Hong Kong Photo: VCG
Hong Kong’s financial markets delivered a strong performance last year, generating greater market demand and positive expectations for related industries, while robust exports provided solid support for the overall economy, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said in a blog post on Sunday.
Chan made the remarks in a blog post, in which he noted that the HKSAR government will unveil its new annual budget on February 25. “Hong Kong’s economy has been developing steadily in recent years, underpinned by the resilience of its pillar industries,” Chan said in the post.
Citing the financial sector as an example, Chan said that it accounts for about 26 percent of Hong Kong’s GDP, making it one of the largest contributors to the local economy. The sector’s strong market performance last year translated into increased demand for related services and more positive market expectations, he noted.
The trade sector, which represents about 15 percent of GDP, also provided meaningful support to the economy thanks to the solid export performance, Chan said. In addition, a series of major events helped attract more visitors to the city, injecting a positive atmosphere into the local market.
At the same time, Chan cautioned that global uncertainties could intensify and that markets may become more volatile in the period ahead. “We must remain vigilant against the potential impact of external market fluctuations on Hong Kong’s market and capital flows,” he said.
Liang Haiming, dean of the Hainan University Belt and Road Research Institute, told the Global Times on Sunday that the warming of Hong Kong’s financial market reflects not only a short-term recovery in market sentiment, but also China’s broader progress in external cooperation, including the continued expansion of the Belt and Road cooperation network.
In this process, Hong Kong’s financial market serves as a platform that brings together international investors, helping Chinese mainland enterprises gain market recognition before expanding overseas, the financial chief said. “Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s well-developed professional services system is able to link financing with project implementation and market expansion, enabling companies to develop more smoothly abroad,” he added.
Liang described this as a practical channel that connects resources from Belt and Road partner countries while promoting coordinated economic development between Hong Kong and the mainland.
Looking back at Hong Kong’s development trajectory, Chan said that the city has undergone repeated economic transformations over the past decades. Sustained growth has been driven by the country’s reform and opening-up, as well as the adaptability, innovation and continuous experimentation of enterprises and residents.
“The country’s long-standing and steadfast support, together with the steady development of the mainland economy, has been our strongest backing,” Chan said.
This year marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30). Chinese authorities have set major development objectives such as achieving significant achievements in high-quality development, and making substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength. They have urged the promotion of high-standard opening-up to create new horizons for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Chan said that these policy directions will bring fresh opportunities for Hong Kong as an international center for finance, trade, shipping and innovation and technology. While traditional industries need to achieve more effective improvements in quality, emerging sectors should pursue faster growth in scale, so as to inject new momentum into Hong Kong’s economy and support its steady progress, he added.
Driven by a continued sharp rise in exports and sustained expansion in domestic demand, Hong Kong’s economy performed strongly in the third quarter of 2025. Real GDP grew 3.8 percent year-on-year, accelerating markedly from the 3.1 percent growth recorded in the previous quarter, according to the latest data from the HKSAR government.
