Hong Kong’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) held an industry briefing on gold market development, setting out the Government’s long-term strategy to build Hong Kong into an international centre for gold trading, storage, clearing and risk management, following the Chief Executive’s acceptance of the Working Group on Promoting Gold Market Development’s recommendations. The strategy spans expanding storage capacity, enhancing gold supply, establishing infrastructure, diversifying investment vehicles and developing a local gold trading ecosystem. Reported near-term milestones include completion of a first-phase expansion of the precious metals depository at Hong Kong International Airport to 200 tonnes, plans to expand the facility to 1,000 tonnes, the Shanghai Gold Exchange’s launch of its first offshore vault in Hong Kong, and an FSTB memorandum of understanding with the Shenzhen Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau to support a more integrated regional gold ecosystem. A central clearing system for gold in Hong Kong, governed by a wholly government-owned company, is scheduled to begin trial operation in 2026. To support the creation of a trade organisation for the gold industry, the Government will establish a preparatory taskforce to engage local and international stakeholders and to develop proposals on the future organisation’s structure, membership and financial arrangements.

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