Xu Zhengyu: Enhance the functions of Hong Kong as an international financial center by 2026, focusing on the stock market, offshore RMB, gold, and other sectors.

On January 19, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of Hong Kong, Christopher Hui, spoke at the ASIA FINANCIAL Forum press conference, stating that by 2025, Hong Kong had overcome complex external challenges and by 2026, would continue to enhance the functions and connotations of Hong Kong as an international financial center on a strong foundation. This includes improving the competitiveness of the stock market, strengthening Hong Kong's role as a hub for offshore RMB business, accelerating the development of fixed income and currency markets, green finance, financial technology, as well as exploring new opportunities such as commodity trading and international gold trading, in order to expand Hong Kong's financial value chain. Hui mentioned that the 19th ASIA FINANCIAL Forum was co-organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. In this ever-changing world, the theme of this year's forum is "Collaborating in Times of Change for a Win-Win Situation in the New Era," emphasizing the importance of cooperation in creating value for society and the economy in a complex international environment. The forum, which gathers over 140 financial officials, business leaders, and financial experts from 60 countries and regions, as well as more than 3600 participants, plays a crucial role in contributing to the development of Hong Kong as an international financial center in the next five years. In 2025, Hong Kong successfully overcame external challenges and achieved significant success, with a continuous inflow of funds into the local asset market, the Hang Seng Index rising by about 30% annually, and the asset and wealth management sector exceeding policy goals by attracting over 200 family offices to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong. Moreover, Hong Kong continued to rank third globally and first in Asia in the latest Global Financial Centers Index, maintaining its leading position. Building upon these achievements, Hong Kong aims to actively integrate into and serve the national development agenda in 2026, further enhancing the functions and connotations of Hong Kong as an international financial center. This includes boosting stock market competitiveness, strengthening Hong Kong's role as an offshore RMB business hub, accelerating the development of fixed income and currency markets, green finance, financial technology, as well as exploring new opportunities such as commodity trading and international gold trading, to expand Hong Kong's financial value chain. This year's forum also includes three key highlights. Firstly, it coincides with the beginning of the country's "14th Five-Year Plan," and as the first major financial forum of the year in the region, it will play a significant role in planning for the country's financial strength in the next five years. Secondly, the forum will focus on the integration of finance and industries through the first-ever Global Industry Summit, demonstrating the crucial role of finance in supporting industrial development. Finally, the forum will also highlight the development of the commodities market, with a special focus on the gold market, showcasing Hong Kong's foresight and rapid response to market developments. The forum will feature discussions on the opportunities in international gold trading, sign memorandums of cooperation with the Shanghai Gold Exchange, and announce the latest measures for the construction of the Hong Kong International Gold Trading Center, reaffirming Hong Kong's position as an international financial center.