Hong Kong's finance minister has pledged to further integrate financial services and technological innovation and foster a thriving ecosystem, following heightened investor interest in artificial intelligence stocks on the first trading day of the year.
Finance Secretary Paul Chan Mopo also stressed on Sunday Hong Kong's role as an international capital market, using Hong Kong's capital and liquidity to foster the growth of outlying mainland high-tech companies.
“We welcome these companies to list and raise capital in Hong Kong, and encourage them to settle in Hong Kong to establish research and development (R&D) centres, transform research outputs and establish advanced manufacturing facilities,” Chan said in his weekly blog.
“We support them in establishing regional or international headquarters in Hong Kong to enter international markets and strategically expand across Southeast Asia and the world.”
The Hang Seng Index started 2026 on a high note, surging more than 700 points for a 2.8% gain and its best start since 2013.
The Hang Seng Tech Index soared 4% as innovation and technology giants led the rally and investor appetite for AI stocks was at its peak.
