Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said at an event last Thursday that the city would press on with introducing new gold products and facilities to capitalize on expanding opportunities in the gold market, as reported by The Standard.
Officials have earlier informed lawmakers of a plan to relaunch gold futures within the coming months. Authorities will seek market feedback to refine the products before rollout.
The upcoming relaunch will mark the fourth such attempt of the city since the 1980s. The most recent effort came in 2017, when the bourse introduced gold futures denominated in both U.S. dollars and Chinese yuan.
Although both contracts remain listed, exchange data shows neither has recorded any turnover in the past two years.
 |
|
Tourists purchase gold jewelry at a shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, on 01 May, 2026. Photo by Imaginechina via AFP |
“This time is more optimistic because the previous launch was only by the exchange, but now the Hong Kong government is building an ecosystem of clearing and storage while China is also supporting Hong Kong to be a gold trading hub,” said Robert Lee Wai-wang, a Hong Kong lawmaker and chairman of Grand Finance Group, as cited by the South China Morning Post.
Financial Secretary Chan noted that Asia accounts for roughly 60% of total global gold demand annually.
“To better capture these opportunities, we are building a central clearing system for gold, with trial operations scheduled for this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Airport Authority is fast expanding gold storage capacity, with a target exceeding 2,000 tonnes within three years, he said, adding that last month, Hong Kong also listed a new gold exchange-traded fund with physical redemption options.
The revival coincides with China’s central bank continuing to build up its gold reserves. According to People’s Bank of China data, holdings climbed to 74.64 million ounces at the end of April, marking 18 consecutive months of growth.
Hong Kong’s gold market has also seen a spike in activity linked to Middle East tensions. Physical imports from the region rose sharply from early April, with some sellers offering discounts of between 15% and 20% to move stock, according to the Hong Kong Gold Exchange.
China’s reserve accumulation reflects a wider trend among central banks looking to reduce dependence on U.S. dollar assets.
Macro strategist Tavi Costa of Crescat Capital noted last year that foreign central banks officially held more gold than U.S. Treasuries for the first time since 1996.
Gold delivered its biggest annual gain on record in 2025, surging 72%. Goldman Sachs has since raised its December 2026 price forecast to $4,900 per ounce.
