Report: Global Financial Centres Index - Hong Kong maintains third place globally, firmly holding the top spot in the Asia-Pacific region.

On September 16, the UK's Z/Yen Group and the China (Shenzhen) Development Institute jointly released the 40th edition of the Global Financial Centres Index report. Hong Kong maintained its overall ranking as third globally and continued to hold the top spot in the Asia-Pacific region. A spokesman for the Hong Kong SAR Government said: "The report once again fully affirms Hong Kong's leading position and strength as an international financial centre. Hong Kong continues to rank first globally in fintech. In the five areas of competitiveness assessed, Hong Kong is among the top performers in all of them, with its ranking in 'financial sector development' rising to first globally. In addition to 'human capital' remaining in second place, its rankings in both 'business environment' and 'infrastructure' also rose to second. Furthermore, in the assessments by practitioners across various financial industry sectors, Hong Kong continued to perform outstandingly, with 'investment management' rising to first globally, while 'insurance' and 'funding' remained firmly in first place globally." The spokesman continued: "Amid a complex and ever-changing geopolitical landscape, Hong Kong, with its unique advantages under 'one country, two systems' of connecting the mainland with the world, internationalisation, and diversity and inclusiveness, will continue to fully play the roles of 'super connector' and 'super value-adder', striving to create a stable and secure investment environment for global investors and meet their growing demand for diversified asset allocation." "The Chief Executive today announced the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (the First Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong), which sets out a forward-looking, strategic and directional blueprint for Hong Kong's economic and social development over the next five years. In finance, we will uphold the principle of 'promoting progress through stability and consolidating stability through progress', expand our existing financial strengths, including financing, risk management and asset management, and at the same time advance 'Finance+', amplifying the advantages and radiating capacity of finance so as to empower the development of various industries, serve the real economy, benefit society and the public at large, and further consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre. The Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address also sets out a number of financial policy measures to pragmatically implement the blueprint set by the First Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong and promote Hong Kong's financial development in all respects." "We will further enhance the competitiveness of the securities market by continuously optimising the listing regime and trading mechanisms, including supporting more mainland and overseas enterprises to list and raise funds in Hong Kong, improving market efficiency and promoting the implementation of a paperless securities market. We will also further optimise the mutual access mechanisms between Hong Kong and the mainland to provide investors with broader and more diversified investment channels, while deepening the connection and coordinated development of the capital markets of the two places." "As a global offshore RMB business hub, Hong Kong will continue to give play to its unique advantages, actively align with the country's development strategy, and promote more measures that make good use of offshore RMB, including discussing with the People's Bank of China the optimisation of the currency swap agreement arrangements, making good use of the RMB business capital arrangements that were just expanded and optimised in July this year, expanding direct exchange arrangements between offshore RMB and other currencies, and enriching RMB products, so as to enhance the radiating capacity of offshore RMB and better serve the real economy." "This year, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will establish an office in Hong Kong with both financing and operational functions, reflecting its recognition of Hong Kong's advantages as an international financial centre. Hong Kong's vibrant capital market, diversified financial products and high-quality professional services will be able to efficiently support the bank's operations in financing, bond issuance and financial management." "Hong Kong is committed to using gold trading as an entry point to build a commodity trading ecosystem. We already have a comprehensive plan to establish a gold ecosystem in the Asian time zone and, in the long run, benchmark against major international gold trading centres. The Hong Kong Central Gold Clearing and Settlement System has begun trial operation. We will also continue to fully implement a series of measures to promote physical delivery, develop investment products, derivative products and risk management tools, provide tax concessions, and deepen mutual access with the mainland gold market, so as to enhance Hong Kong's status as an international hub for gold trading, clearing and reserves." "Hong Kong is a leading global cross-boundary wealth management centre. In 2025, the total value of assets under management rose 20% year on year to a record high of HK$42.2 trillion, while net fund inflows surged by nearly twofold year on year to HK$2.1 trillion. The Government submitted a bill to the Legislative Council in June this year to further enhance the competitiveness of the preferential tax regime for the asset and wealth management industry, attract more funds and family offices to set up in Hong Kong and more global capital to be managed in Hong Kong. We will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach to consolidate Hong Kong's function as an international asset and wealth management centre." "Hong Kong continues to rank first globally in fintech, which fully demonstrates the effectiveness of the Government's strategy of actively promoting the development of fintech and digital assets. The stablecoin issuer regime was implemented in August last year, the first batch of licences was issued in April this year, and Hong Kong's first regulated stablecoin was also launched in August this year. We are formulating legislative proposals for a licensing regime for virtual asset trading, custody, advisory and management services to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework and develop Hong Kong into a global hub for digital asset innovation, with the target of submitting the relevant bill to the Legislative Council within this year." "On green and sustainable finance, Hong Kong was recognised by the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation last year as one of the first jurisdictions aiming to fully adopt the International Financial Reporting Sustainability Disclosure Standards. The Green Accelerator, with the participation of mainland and international multilateral financial institutions, was officially launched in Hong Kong this month to support the incubation, acceleration and development of green technology projects in the Belt and Road region, providing innovative cases for Hong Kong's green financial services."