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Hong Kong leaps to 4^th  place in world talent ranking

Hong Kong rose five places to fourth globally, and first in Asia, in the World Talent Ranking 2025, published (Sep 9) by the International Institute for Management Development, marking the city’s highest-ever ranking, ranking among top contenders including Switzerland, Luxembourg and Iceland. For the second consecutive year, Hong Kong improved across all three ranked talent competitiveness factors. Its ranking rose by eight places to 20th in “appeal”, and by one place for both “readiness” and “investment and development” to third and 12th respectively. Hong Kong continued to top the ranking in the percentage of graduates in sciences; rose to third in the availability of finance skills; and ranked fifth in the remuneration of management as well as effectiveness of management education. The city’s talent attraction measures are proving effective, with over 520,000 applications received and 230,000 talent arrivals by end-August.

Over 200 new family offices attracted to Hong Kong

The Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) announced (Sep 15) that over 200 family offices have set up operations or expanded their business in Hong Kong with the facilitation of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), completing the key performance indicator set in the 2022 Policy Address well ahead of schedule. This milestone reinforced the city’s standing as Asia’s leading cross-border private wealth management centre and hub for global family offices. To attract family offices, the FSTB published in March 2023 a policy statement outlining eight policy measures, including introducing tax concessions and the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, along with the establishment of the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy. InvestHK’s dedicated FamilyOfficeHK team also expanded its role to provide comprehensive services and facilitation.

Hong Kong’s technology and talent attraction initiatives promoted in Atlanta

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) concluded a visit to Atlanta, Georgia (Sep 4 - 6) promoting Hong Kong’s latest innovation and technology development, talent attraction schemes and strengthening ties with academic, business, and community leaders. In collaboration with the Hong Kong US Business Association of Atlanta, the New York ETO hosted an informational session at Emory University, and met with the career centre representatives at the Georgia Institute of Technology to highlight the array of opportunities available for professionals and graduates in Hong Kong. On Sep 5, Director of New York ETO, Maisie Ho, accompanied by Senior Vice President of Digital Technologies and Data Infrastructure at InvestHK, Marcus Woo, engaged with Atlanta’s innovation and technology business leaders in a high-level breakfast roundtable to discuss recent developments in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Ms Ho also officiated at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Lanier Olympic Park on Sep 6. The day before, she visited downtown Gainesville to view a signature cultural landmark: a striking 14-foot-tall, 30-foot-long interactive dragon art installation, created to honour Gainesville’s longstanding role as host of the festival. During the visit, she met with the Mayor of Gainesville, Sam Couvillon, to express her appreciation for the city’s ongoing partnership.

Record MOUs signed at Belt & Road Summit

The 10th Belt & Road Summit (Sep 10 - 11) in Hong Kong gathered over 6,000 participants, including more than 90 government and business speakers, as well as over 100 delegations to explore opportunities in areas such as trade and commerce, innovation and technology. This year’s summit featured nine memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and related organisations and their overseas counterparts, and yielded a record high of about 50 government and enterprise memorandums of understanding, highlighting Hong Kong’s role as the functional platform for the Belt & Road Initiative. Speaking at the opening session (Sep 10), Chief Executive John Lee said Hong Kong’s “dual superpower”, as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, injects vigour, innovation, sustainability and strategic value to capital and projects, and will continue to drive high quality development along the Belt & Road area. Delivering keynote luncheon welcoming remarks (Sep 10), Financial Secretary Paul Chan highlighted the Government’s vision for the city to become an international centre for green technology and green finance, playing its pivotal role in driving global green transition. 

Non-exchange-traded investment product sales reach new peak

Sales of non-exchange-traded investment products in Hong Kong surged 40% year-on-year to a record-breaking US$778.6 billion (HK$6,073 billion), according to a joint survey by the Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Market participation grew 9% to a new high of 414 firms selling these investment products. Client participation jumped 28% to 1.2 million. All major investment product categories recorded significant growth. Sales of authorised collective investment schemes (CIS) grew 96% to US$179 billion (HK$1,400 billion) and unauthorised CIS grew 50% to US$108 billion (HK$844 billion). Regulators noted the results reflected robust investor confidence and vowed to maintain a strong regulatory framework to protect investors and support market development.

Hong Kong climate goals on track

Hong Kong remains steadfast in its commitment to climate action, with the city on track to cut carbon emissions in half by 2035, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with this goal anchored in four key strategies: decarbonising power generation, improving energy efficiency in buildings, promoting green transport and reducing waste. Delivering remarks at the Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA) Annual Forum (Sep 8), Financial Secretary Paul Chan said that despite the US’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, weakening the collective commitment to climate action, Hong Kong is strengthening its position as a green finance hub, supporting decarbonisation and global capital flows for climate action. Hong Kong leads Asia in green finance, issuing over US$80 billion in sustainable debt in 2024 and US$34 billion in the first half of 2025. The city is also advancing transition finance, expanding its sustainable finance taxonomy, and aligning with global standards like ISSB and fostering green innovation. Separately, the HKMA launched another phase of public consultation on expanding the taxonomy for sustainable finance to support decarbonisation efforts, further reinforcing the city’s position as an international financial centre and a leading green finance hub.

