Policy Address 2026: Data visuals put Hong Kong’s new growth measures in context

AI summary:

• New listing measures target overseas and technology companies. 
• Tourism initiatives aim to extend visitor stays and increase spending. 
• IPO and family-office policies aim to attract global capital.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivered the 2026 Policy Address on Wednesday alongside the city’s first Five-Year Plan, outlining various measures to strengthen the city's status as an international financial centre, boost tourism, and attract international capital and family offices. 

The following charts provide context on Hong Kong’s fiscal position, tourism development, family-office policies and IPO market. 

Fiscal position provides the policy backdrop 

The Five-Year Plan says the Budget will provide resources for implementing the Policy Address and the plan while safeguarding the government’s financial sustainability.

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Sources：Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau

Hong Kong’s fiscal deficit before bond issuance and repayments is projected to fall to HK$78.2 billion in 2026–27 from HK$188.3 billion in 2022–23. 

Tourism measures seek longer stays and higher spending

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Sources：partnerNet

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Sources：PartnerNet

The 2026 Policy Address seeks to increase visitor spending and length of stay through “+ Tourism” initiatives. The Hong Kong Tourism Board will promote multi-destination itineraries with airlines and connect event organisers with retailers, restaurants and tourism-related organisations to provide ticket-stub offers. 

The government estimates that total tourism consumption related to inbound tourism will reach HK$238.1 billion in 2026, up about 9.5% year on year. 

According to The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, by 2030, the proportion of non-Mainland visitors among overnight visitors is targeted to reach 40%.

Family-office measures 

The 2026 Policy Address says the government will step up promotion following the passage of legislation enhancing preferential tax regimes for funds, single-family offices and carried interest. 

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The target to assist no fewer than 220 family offices in setting up or expanding their businesses in Hong Kong between 2026 and 2028 was introduced in the 2025 Policy Address and retained in 2026. 

Listing reforms target overseas and technology issuers 

The 2026 Policy Address proposes further changes to Hong Kong’s listing regime. The Securities and Futures Commission will begin consultation in 2027 on streamlining prospectus disclosure requirements to facilitate listings by overseas companies. 

HKEX will consult in the first half of 2027 on specialist-technology listing requirements, including a review of the market-capitalisation threshold. 

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Sources: Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)

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Sources: Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)

Hong Kong’s IPO market recovered in 2025 and continued to grow in the first eight months of 2026. HKEX data show that IPO fundraising reached HK$342.4 billion from January to August 2026, up 153% from HK$135.1 billion in the same period in 2025. 

Note: This report was written by students from The Young Financial Post editorial team. Generative AI was used for polishing sentences/grammar checking/correcting errors/generating images/research. Models used: Gemini, Doubao, ChatGPT, Deepseek. 

The final version was manually reviewed, edited, and verified by The Young Financial Post team.