Principal Financial released a global inclusive finance index report, in which Hong Kong continues to rank second in the inclusive finance index among 41 surveyed markets worldwide, second only to Singapore. Hong Kong has risen to third place in the ranking of financial system support, while the rankings for government support and employer support have dropped to third and eleventh place, respectively.

The report states that the development of the financial services industry has driven the financial inclusiveness in Hong Kong. Although Hong Kong's score in the 'ability to obtain credit' has slightly decreased, in line with global trends, the business sector remains confident in the outlook.

Liu Jianyang, Chief Executive Officer of Principal Financial Group in Hong Kong, said that Hong Kong is one of the leaders in promoting financial inclusiveness in the region. Despite significant economic pressure over the past year, investments in financial education and innovation, as well as the development of digital financial infrastructure, have brought particularly significant benefits. Hong Kong scored high in financial inclusiveness, especially in indicators related to digital financial infrastructure, to some extent reflecting Hong Kong's successful replication of the popularization of digital payment systems on the mainland. In addition, various 'interconnected' measures implemented over the past decade have allowed Hong Kong and mainland residents to buy and sell mutual funds, derivative products, and stocks in both places without the need for cross-border operations.