Hong Kong Treasury Department: Hong Kong ESG management asset size exceeds HK$1 trillion in the first quarter.

The Hong Kong Treasury Department revealed that as of March 31, 2025, there were a total of 218 ESG funds approved by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, with assets under management totaling approximately 139.2 billion US dollars (equivalent to approximately 1,085.7 billion Hong Kong dollars). In terms of green bonds, the total amount of green and sustainable debt issued in Hong Kong in 2024 exceeded 84 billion US dollars (or approximately 655.2 billion Hong Kong dollars). According to statistics from the International Capital Market Association, the total amount of green and sustainable bonds arranged for issuance in Hong Kong is approximately 43 billion US dollars (equivalent to approximately 335.4 billion Hong Kong dollars), and has been the leader in the Asian market for seven consecutive years since 2018, accounting for approximately 45% of the total amount in the region. Furthermore, regarding the latest measures to promote green finance in Hong Kong, a spokesperson from the Hong Kong Treasury Department stated that the government will continue to work with financial regulatory bodies and the industry to promote green and sustainable finance in Hong Kong through a multi-pronged approach, providing infrastructure and momentum to facilitate market development. Specifically, the latest progress of key measures include: (1) Market development: The Hong Kong Treasury Department continues to encourage more green and sustainable financing activities in Hong Kong through the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme, while attracting more financial and professional service providers (including external review agencies) to establish a complete ecosystem for green finance. As of the end of April this year, the Scheme has funded over 560 green and sustainable debt instruments issued in Hong Kong, involving a total amount of debt exceeding 150 billion US dollars (or 1,170 billion Hong Kong dollars). (2) Sustainable disclosure: The Hong Kong Treasury Department launched the Hong Kong Sustainable Disclosure Roadmap in December last year, providing a clear path for large public responsibility entities to fully adopt the ISSB standards by no later than 2028, making Hong Kong one of the first jurisdictions to adopt the local standards in line with international financial reporting sustainability disclosure standards (ISSB standards). As a first step, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited has phased in new climate disclosure requirements based on ISSB Standard No. 2 from January this year. The authorities will continue to closely collaborate with stakeholders to promote alignment with the ISSB standards. (3) Skills training and cooperation: The Hong Kong Treasury Department continues to encourage local qualified practitioners, related professionals, students and graduates studying relevant disciplines to participate in training through the Green and Sustainable Finance Training Pilot Scheme. As of April this year, over 6,400 applications for repayable grants have been approved, involving a total funding amount of approximately 35.8 million Hong Kong dollars. There are 92 qualifying training courses and qualifications offered by local universities, professional institutes, international training institutions, etc., which will be continuously updated. To support the continuous training of local green finance talents, the Pilot Scheme will be extended until 2028. The Hong Kong Treasury Department also strengthens skills training and cooperation related to green and sustainable finance through large conferences, seminars, and other stakeholder engagement activities. It is reported that Hong Kong will host the second "Green Week" in September this year, with the theme of "Building a Sustainable Future Together". The week-long event will cover a wide range of sustainable development topics, including conferences, roundtable discussions, workshops, and other exchange activities organized by financial institutions, international organizations, companies, industry associations, and academic institutions, providing a platform for dialogue and cooperation for stakeholders from different regions and sectors.