Hong Kong will raise its full-year economic growth forecast after a stronger-than-expected performance in the first half of 2026, the finance chief has said, with experts predicting gross domestic product (GDP) could easily hit 4 per cent.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also said on Sunday that the city would step up efforts to promote the global use of the renminbi after the debut of offshore Chinese government bond futures on the local stock exchange.
In his weekly blog, Chan said the Census and Statistics Department would raise its GDP forecast later this month in light of the economy’s expansion by 5.1 per cent year on year in the first half of 2026.
The economy is currently projected to grow by 2.5 to 3.5 per cent year on year in 2026.
Chan added that the city’s goods exports would continue to benefit from strong global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) products in the second half of the year.
Sustained overseas demand for Hong Kong’s financial and business services and a rise in tourist arrivals would also drive growth in services exports, supporting local consumption and investment sentiment, he said.