The Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) welcomes the measures outlined in the 2026-27 Budget that enhance Hong Kong's strengths as a global financial centre. The FSDC echoes the Government's “Finance+” strategy, which aligns closely with the national priorities outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan, particularly in accelerating Mainland collaboration and reinforcing Hong Kong's unique role as the international gateway for cross-boundary financial flows.

Mr Benjamin Hung, Chairman of the FSDC, remarked, “We welcome the Budget's multipronged approach to further strengthening Hong Kong's financial markets. We support the development of a more comprehensive debt market, including a broader range of debt vehicles to attract patient capital and the establishment of an efficient yield curve.  We are also encouraged by the continued growth of Hong Kong's family office ecosystem. The FSDC, together with the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy, will continue to support the long-term development of Hong Kong as a leading wealth management hub.”

Key measures in the Budget— spanning the areas of internationalisation of the Renminbi,[1] enhancing Hong Kong’s debt market through longer-term bond issuances, and the development of the REIT market[2] — align closely with priority areas within the FSDC's research agenda. Among others, targeted actions to modernise capital markets set out in the Budget are in line with recent FSDC’s effort on reinforcing Hong Kong’s capital market leadership.[3] Through a cohesive set of measures tailored to modernise our financial ecosystem, including reforms to the listing regime and initiatives to facilitate secondary listings by overseas issuers, the Budget signals a commitment to building a deep and liquid market.

“To remain the destination of choice for next-generation enterprises, our listing regime must evolve in lockstep with global business models. The commitment to review the Weighted Voting Rights structure is a proactive move to ensure we capture high-growth, innovative listings. Moreover, strengthening commodity trading will create a powerful multiplier effect for our futures market and solidify our status as a comprehensive international financial centre,” said Dr Rocky Tung, Executive Director of the FSDC.

FSDC applauds the Budget's proposal to enhance Hong Kong's asset and wealth management sector through optimising our tax regime. Some of the proposed measures, including the move to accommodate funds-of-one for tax purposes, align with the FSDC’s earlier recommendations.[4] When combined with efforts to attract family offices and explore opportunities in art financing and talent development, these initiatives will solidify the city's stature as a regional wealth management hub.

The FSDC remains dedicated to its core mission of providing strategic policy research and engaging in market development activities to support the sustainable development of Hong Kong's financial services industry.

[1] Accelerating Offshore RMB Market Development: Enriching Hong Kong's Offerings as an International Financial Centre

[2] Revitalisation of Hong Kong's Real Estate Investment Trusts Market - Promoting Liquidity

[3] Hong Kong's Capital Market Leadership: A Super-Connector Path to the Global Capital Nexus in the Digital Era

[4] Fuelling Startup Success: Attracting and Cultivating Home-based Alternative Investment Funds