Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) plays a crucial role in facilitating Hong Kong’s rise as a superconnector and super value-adder between the country and the world, city Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said.
Speaking in a video speech at the HKEX 25th anniversary celebration on Friday, Lee said the HKEX has been instrumental in powering Hong Kong’s rise in the past 25 years.
“With the resounding support of our country, our financial community — which also includes our world-class regulators and the financial and professional-services sector — helps to cement Hong Kong’s place as one of the world’s top three international financial centers,” the chief executive said.
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Since HKEX’s listing in 2000, the number of listed companies on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has risen from 790 to more than 2,600, and total market capitalization has soared sixfold, while the average daily turnover has increased ninefold in the last 25 years.
In the first five months of this year, the Hong Kong initial public offering market registered an annual seven-time growth, with 29 listings and raising nearly $10 billion.
In May, Shenzhen-listed battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), a key Tesla supplier, raised over HK$41 billion ($5.22 billion), which was the world’s largest equity offering to date in 2025.
The chief executive said that HKEX has adopted a variety of initiatives to bolster competitiveness, including enhancing the specialist technology listing regime, narrowing the trading spread, launching the technology enterprises channel, and maintaining trading under severe weather conditions.
The stock market operator also stepped into the commodities-trading business. The London Metal Exchange, a wholly owned subsidiary of HKEX, added Hong Kong as an approved delivery point in its global warehousing network, supporting the city’s vision of building a vibrant commodity trading ecosystem.
Lee said the HKEX also has realized deeper and more interconnected financial ties between the mainland and Hong Kong markets.
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The initiatives included the mutual access programs from the expansion of eligible exchange-traded funds under the Stock Connect, the enhancement of mutual recognition of funds arrangement, the improvement measures for Bond Connect trading, and the recent announcement of plans to expand products under the Swap Connect.
Speaking at the celebration ceremony, HKEX Chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shing, said, “With the support of the public over the past 25 years, HKEX has successfully built a resilient, robust and competitive international market, promoting large-scale two-way capital flows between the Chinese mainland and the world, and successfully connected many of the world’s most innovative companies with the international market.
“The current trading turnover of the Hong Kong stock market is performing well, and we expect higher trading turnover in the next 25 years,” Tong added.
