#Dynamic

#DYNAMIC

Business & Economy |
Talent Admission |
International Innovation & Technology Hub |
Sporting Achievements

A powerful combination of factors – prime location, rule of law, high-speed communications, free flow of information and capital, a low and simple tax system and a pro-business government – makes Hong Kong a leading international business and financial centre.

#Dynamic

A magnet for non-local firms

Overseas and Mainland companies in Hong Kong (2024):

  • Major sources of parent companies: Mainland China, Japan, US, UK, Singapore

Start-up hub

  • Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem is supported by a strong network of incubators and accelerators, a pool of experienced angels and venture capitalists, a host of government-backed programmes and a welcoming community of start-ups.

  • The city hosted 4,694 start-ups in 2024, employing 17,651 staff.

Leading capital market

  • Asia's largest hedge fund hub (August 2024) and Asia's 2nd largest private equity fund centre (June 2024).

  • World No.6 for Initial Public Offering (IPO) funds raised in 2023, continuing to be a major global listing platform for companies from different jurisdictions.

  • No.1 in the region for arranging Asian international bond issuances in 2023 for the 16th consecutive year.

  • One of the world's leading fundraising hub for biotech companies – 102 companies listed under the new listing regime in Hong Kong since its introduction in 2018 and the listing regime for specialist technology companies since March 2023, 67 of which are biotech companies. These 102 companies account for about 40% of total IPO funds raised in the period, with a total market capitalisation of over US$970 billion (October 2024).

Premier international banking centre

  • 72 of the world's 100 top banks operate in Hong Kong (October 2024).

  • Hong Kong is Asia's 2nd largest banking hub for Chinese and international banks in terms of external positions (March 2024).

Leading offshore RMB centre

Hong Kong is the world's largest offshore RMB business centre.

  • World's largest offshore pool of RMB funds – RMB deposits and certificates of deposit totalling RMB1,185.6 billion (US$164 billion, July 2024).

Strong Hong Kong-Mainland financial connections

  • Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect (from November 2014) and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect (from December 2016) allow investors in Hong Kong and Mainland China to trade securities in each other's markets through the trading and clearing facilities of the domestic exchange.

  • Exchange-traded Funds (ETFs) and overseas enterprises primary listed in Hong Kong were included under Stock Connect in July 2022 and March 2023 respectively, deepening integration of the 2 capital markets and facilitating Mainland and international investors to diversify their global asset allocations.

  • Bond Connect: allows investors from the Mainland and overseas to trade in each other's bond markets through mutual access arrangements between the financial infrastructure institutions in Hong Kong and the Mainland. Northbound trading and Southbound trading commenced in July 2017 and September 2021 respectively.

  • The Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) enables residents in Hong Kong, Macao and 9 cities in Guangdong Province to engage in cross-boundary investment in wealth management products distributed by eligible financial institutions (banks and/or securities firms) in the GBA.

  • Swap Connect: Northbound Trading was launched in May 2023, allowing Hong Kong and overseas investors to participate in the Mainland's interbank derivatives market through mutual access arrangements between institutions in Hong Kong and the Mainland. A series of enhancement measures were implemented in May 2024 to expand the choice of products under Swap Connect, enhance the efficiency of the mechanism and reduce participation costs.

Green finance hub

  • Premier financing platform for international and Mainland green enterprises / projects.

  • A total of around US$28 billion worth of green bonds (September 2024) under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme (previously known as the Government Green Bond Programme) covering multiple currencies and different tenors was issued. The issuances achieved breakthroughs in 8 aspects:

    • 2021:

      • The world's first "Global Medium Term Note Programme" dedicated to green bond issuances by a government

      • The world's largest US dollar-denominated government green bond deal

      • The longest tenor US dollar-denominated government green bond ever in Asia

      • The longest tenor Euro-denominated government green bond ever in Asia

    • 2022:

      • The world's largest retail green bond issuance

    • 2023:

      • The largest ESG bond issuance ever in Asia

      • The world's first government tokenised green bond issuance

    • 2024:

      • The world's first multi-currency digitally native tokenised bond

Hong Kong welcomes talent

  • Hong Kong ranked among the top 10 in the World Talent Ranking 2024.

