Hong Kong Unveils Green Tech Opportunities for Carbon Neutrality at InvestHK-Deloitte Study Launch

InvestHK and Deloitte China report spotlights Hong Kong's strategic strengths to lead as Global Green Tech Hub

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and Deloitte China launched the study "Hong Kong's Path to Carbon Neutrality: Guide to Navigate the Green Tech Market" at an event today (December 11), showcasing Hong Kong's strategic advantages and opportunities in the rapidly evolving green technology sector, along with global investment trends and landscapes. As the global emphasis on climate action intensifies, alongside recent international sustainability commitments like COP29's pledge of US$300 billion in climate finance, Hong Kong is well positioned to capitalise on this momentum by driving regional green tech growth through a focus on five pivotal sectors: power and new energy, green mobility, sustainable built environment, waste reduction and management, and biodiversity.

The event brought together more than 100 industry leaders, investors, sustainability experts, and technology specialists, along with professional service providers, to explore the evolving global trends in climate technology and how Hong Kong can leverage its traditional strengths to become a leading green tech hub. The study also provides recent case studies of overseas green tech ventures that have recently established operations or have business expansion plan in Hong Kong, generating practical insights and approaches for scaling climate solutions in Hong Kong and global markets.

The Global Head of Financial Services, FinTech & Sustainability at InvestHK, Mr King Leung, says, "In the global green tech market, China is emerging strongly, particularly in the Power & Clean Energy sector and Sustainable Built Environment, where China has by far the most patents in the world. Some of these leading companies have already listed and established their international headquarters in Hong Kong. With buildings accounting for the biggest share of energy consumption in Hong Kong, green tech companies are critical for reducing our carbon emissions and embodied carbon through innovation. They can also use Hong Kong as a showcase to accelerate their expansion into other global markets such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia."

The global climate tech landscape is shifting dramatically, with China's share of investment surging from 6 per cent in 2000-2004 to 22 per cent in 2020-2023, while the US share decreased from 76 per cent to 49 per cent. With Hong Kong's strategic position as a gateway between East and West, combined with its deep integration with the Greater Bay Area, the city serves as an ideal destination for global green tech companies seeking to tap into the Mainland market while propelling Chinese innovations onto the global stage. However, key challenges need to be addressed to capture these opportunities.

According to the Greentech Subject Matter Expert Survey, the top three challenges in adoption are weak demand-side push (58 per cent), ecosystem gaps (47 per cent), and limited talent base (47 per cent). To drive green tech development forward, Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 sets clear policy directions in renewable energy, energy efficiency in buildings, low carbon transport, and waste management. As a leading international financial centre, Hong Kong is well positioned to channel RMB138 trillion needed for China's transition to carbon neutrality by 2050, with the Hong KongExchanges and Clearing Limited leading as the largest venue for Chinese offshore green bonds at 46 per cent of total offshore volume.

To unlock Hong Kong's green tech potential and accelerate its journey toward carbon neutrality, InvestHK and Deloitte China released a joint report illustrating the city's strategic advantages across five key sectors:

Power & New Energy: Hong Kong's electricity generation is transitioning to cleaner sources, with 25 per centcurrently supplied by the zero-emission nuclear sources, while experts suggest renewable energy potential beyond the government projections of 3-4 per cent. With global green energy investments hitting US$1.1 trillion in 2022 and China dominating solar manufacturing, Hong Kong is well placed to advance smart grid and storage technology development.

Green Mobility: Public transport accounts for 90 percentof daily passenger movements in Hong Kong, where transport contributes 20 per centof total emissions. In a sector attracting US$8.95 billion in global investment, the city's extensive transport network creates an ideal testbed for sustainable transport solutions, from transport electrification to autonomous systems integration, and mobility-as-a-service platforms, aligning with China's leadership in electric mobility innovation.

Sustainable Built Environment: Hong Kong leads globally with around 42 000 buildings, including 8 000 high-rises and over 1 500 skyscrapers, with 30-50 per centof carbon emissions coming from construction. The sector presents massive investment potential, with the global zero-energy building technology market set to surge from US$72 billion to US$403 billion by 2031, supported by China's leadership in green building patents.

Waste Reduction & Management: Hong Kong's per capita waste generation exceeds neighbouring cities such asTokyo, Seoul, and Taipei, creating urgent demand for innovative solutions. Recent developments in local recycling infrastructure and emerging business initiatives are accelerating the adoption of waste-to-energy technologies and circular economy solutions.

Biodiversity: With over 40 per centof land designated as protected areas, Hong Kong's rich natural environment combined with its advanced research capabilities creates opportunities for environmental innovation. Ten companies have committed to Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures for 2024/2025, with growing demand expected for tech solutions in digital species monitoring and biodiversity impact measurement.

