Business Daily Media

Men's Weekly

.

Budget by Hong Kong SAR’s Financial Secretary: Accelerating Development through Reform and Innovation

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 February 2025 - Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region unveiled his 2025-26 Budget today (February 26). He noted that while geopolitical situation might bring risks, technology reform and artificial intelligence (AI) development are remoulding the global landscape, leading to the emergence of new industries, new forms of business, new products and new services.

He stressed that Hong Kong must seize the opportunity to make the most out of this critical window to speed up development, establishing the new before abolishing the old. He also emphasised that transformation and innovation will lead the way into the future, and the Government is poised to fast-track the high-quality development of Hong Kong's economy.

The Budget presents a series of measures aimed at accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces. On innovation and technology (I&T), the Government will promote Hong Kong into an international exchange and co-operation hub for the AI industry. Through frontier research and real-world application, the Government will endeavour to develop AI as a core industry and empower traditional industries in their upgrading and transformation. To spearhead and support Hong Kong's innovative research and development as well as industrial application of AI, the Government will establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute and launch the Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme (Manufacturing+). On finance, the Government will continue to take forward reforms to the listing regime, host the Hong Kong Global Financial and Industry Summit, and formulate a plan this year on promoting gold market development.

Hong Kong SAR’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan delivers the 2025-26 Budget in the Legislative Council.
Hong Kong SAR’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan delivers the 2025-26 Budget in the Legislative Council.

To seize the opportunities brought about by the rapid advancement of innovation and technology, the Budget highlights the need to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, which is an investment in Hong Kong's future. The Government will continue to accord priority to providing resources for this initiative, which primarily includes providing large tracts of I&T land at the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, together with San Tin Technopole; adopting an innovative mindset in piloting "large-scale land disposal"; developing a data facility cluster at Sandy Ridge; as well as identifying suitable sites in the Northern Metropolis for the construction of conference and exhibition facilities.

On the promotion of tourism, funding will be allocated to pursue the concept of "tourism is everywhere" and implement the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry 2.0. A study will be conducted on the development of the waterfront and former sites to the south of the Hung Hom Station in Kowloon into a new harbourfront landmark in Kowloon, including a yacht club.

Regarding land supply, Mr Chan announced that the Government will not roll out any commercial site for sale in the coming year in view of the high vacancy rates of offices in recent years to allow the market to absorb the existing supply. The Government will also consider rezoning some of the commercial sites into residential use and allowing greater flexibility of land use.

The Budget presents a series of measures aimed at accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces.
The Budget presents a series of measures aimed at accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces.

Mr Chan proposed a reinforced version of the fiscal consolidation programme to focus on strictly controlling government expenditure, supplemented by increasing revenue, to restore fiscal balance in the Operating Account, in a planned and progressive manner, within the current term of the Government. The Government will also deliver more efficient public services to citizens through leveraging technology, streamlining processes and driving the digital transformation of public services. Mr Chan said he will uphold the "user pays" and the "affordable users pay" principles as far as practicable while increasing revenue, including increasing the air passenger departure tax, and reviewing the tolls of government tunnels and trunk roads. The Government will suitably expand the size of bond issuance on the premise of maintaining healthy public finances and use the funds raised on infrastructure works in a proper and flexible manner to invest in Hong Kong's future and create value for society.

More information about the 2025-26 Budget is available from www.budget.gov.hk.

Hashtag: #hongkong #brandhongkong #asiasworldcity #budget






The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

News from Asia

AIA Alta Club Launches Brain Health Programme

Pioneering World-First AI Retinal Scan for Early Detection and Proactive Prevention of Cognitive Decline HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 2 March 2026 - AIA Alta Club, an exclusive membe...

Pokémon's 30th Anniversary: MemeStrategy (HKEX:2440) Launches World's First Tokenized Collectible Card Fund

Pioneering an Institutional - Level Approach for Cultural Assets HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 2 March 2026 — MemeStrategy, Inc. ("MemeStrategy" or "the Company"; HKEX: 2440), an Asia...

Bridge Data Centres and Concord New Energy to Develop Singapore’s First Barge-Based Hydrogen Power Generation Solution for AI-Ready Digital Infrastructure

SINGAPORE- Media OutReach Newswire - 2 March 2026 – Bridge Data Centres (BDC) and Concord New Energy (CNE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop Singapore's...

Smart Design Global Awards 2026 Call for Final Applications Introducing Dual Incentive Scheme to Empower Local Talents to Go Global

Updated Format Grants Finalists with Exhibition Opportunities to Fuel Creativity HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 2 March 2026 - The "Hong Kong Smart Design Awards" has officially been re...

Club 666 to Debut as Singapore’s First Micro Club, Featuring Capsule rooms for an Intimate, Curated Nightlife Experience

A discreet, reservation-led space in TPI Building designed for intimate experiences, elevated service, and a new kind of all-in-one entertainment destination SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newsw...

Green SM Named "Best EV Carpooling App" In the Asia-Pacific Region

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam - Media OutReach Newswire - 2 March 2026 - GreenSM has been honored at the Sensor Tower APAC Awards 2025 with the title of "Best EV Carpooling App...

Many happy returns as Kai Tak Sports Park celebrates first anniversary

Over 120 event days in first year of operation HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 2 March 2026 - Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) celebrated its milestone first anniversary on Sunday ...

Compax MVNE continues to support Airalo’s eSIM platform

VIENNA, AUSTRIA - Newsaktuall - 2 March 2026 - Compax, a leading solution provider in the MVNO and telco space, will continue to support Airalo, the world's first and largest eSIM platform...

MWC 2026 | China Telecom President Liu Guiqing Delivers Keynote Speech

BARCELONA, SPAIN - Media OutReach Newswire - 3 March 2026 - On March 2 local time, the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC 2026) opened in Barcelona, Spain. China Telecom President Liu Guiqing attende...

WRISE Group Announces Strategic Partnership in Thailand with IFCG

Strategic alliance with the leading Thai brokerage and advisory firm will see both companies expand capabilities to provide institutional-grade wealth management solutions in the country HONG K...

Is your search bar your competitor’s best salesperson?

A few weeks ago, I was watching the Super Bowl. Traditionally, those halftime ad spots are reserved for the world’s biggest, most established bran...

AIIMS Group and AdVisible merge

Two of Australia’s most established independent agencies unite, creating marketing powerhouse backed by three decades of combined experience     ...

Block's layoffs are a design win. Here's why

We spend millions designing features that save users 30 seconds. Block just saved thousands of employees 40 hours a week. That's not a crisis. That's...

Why I Decided to Build a Better Way to Build Homes

Why does building a home still feel like stepping into the unknown? In an industry where costs blow out and decisions come too late, certainty has...

Leonardo.Ai reveals new brand, expanding its creator-first platform for the next era of generative AI

The company has also launched its developer API to empower creators and builders to integrate AI into their workflows SYDNEY, Australia – 19 Febr...

Psychosocial injury risk starts inside workplace microcultures

Psychological injury is now one of the most expensive categories of workers compensation claims in Australia, with Safe Work Australia reporting t...