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“The Future of Hong Kong Economy Conference 2026”, organised by HKU Business School and co-organised by the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy, concluded yesterday. The conference gathered esteemed scholars, policymakers and industry leaders to engage in dynamic discussions on the future of the global economy, opportunities in AI Innovation, the New Silk Road for Chinese Enterprises to expand globally, Hong Kong’s positioning in global financial innovation, and entrepreneurship and leadership.

Professor Richard Wong, SBS, JP, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and Director of Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy, shared during his welcome remarks that, “The future of Hong Kong’s economy presents numerous challenges. While we have witnessed a gradual recovery from recent setbacks, pressing issues remain, including the urgent need to embrace innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity. Today’s discussions cover vital topics, ranging from the global economic landscape and advancements in artificial intelligence to Hong Kong's unique role in connecting East and West.”

Dr. Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR Government, delivered his keynote address on how Hong Kong can continue to serve as a trusted platform for business growth in the region and beyond. He outlined his approach through what he described as the “three Cs”: Certainty, Capability, and Connectivity. Dr. Cheung explained that Certainty refers to the importance of a predictable environment — “for businesses to thrive and economies to flourish, we need above all a predictable environment”. Capability, he noted, lies in Hong Kong’s comprehensive professional services ecosystem spanning law, finance, accounting, taxation, risk management, and dispute resolution. Finally, Connectivity reflects Hong Kong’s role as both a “super connector” and a “super value‑adder”, underscoring its vital position under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework in linking the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world.

Professor Joel Mokyr, Recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize for Economic Science, delivered his keynote speech through video conferencing. Titled “The Past and Future of Innovation: Can Progress be Sustained?” Prof. Mokyr said, “Scientific discovery—the knowledge of what—underpins technological advancement, the knowledge of how. AI has accelerated this process, enabling new forms of inquiry and innovation. Yet global progress faces mounting challenges from populism, xenophobia, and misinformation, which threaten intellectual freedom and the movement of talent. Growing fragmentation and economic nationalism further complicate the landscape. Sustained progress, therefore, depends not only on technology itself, but on the environment that nurtures it — open markets, freedom of movement, and incentives that allow talent to thrive. While the United States leads in overall innovation, China is advancing at the fastest pace, supported by strong policy commitment, financial investment, and a highly skilled workforce. The Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou innovation corridor exemplifies how the right institutional and intellectual conditions can propel a region to the forefront of global progress.”

The first session was titled “Dialogue on the Future of the Global Economy”. Professor Hongbin Cai, Dean and Chair of Economics of HKU Business School, highlighted three essential drivers of economic resilience that stood out in the opening panel: the need for “Goldilocks” institutions that protect scientific nonconformity; sustained and increased investment in education and innovation and technology sectors; and a focus on intellectual innovation—creativity in business and the social sciences—as the strategic frontier for a city like Hong Kong. While the panellists’ perspectives ranged from historical patterns to local solutions, they united in affirming that open talent flows and adaptive knowledge ecosystems are vital. He stated, “As one of the world’s top business schools, HKU Business School is proud to serve as a platform for this global discourse, ensuring that Hong Kong remains a vibrant hub where bold ideas drive our collective progress.”

Prof. Cai shared the stage with Prof. Joel Mokyr, Prof. Richard Wong and Prof. Zhiwu Chen, Chair Professor of Finance, HKU and Director of the Centre for Quantitative History, HKU.

In his keynote speech, Dr. Jack So Chak-kwong, GBM, GBS, OBE, JP, Former Chairman of Airport Authority Hong Kong, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and MTR Corporation recalled the many ups and downs Hong Kong has seen over the years. Dr. So said that Hong Kong bounces back better than ever, every time. He highlighted that Hong Kong must constantly update its role as a super-connector, because “Hong Kong’s future is not about choosing between East or West; it’s about connecting the two sides, commercially and culturally. As long as we remain open, professional, international-minded, and aligned with the country’s national objectives, Hong Kong will continue to prosper.”

The panel discussion, "The New Silk Road: Hong Kong as a Launchpad for Global Expansion", explored how the city is redefining its strategic role as a gateway for high-quality outbound investment.

