Hong Kong SFC announces strategic action agenda covering multiple important areas including RMB internationalization and wealth management.

On 23 September, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) published a strategic action agenda to support the implementation of Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address. Through a series of short, medium and long-term measures, the agenda seeks to promote the high-quality development of Hong Kong's capital markets and further consolidate Hong Kong's competitive advantages as an international financial centre. The Five-Year Plan set out in the agenda and the policy objectives put forward in the Policy Address complement each other, covering important areas such as market development, RMB internationalisation, mutual market access, wealth management, risk management, market quality and financial security. On consolidating Hong Kong's position as the global offshore RMB business hub, SFC Chairman Dr Wong Tin-yau said: "Hong Kong has always been a unique and trusted bridge between the Chinese Mainland and the world. Our mission is to further consolidate and enhance this unique advantage, enabling Hong Kong to better serve the overall development of the country while creating value for global investors and the real economy." "The strategic action agenda we have launched is both a positive response to the development direction of the country and the Hong Kong SAR Government, and an important blueprint for promoting the long-term development of Hong Kong's capital markets. By consolidating traditional advantages, cultivating new growth drivers, and continuously enhancing market quality and integrity, we are confident in further raising Hong Kong's competitiveness and attractiveness as an international financial centre." Dr Wong added: "The SFC will lay the foundation for deepening the breadth and depth of Hong Kong's RMB ecosystem, continue to optimise mutual market access mechanisms, promote market innovation, and further strengthen the international competitiveness of Hong Kong's capital markets by enhancing market efficiency and liquidity." SFC Chief Executive Officer Julia Leung said: "As Hong Kong's capital markets enter a new stage of development, the SFC will strengthen communication and cooperation with industry stakeholders to ensure that market participants fully understand the regulatory requirements and development direction. We will also deepen cooperation with Mainland and overseas regulators to jointly promote cross-border market connectivity and financial innovation." Ms Leung added: "While promoting market development, we will continue to uphold our core mission of safeguarding market quality, integrity and investor protection. Financial security is an important foundation for the sustainable development of the market, so the SFC will make good use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance risk monitoring, supervision and enforcement capabilities, and support the stable development of Hong Kong's financial markets." The SFC believes that, with the strong support of the Central Government, the active leadership of the SAR Government, and the joint participation of the industry, Hong Kong will further give play to its important functions as an international financial centre, a global offshore RMB business hub, an international asset and wealth management centre, and an international risk management centre, making greater contributions to the country's high-level opening up and to Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability. The main measures of the SFC's strategic action agenda are as follows: