Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Sunday said Hong Kong’s finance and trade sector are moving from the accumulation of quantity towards enhancement of value, as the city looks ahead to the launch of the Offshore RMB Bond Index.

Writing in his weekly blog, Chan said the SAR had seen the rapid growth of offshore renminbi bonds, known as dim sum bonds, this year.

In the first three quarters of 2026, dim sum bonds accounted for 38 percent of the total issuance of bonds listed in Hong Kong, surpassing US dollar bonds for the first time and making the renminbi the largest issuance currency in the city’s listed bond market, he said.

Chan added that issuers of the bonds had also become increasingly diverse – from mainland technology firms to overseas authorities and financial institutions – as they consider dim sum bonds an important financing channel.

He said around 75 percent of offshore renminbi payments are processed through Hong Kong.

“Once the market has grown large enough, it needs a reference benchmark suited to itself,” Chan said.

He added the Offshore RMB Bond Index would provide a Hong Kong benchmark for the growing dim sum bond market, enabling global investors to have a clear reference for allocating renminbi assets.

Meanwhile, the finance chief also said the SAR would announce a new batch of partner ports as the Hong Kong Maritime Week began on Sunday.

He said the annual event was expected to attract more than 18,000 participants from around the world.

Chan noted that the green transition and artificial intelligence are reshaping the shipping industry.

“Our focus is not just container throughput, but the entire range of high value-added segments in maritime services, including financing, insurance, ship management, fuel supply and even mediation and arbitration,” he said.

Chan said Hong Kong, as a reliable super connector, is creating greater value for the financial and shipping industries.




Edited by Tony Sabine