香港,重大发布!李家超发声
证券时报·2025-02-26 08:43

Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong government has introduced a new fiscal budget for 2025/2026, emphasizing fiscal consolidation while maintaining public services and investing in future growth opportunities, particularly in technology and innovation [1][11]. Economic Growth and Fiscal Measures - Hong Kong's economy is projected to grow moderately by 2.5% in 2024, with a budget deficit of HKD 87.2 billion expected for 2024/2025. The growth rate for 2025 is estimated to be between 2% and 3% [1][3]. - The budget focuses on strict control of public spending while exploring new revenue sources to enhance competitiveness and drive economic growth [1][11]. Tourism and Capital Markets - The tourism sector saw a 30% increase in visitors, reaching approximately 45 million, driven by national support measures and events [3]. - The stock market benefited from government support and a reduction in U.S. interest rates, with the Hang Seng Index rising 18% in 2024 and daily trading volume increasing by 26% [3]. Real Estate Market - The residential property market showed signs of recovery after interest rate cuts, with transaction volume increasing by 23% to around 53,000, despite a 7% drop in prices [4]. - The government raised the stamp duty exemption threshold for properties valued up to HKD 4 million, benefiting about 15% of transactions [4]. Infrastructure and Debt Issuance - The government plans to issue HKD 150 billion to HKD 195 billion in bonds over the next five years to finance infrastructure projects, with 56% allocated for refinancing short-term debt [4][10]. - The budget anticipates a stable economic environment, with inflation rates projected at 1.5% for basic inflation and 1.8% overall [4]. Financial Market Connectivity - Efforts are underway to enhance the connectivity between Hong Kong and mainland China, including the introduction of offshore government bond futures and stock block trading [6]. - The government is also preparing to optimize the dual primary listing and secondary listing thresholds to attract more private equity funds [7]. Innovation and Technology Development - A budget of HKD 1 billion is allocated to establish the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research Institute to promote AI innovation and application [8]. - The government plans to invest HKD 10 billion in a "Technology Industry Guidance Fund" to support strategic emerging industries [9]. Talent and Investment Attraction - The new capital investment scheme has received over 880 applications, expected to bring in more than HKD 26 billion in investments [10]. - The government aims to enhance its talent attraction measures to support economic growth and innovation [10].