Hong Kong finance chief urges Australian firms to consider dual listings
Financial Secretary Paul Chan encourages Australian companies to consider dual listings in Hong Kong, highlighting its global capital-raising reach. He notes Hong Kong's IPO proceeds more than doubled to HK$388 billion in the first nine months of the year. The speech was part of the CPA Australia Co
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has urged Australian companies to consider a dual listing in Hong Kong, highlighting the city's global reach in raising capital. Speaking at the CPA Australia Congress Hong Kong 2026 on Thursday, Chan noted that international investors from the US, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, alongside continued capital flows from the mainland, contributed to Hong Kong's initial public offerings raising some HK$388 billion in the first nine months of this year, more than double the amount from a year earlier.
Chan said enterprises from Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East are also exploring opportunities to list equities or issue bonds in Hong Kong. He described Hong Kong as bringing together capital, innovators, enterprises and professional expertise. The finance chief identified three qualities becoming increasingly valuable for accountants: technological competence grounded in business understanding, integrity and sound judgement, and an international outlook with the ability to collaborate across markets, disciplines and cultures.
Asheley Jones, chief learning and innovation officer at CPA Australia, said the next generation of accounting and finance professionals are crucial in shaping the world, and the profession must prepare for it. Scientific futurist Catherine Ball predicted the term 'AI' will be dead within 18 months amid a 'sixth Industrial Revolution' of ambient intelligence. She warned that using AI to manage AI is both the next frontier of financial security and a new attack layer.
Internationally recognised futurist Ben Hamer urged businesses to focus less on predicting the future and more on building capabilities to respond to change. 'The future is not about being right, but about being ready,' he said, noting AI is less about job loss than job redesign, with roles shifting toward judgement, insight and trusted advice.
Chan highlighted that Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan prioritises finance and innovation and technology. He said Hong Kong's core strengths in executing capital lie in its close connection with the mainland, which provides strong research and outcome translation capabilities, extensive supply chain, and advanced manufacturing networks. The mainland's vast market helps take technologies from the laboratory to the market at scale, he added.
Regarding the Northern Metropolis development, Chan said it brings together education, research, talent, enterprises and industry to create a new growth engine. The government is shortening the cycle from scientific research outcomes to market application and providing space for startups to grow. Hong Kong topped Asia in arranging green and sustainable finance debts last year, handling a total amount of about US$77 billion.