(Policy Address 2025) HK to speed up international gold market push

Hong Kong will accelerate efforts to establish itself as an international gold trading market, city leader John Lee Ka-chiu said in his policy address on Wednesday, announcing measures ranging from storage facilities to new investment vehicles.

The government will support the Airport Authority Hong Kong and financial institutions to set up gold storage facilities with a target storing capacity of more than 2,000 tonnes within three years, Lee said.

The city will also encourage traders to expand in Hong Kong, and explore with the mainland the feasibility of processing supplied materials in the mainland to produce refined gold for exporting to Hong Kong for trading and delivery.

Other initiatives include creating a central clearing system for gold that complies with international standards, expanding the range of gold investment products such as tokenised assets, and backing the formation of a trade association to strengthen industry promotion and talent development.

Lee added the government will continue to promote co-operation between the gold markets of Hong Kong and Shanghai, citing the International Board of the Shanghai Gold Exchange's move to set up its first offshore delivery vault in the city and launch new contracts for delivery.