Core Viewpoint - Shanghai is poised to establish itself as a global offshore RMB center, supported by its financial infrastructure, policy backing, and market development, although challenges remain in international recognition and product offerings [1][2][3]. Group 1: Conditions for Establishing Offshore RMB Center - Shanghai is the only international financial center in China outside of Hong Kong, with 1,782 licensed financial institutions, one-third of which are foreign [2]. - The city ranks first in national cargo throughput and cross-border trade volume, hosting the highest number of multinational company headquarters in China [2]. - Shanghai's financial market transaction volume is projected to reach 36.503 trillion yuan in 2024, placing it among the top globally [2]. - The city has established a robust cross-border payment system (CIPS) and maintains close cooperation with financial institutions in Hong Kong and Singapore [2]. Group 2: Policy Support - The central government has prioritized the development of Shanghai's offshore RMB market, issuing supportive policies since 2021 [3]. - Recent initiatives include the "Action Plan for Further Enhancing Cross-Border Financial Services" aimed at promoting RMB's cross-border use [3]. Group 3: Market Development Achievements - In 2024, Shanghai accounted for 47% of the national cross-border RMB settlement volume [4]. - The offshore bond issuance has exceeded 1 trillion USD, with innovative products like free trade offshore bonds [4]. - The "Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect" and "Shanghai-London Stock Connect" have facilitated direct RMB investments in domestic stock markets [4]. - The number of FT accounts in Shanghai has surpassed 170,000, with balances in the trillion yuan range [4]. Group 4: Current Challenges in Offshore RMB Market - The international recognition and acceptance of RMB remain limited, with only 29.3% of cross-border payments in RMB from January to August 2024 [5]. - There is a lack of sufficient cross-border RMB financial products and services, particularly in hedging tools and long-term products [6]. - The absence of a mature RMB internationalization repatriation mechanism hampers the smooth return of RMB used internationally [7]. - Regulatory constraints and insufficient market-driven interest rate mechanisms limit the growth of the offshore RMB market [8]. Group 5: Recommendations for Developing Offshore RMB Center - Explore the establishment of an "offshore economic function zone" in Shanghai, with a legal framework that aligns with international standards [10]. - Leverage Shanghai's financial market advantages to develop offshore insurance, bonds, and other financial services [11]. - Enhance RMB repatriation channels and hedging tools to facilitate cross-border transactions [12]. - Implement policies to allow offshore RMB to be used as the primary currency in offshore banking operations [13]. - Strengthen infrastructure for RMB transactions, including payment systems and trading platforms [14]. - Optimize legal and tax frameworks to improve the global competitiveness of offshore RMB [15]. - Transition foreign exchange policies towards a more open platform-based approach to enhance RMB asset trading [16].

中新网香港9月5日电 (记者 戴小橦)汇丰环球投资研究大中华区首席经济师刘晶4日在香港一场研讨会上 表示，作为全球最大离岸人民币中心及亚洲领先绿色金融枢纽，香港凭借在绿色金融领域的规模优势、 创新能力及平台建设成果，正持续巩固其国际金融中心地位，并为全球绿色资本流动与可持续发展提供 关键支撑。 在创新层面，香港已成为全球绿色金融探索的重要力量。她表示，香港2023年首发代币化政府绿色债 券，2024年再推出多币种数字绿色债券，通过区块链技术提升发行效率与流通性，为全球绿色金融数字 化提供"香港经验"。同时，香港通过政策引导激发市场活力，香港交易所"核心气候"平台作为全球唯一 支持港元、人民币结算的自愿碳信用交易市场，推动香港成为全球碳市场连接节点。 她认为，香港"离岸人民币中心+绿色金融枢纽"的双重定位，构建起独特的绿色金融生态闭环。资金 端，依托成熟金融市场聚集全球绿色资本；产品端，推出代币化、多币种等多元化产品；服务端，凭借 法律、会计等专业体系提供全链条支持。此外，香港金融管理局通过优化人民币贸易融资工具、深化货 币互换合作，进一步增强市场流动性与稳定性。 她表示，香港可同时满足港元、人民币及其他国际货 ...