Speaking at the AVPN annual conference (Sep 9), Mr Chan said Hong Kong is “ready, willing, and uniquely positioned” to channel global capital for social good. Highlighting the city’s world-class financial and legal systems, and its “super connector” role, noting that Asia faced a US$1.5 trillion annual funding gap to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, Mr Chan said Hong Kong is committed to creating a seamless ecosystem where capital drives maximum sustainable impact.

Four-pillar strategy strengthens city’s green finance leadership

Hong Kong is “uniquely positioned to channel global capital toward a sustainable future,” said Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui, reaffirming the city’s role as Asia’s leading green finance hub. Speaking at the 2025 HKGFA Annual Forum (Sep 8), Mr Hui noted that in 2024, Hong Kong’s green and sustainable debt market exceeded US$84 billion, with green bonds alone reaching US$43 billion, capturing 45% of the regional market and securing Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s top-ranked green bond market for seven consecutive years. He highlighted the city’s four-pillar strategy of promoting market development, fostering financial innovation, enhancing sustainability transparency, and nurturing talent and data. Key initiatives included Government Sustainable Bond Programme, developing the Core Climate carbon marketplace, pioneering tokenised green bonds, adopting global sustainability disclosure standards by 2028, and expanding talent development programmes.

Hong Kong Laureate Forum returns Nov 5 - 8

The Hong Kong Laureate Forum will be held Nov 5 - 8 under the theme “Meeting of Inspirational Minds”, bringing together 12 Shaw Laureates in astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences, alongside more than 200 young scientists from around the world. The event will feature world-class intellectual seminars, discussion groups, workshops, poster sessions, and visits to the latest Hong Kong scientific development projects, universities and institutes, as well as cross-cultural social activities. The inaugural forum in 2023 drew over 2,400 participants, including 23 Shaw Laureates, 200 young scientists from nearly 30 countries and regions, and 1,500 secondary students.

Chief Executive to deliver Policy Address on Sep 17

Chief Executive John Lee will deliver his Policy Address in the Legislative Council on Sep 17 at 11:00 am (Hong Kong time). This corresponds to Sep 16 at 11:00 pm (New York time). The speech will be broadcast live on the Policy Address website, which will carry the full text of the Policy Address once the address has concluded.

Join Hong Kong civil service

Hong Kong permanent residents are invited to apply for civil service graduate grades positions, including Administrative Officers (AOs), in the HKSAR Government. Students graduating in the 2025-26 or 2026-27 academic years may also apply. Applicants must attain a pass result in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) and Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) to be considered. Details of the Joint Recruitment Examination (JRE) and the online application system can be found on the Civil Service Bureau’s (CSB) website. Information on hiring AOs is also available on another dedicated website. Applicants in the United States may take part in the JRE, CRE and the paper-based BLNST in New York on Nov 29, 2025. Applicants must apply online through the CSB website, between Sep 13 and Oct 3 (Hong Kong time). Application submitted by post, fax or email will not be accepted. 

Electronic driving license launched

Starting Sep 15, Hong Kong driving license (DL) holders, including overseas full DL holders driving in Hong Kong via "direct issue of a full DL without test" or a temporary DL in HK, can display their electronic driving license (eDL) on their smartphones, offering greater convenience and flexibility. It is an alternative to the physical DL to fulfil the statutory requirements of carrying or producing a DL for examination or inspection by law enforcement officers. The eDL mobile application supports iOS and Android operating systems, and can be downloaded and used for free from the Apple App Store, Google Play or Huawei AppGallery. It can be downloaded for free and authenticated with “iAM Smart” or Hong Kong Transport Department’s e-Licensing Portal account.

The Basic Law (BL) is the constitutional document of the HKSAR. It provides the guarantees to maintain our existing way of life, including socio-economic development, the rights and duties of Hong Kong people, the rule of law and other areas. The Basic Law was put into effect on July 1, 1997.

Q: Does the HKSAR enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial powers?

A: Yes. The National People’s Congress authorises the HKSAR to exercise a high degree of autonomy and enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial powers, including that of final adjudication. The Chief Executive heads the HKSAR and the Government of the HKSAR. The Executive Council, consisting of members appointed by the Chief Executive, assists the Chief Executive in policy making. The legislature, which is constituted by election, enacts legislation, while the judiciary exercises judicial power independently free from interference. (BL Articles 2; 16; 17; 19; 43; 54; 55; 66; 68; 73; 85)