Core Viewpoint - Hong Kong's stock market has shown strong performance in the first half of 2023, leading the world in IPOs and attracting significant investment interest, particularly in technology stocks and Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) [1][2]. Group 1: IPO and Market Performance - In the first half of 2023, Hong Kong completed 42 IPOs, raising over 107 billion HKD, which is approximately 22% more than the total for the previous year, making it the global leader in IPOs [1]. - The Hang Seng Index rose by 20% in the first half of the year, marking the largest increase in points historically for this period, surpassing 4000 points [1]. - There has been a rapid increase in IPO applications, with around 200 applications received, doubling from the beginning of the year, indicating a growing interest from companies, including those from the Middle East and Southeast Asia [1]. Group 2: ETP Market Growth - The ETP market in Hong Kong has seen significant growth, with over 210 ETP products listed and a total asset management scale nearing 510 billion HKD, which is a 30% increase since 2020 [2]. - Daily trading volume for ETPs has increased fivefold, reaching approximately 40 billion HKD, and the proportion of ETP trading in the overall market has risen from less than 5% five years ago to about 17% in the first five months of this year [2]. - ETPs, particularly ETFs, have been instrumental in enhancing market liquidity and providing innovative investment options, including leveraged and inverse products that track popular U.S. stocks [2]. Group 3: Innovation and Future Plans - Hong Kong is actively promoting the listing of more thematic ETFs, focusing on areas such as innovative technology, climate change, renewable energy, and biotechnology, to attract investment and support economic development [5]. - The introduction of cross-listing for overseas ETFs in Hong Kong aims to expand the investor base and increase trading volume, with significant interest from international investors, particularly from South Korea [3][5]. - The government plans to enhance promotional efforts for Hong Kong's financial market, emphasizing its advantages and growth opportunities to attract more foreign investment [5][6].