2025 Policy Address Supplement (Related Extract)

Chapter 5 - Integrate into the Overall National Development

“Bringing in and Going Global”: Hong Kong as a Platform for Overseas Expansion

Establish a one-stop platform for supporting enterprises to go global

Mobilise the overseas offices of Hong Kong, including the Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Hong Kong’s offices based in the Mainland to set up a one-stop platform and establish the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force), with a view to proactively attracting Mainland enterprises to capitalise on Hong Kong’s role as a platform to go global. (CEDB)
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development will provide steer on the work of the GoGlobal Task Force and co-ordinate various bureaux, departments and agencies, so as to formulate diverse proposals for enterprises looking to go global to expand overseas markets. (CEDB and relevant bureaux)

Support enterprises and the professional services sector in developing overseas markets

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) will encourage the banking sector, Mainland banks in particular, to establish regional headquarters in Hong Kong, where they can leverage Hong Kong’s advantages to radiate their business expansion into regional markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East, thereby providing more comprehensive cross-boundary financial solutions. (FSTB)
Complete a study in the first half of 2026 on the provision of enhanced tax concessionary measures to attract more Mainland enterprises to set up Corporate Treasury Centres in Hong Kong. (FSTB)
The HKMA and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding on the setting up of a new investment fund of US$1 billion, catering to enterprises in Hong Kong and other cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) looking to expand businesses in Saudi Arabia. (FSTB)
The HKMA, together with the Hong Kong Association of Banks, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, etc., will lead delegations comprising banks as well as local small and medium enterprises to explore business opportunities in Southeast Asian markets such as Vietnam, pooling the strength of the industry in support of the development of Hong Kong as a platform for “going global”. (FSTB)
Leveraging the strengths of Hong Kong’s exhibition industry and strengthen our position as the ideal platform for Mainland brands to “go global” and for “bringing in” worldwide brands, and support the trade to organise more events conducive to brand development. (CEDB)
Promote the development of carbon audit services in order to assist enterprises going global to meet international requirements and standards on green trade in respect of reduction in carbon emission. (FSTB and relevant bureaux)

Deepen International Exchanges and Co-operation

Deepen Hong Kong’s international financial networks

Continue to give full support to the work of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and actively seek to invite the AIIB to set up an office in Hong Kong, with a view to strengthening international co-operation. (FSTB)
Continue to deepen the development of Hong Kong’s international financial networks, including forging financial co-operation with regions in the Middle East and ASEAN, and organising more international financial mega events. (FSTB)
The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) will deepen co-operation with exchanges in Southeast Asia to attract more Southeast Asian issuers to list in Hong Kong as a secondary listing, explore the establishment of diversified channels to provide local investors with more access to Hong Kong assets, and encourage more asset management companies to issue products locally to facilitate allocation to the Hong Kong market. (FSTB)

Active participation in the B&R Initiative

The Belt and Road Office will co-ordinate with Hong Kong’s public organisations and institutes to provide training for the personnel of Belt and Road (B&R) countries, to enhance Hong Kong’s soft power branding, showcase Hong Kong to overseas and the Mainland as a partner in cross-professional and cross-regional “soft connectivity” of rules and standards, and expanding horizon on the potential opportunities for development along the B&R. (CEDB)
Seek more business matching opportunities for Hong Kong’s professional services sector with projects in the B&R markets. The Belt and Road Office proactively reaches out to agencies in charge of projects in B&R countries and regions to introduce more B&R project matching opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises and professional services through multi-lateral collaboration. (CEDB)
Jointly set up a Belt and Road Green Development Hong Kong Co-operation Platform with the B&R Initiative International Green Development Coalition and organise an international forum on green innovation to encourage B&R countries to conduct exchanges in Hong Kong and strengthen ties. (EEB)
Set up a B&R sustainable green development training centre in 2026, and provide training in Hong Kong for staff of B&R countries. The Hong Kong Jockey Club will provide a funding of $100 million to support the initiative. (EEB)
Deepen co-operation with institutes of relevant disciplines under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and international academic institutions in talent development, technology exchange and results transfer, and offer innovative green technology solutions to the B&R countries, giving full play to Hong Kong’s bridging role in international green development. (EEB)
Make use of ECO Expo Asia as a platform for exchange and invite delegates from B&R countries to visit Hong Kong, in a bid to promote regional environmental co-operation and facilitate experience sharing, as well as deepening the exchanges in environmental protection on an international level. (EEB)
Support Hong Kong’s professional organisations to promote the use of green building assessment tools in the B&R countries. (DEVB)
Continue to take forward our work in the B&R Initiative and strengthen Hong Kong’s role as the functional platform for the B&R, including hosting the B&R Summit, as well as organising outbound missions and project matching activities, so as to promote our strength in professional services, deepen the multi-faceted co-operation between the professional sectors and the B&R countries, as well as open up more business opportunities. (CEDB)
Actively complement our country’s latest strategies on the B&R Initiative and leverage Hong Kong’s role as the functional platform for the B&R, thereby better aligning with our country’s B&R work focuses and integrating into the overall national development. (CEDB)
Organise roadshows of the B&R Cross-professional Forum in the B&R countries as a promotional series on Hong Kong’s advantages in cross-professionalism, in order to assist relevant sectors in Hong Kong in exploring more co-operation opportunities in such countries. (CEDB)
The Radio Television Hong Kong will continue to actively explore collaboration with other media in regions along the B&R to foster people-to-people bonds under the B&R Initiative. (CEDB)
Invite members of the Silk Road Maritime Association to hold a summit during the Hong Kong Maritime Week in 2026 to promote the B&R maritime brand. (TLB)

