在汇聚人气、财气方面，陈茂波介绍，今年来自内地和海外驻港公司总数接近一万家，初创企业数目接近4700家，各同比上升一成，两者同创新高；过去近两年各项人才计划共收到约41万宗申请，已批出超过26万宗，其中约17万人已来港；今年访港旅客超过4400万人次，同比增加超过30%。The Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, Paul Chan Mo-po, stated in a blog that the city's economic growth is expected to be 2.5% for the whole of 2024, with an unemployment rate maintaining at a low level of about 3.1%, moderate inflation, and a real increase in citizens' income.
According to the Zhichun Finance APP, on December 29, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po stated in a blog that Hong Kong is focusing on economic development in 2024, achieving a stable forward momentum, with an expected economic growth of 2.5% for the year, an unemployment rate maintaining at a low level of about 3.1%, moderate inflation, and a real increase in citizens' income.
Referring to the development achievements of Hong Kong in 2024, he indicated that the Hong Kong stock market has risen by approximately 18% this year, with the Hang Seng Index rebounding to the 0.02 million points level; the total asset scale of the asset and wealth management industry exceeds 4 trillion USD, with net inflow increasing by 3.4 times from last year; the number of property transactions in the first 11 months of this year averages about 4,450 monthly, a year-on-year increase of 22%. Overall, the development in Hong Kong over the past year is satisfactory.
In terms of attracting people and capital, Paul Chan Mo-po introduced that this year, the total number of companies from the mainland and overseas in Hong Kong has approached 10,000, with the number of startups nearing 4,700, both reflecting a year-on-year increase of 10%, marking a new high for both; nearly 410,000 applications have been received for various talent programs over the past two years, with over 260,000 approvals granted, among which about 170,000 people have come to Hong Kong; this year, the number of visitors to Hong Kong exceeded 44 million, representing a year-on-year increase of over 30%.
Looking ahead to 2025, Paul Chan Mo-po stated that Hong Kong has a solid economic foundation and strong market resilience, and is exploring new patterns while steadily advancing amid changes. In the coming year, Hong Kong will better leverage its unique advantages of internationalization, strengthen connections both internally and externally, further enhance the roles and functions of "super connecters" and "super value adders", and will collaborate with other cities in the South China Greater Bay Area Concept and even other mainland provinces and cities to venture out to expand business opportunities and create greater synergistic effects.
