CE's statement on 2026-27 Budget
********************************
The Financial Secretary today delivered the fourth Budget of the current-term Government and put forward a series of innovative and practical measures to further implement the direction of the Policy Address to actively dovetail with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, empower Hong Kong's diversified developments through innovation, technology and finance, and cater to the people's needs while improving their livelihood. In pursuing the two major areas of "AI+" and "Finance+", the Budget will vigorously foster the enhancement of sectoral development, build Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent, further strengthen the city's core competitiveness, boost economic momentum, and resolutely speed up and scale up the sustainable development of our economy.
Benefiting from a booming economy and increased tax revenue, coupled with the Government's effective implementation of fiscal consolidation, Hong Kong's public finances have improved faster than expected. Taking full account of the Government's financial situation, the Budget has introduced a range of practical measures, including suitably increasing support for the public and small and medium-sized enterprises, enhancing medical services, addressing the needs of different social groups, and improving people's livelihood.
The Budget also proposes to maintain the efforts in consolidating and optimising the use of financial resources, continue supporting infrastructure development, particularly in accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis. The Budget also proposes a rise in the scale of bond issuances and issuing more bonds of longer terms, with a view to support infrastructure projects and to promote the diversified development of the local bond market.
The Budget implements various effective measures outlined in the Policy Address and in accordance with the governance directions of the Government. It leverages Hong Kong's unique advantages of being connected to both the Mainland and the world under the "one country, two systems" principle in actively pursuing economic growth, advancing development, improving people's livelihood, seizing new development opportunities, and better integrating into and serving the overall national development. The Financial Secretary and I are confident that Hong Kong's economic momentum will continue its positive trend. I call upon all sectors of the community to support this Budget and work together to promote Hong Kong's high-quality development.
Ends/Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Issued at HKT 13:25
Issued at HKT 13:25
NNNN