt Unveiled in the neighbouring gallery. Since opening at the end of last year, it has attracted more than 570,000 visits. The […]

With the strong support of relevant central ministries and authorities, the long-awaited offshore RMB China Government Bond Futures will be listed in Hong Kong tomorrow. The debut contract to be listed will be a five-year product, currently the only product of its kind in the offshore market. It will allow international investors to trade and settle the relevant contracts in the offshore market using their existing trading accounts, practices and procedures in Hong Kong. This marks a new milestone in Hong Kong's development as an offshore RMB business hub. It not only enriches the range of RMB risk management tools available in our market, but also signifies the deepening development of China Government Bonds in the offshore market and the orderly advancement of RMB internationalisation. Bond Connect was launched in 2017, facilitating overseas investors to participate in the Mainland bond market through Northbound Bond Connect. Southbound Bond Connect was subsequently launched, enabling two-way trading. Three years ago, Swap Connect was introduced, allowing investors to hedge interest rate risks for their onshore bond holdings. The launch of China Government Bond Futures this time provides a standardised, exchange-traded and liquid offshore hedging tool for Chinese Government Bonds. In other words, Bond Connect, Swap Connect and now the launch of China Government Bond Futures have completed the loop for risk management between the cash bond and futures markets. This allows […]