Advance international anti-corruption co-operation

Continue to promote and deepen collaboration with anti-corruption agencies around the world (especially B&R countries) through the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption, via means such as organising professional training and exchange programmes, signing memoranda of understanding, and conducting researches on anti-corruption, with a view to contributing to the global anti-corruption development. (ICAC)

Development of the GBA

The Steering Group on Integration into National Development, chaired by the Chief Executive, continues to holistically co-ordinate and supervise the various initiatives on integration into the overall national development from a high-level perspective, with a view to leading the Government and all sectors of the community in proactively dovetailing with major national strategies such as the National 14th Five-Year Plan and 15th Five-Year Plan, development of the GBA and high-quality development of the B&R Initiative, as well as fostering the all-round co-operation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Mainland provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions to promote the high-quality development of the Country and the HKSAR. (CMAB and relevant bureaux)

Chapter 6 - Consolidate Hong Kong’s Status as an International Hub

International Financial Centre

Expedite the building of an international gold trading market

Support the trade to set up a trade association for the gold industry, with a view to establishing an exchange platform with the Government and regulators, step up promotional efforts and attract B&R clients, and strengthen talent training. (FSTB)

Build a world-leading bond market

Actively take forward the measures set out on the Fixed Income and Currency Roadmap promulgated by the SFC and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), with a view to consolidating Hong Kong’s status as a major bond and currency hub in the region. (FSTB)
Focus in 2025 on expanding the use of securities lodged with the Central Money markets Unit (CMU) of the HKMA, including offshore Chinese Government Bonds as collateral acceptable by Hong Kong and overseas clearing houses, as well as enhancing collateral management solutions, so as to promote the development of comprehensive multi-asset tri-party repo, thus further enhancing the recognition of RMB assets as international collateral. (FSTB)
Enhance the services of CMU OmniClear under the HKMA by exploring jointly with the HKEX ways to enable investors to manage and cross-collateralise different assets such as stocks and bonds on a single platform, thereby fostering the “interplay between various mutual market access mechanisms”. (FSTB)
Continue to enhance the CMU’s international network by establishing linkage with SIX (a Swiss securities custody and settlement system), the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and other markets, so as to widen international participation and cross-boundary mutual market access. (FSTB)
The SFC will promote the establishment of a comprehensive over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives licensing regime capital requirement mechanism, and promote the development of foreign exchange and fixed income product markets (including interest rate, credit and repurchase agreements, etc.). (FSTB)
The SFC is looking into the feasibility of setting up and operating an electronic bond trading platform by the market, and is actively promoting the establishment of a commercial repo market and a central counterparty (CCP) regime in Hong Kong to increase market liquidity. (FSTB)

International Trade Centre

Deepen international economic and trade networks

Strive to sign an investment agreement with Qatar as early as possible. (CEDB)
Actively explore the signing of new investment agreements with Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt and Peru to continuously expand Hong Kong’s economic and trade networks. (CEDB)
Continue to strive for the early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to expand our economic and trade networks. (CEDB)
Establish the Economic and Trade Office (ETO) in Kuala Lumpur by end-2025, which will work together with the ETOs in Jakarta, Singapore and Bangkok to deepen economic and trade promotion in the ASEAN and neighbouring countries. (CEDB)
Continue to take forward the plan for setting up an ETO in Riyadh to further facilitate Hong Kong enterprises in tapping the Middle East market. (CEDB)
Expand the ETO coverage to new markets with greater potential in Latin America and Central Asia, and join forces with the overseas networks of the HKTDC and the Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) to enhance the economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and the relevant places. (CEDB)
Continue to expand the network of comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreements, with particular focus on covering B&R countries and ASEAN member states. (FSTB)

Promote digital trade

Commence discussion with ASEAN to explore the possible connection with its single window and the types of trade documents to be covered. (CEDB)

International Shipping Centre

Build an international “Partner Port” network

Establish “partner port” relationships with Mainland regions of strategic collaboration significance as well as B&R regions, and lay the groundwork for the development of a green shipping corridor through signing memoranda of understanding with the first batch of partner ports during the Hong Kong Maritime Week to be held in November 2025. (TLB)

