Hong Kong's Economy Shows Strongest Quarterly Growth in Five Years

Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, announced on May 3 that the city's private consumption continues to improve, with exports and fixed investments performing well. According to Jin10, the upcoming estimated data for Hong Kong's first-quarter GDP is expected to show accelerated growth compared to the revised 4% increase in the fourth quarter of last year, marking the strongest quarterly growth in nearly five years. Chan highlighted the clear recovery trend in local consumption over the past year. Data from major electronic payment platforms in Hong Kong indicate that daily consumer spending has grown year-on-year for six consecutive quarters, with retail and dining-related consumption increasing by 5.2% year-on-year in the first quarter. He noted that the stock market is active, the residential property market is on the rise, and tourism continues to thrive. In the first quarter, Hong Kong welcomed 14.31 million visitors, a 17% increase year-on-year. For the entire year, visitor numbers are expected to exceed the forecast of 53.8 million, potentially boosting total consumption related to inbound tourism to over HK$240 billion, a 9.5% increase from last year. These factors are expected to further strengthen the local retail and dining sectors, providing continued support for overall economic growth and employment.