Hong Kong Treasury Bureau: The total ESG fund assets under management in the first half of the year is approximately HK$116.14 billion.

The Hong Kong Treasury and Trade Bureau revealed that as of June 30, 2025, there were a total of 204 ESG funds approved by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, with assets under management totaling around 148.9 billion US dollars (equivalent to over 1.1614 trillion Hong Kong dollars). Regarding green bonds, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Treasury Bureau stated that the total amount of green and sustainable debt issued in Hong Kong in 2024 exceeded 84 billion US dollars (or 655.2 billion Hong Kong dollars). According to statistics from the International Capital Market Association, the total amount of green and sustainable bonds arranged for issuance in Hong Kong is approximately 43 billion US dollars (equivalent to 335.4 billion Hong Kong dollars), ranking first in the Asian market for seven consecutive years since 2018, accounting for approximately 45% of the regional total. However, data for the first half of this year has not been disclosed. Regarding the latest developments in promoting green finance in Hong Kong, the spokesperson mentioned that the government will continue to work with financial regulatory agencies and the industry to promote green and sustainable finance in Hong Kong through a multi-pronged strategy, providing infrastructure and impetus that facilitate market development. Specifically, the latest progress of major measures includes: (1) Government Sustainable Bond Program: In June of this year, the government issued approximately 21 billion Hong Kong dollars worth of green bonds under the "Government Sustainable Bond Program," covering the currencies of RMB, USD, and EUR. This issuance attracted a wide range of global investors from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, with subscription levels ranging from approximately 3.3 to 12.5 times of the issuance amount. As of June this year, the government has successfully issued a total of around 240 billion Hong Kong dollars worth of green bonds, providing important benchmarks for potential issuers in Hong Kong and the region. Chairman of the Hong Kong Treasury and Trade Bureau, Jeff Lam, mentioned during a meeting of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee yesterday that the government is promoting the development of Hong Kong's green finance and green bond market through the issuance of green bonds. As of June this year, the government has issued approximately 240 billion Hong Kong dollars worth of green bonds, covering Hong Kong dollars, RMB, EUR, USD, and different tenures, providing important benchmarks for potential issuers in Hong Kong and the region. The government has also extended financing through the relevant program for 116 local eligible green projects. Jeff Lam also mentioned that Hong Kong is committed to developing into a deeper and broader financing platform. As of July, several local governments in mainland China have issued a total of 40 billion RMB worth of local government bonds in Hong Kong, including green bonds, blue bonds, sustainable bonds, and social responsibility bonds. (2) Market Development: The authorities continue to encourage more green and sustainable financing activities in Hong Kong through the "Green and Sustainable Finance Funding Program" (referred to as the program), while attracting more financial and professional service providers (including external review agencies) to establish or expand their businesses in Hong Kong to build a comprehensive ecosystem for green finance. As of early August this year, the authorities have funded over 590 green and sustainable debt instruments issued in Hong Kong under the program, involving a total debt amount exceeding 160 billion US dollars. (3) Sustainable Disclosure: The Hong Kong Treasury Bureau launched the "Hong Kong Sustainable Disclosure Roadmap" in December last year, providing a clear path for large public interest entities to fully adopt the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) guidelines no later than 2028. The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as the formulator of Hong Kong's sustainable reporting guidelines, completed a public consultation and published the Hong Kong Sustainable Reporting Guidelines fully aligned with the ISSB guidelines in December last year. The International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation released jurisdictional descriptions in June this year, confirming Hong Kong as one of the first jurisdictions aiming to fully adopt the ISSB guidelines, demonstrating Hong Kong's commitment to enhancing information transparency for sustainability in capital markets, facilitating investor decision-making, and promoting global capital flow. (4) Green and Sustainable Finance Technology: The Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Green and Sustainable Finance (Coordination Group) announced a collaboration with Cyberport and Invest Hong Kong in March last year to compile the "Hong Kong Green Finance Technology Map Prototype," providing a one-stop information hub on the current landscape of green finance technology companies in Hong Kong and related services to enhance corporate image. The Coordination Group released the "Hong Kong Green Finance Technology Map 2025" in June this year with the latest information. (5) Talent Development: To further promote the development of green and sustainable finance by nurturing talent, the government launched the "Green and Sustainable Finance Training Pioneer Program" in 2022 for local qualified practitioners, relevant professionals, students studying related disciplines, and graduates to apply. As of the end of July this year, there are 95 qualified training courses and qualifications offered by local universities' Continuing Professional Development Colleges, professional organizations, international training institutions, etc., which will be continuously updated. The Pioneer Program has approved over 7,600 applications, with a total funding amount exceeding 42 million Hong Kong dollars. Furthermore, "Hong Kong Green Finance Week" will be held from September 8 to 12, as announced by Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Green Finance Association, exploring green and sustainable finance opportunities in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Green Finance Association will host the "8th Annual Forum" next Monday (September 8), focusing on Hong Kong's leading position in green technology, green financial technology, and climate innovation, further solidifying Hong Kong's critical role in advancing low-carbon transformation in Asia. Approximately 600 people have registered to participate, with Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivering the opening speech, discussing challenges such as U.S. tariffs and the role of traditional finance in the GREEN ECONOMY. Yesterday, Jeff Lam mentioned that Hong Kong is a global leader in green and sustainable finance, guiding international funds to match quality green projects, promoting green economic transformation in the region, and actively contributing to the country's dual-carbon goals. Significant progress has been made in promoting various related measures and market development, and Hong Kong will continue to promote green finance-related work through various channels to consolidate its position as a regional green and sustainable finance center. The second "Hong Kong Green Week" will be held next week, providing a platform for dialogue and collaboration among different stakeholders. Additionally, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission's recently published "Quarterly Report" indicated continued efforts to develop ESG funds, while also rigorously monitoring and preventing greenwashing practices to ensure the integrity of ESG funds and address ESG data gaps. In April, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission collaborated with academia to optimize greenhouse gas emission calculation tools, incorporating multiple new functions based on market feedback, including incorporating emission factors from different years to enhance accuracy in greenhouse gas emission calculations and generate detailed reports clearly outlining the calculation process for ease of greenhouse gas emission reporting and third-party verification.