Hong Kong’s government-backed investment fund is being redeployed to support the city’s sluggish commercial property sector, signaling authorities’ growing willingness to use public funds as a policy tool to steady office valuations and align real estate investment with the city’s industrial ambitions. Attracting foreign institutions, however, might prove challenging. The city’s elevated vacancy rates, looming…
A mainland Chinese firm has secured the tender to build a supercomputing centre in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis as the sole bidder, agreeing to pay a premium of HK$581 million (US$74.25 million) and boost the city’s computing power 36-fold. Unveiling details of the plan on Monday, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said…
US-Israeli strikes on Iran have grounded at least 37 flights between Hong Kong and the Middle East, with flag carrier Cathay Pacific suspending its Dubai services until Thursday. Cathay also announced on Monday that it would suspend its Riyadh flights until Tuesday amid the developing situation in the region. The carrier said customers booked to…
The Hong Kong government is prepared for greater global market volatility and risks, as well as increased trade costs and shifting commodity prices, caused by the joint US–Israel attack against Iran, according to the city’s finance chief. Shortly after Iranian state media confirmed that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attacks, Financial…
Hong Kong does not plan to get another transfer from its Exchange Fund in the next five years, the finance chief has said, citing a new medium-range forecast explaining why the rare move will not be repeated. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po elaborated on his fiscal plan on Saturday, after his budget announcement to withdraw…
Hong Kong environmental groups have urged the government to focus on accelerating the commercial use of electric vehicles and enhancing green infrastructure, after scrapping a tax concession scheme for private cars that has cost HK$30 billion over the past decade. The scheme offers car owners a higher FRT concession of up to HK$172,500 (US$22,056) when…
After consecutive operating deficits, the operating account has returned to profit. Simultaneously, the consolidated account records a HK$2.9 billion (US$370.6 million) surplus for 2025/26, signalling stability. This turnaround is driven largely by a buoyant stock market and a stabilising property sector, reviving stamp duty revenues and investment income. This provides fiscal space for the government…
Hong Kong’s finance chief has assured the public that the city can manage its debt after proposing the issuance of more bonds to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, expressing confidence in the long-term investment returns from the megaproject. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po sought to reassure the public during a radio programme on…
Nine residential sites will be offered to developers in the coming financial year to provide about 6,650 flats under a Hong Kong land sale programme, after authorities highlighted the property market had stabilised in the latest budget. Combined with other land sources, such as urban redevelopment, private development and projects linked to railway properties, the…
Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T), intellectual property and investment promotion departments will receive budget increases of at least 10 per cent in the coming financial year, even as the government moves to curb recurrent spending, while the environmental branch and public broadcaster face sharp cuts of 70 and 28 per cent, respectively. The Home…