Hong Kong Finance Council: Policy Address and First Five-Year Plan to Promote AI Applications and Deepen Greater Bay Area Collaboration

The Zhitong Finance App learned that the Hong Kong Finance Bureau welcomed the Chief Executive's announcement of Hong Kong's first “Five-Year Plan” and “2026 Policy Address”. “The 2026 Policy Address and the first Five-Year Plan provide a clear road map for collaborative action,” said Lai Tsui Pi, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Finance Council. The Hong Kong Finance and Finance Bureau will support the implementation of relevant measures by promoting the responsible application of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, sustainable development, and nurturing talents with the skills needed for the future. We will work closely with the government and other stakeholders to further enhance the contribution of the accounting profession to Hong Kong's development and help the industry seize development opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”

The Hong Kong Finance Bureau supports the “First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development”. The plan proposes a number of measures to promote Hong Kong's development more closely in line with the national development strategy. The Hong Kong Finance and Finance Bureau particularly welcomes the adoption of “Finance+” measures to further strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international financial center. Expanding cross-border investment and financing channels will bring new opportunities to accounting, auditing and assurance professionals; the continued development of green finance will also help establish a sound certification and supervision system for sustainable development.

The Hong Kong Finance Council also welcomed the 2026 Policy Address focusing on promoting the application of artificial intelligence. As artificial intelligence reshapes auditing and accounting practices, relevant initiatives will help increase productivity and enable accounting professionals to focus more on high-value-added work requiring professional judgment.

Chairman Sun Tak-ki of the Hong Kong Finance Council said, “Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan” will further enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness and promote Hong Kong's deeper integration into the overall national development agenda. Reliable financial reporting and high-quality audits are an important foundation for maintaining market confidence and strengthening Hong Kong's position as a leading international financial center. The Hong Kong Finance Bureau will continue to work to protect the public interest, maintain audit quality, and promote the establishment of a resilient and future-oriented accounting profession to support Hong Kong's long-term economic development.”