Better harness the strengths of high value-added maritime services

Set up a new dedicated team for promotion in the Middle East by end-2025, thereby widening the promotion network of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry. (TLB)

International Aviation Hub

Accelerate the expansion of aviation network

Continue to work with the AAHK to strategically attract local and non-local airlines to add new destinations and increase fight frequencies (including long-haul flights) through outreach teams, incentive schemes (such as the Air Network Development Programme), etc.. (TLB)
Actively participate in international civil aviation conferences and take the initiative to visit aviation partners to discuss the establishment of new air services agreements or the expansion of traffic rights, with priority focus on regions with further development potential and new growth areas, such as South America, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East. (TLB)

Chapter 7 - Promote the Integrated Development of Education, Technology and Talents

International I&T Centre

Accelerate the development of new industrialization

Implement the “Co-operation Agreement on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces and the Promotion of New Industrialisation” signed with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, including continuing to support specialised, sophisticated, distinctive and new “little giant” enterprises to expand their business in Hong Kong through the Cradle – Going Global Service Centre established by the Hong Kong Productivity Council, and leveraging Hong Kong’s international advantages to expand into the global market. (ITIB)

Nurture Talent

Facilitate international and Mainland exchanges for local youths

Continue to implement the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland and the HYAB Funding Scheme for International Youth Exchange and encourage young people from the Mainland and overseas to come to Hong Kong for exchanges. (HYAB)
The eight youth uniformed groups of the disciplined and auxiliary services departments of the Security Bureau will proactively organise international and Mainland exchange activities, with a particular focus on countries and regions along the B&R, to promote people-to-people bonds and strengthen young people’s understanding of national strategies and the complex and ever-changing international situation, thereby creating new impetus for Hong Kong’s roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”. (SB)

Chapter 8 - Promote the Integrated Development of Culture, Sports and Tourism

East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange

Diverse development of the West Kowloon Cultural District

The WKCDA will host more high-prole and large-scale international events, including the second Hong Kong International Cultural Summit in March 2026 and the Association of Asia Pacic Performing Arts Centres Annual Conference 2026 in October 2026. (CSTB)
The WKCDA will export more arts, cultural and creative projects, curating or co-organising showcases in the Mainland and overseas, for example, touring the M+ exhibition “I.M. Pei: Life Is Architecture” to Doha in October 2025, in order to bring its footprints to the Middle East. (CSTB)

“Tourism is Everywhere”

Increase the number of visitors to Hong Kong

Relax the criteria for applications from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for multiple-entry visas to Hong Kong for business and travel purposes to promote economic and trade as well as tourism development between Hong Kong and Central Asia. (SB)

Proactively develop the Middle East and ASEAN tourism markets and facilitate halal certification

With a view to further promoting Muslim tourism, push forward the strategy of “accreditation, education and promotion”, and encourage the industry to provide more facilities and food options that are Muslim-friendly. (CSTB)
The HKTB will launch a subsidy scheme for restaurants applying for halal certification, under which restaurants having successfully obtained the certification between the delivery day of the 2025 Policy Address and end-2026 will be subsidised for half of the certification fee, capped at $5,000. (CSTB)

Chapter 9 - Facilitate Stable Living in a Caring and Inclusive Society

Support the Local Economy

Support SMEs

Inject $1.43 billion into the BUD Fund and expand its geographical scope to cover another eight economies, including B&R countries. (CEDB)
Set up the “Economic and Trade Express” by joining forces of ETOs and the overseas offices of InvestHK and the HKTDC to form a functional platform for creating synergy, which will proactively organise overseas business missions for local SMEs and start-ups to explore business opportunities, while facilitating more enterprises to invest and establish businesses in Hong Kong, thereby promoting the two-way flow of enterprises and investments. (CEDB)
Allocate additional resources for the HKTDC to continue to organise the Hong Kong Shopping Festival, covering the Mainland and ASEAN e-commerce markets over the next three years (i.e. from 2026 to 2028) to promote Hong Kong brands. (CEDB)
Strengthen training and information services through the four SME centres, Mentorship Programme of the Trade and Industry Department and the E-Commerce Express under the HKTDC to enable enterprises to grasp the situation and business opportunities of the Mainland and ASEAN e-commerce markets. (CEDB)

Annex - Progress of Indicators for Specified Tasks in 2024 Policy Address

(II) On-going and Valid Indicators for Specified Tasks Introduced in the 2023 Policy Address

No.	Indicators for Specified Tasks	Progress
24	Continue to promote Hong Kong as the functional platform for the B&R Initiative in 2025: Organise promotional programmes and networking sessions to be attended by no less than 7 500 persons in total; Reach out to no less than 560 professional and business associations, chambers and community groups; and Organise business missions to five B&R countries with about 120 participants in total. (CEDB)	Task on track. The CEDB has organised and initiated preparation for a number of relevant promotional programmes and networking sessions. Efforts have been made to reach out to various professional and business associations, chambers and community groups. Business missions have also been organised.

Full text of “The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address - Supplement”