AIA Hong Kong welcomes Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2026 — AIA Hong Kong welcomes the HKSAR Government's publication of the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address. Mr Alger Fung, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Hong Kong & Macau, shared the following response:

AIA Hong Kong welcomes the HKSAR Government's publication of the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address. The First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address provide a clear vision and roadmap for Hong Kong's future development.

We particularly welcome the Government's focus on leveraging Hong Kong's international advantages, developing a hub for high-calibre talent, promoting healthy ageing, enhancing the resilience of healthcare services, and strengthening medical cooperation in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

These priorities are closely aligned with AIA's purpose of helping people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives. We look forward to supporting the Government in fostering Hong Kong's sustainable growth and contributing to a more prosperous, resilient and vibrant future for the city.

In particular, we welcome the following policy priorities:

Consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre

AIA Hong Kong welcomes the Government's continued efforts to reinforce Hong Kong's position as a leading international financial and cross-boundary wealth management centre. As global wealth becomes increasingly mobile, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to attract international capital, talent and families seeking a trusted hub for wealth, health and legacy planning.

At AIA, we support this ambition through dedicated high-net-worth propositions that address increasingly sophisticated protection, wealth and succession planning needs. From comprehensive health, wealth and legacy solutions to the AIA Alta Prestige Wealth Centre, we help customers navigate complex financial decisions with confidence while strengthening Hong Kong's attractiveness as a premier wealth management destination.

We also recognise that a world-class financial centre requires world-class talent. Through our comprehensive health, protection, wealth and retirement solutions, we support talented individuals and their families in building their futures.

By supporting the development of talent and the evolving needs of high-net-worth customers, we are committed to contributing to Hong Kong's long-term competitiveness as an international financial and cross-boundary wealth management centre.

Developing an International Hub for High-calibre Talent

As part of our long-standing commitment to supporting Hong Kong's sustainable development, AIA invests in initiatives that help nurture and develop talent for the city. Through AIA Scholarships, backed by AIA's US$100 million commitment, we help nurture the next generation of talents by empowering outstanding university students to realise their potential and contribute to Hong Kong's future development.

At the same time, we are committed to supporting talented individuals and their families as they build their lives in Hong Kong through comprehensive health, protection, wealth and retirement solutions. In recent years, many high-net-worth families have relocated to Hong Kong through the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES). We understand their evolving needs across health protection, wealth management and legacy planning. Through dedicated services and tailored solutions, we help customers plan for their health protection, asset allocation and wealth transfer needs, supporting their long-term development in Hong Kong.

We continue to invest in talent development and technological innovation. Earlier this year, we established the AI Academy to equip employees with the skills and knowledge to harness technology as a tool for enhancing their professional capabilities through structured training programmes. At the same time, we encourage employees to leverage AI-enabled tools to gain deeper insights into customers' needs, enabling them to deliver more personalised and relevant support.

Promoting healthy ageing in an age-friendly society

Population ageing is one of Hong Kong's long-term challenges. We welcome the Government's focus on strengthening retirement preparedness and fostering an age-friendly society. At AIA, we believe planning for a longer life is about more than financial security. It is about helping people achieve purposeful longevity by maintaining their health, independence and quality of life throughout retirement.

We support customers through comprehensive retirement, health and wealth solutions, including MPF and deferred annuities that help build long-term financial resilience. Beyond financial preparedness, we are committed to helping people age well through our Sen-Ager philosophy, which encourages active, healthy and purposeful ageing. We look forward to empowering more people to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives by helping them extend their healthspan, while building a more retirement-ready Hong Kong.

As more people explore retirement opportunities across the Greater Bay Area, accessible healthcare and continuity of care are becoming increasingly important. Through cross-boundary medical protection and healthcare support services, we help customers navigate their healthcare journeys with greater confidence, wherever they choose to reside.

Enhancing the resilience of Hong Kong's healthcare services

AIA Hong Kong welcomes the Government's focus on promoting preventive healthcare and enhancing healthcare sustainability. We believe a sustainable healthcare system starts with empowering people to make informed health decisions, access timely care and take proactive steps to stay healthy.

Through our Integrated Healthcare Strategy, we support customers across their health journey, from prevention and health management to treatment and recovery, helping make quality healthcare more accessible, affordable and effective. A key example is VHIS SelectWise, the first VHIS plan in the market featuring a dedicated, one-stop medical journey*. By helping customers access suitable private healthcare protection, VHIS SelectWise empowers them to make informed healthcare decisions, enabling timely treatment and support when health needs arise. By helping individuals receive the right care at the right time, we can contribute to better health outcomes and the more efficient use of healthcare resources.

Prevention is equally important. AIA Vitality, our science-backed wellness programme, encourages healthier lifestyles through rewards and positive behaviour change. Beyond our customers, programmes such as the AIA Healthiest Schools Programme and other community wellness initiatives help foster healthier mindsets and habits across different age groups.