Core Insights - Hong Kong continues to attract global capital due to its robust financial system, legal framework, and open business environment, positioning itself as a safe haven for funds [2] Group 1: Asset and Wealth Management Growth - The asset and wealth management sector in Hong Kong experienced a significant growth of 13% year-on-year, reaching a total asset value of HKD 35.14 trillion by the end of 2024 [3] - Net inflows of funds surged by 81% to HKD 705 billion, with asset management and fund advisory services seeing a remarkable increase of 571% in net inflows to HKD 321 billion [3] - Private banking and wealth management assets grew by 15% year-on-year, totaling HKD 10.4 trillion [3] Group 2: Foreign Investment and Fund Establishment - Over 54% of the total managed assets in Hong Kong come from non-mainland Chinese and foreign investors, with steady growth from Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe [5] - The net inflow of funds into Hong Kong-registered funds increased by 88% to HKD 163 billion in 2024, continuing strong performance into 2025 with HKD 237 billion recorded by May [5] - The number of registered open-ended fund companies rose significantly by 93% in 2024, indicating a growing utilization of Hong Kong's fund structures [7] Group 3: Offshore RMB Center and Financial Innovations - Hong Kong holds the largest offshore RMB deposit pool globally, accounting for over half of all offshore RMB deposits, totaling RMB 1.03 trillion as of April 2025 [7] - The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) aims to enhance its role as an international asset and wealth management hub through financial innovations and a growing talent pool [7][10] Group 4: Future Prospects and Strategic Initiatives - The Hong Kong government is implementing reforms to attract more global capital, including green finance and virtual asset policies, and optimizing regulations for over-the-counter derivatives [8] - The 2024 Policy Address emphasizes strengthening Hong Kong's position as an international asset and wealth management center, with projections indicating it could become the largest cross-border wealth management hub by 2028 [8][10] - Boston Consulting Group's report predicts that by 2027, Hong Kong will surpass Switzerland in asset management scale, reaching USD 3.1 trillion [10][11]

Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) is implementing three strategic measures to enhance Hong Kong's position as an offshore RMB center, focusing on expanding the bond market and improving liquidity for international investors [1][2][3]. Group 1: Bond Market Development - The SFC aims to increase the issuance of fixed income products in the primary market, particularly offshore RMB bonds, which saw a 37% year-on-year increase, surpassing 1 trillion RMB in 2024 [4]. - The People's Bank of China and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced measures to optimize the Bond Connect program, expanding the range of participating institutions and enhancing the offshore RMB bond repurchase business [2][4]. - The SFC encourages more institutions and enterprises to issue "dim sum bonds" in Hong Kong, capitalizing on favorable financing conditions due to low offshore RMB interbank offered rates [4]. Group 2: Liquidity Enhancement - The SFC is focused on improving liquidity in the secondary bond market, which is essential for providing competitive pricing conditions for issuers and attracting a broader investor base [6]. - Development of derivative products is crucial for bond investors to hedge risks and manage liquidity, with a notable increase in trading volumes for RMB-related derivatives [7]. Group 3: Infrastructure Optimization - The SFC is researching the establishment and optimization of supporting infrastructure for offshore RMB products, including trading systems and back-office support [8]. - Collaboration with financial market infrastructure providers aims to enhance the robustness of Hong Kong's financial system and improve the efficiency and transparency of offshore RMB asset transactions [8].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint emphasizes the combination of stability and change in Hong Kong's positioning amidst global shifts, highlighting its advantages under "One Country, Two Systems" [1] - Hong Kong is recognized as an open, diverse, and inclusive international metropolis, which is increasingly significant in the current chaotic world [1] - The government aims to leverage the depth and breadth of the stock market to support the development of the real economy, particularly in innovation and technology sectors [1] Group 2 - Hong Kong has introduced regulatory frameworks for digital asset trading and stablecoins, aiming to enhance financial innovation and support the real economy [2] - The city is projected to become the world's largest cross-border asset and wealth management center by 2027, indicating significant growth potential in this sector [2] - Hong Kong is positioned to provide high-value services in supply chain management, modern logistics, trade financing, and professional consulting as mainland enterprises expand globally [2] Group 3 - The focus on artificial intelligence and biotechnology is highlighted as key areas where Hong Kong can leverage its strengths, including a robust capital market and high-end talent [2] - The importance of consolidating traditional markets while also exploring emerging markets such as ASEAN and the Middle East is emphasized [3] - Since the end of 2022, Hong Kong has attracted over 210,000 talents, showcasing its appeal as a stable and international environment for high-end professionals [3]