Hong Kong budget: everything you need to know from tax breaks to a big bet on AI

We have put together stories from our coverage of Hong Kong’s 2026-27 budget. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Budget reveal: government turns matchmaker with stronger hand in shaping economy Hong Kong’s finance chief on Wednesday lived up to his credentials as a chartered accountant when he produced a surprisingly robust budget, flush with surpluses and full of initiatives to be funded through substantial means at his disposal. 2. Here is how you and businesses will benefit from Hong Kong budget sweeteners hike Hong Kong authorities will offer sweeteners of about HK$22 billion (US$2.8 billion) to residents and businesses, up from HK$7.8 billion last year, as public coffers are set to pivot from a deficit to a surplus. 3. Budget: Hong Kong bets big on AI, chips, Northern Metropolis – as it happened Catch up on our live coverage of the budget address. 4. Paul Chan’s new budget sets aside HK$30 billion to kick-start Northern Metropolis Hong Kong’s finance chief has set aside HK$30 billion (US$3.8 billion) to kick-start the Northern Metropolis in his latest budget, aiming to accelerate the megaproject through the government’s partnership with developers and tech enterprises. 5. Hong Kong 2026-27 budget: ‘Symphony of Lights’ to go dark under tourism revamp Hong Kong will cancel the two-decade-old “A Symphony of Lights” within the year, with the South China Morning Post learning that the fixture will be replaced with immersive projections across various districts to upgrade the city’s offerings. 6. Surpluses, investments, tax breaks: what’s in it for you in Hong Kong’s budget 2026-27 Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has announced an array of industry spending and relief measures in Hong Kong’s budget, in response to the city’s quicker-than-expected return to a surplus of HK$2.9 billion (US$370.8 million) in its consolidated account. 7. Hong Kong seeks to hone edge as offshore yuan hub, digital-asset front runner Hong Kong is aiming to sharpen its competitive edge as an offshore yuan hub, an asset and wealth management base, and a digital-asset front runner under Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s budget released on Wednesday. 8. Hong Kong bets big on innovation, AI and finance in line with national goals Hong Kong is betting big on innovation, artificial intelligence and redoubling its focus on its international financial centre role as it aligns its economic future with the country’s development goals, the financial secretary has said while unveiling a budget allocating billions of dollars to these sectors. 9. Hong Kong’s virtual asset sector considered for taxation under policy review A new government committee tasked with reviewing Hong Kong’s tax policies will consider updating them to allow for levies on the virtual asset sector and selected emerging industries, while providing incentives to attract business and investment, the South China Morning Post has learned. 10. Rare Exchange Fund withdrawal to pay for Northern Metropolis, other big schemes The Hong Kong government has produced a consolidated surplus earlier than expected, its first in four years, ahead of a rare transfer into coffers from the Exchange Fund and other sources. 11. Hong Kong boosts investment body’s role in property sector, tech investment drive Hong Kong’s government investment agency will take on a bigger role in attracting commercial property investment while advancing the establishment of an alliance focused on Chinese-developed RISC-V chips, as the financial secretary pledged additional funding to the corporation in Wednesday’s budget speech. 12. Hong Kong to speed up stock settlement time to catch up with West, mainland China Hong Kong will consider shortening the stock trading settlement cycle to one day after the transaction, as well as attracting more international firms to have secondary listings in the city, to strengthen the city’s status as an international financial centre, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s budget speech on Wednesday. 13. Hong Kong to set up first national innovation centre outside mainland China Hong Kong will establish the first national manufacturing innovation centre outside mainland China and a high-level steering committee to spearhead AI development, the finance chief has said, as the city seeks to align with the country’s 15th five-year plan.

Hong Kong budget: everything you need to know from tax breaks to a big bet on AI

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Financial Secretary Paul Chan unveiled a slew of initiatives in his annual budget address, ranging from relief measures to spending big on AI

1. Budget reveal: government turns matchmaker with stronger hand in shaping economy

2. Here is how you and businesses will benefit from Hong Kong budget sweeteners hike

3. Budget: Hong Kong bets big on AI, chips, Northern Metropolis – as it happened

Financial Secretary Paul Chan unveiled a slew of initiatives in his annual budget address, ranging from relief measures to spending big on AI