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Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 enters its 11th edition
The two-day main forum of Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 concluded successfully on November 3 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event brought together government officials, regulators, entrepreneurs, investors, technology pioneers and industry leaders from around the world, along with more than 30 delegations from mainland China and overseas markets, to explore new opportunities arising from three growth engines: “Finance+,” “AI+” and global expansion.
Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 enters its 11th edition. This year’s event focused on how businesses can make use of Hong Kong’s combined strengths in capital, technology and global connectivity to pursue new growth opportunities. Held from November 2 to 3, the main forum was a highlight of the weeklong event. It examined how finance can drive innovation and industrial transformation, how artificial intelligence can reshape industries and create new value, and how businesses can use Hong Kong’s international networks and business ecosystem to connect with new partners, enter new markets and seize global growth opportunities.
Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK is organized by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and Invest Hong Kong, and co-organized by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Insurance Authority (IA).
Connecting finance, innovation and global growth
Chief Executive John Lee delivered the opening remarks at the main forum. As technological advances, new investment and global trade patterns create opportunities, he noted that Hong Kong offers a predictable business environment that supports long-term investment, innovation and growth. Lee said: “About two months ago, the Hong Kong SAR Government announced the First Five-Year Plan for the Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The five-year plan is closely aligned with the national 15th Five-Year Plan and provides clear direction for Hong Kong to draw on its strengths and better integrate into and serve the country’s overall development. Our first five-year plan is more than a policy document; it also sets out the development prospects Hong Kong offers businesses, investors and innovators.” He noted that the five-year plan would help businesses make use of Hong Kong’s long-term development prospects and seize the many opportunities for development nationally and globally.
Chief Executive John Lee speaks at Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 on November 2
Lee also noted that international confidence in Hong Kong continues to strengthen, with investors continuing to commit capital to the city, professionals from around the world choosing to develop their careers there, and international companies using Hong Kong as a base for expansion. Looking ahead, he highlighted the opportunities brought by rapid technological development, Asia’s role in driving global economic growth, and China’s role as a major engine of transformation. With its access to global capital, strong international networks and deep ties with the mainland, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to help businesses move from research and commercialization to growth at scale, and to expand from Hong Kong into mainland and global markets.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan speaks at Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 on November 2
In his keynote speech, Financial Secretary Paul Chan identified three priorities for advancing fintech: efficiency as the driving force, inclusion as the goal, and trust as the foundation. He said: “Advancing fintech cannot stop at launching more pilot projects. We must also bring innovation into businesses’ daily operations and deliver tangible benefits. The government will continue to provide clear rules and reliable infrastructure. I invite everyone to turn innovative ideas into practical applications in Hong Kong, so that technology benefits businesses and the public.”
“Finance+” and “AI+”: Driving market and industry innovation
In line with the forum’s overall vision, policymakers and industry leaders explored how financial empowerment and technological innovation can open up new opportunities for different industries and the wider economy.
At a panel discussion titled “FinTech Hub: Where Data, Tokens and AI Converge,” Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui said that, in the world of fintech, three important tools connect the world and link it to the future: using data as a driving force, building new infrastructure through tokenization, and using artificial intelligence as a new source of intelligence. He added that the government, regulators and industry are working together to realize the full potential of these three tools. Through legislation, improved regulatory measures, encouragement and promotion of innovation, more use cases and talent development, they can build a sound ecosystem alongside robust infrastructure to support sustainable development across the industry.
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui (first left) joins a panel discussion on November 2 with BAI Capital founder and managing partner Annabelle Long (second left), Standard Chartered Group Chief Executive Bill Winters (second right), and Tencent Vice President and Head of Tencent Financial Technology Forest Lin (first right).
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau said: “Faced with complex geopolitics, inflationary pressures and uncertainty in the global economy, innovation and technology companies and startups need a trusted platform, a reliable international hub and world-class professional services to help them chart a course and enter new markets. These are precisely Hong Kong’s unique strengths. Hong Kong’s first five-year plan marks an important step in the government’s setting of priorities for the city’s future development, providing the business community with greater certainty and clearer strategic direction for further growth. We will continue to improve Hong Kong’s business environment so that the city remains an ideal platform for companies from around the world, including startups, to thrive and expand.”
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau speaks at the main forum today
Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Joseph Chan said: “Hong Kong ranks third globally and first in Asia in the Global Financial Centres Index, and leads the world in fintech. Certainty plays a crucial role in innovation. In line with the Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong, we will establish licensing regimes for virtual asset trading, custody, advisory and management services, and submit an amendment bill to the Legislative Council in 2026 to clarify the path to compliance for the market. Hong Kong upholds the international principle of ‘same business, same risks, same rules.’ Our transparent, robust and highly predictable regulatory framework is the foundation on which innovators can establish themselves in Hong Kong.”
Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Joseph Chan takes part in a fireside chat
Looking at the broader development of the innovation economy, participants also discussed how emerging technologies are reshaping the foundations of economic competitiveness, including the infrastructure and collaborative ecosystem needed to support frontier industries, the adoption of technology at scale, and the cultivation of long-term growth drivers for the economy as a whole.
Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Lillian Cheong said: “Innovation alone is not enough. To cultivate new quality productive forces, basic research needs clear paths to commercialization, frontier technologies need practical use cases, and startups need a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing talent, capital, industry and market access. Hong Kong is uniquely placed to meet these needs. By advancing AI+, strengthening computing infrastructure, coordinating AI development and risk governance, encouraging patient capital, deepening collaboration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and accelerating major development projects such as the Northern Metropolis, we are building an ecosystem that connects research with industry, gives innovation real-world applications, and helps startups grow into globally competitive companies. We hope to accelerate the translation of innovative ideas into results, turning innovation into new industries, new opportunities and new drivers of growth for Hong Kong.”
Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Lillian Cheong speaks at the main forum
Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology Diane Wong said Hong Kong is a strategic hub connecting markets, capital, technology and talent. Through the HK$400 million Low Carbon Green Research Fund and the newly established Hong Kong Green Technology and Innovation Centre, the SAR government is committed to supporting the development of green technology and helping turn research results into green and low-carbon technology solutions with strong practical applications and commercial potential. Wong noted that the Green Technology Bridgehead Programme, due to launch next year, will also help green technology and environmental companies use Hong Kong as a springboard for entering or expanding into international markets.
Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology Diane Wong speaks at the main forum
Discussions throughout the forum showed that “Finance+” and “AI+” are extending into different fields, opening up more opportunities where finance, technology, sustainability and industrial transformation intersect.
Strengthening trusted and connected financial markets
As financial services and advanced digital technologies continue to evolve, the forum also examined the foundations needed to support innovation at scale. Participants discussed market infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and cross-sector collaboration, exploring how to advance innovation while maintaining the confidence, resilience and stability required of an international financial centre.
HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue chaired a panel discussion titled “Pushing the Frontier of Innovation: AI, Tokenisation and Quantum Technology in Global Finance.” During the discussion, he said that maintaining soundness and public trust is key to the active adoption of innovative technologies in financial services. He said the HKMA would continue to serve as a facilitator and stressed that sustained cooperation between the public and private sectors is particularly important for building a thriving ecosystem that encourages innovation, inspires trust and promotes responsible adoption. He also said Hong Kong is well placed to seize new growth opportunities arising from fintech. Building on the strong progress of “Fintech 2030,” banks and fintech companies will be able to make more effective use of data, artificial intelligence, tokenization and other emerging technologies.
Hong Kong Monetary Authority Chief Executive Eddie Yue (first left) joins a panel discussion on November 2 with Banque de France First Deputy Governor Denis Beau (second left), Head of the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub Tommaso Mancini-Griffoli (second right), and HSBC Group Chief Executive Georges Elhedery (first right).
In a panel discussion, SFC Chief Executive Julia Leung outlined the commission’s strategic vision, saying that artificial intelligence and tokenization will advance Hong Kong’s financial markets, but investors must also be protected and market integrity maintained. AI is developing rapidly in Hong Kong, with its use expanding. On agentic AI, she advocated a flexible and proportionate approach that precisely defines its scope of autonomy according to the potential impact of an activity and the reversibility of its decisions, with robust controls for higher-risk applications. Leung also said the industry must strengthen cyber resilience in the face of growing AI-related threats. On tokenization, she said the key to achieving scale is integrating it into market operations to deliver tangible benefits through greater efficiency, accessibility, liquidity and settlement speed.
Securities and Futures Commission Chief Executive Julia Leung (centre) joins a panel discussion on November 2 with Financial Conduct Authority Chair Ashley Alder (right) and Emmy Award-winning journalist Elliott Gotkine (left).
Insurance Authority Chief Executive Clement Cheung emphasized the key role of insurance in strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international innovation and technology centre. He also outlined the IA’s work to promote the responsible use of artificial intelligence in insurance, particularly the positive results of its AI Facilitation Programme in encouraging insurers to establish AI centres of excellence in Hong Kong, build up talent and develop use cases. Cheung said: “Aligned with Hong Kong’s first five-year plan, our AI strategy makes full use of the city’s mature insurance market, strong institutional capabilities, robust regulatory framework and cross-border ecosystem. The IA will continue to build a dynamic AI ecosystem and translate national strategic plans into concrete measures that meet the industry’s needs and strengthen its resilience.”
Insurance Authority Chief Executive Clement Cheung speaks at the main forum on November 2
Hong Kong: Supporting businesses’ long-term global expansion
A recurring theme throughout the forum was that technology is changing industries while also reshaping how businesses are established and expanded. More companies are targeting regional and global markets from the outset, so they need capital, talent, infrastructure and trusted business networks that span jurisdictions. Against this backdrop, Hong Kong’s financial strength, capacity for innovation and unique advantages in global connectivity can help businesses navigate the new business environment and expand with confidence.
Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau said: “Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 has fostered meaningful connections, partnerships and business opportunities, and these outcomes will extend well beyond the main forum. Under Hong Kong’s first five-year plan, Hong Kong is consolidating and enhancing its position as an international financial centre, building an international innovation and technology centre, and expanding its global cooperation network. InvestHK is committed to advancing this vision by connecting global capital with entrepreneurs shaping the future and providing both with a springboard into markets in mainland China, Asia and beyond.”
Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau (left) attended a fireside chat on November 2 with Jenny Johnson (right), Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Templeton.
Although the main forum has concluded successfully, Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 events will continue at venues across Hong Kong until November 6. During this period, a series of community and partner events will sustain industry discussions, investor exchanges and business connections. The remaining events also include a two-day Greater Bay Area corporate innovation tour, during which participants will travel to Shenzhen to experience firsthand one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems.
The event welcomed more than 30 delegations from mainland China and overseas, facilitating exchanges and connections and exploring opportunities for cross-market cooperation. Pictured are Financial Secretary Paul Chan (fifth from left) and Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau (seventh from left) meeting and exchanging views with the delegations on November 2.
The main forum of Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 concluded successfully on November 3. The event drew participants from around the world to discuss the future of finance, artificial intelligence and international business expansion.
This article was provided by Hong Kong FinTech Week and republished by QbitAI with authorization. The views expressed are those of the original author.