Hong Kong economy showed resilience in first quarter of 2026, Paul Chan says
In review of first-quarter performance, finance chief points to city’s attraction to investors seeking safe haven amid uncertainty
Hong Kong’s economy showed resilience in the first quarter of the year amid volatility in the equity and oil markets brought by war in the Middle East, the city’s finance chief has said.
In his review on Sunday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said investors continued to move assets to the city, drawn by the steady growth of mainland China’s economy and the large number of initial public offerings in Hong Kong.
The minister said the geopolitical landscape had proved to be complex and fast-changing during the first quarter, as uncertainty related to the United States-Israel attack on Iran continued to cloud the stock market.
“Amid the uncertainty, investors are increasing their asset allocation here,” Chan said.
“They not only treat Hong Kong as a reliable haven for funds but also see the ample investment opportunities offered by Hong Kong because of the steady economic growth on the mainland and the listing of a large number of high-quality enterprises here.”
Chan’s review of the first-quarter performance did not address whether Hong Kong would be able to meet its full-year growth forecast of between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent. The minister made the prediction in his budget speech in late February, just before the conflict began.