May 2025
28May

Hong Kong regulator prods pension funds on US rating downgrade implications

Hong Kong's pensions regulator has told the city's pension funds they may need to adjust their investment portfolios to reflect the impact of a downgrade to the U.S. sovereign credit rating, according to a statement. Ratings agency Moody's cut America's pristine sovereign credit rating by one notch earlier this month, the last of the major ratings agencies to downgrade the country, citing concerns about the nation's growing $36 trillion debt pile. Pension funds regulated by Hong Kong's Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Schemes...

May 28, 2025
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02May

Pension Systems Must Evolve as Asia Pacific Ages

By 2050, more than 25% of Asia-Pacific's population will be over 60, creating unprecedented challenges for pension systems already struggling with sustainability, according to a leading academic in actuarial science. Professor Johnny Li, Tan Bingzhao Professor of Actuarial Science at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School, outlined the gravity of the situation at the Economist Impact’s 4th annual Sustainability Week Asia held in Bangkok in March. "Across the Asia-Pacific region, life expectancy has increased by an average of...

May 2, 2025
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March 2025
14Mar

ETFs set to be high on the menu for Hong Kong pension funds

Asset managers in Hong Kong could have a greater incentive to launch lower-cost passive solutions following the rollout of the digital platform for the local pensions sector, industry experts tell Ignites Asia. The eMPF, a digital version of the territory’s Mandatory Provident Fund retirement scheme launched in June 2024 after years of development, with all of Hong Kong’s 24 retirement saving schemes scheduled to join the platform by the end of 2025. The new platform looks to address long-standing criticisms of...

March 14, 2025
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06Mar

Women in Hong Kong face huge retirement income shortfall, Fidelity study shows

For nearly half the working women in Hong Kong, their main concern is insufficient income after retiring, according to one of the largest managers of the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF), the city’s compulsory retirement scheme. Women in Hong Kong generally retire earlier than men at 62 and expect to incur an average monthly expense of HK$24,235 (US$3,120) in retirement, according to Fidelity International’s Asia-Pacific Investor Study released on Thursday, ahead of International Women’s Day on Saturday. The amount accounts for nearly 70 per...

March 6, 2025
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February 2025
24Feb

Hong Kong raises ESG disclosure standards for MPF managers

Hong Kong’s pension regulator said money managers would need to raise their disclosure standards on environment, social and governance (ESG) funds to help contributors understand their risk management and investment strategies The 12 participating fund managers, or trustees, including HSBC and Manulife, should improve the transparency levels on ESG-related reporting in their pension schemes, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) said on Monday. The trustees must clearly state ESG strategies and focus on risk management in their brochures, as well...

February 24, 2025
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21Feb

More Than Half of Workers in Hong Kong are Considering Changing Employers in 2025, Aon Study Reveals

Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today released results from its 2025 Human Capital Employee Sentiment Study with new insights specific to employees in Hong Kong. The global study of more than 9,000 employees across 23 geographies, including the U.S., UK, China, India and Australia, found that more than half of workers in Hong Kong are considering changing employers. The research reveals a troubling trend: almost one in five employees (17 percent) in Hong Kong feel undervalued in...

February 21, 2025
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04Feb

Hong Kong. HSBC warning as thousands locked out of pensions with no access to savings

HSBC is refusing to transfer £978million in pension savings belonging to thousands of Hong Kong exiles who have fled to Britain. The FTSE 100 bank is withholding funds from tens of thousands of former Hong Kong residents who sought refuge in the UK following pro-democracy protests and the introduction of national security laws. The banking giant, which has its headquarters in London but maintains significant operations in China, claims legal barriers prevent it from releasing the pension funds to those who...

February 4, 2025
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December 2024
20Dec

Empowering the Next Generation: Adapting Hong Kong’s Workforce for Tomorrow

As we look toward the future of work in Asia, understanding the evolving dynamics of the workforce is crucial, particularly in the Hong Kong market. Mercer’s 2024 Global Talent Trends survey reveals that generational shifts, especially the influence of Gen Z, are reshaping workplace expectations and strategies. With a strong emphasis on flexible work arrangements, well-being, and technological engagement, companies in Hong Kong must adapt to meet the needs of this emerging workforce. By fostering a work environment that aligns with...

December 20, 2024
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October 2024
29Oct

Hong Kong Sets AI Guidelines for Finance, Eyes Tax Break for Digital Assets

Hong Kong has unveiled its inaugural policy guidelines focused on the use of artificial intelligence in finance, alongside a potential tax incentive for digital assets, in a bid to strengthen its position as a premier business hub in Asia. According to Bloomberg, the new measures aim to create a supportive yet regulated environment for AI and digital asset investment, central to Hong Kong’s strategy to draw international investors back to its markets. On Monday, senior government officials announced a unified framework designed...

October 29, 2024
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10Oct

Hong Kong launches e-platform for pension scheme

The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (‘MPFA’) has commenced a major overhaul of the Hong Kong pensions system with the launch of the eMPF Platform in June 2024. The Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) is Hong Kong’s pension scheme, which involves compulsory contributions to privately managed fund plans. The eMPF Platform is a centralised electronic platform designed to streamline MPF administration for employers, employees and MPF trustees. This is the largest reform of the MPF system since its inception in December 2000. What is the eMPF Platform? The eMPF Platform is an electronic...

October 10, 2024
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