* "First in market" refers to the first VHIS plan in the market that enables the insured person to be eligible for a semi-private room instead of a ward room during confinement, if all of the following conditions are fulfilled: (i) the insured person is confined in a SelectWise Designated Hospital in Hong Kong; (ii) all of the attending registered medical practitioners and surgeons who provide medical services during the confinement are network doctors of SelectWise Medical Network; and (iii) the network doctor of SelectWise Medical Network must have submitted the completed Prior-Authorization Request Form for pre-approval of medical expenses on behalf of the insured person to the Company in respect of all medical services to be obtained by the insured person for the disability during the confinement, and the Company must have approved such Prior-Authorization Request Form before the network doctor of SelectWise Medical Network provides medical services to the insured person, as of 27 October 2025, compared against VHIS plans offered by major Hong Kong insurance companies.

Strengthening cross‑boundary healthcare collaboration in the GBA

As cross-boundary living, working and retirement become increasingly common, seamless access to quality healthcare is more important than ever. Through partnerships with quality hospitals across the Greater Bay Area, a direct billing network covering more than 700 hospitals in the Chinese Mainland, AIA provides customers with greater healthcare choice and convenience amid the growing trend of northbound healthcare. Our first-in-industry Care Concierge* service further supports customers residing in the Chinese Mainland with dedicated one-to-one assistance, helping them navigate the healthcare system with confidence and peace of mind.

* The first-in-industry statement refers to Hong Kong insurance industry-first healthcare support that integrates (a) dedicated concierge service with a suite of healthcare and support services for the eligible insured person and (b) the medical home visit service in Chinese Mainland for the eligible insured person's parents, as of 31 January 2024 compared against similar services offered by major Hong Kong insurance companies. Applicable only when the insured (and/or the insured's parents (if applicable) is in Chinese Mainland.

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HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 16 September 2026 - Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, today (September 16) announced his fifth Policy Address, putting forward a series of measures to create development opportunities and enhance the well-being of the people.

"This year marks the opening year of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. In the thick of accelerating global changes not seen in a century, the vibrant momentum driven by our country's robust strength, enormous market and high-quality development presents Hong Kong with boundless opportunities. We will better develop our economy and boost social well-being, starting a bright new chapter for Hong Kong," Mr Lee said.

Entitled "A Strategic Vision for a Bright New Era, Driving Reform and Boosting Development, Unleashing Opportunities and Enhancing Livelihood", the Policy Address takes the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan) as its blueprint, and proposes numerous key measures focusing on five major development opportunities to advance high-quality development.

To attract and retain high-calibre talent, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town to strengthen the city's position as an international education hub. The HKSAR Government will also increase the research postgraduate places by around 30 per cent and the quota for government scholarships by 200, and establish five new major academies for training international talent: the International Clinical Trial Academy, Maritime Academy, Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, Hong Kong Intellectual Property Academy and Hong Kong International Academy of Policing.

To promote industry development, the Policy Address proposes to accelerate development of an international gold trading market and to explore a proposal to provide tax concessions for qualifying activities within the gold and commodity trading ecosystem. The HKSAR Government will also announce details of the new Renminbi-denominated and physically settled gold futures contracts; explore the possibility of increasing the Exchange Fund's gold holdings, and gradually transfer its physical gold holdings to designated vaults appointed by the Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing Company Limited.

A number of policies are proposed to promote industry development, including introducing specialty insurance (e.g. commodity, commercial aerospace, etc.); injecting funding into the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme to support the development of the intelligent computing industry; accelerating the adoption of medical innovation and industry chain development to enable the public to benefit from better and newer drugs; and fostering a new economic landscape for the low-altitude and emerging industries, such as commercial aerospace.

The Government is developing six special industry parks, including the Loop Hong Kong Park, San Tin Technopole, Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park, Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster and Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen modern logistics cluster. Land is also earmarked for building an advanced construction industry park to increase investment opportunities for enterprises.

To attract enterprises to establish a foothold in Hong Kong, tax concessions will be granted on the basis of the value brought by enterprises, instead of solely considering the industry sector. The Government will introduce an amendment bill this year, providing preferential tax rates of 5 per cent, or half-rate, for selected enterprises operating in key sectors such as finance, advanced manufacturing, innovation and technology, as well as research and development, headquarters activities and logistics and supply chain management.

The HKSAR Government will fully support the work of the International Organization for Mediation headquartered in Hong Kong, and build a global capital of mediation. It will also drive the establishment of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law in Hong Kong, support the Judiciary to advance the development of the International Commercial Court, and establish the "Strategy Committee on Intellectual Property Trading Development" to assist the Government in formulating strategies and support measures for the promotion of intellectual property trading.

Regarding international co-operation, two United Nations (UN) organisations, the centre of excellence on global advanced manufacturing and the Office on Drugs and Crime's GlobE Network Asia Pacific Regional Bureau, will establish their presence in Hong Kong respectively. Elsewhere, the new WestK Performing Arts Centre, scheduled to open next year, will feature four performance venues built to the highest international theatre standards, while Asian and international sports associations will be encouraged to establish a presence in Hong Kong.

"Today, Hong Kong is at a critical juncture in advancing from stability to prosperity. We are fully aware that formulating a comprehensive, strategic roadmap is integral to our long-term development. The Government has been persistent in mapping our way by driving development through reform. The primary goal of our policies is to enable economic development that can benefit the people of Hong Kong, and meet their aspirations for a better life," Mr Lee said.

Please visit www.policyaddress.gov.hk for the details and key points of the Policy Address.

Hashtag: #HongKong #PolicyAddress #Strategic #Vision #NewEra

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **