HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 September 2026 – Hong
Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee rolled out various measures to develop Hong Kong’s
key economic centres when he unveiled the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and
Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (2026-
2030) and his fifth Policy Address on September 16.
Under Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong will focus on strengthening the
four centres, developing the hub for high-calibre talent, consolidating and enhancing its
competitive edge as an international city.
Factsheets: Hong Kong’s New Chapter / The Story Begins
Hong Kong’s status as world-renowned international financial, maritime and trade
centres as well as an international aviation hub underpin the city’s high-quality
development and provide a firm foundation for the city’s long-term stability and
prosperity.
“We will consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international financial
centre, and stay committed to our global positioning,” Mr Lee said. “Hong Kong will
deepen the development of its global offshore Renminbi business and capital market,
develop an international asset and wealth management centre and international risk
management centre, enhance the securities market and expand fixed income and
commodity trading.”
Hong Kong has become the world’s largest crossboundary wealth management centre
this year, and the HKSAR Government will continue to develop a more attractive asset
and wealth management ecosystem, Mr Lee said.
Hong Kong will develop a commodity trading ecosystem with gold as an entry point by
driving the development of the clearing system, storage, supply, and infrastructure related
to gold trading. The city’s central clearing and settlement system for gold will be
officially launched in the first quarter of 2027.
“The significance of the First Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong lies in a mindset shift; we
must plan Hong Kong’s financial development with a longer-term vision and broader
perspective to adapt with flexibility and diversity,” said Christopher Hui, Hong Kong’s
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury. “Each of our initiatives centres around
one objective, which is to elevate Hong Kong from a ‘corridor of capital’ to a ‘destination
of choice’.”
Hong Kong was ranked the world’s fifthlargest entity in merchandise trade in 2025. The
HKSAR Government announced plans to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as
an international trade centre, playing a greater role in the highlevel opening up of the
Chinese Mainland.
Since the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global was
established last October, it has provided assistance, including listing and raising capital in
Hong Kong, aligning with overseas standards, acquiring industry certifications and
fulfilling compliance requirements for more than 340 Mainland enterprises.
The Task Force will strengthen collaboration with professional organisations to train
talent for the GoGlobal initiative and enhance professional services, among other areas.
“In alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan’s call to advocate and practise true
multilateralism, the First Five-Year Plan proposes to continue expanding international
economic and trade network,” said Algernon Yau, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce
and Economic Development.
“We will actively forge free trade agreements and investment agreements with economies
that are of development potential or strategic locations. Meanwhile, we will expand our
network of overseas offices, and leverage the combined networks of our overseas
Economic and Trade Offices, InvestHK, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
offices globally to deepen overseas ties and step up trade and investment promotion.”
As an international maritime centre, Hong Kong has ranked fourth globally in maritime
comprehensive strength for seven consecutive years. The Five-Year Plan will drive a
“volume to value” transformation of the Hong Kong Port, capitalising on its strengths in
high valueadded maritime services, to develop Hong Kong into a “Global Maritime
Capital”.
To promote high value-added services, the industry will develop “Finance + Shipping”.
Taking advantage of the city’s wellestablished maritime finance, insurance and maritime
arbitration under common law, Hong Kong will build an integrated ecosystem under
which Hong Konginvested enterprises adopt Hong Kong law, take out Hong Kong
insurance and choose for arbitration to be seated in Hong Kong.
Regarding aviation, Hong Kong’s passenger throughput recorded a yearonyear increase
of 15% last year, to 61 million, with flights to over 220 destinations. The city’s air cargo
throughput reached 5.07 million tonnes, making its airport the world’s busiest cargo
airport for the 15th year since 2010.
To strengthen development as international aviation hub, Hong Kong will expand its
aviation network, and diversify business opportunities.
The HKSAR Government will continue to take the initiative to visit South America,
Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and the Caucasus to expedite the conclusion of new
air services agreements and the expansion of traffic rights, thereby assisting the industry
in exploring new passenger and cargo sources.
As for building Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology centre, the
HKSAR Government will step up its efforts to promote artificial intelligence (AI)
applications across various trades, and continue to strike a balance between encouraging
innovation and protecting security, thereby enhancing Hong Kong’s international
competitiveness in AI development.
In alignment with the national strategic technology areas, Hong Kong will focus on core
technologies such as life and health, AI and robotics, microelectronics, new energy,
advanced manufacturing and new materials. It will also continue to raise the ratio of
Total Domestic Expenditure on Innovation Activities to Gross Domestic Product, striving
to reach 3% after 2030.
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