Hong Kong Treasury Department: ESG fund asset management scale in the first half of the year is approximately HK$116.14 billion.

The Hong Kong Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau revealed that as of 30th June 2025, there were a total of 204 ESG funds approved by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, with assets under management of approximately $148.9 billion (equivalent to over $1161.4 billion Hong Kong dollars). Regarding green bonds, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Treasury Bureau stated that the total issuance of green and sustainable bonds in Hong Kong in 2024 exceeded $84 billion (or $655.2 billion Hong Kong dollars). According to statistics from the International Capital Market Association, the total issuance of green and sustainable bonds arranged in Hong Kong amounts to approximately $43 billion (equivalent to $335.4 billion Hong Kong dollars), ranking first in the Asian market for seven consecutive years since 2018, accounting for about 45% of the total in the region. However, the data for the first half of this year has not yet been released. Regarding the latest developments in promoting green finance in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said 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 momentum conducive to market development. Specifically, the latest progress of key measures include: 1. Government Sustainable Bond Program: In June of this year, the Hong Kong government issued approximately $21 billion Hong Kong dollars' worth of green bonds under the "Government Sustainable Bond Program," covering RMB, USD, and EUR. This issuance attracted broad participation from global investors in markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, with subscription amounts ranging from approximately 3.3 times to 12.5 times the issuance amount. As of June this year, the government has successfully issued a total of approximately $240 billion Hong Kong dollars' worth of green bonds, providing an important benchmark for Hong Kong and potential issuers in the region. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu attended a meeting of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee yesterday and stated that the government is promoting the development of Hong Kong's green finance and green bond market by issuing green bonds. As of June this year, the government had issued approximately $240 billion Hong Kong dollars' worth of green bonds, covering Hong Kong dollars, RMB, EUR, USD, and various tenors, providing an important benchmark for Hong Kong and potential issuers in the region; the government has also funded 116 eligible green projects through the relevant programs. Christopher Hui further stated that Hong Kong is committed to developing a deeper and wider financing platform. As of July, several local governments in Mainland China had issued a total of 40 billion RMB 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 Pilot Program, attracting more financial and professional service providers (including external assessment agencies) to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong to establish a comprehensive ecosystem for green finance. As of early August this year, the authorities had funded over 590 green and sustainable debt instruments issued in Hong Kong under the above program, involving a total debt amount exceeding $160 billion USD. 3. Sustainable Disclosure: In December last year, the Hong Kong Treasury Bureau launched the "Hong Kong Sustainable Disclosure Roadmap," providing a clear path for large public entities to fully adopt the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) guidelines for sustainable disclosure by no later than 2028. The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as the developer of the Hong Kong Sustainable Reporting Guidelines, completed the public consultation and released the comprehensive Hong Kong Sustainable Reporting Guidelines fully aligned with the ISSB guidelines in December last year. The International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation released jurisdiction descriptions in June this year and confirmed Hong Kong as one of the first jurisdictions to adopt the ISSB guidelines comprehensively, demonstrating Hong Kong's commitment to enhancing the transparency of information on sustainable development in capital markets, facilitating investment decisions for investors, and promoting global capital flow. 4. Green and Sustainable Financial Technology: The Cross-agency Supervisory Group on Green and Sustainable Finance announced in March last year a prototype of the "Hong Kong Green Financial Technology Map" developed in collaboration with Cyberport and InvestHK, providing a one-stop information service on the current status of green financial technology companies in Hong Kong, as well as related services to enhance their corporate image. The group released the updated "Hong Kong Green Financial Technology Map 2025" in June this year. 5. Talent Training: To further cultivate talents and promote the development of green and sustainable finance, the government launched the "Green and Sustainable Finance Training Pilot Program" in 2022 for local eligible practitioners, related professionals, students studying relevant disciplines, and graduates to apply. As of the end of July this year, there are 95 eligible training courses and qualifications offered by local universities' professional continuing education schools, professional institutions, and international training organizations, with continuous updates. The pilot program has approved over 7600 applications, with a total funding amount exceeding $42 million Hong Kong dollars. In addition, "Hong Kong Green Finance Week" will be held from September 8th to 12th, with InvestHK and the Hong Kong Green Finance Association announcing discussions on green and sustainable finance opportunities in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Green Finance Association will hold the "8th Annual Forum" on Monday, September 8th, focusing on Hong Kong's leading position in green technology, green financial technology, and climate innovation, further consolidating Hong Kong's key role in promoting low-carbon transformation in Asia. About 600 people have already registered to participate in the event, with Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivering the opening speech and discussing challenges such as U.S. tariffs and the role of traditional finance in the GREEN ECONOMY. Christopher Hui stated yesterday that Hong Kong is a leading global hub for green and sustainable finance, guiding international capital to match high-quality green projects, promoting the region's economic green transformation, and actively contributing to the country's dual carbon goals. Progress has been made in various related measures and market developments, and efforts will be made through different channels to promote green finance-related work, consolidating Hong Kong's 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 cooperation among stakeholders. It is worth mentioning that the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong's latest "Quarterly Report" indicates that this quarter continues to promote the development of ESG funds while strictly guarding against greenwashing practices and addressing the lack of ESG data. Additionally, the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong collaborated with the academic community in April to optimize greenhouse gas emissions calculation tools, adding several functions based on market feedback, including incorporating emission factors for different years to enhance the accuracy of greenhouse gas emissions calculations and generate detailed reports outlining the calculation process, facilitating greenhouse gas emissions reporting and third-party verification.