Deloitte's research highlights critical enablers for green tech development, with strong government support (47 per cent) emerging as the leading factor, followed by access to funding (53 per cent) and ecosystem readiness (47 per cent). Hong Kong's strengths as a leading financial and innovation hub make it well positioned to capitalise on these success factors, particularly through its financial ecosystem that combines both global reach and market depth. With HK$35.5 trillion in assets under management in which 65 per cent comes from international funding, along with its position as Asia's second-largest private equity market, the city offers a robust foundation for scaling green tech solutions.

Deloitte China Hong Kong Sustainability & Climate Leader Mr Mohit Groversays, "Our analysis reveals that Hong Kong's unique ecosystem positions it to pioneer the next generation of climate solutions. Beyond just having the right capabilities, we're seeing real momentum in how our city is bringing together technical innovation, policy support, and market demand. This convergence creates exceptional opportunities for green tech companies to develop, test, and scale their solutions. What's particularly compelling is how Hong Kong can serve as a dynamic platform for sustainable urban solutions, offering practical insights and implementation models for other Asian cities."

Deloitte Global GreenSpace Tech Leader Ms Andrea Culligansays, "The global green tech landscape is experiencing a fundamental shift in how solutions are developed and scaled. What sets Hong Kong apart in this evolution is its ability to bridge Western capital with Asian innovation. The city's deep understanding of regional sustainability challenges, combined with its sophisticated financial infrastructure, creates unique advantages for companies looking to capture opportunities in Asia's fastest-growing markets. We're seeing increasing interest from international players who recognise Hong Kong's strategic value in their global expansion plans."

Building on these foundations, Hong Kong is accelerating its development as a green tech hub through enhanced research and development support, expended funding mechanisms for start-ups, and strengthened collaboration across academia, industry and government. With the city's unique combination of financial strength, technical expertise, and strategic location, Hong Kong is poised to lead the next wave of sustainable innovation in Asia, turning climate challenges into opportunities for growth and positive impact.

Click here to download the report.

InvestHK and Deloitte China report spotlights Hong Kong's strategic strengths to lead as Global Green Tech Hub Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

InvestHK and Deloitte China report spotlights Hong Kong's strategic strengths to lead as Global Green Tech Hub Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

InvestHK and Deloitte China report spotlights Hong Kong's strategic strengths to lead as Global Green Tech Hub Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Companies Registry releases statistics for 2025

According to the statistics released by the Companies Registry today (January 16), a total of 195,343 local companies and re-domiciled companies were newly registered in 2025. By the end of 2025, the total number of local companies and re-domiciled companies registered under the Companies Ordinance increased by 96,609 compared to 2024, reaching 1,557,103, which was an all-time high figure.

In 2025, 1,532 non-Hong Kong companies that had newly established a place of business in Hong Kong were registered under the Companies Ordinance. By the end of 2025, the total number of registered non-Hong Kong companies was 15,586, up 3 per cent compared to 2024.

The company re-domiciliation regime, implemented since May 23, 2025, has received a positive market response. By the end of 2025, the Registry had received over 420 enquiries and 30 applications. Among these, six non-Hong Kong corporations incorporated in Luxembourg, the Cayman Islands or Bermuda, including an insurance company, have been successfully re-domiciled to Hong Kong. The regime provides a simple and cost-effective pathway for non-Hong Kong incorporated companies to re-domicile to Hong Kong by eliminating the need for complicated and costly judicial procedures while preserving a company's legal identity. It ensures seamless business continuity and strengthens the competitiveness of Hong Kong as a global business and financial hub.

In 2025, the number of charges on properties of companies received for registration was 12,912, which was 6.4 per cent up from 12,137 in 2024. The number of notifications of payments and releases received for registration increased by 14.2 per cent, from 18,201 in 2024 to 20,789 in 2025.

In 2025, a total of 180 prospectuses were registered while the figure recorded in 2024 was 157.

In 2025, the total number of documents delivered for registration increased by 7 per cent to 3,360,723, compared to 3,139,906 in 2024.

In 2025, a total of 5,229,202 searches of document image records were conducted using the Registry's electronic search services, an increase of 0.7 per cent from 5,194,865 in 2024.

On the registration of limited partnership funds (LPFs), a total of 389 LPFs were newly registered in 2025. By the end of 2025, the total number of LPFs increased by 35.1 per cent compared to the end of 2024, to 1,347.

For open-ended fund companies (OFCs), 210 OFCs were newly incorporated in 2025. By the end of 2025, the total number of OFCs increased by 43.2 per cent compared to the end of 2024, to 676.

As regards the licensing of trust or company service providers under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance, a total of 760 new licences were granted by the Registry in 2025. By the end of 2025, the total number of licensees was 7,220.

Turning to the licensing of money lenders, 155 new licences were granted by the Licensing Court in 2025. By the end of 2025, the total number of licensed money lenders was 2,015.

For details of the statistics, please visit the "Statistics" section of the Registry's website (www.cr.gov.hk).

Source: AI-found images