Ms. Alpha Lau, Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong, underscored this transition: “InvestHK has evolved from an investment promotion agency that helps overseas and Chinese Mainland companies set up or expand in Hong Kong to a long-term partner in their global expansion journeys, facilitating two-way investment. Hong Kong offers a unique combination of international connectivity, robust legal and financial systems, and unrivalled access to Chinese Mainland and Asia, making it the ideal location for companies scaling into the region and beyond. Working closely with entrepreneurs, innovators and multinationals alike, we will continue to attract companies, foster innovation and support sustainable growth as businesses use Hong Kong as their springboard to capture new opportunities across the region.”

Drawing the discussion to a close, Professor Heiwai Tang, Associate Vice-President (Global) of HKU and Associate Dean (External Relations) of HKU Business School, summarised the city’s evolving value proposition from the different panellists: "Today’s insights demonstrate that Hong Kong has moved beyond being a professional broker to becoming a 'super value-adder' for global growth. Whether it is Hong Kong companies' success in 'globally localising,' the proposed idea of establishing a 'Hong Kong FDA' to anchor world-class biotech R&D, or the need to build credible partnerships amidst geopolitical shifts, the message is clear. We use our institutional strength to provide stability and credibility in an unstable world. By providing the essential pillars of risk management and ecosystem integration, we help enterprises anchor 'sticky business' here to achieve true 'local resonance' on the global stage."

Ms. Lau and Prof. Tang shared the stage with Ms. Nisa Leung, MH, JP, Managing Partner of Aulis Capital, Prof. Edward Yau Tang-wah, GBS, JP, former Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government, and Mr. Paul Loo, Chief Operating Officer of Lalamove.

The panel discussion on “Shaping the Next Economic Frontier through AI Innovation” was moderated by Professor Jin Li, the Zhang Yonghong Professor in Economics and Strategy at HKU Business School and Director of the HKU Centre for AI, Management and Organization. Mr. Pascal Hua, National Managing Partner, Technology and Transformation, Deloitte China Consulting; Mr. Leo Liu, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau; Dr. Juergen Rahmel, Director, AI Research of HSBC; Lecturer of School of Computing and Data Science, HKU, and Mr. Franklin Wang, Vice President of Linklogis, delved into development trends in AI and how to optimise organisational structures and management systems to better embrace the AI era and achieve efficiency gains.

In the panel discussion on "Hong Kong’s Roadmap to Pioneering Global Financial Innovation", speakers discussed innovation in the insurance industry, the regulatory environment and ecosystem for innovative finance such as virtual currencies, and the impact of the current global political and economic climate on financing. The discussion was moderated by Professor Chen Lin, Chair of Finance, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Business) of HKU, who concluded that Hong Kong needs to strike a balance in financial financing, promote responsible financial innovation and foundational platforms, and use more success stories to inspire local financial innovation and entrepreneurial culture. He was joined by Prof. Steven Alan Barnett, former Chief of the China Division in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department; Mr. Fred Ngan, Co-Founder of Bowtie; Ms. Elizabeth Wong, Director and Head of Fintech unit, Intermediaries, Securities and Futures Commission, and Dr. Haibin Zhu, Executive Director (Research) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

The panel discussion on the topic “Dialogue on Entrepreneurship & Leadership” was moderated by Mr. Marcus Suen, Head of Content & Innovation, EDigest. The four panellists are Mr. Ray Chan, CEO of MemeStrategy and Co-Founder of 9GAG; Mr. Raymond Mak, Co-Founder and CEO of Farmacy; Mr. William Shum, Founder and CEO of Memorigin; Mr. Henson Tsai, Founder and CEO of SleekFlow - all co-founders and CEOs of startups. Drawing on their own experiences, they shared management priorities at different startup stages, how to develop company culture and ecosystem leadership, and how to empower business growth using digitalisation, AI technologies, and social platforms.

HKU Business School is committed to analysing Hong Kong's economic landscape and policy issues through professional knowledge and distinguished research. Collaborating with other renowned scholars, our faculty members recently published the “Hong Kong Economic Policy Green Paper 2026”.

Hi-res photos available here.

Click here to visit “The Future of Hong Kong Economy Conference 2026” website.

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