At the China Opportunities Forum on September 8, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited's Chief Executive Officer, Bonnie Chan, announced that the city's new stock market has maintained robust momentum this year. By the end of August, 104 companies had gone public in Hong Kong, raising over HK$340 billion—already exceeding the full-year tally for 2024.

Chan highlighted that issuers from Southeast Asia and the Middle East are increasingly selecting Hong Kong as their listing destination. Notably, three of the world's top five IPOs this year have chosen Hong Kong, leveraging its fundraising platform to access international capital and further support their global expansion strategies.

She also pointed out that international cornerstone investors' participation in Hong Kong IPOs has reached a multi-year high. Beyond traditional Asian investors, long-only funds from the Middle East, Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region have been steadily increasing their involvement. This trend underscores international investors' confidence in the long-term value of Chinese innovative enterprises and assets, while also reinforcing Hong Kong's unique role as a vital gateway connecting China's opportunities with global capital.

Regarding the secondary market's performance, Chan noted strong vitality, with average daily turnover surpassing HK$280 billion in the first eight months of the year—up 14% year-on-year and remaining at historically elevated levels.

Chan believes that China's economy is undergoing profound transformation and its opportunities are continuously evolving. As an international financial center, Hong Kong's greatest strength lies in its ability to effectively bridge China's opportunities with global capital. Looking ahead, HKEX will continue investing in market infrastructure to provide investors with a more efficient, stable, and resilient trading environment.