Hong Kong plans to introduce a bill covering virtual asset dealing, advisory, management, and custody services before the end of the year, as the city moves to establish clearer rules for businesses operating in the digital asset sector.
Joseph Chan, under secretary for financial services and the treasury, announced the target during Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026, saying the proposed legislation would set out regulatory requirements for the different types of service providers.
The bill is part of the government’s Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong. Chan said the aim was to give businesses clearer compliance pathways and greater certainty as they develop their operations.
Hong Kong follows the international principle of “same activity, same risk, same regulation”, he said, adding that a transparent and predictable regulatory framework was important for attracting innovators.
Christopher Hui, secretary for financial services and the treasury, said data, tokenisation and artificial intelligence were becoming central to the development of financial technology.
Speaking at a panel titled “FinTech Nexus: Where Data, Tokens and AI Converge”, Hui described data as an enabler, tokenisation as new infrastructure and AI as a source of intelligence.
The government, regulators and industry players were working together to make use of these technologies through legislation, regulatory improvements, new applications and talent development, he said.
The discussions also touched on how Hong Kong could turn advances in technology into commercial opportunities beyond financial services.
Lillian Cheong, under secretary for innovation, technology and industry, said research needed a clearer path to commercialisation, while start-ups required access to capital, talent, industry partners and markets.
She cited the government’s AI+ initiatives, investment in computing infrastructure and closer cooperation with cities in the Greater Bay Area as part of efforts to support technology development.
Green technology was another focus. Diane Wong, under secretary for environment and ecology, said the government was using its HK$400 million Green Tech Fund and the newly established Hong Kong Green Technology Innovation Centre to help bring research outcomes closer to commercial use.
A Green Technology Bridgehead Programme, due to launch next year, will support green technology and environmental companies seeking to expand into international markets through Hong Kong.
Algernon Yau, secretary for commerce and economic development, said the city’s international connections, professional services and business environment offered technology companies and start-ups a platform to enter new markets.