  • With a dual role as an international talent hub and the country's talent gateway, Hong Kong welcomes global talents via various talent admission schemes. As of end August 2024, over 150,000 talents arrived in Hong Kong.

  • Established the Hong Kong Talent Engage to develop strategic plans to engage global talents, and provide comprehensive one-stop support services through a variety of online and offline activities in collaboration with partners to help incoming talents settle down in Hong Kong.

  • Organised the first Global Talent Summit • Hong Kong in May 2024.

  • Snooker superstars Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump are among the latest high-profile talents to become Hong Kong residents under the city's Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, which facilitates top quality professionals from various fields to live and work in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has world-class capability in scientific research. With 5 top-100 universities in the world and comprehensive technology infrastructure, such as the 2 innovation and technology (I&T) flagships, Cyberport and Hong Kong Science Park, the city has established itself as a prominent international research and development hub in the region. With the country's unwavering support, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre, fostering an increasingly vibrant I&T ecosystem that attracts talent from around the world.

Innovation and technology

  • The World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2024 issued by Switzerland's International Institute for Management Development (IMD) placed Hong Kong 3rd worldwide for the "Technology" factor, as well as 3rd in Asia-Pacific and 7th in the world for overall digital competitiveness.

  • The InnoHK Research Clusters at Hong Kong Science Park have pooled together 30 research laboratories, involving 7 local universities and research institutions as well as over 30 institutions from 12 economies.

The tenacity and perseverance of Hong Kong's athletes exemplify the city's "can-do" spirit.

Sports stars

The Hong Kong, China Delegation scaled new heights at the 2024 Paris Olympics, clinching 2 gold and 2 bronze medals.

* Photos courtesy of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China

  • Fencer Cheung Ka-long successfully defended his title in the Men's Foil Individual event. He became the first Hong Kong, China athlete to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals following his victory at the Tokyo Olympics and the first man in 68 years to defend his Olympic foil title.

* Photos courtesy of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China

  • Fencer Vivian Kong won the gold medal in the Women's Épée Individual event, clinching Hong Kong's first ever Olympic gold medal in the competition.

* Photos courtesy of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China

  • Swimmer Siobhan Haughey won 2 bronze medals in the Women's 100m and 200m Freestyle events, becoming the only Hong Kong athlete to win 2 medals in consecutive Olympic Games, after her winning of 2 silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Hong Kong, China Delegation also achieved excellent performances at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, bagging 3 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medals, attaining the best result since the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

* Photos courtesy of China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee

  • Boccia athlete John Loung clinched the first gold medal for Hong Kong at the Games in the Men's Individual BC1 event.

* Photos courtesy of China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee

  • Boccia athlete Ho Yuen-kei won 2 gold medals, one in the Women's Individual BC3 event and another with Tse Tak-wah in the Mixed Pairs BC3 event.

* Photos courtesy of China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee

  • Swimmer Chan Yui-lam won the silver medal in the Women's 100m Butterfly S14 event.

* Photos courtesy of China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee

  • Badminton athlete Chan Ho-yuen bagged silver in the Men's Singles WH2 event, achieving his goal of surpassing previous bronze medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

* Photos courtesy of China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee

  • Boccia athletes Leung Yuk-wing and Cheung Yuen took silver in the Mixed Pairs BC4 event, while Cheung won another silver in the Women's Individual BC4 event.

* Photos courtesy of China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee

  • Swimmer Ng Cheuk-yan took bronze in the Women's 100m Breaststroke SB6 event. She became the youngest Hong Kong, China athlete to win a medal at the Paralympic Games.

* Photos courtesy of the Kai Tak Sports Park Limited

Kai Tak Sports Park

  • Kai Tak Sports Park will provide modern and multi-purpose sports and recreation facilities, including a 50,000-seat Main Stadium, a 10,000-seat Indoor Sports Centre, a 5,000-seat Public Sports Ground and about 14 hectares of landscaped open space and other ancillary facilities. Upon its opening in early 2025, Kai Tak Sports Park will become one of the major venues for hosting mega sports and entertainment events in Hong Kong, including some of the events of the 15th National Games in 2025.