Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Finance reported a slight increase in public budget revenue and a notable rise in expenditure for the first three quarters of 2023, indicating a proactive fiscal policy aimed at supporting economic recovery and investment expansion [3][5][8]. Revenue Summary - Total public budget revenue reached 16.39 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.5%, with tax revenue at 13.27 trillion yuan (up 0.7%) and non-tax revenue at 3.12 trillion yuan (down 0.4%) [5][6]. - Tax revenue growth was driven by a rebound in major tax categories, with notable increases in personal income tax (up 9.7%) and value-added tax (up 3.6%) [6][7]. - Non-tax revenue decline was primarily due to a drop in penalty income, which fell by 7% [5][6]. Expenditure Summary - Total public budget expenditure was 20.8 trillion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.1% [3][8]. - Government fund expenditure saw a significant rise of 23.9%, supported by the issuance of special bonds and other financial instruments [3][8]. - Key areas of expenditure included social security, education, health, and technology, all showing the highest growth rates in three years [8]. Debt Management and Future Policies - The Ministry of Finance announced the allocation of 500 billion yuan from local government debt limits to support debt resolution and investment expansion [9][10]. - Plans for 2026 include an early allocation of local government debt limits, with a total of 5.2 trillion yuan in new local bonds expected [10][11]. - The focus will be on addressing existing debts and supporting major projects to ensure stable local government finances [12].

Core Insights - The global investment landscape is shifting towards emerging markets, driven by younger demographics with sophisticated expectations for business, culture, and technology integration [1] - ALMAD Group, launched by Adrian Cheng, aims to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages as an international financial hub to capture opportunities in these emerging markets [2] Emerging Markets Strategy - ALMAD Group focuses on transformative industries in high-growth markets, including culture, entertainment, sports, media, healthcare, commercial management, and cultural tourism, targeting Gen Alpha and Gen Z needs [4] - The group identifies Mainland China, ASEAN countries, and the Middle East as key regions for investment, where digital-native audiences are significant and traditional infrastructure is less entrenched [3][5] Market Characteristics - The targeted emerging markets share characteristics such as growing affluent populations, government support for creative industries, and the potential for innovative integration of culture, commerce, and technology [6] Hong Kong as Strategic Platform - Hong Kong serves as a strategic platform for ALMAD Group, providing advantages such as established regulatory frameworks and global connectivity, enabling operations across multiple markets with operational flexibility [7]