HK recovery uneven despite high GDP: economist

A regional financial expert stated Hong Kong’s third-quarter GDP efficiency has actually raised organization belief, however the healing stays irregular and will require time to widen.

Ho Lok-sang, accessory teacher with the Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures at the Education University of Hong Kong, made the evaluation as advance price quotes revealed Hong Kong’s economy grew 5.2 percent year on year in the 3rd quarter of 2026.

The clearest indication of healing, he stated, remained in prime workplace.

“Especially for the Grade A centrally located locations, office take-up rate is pretty impressive,” he stated. “Now, certainly it’s recovering.”

Ho worried that the strength is not spreading out beyond that sector.

“On the outside of the Grade A and centrally located areas, office demand is still relatively weak, and the demand for commercial properties is still relatively weak,” he stated.

He included that a wider healing will not come rapidly and will likely depend upon lower leas.

“I think that it will take quite some time to recover, and I think recovery will also necessitate a decline in rents,” Ho stated.

Ho was more positive about the remainder of the year’s outlook.

“Definitely the complete year development is going to be rather strong, and I am quite positive that it will be over 4 percent or might be as much as 4.5 percent,” he stated.

The federal government’s genuine GDP development projection for 2026 as a whole is 3.5 to 4.5 percent.

Ho stated the monetary sector is carrying out “pretty well, extremely well”with IPOs still at an extremely high level and “no sign of it ebbing”

He included that exports, too, are “doing quite well”

He flagged consistent weak areas: “Demand in terms of both construction demand and also the retail consumption demand and restaurant business are still lagging behind”

To support these sectors, Ho indicated significant occasions and tourist.

“Of course the major events – for example concerts and Halloween and so on – it’s entirely possible to boost tourism even more,” he stated.

“Tourism is doing pretty well this year, and we hope that the tourists can stay a bit longer and consume a bit more.”

Ho stated that result depends upon business sector and the federal government continuing to promote such significant occasions.

Kenny Shui, vice president of Our Hong Kong Foundation, stated the third-quarter figures pointed to enhancing momentum: items exports increased 30.4 percent on AI and electronic devices need, while services exports grew 4.3 percent on tourist and monetary activity.

He stated personal usage increased simply 2.8 percent, slower than the previous quarter, revealing that the strength in retail and financial investment has yet to completely reach families.

“Growth momentum is broadening, but the recovery still needs to be felt more widely,” Shui stated.

With first-nine-month development at 5.1 percent, Shui anticipates a fourth-quarter development of 4 to 5 percent and full-year development of around 5 percent– above the federal government’s projection, leaving space for an upward modification.

He warned, nevertheless, that rate of interest might weigh on organization financial investment and family costs, and with joblessness at 3.9 percent, intake still requires task and earnings assistance.

In the 4th quarter, the secret will be whether exports remain strong and intake and work enhance, Shui included.

Modified by Aaron Tam


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