Hong Kong has maintained third place globally and continued to rank first in the Asia-Pacific in the Global Financial Centres Index 38 Report published today by the UK’s Z/Yen and the China Development Institute.

Hong Kong’s overall rating in the report increased four points to 764. The rating gaps with first place, New York, and second place, London, narrowed to two points and one point respectively.

The city's rankings in fintech offerings leapt from fourth place to first in the world, and those in the areas of business environment, infrastructure, and reputational and general also rose further to first globally, while ranking second and third globally in human capital and financial sector development respectively.

Hong Kong also ranked among the top in various financial industry sectors, ranking top three positions globally in banking, investment management, insurance and finance sectors.

The Government said the report fully recognises Hong Kong's leading status and strengths and competitiveness as an international financial centre. It noted that the global political and economic landscape is complex and ever-changing. However, Hong Kong maintains the unique advantages of the “one country, two systems” principle, leveraging the qualities of being connected with the Mainland and the world, international, diversified and inclusive, fully playing its role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” and providing a stable and predictable policy and investment environment for global investors to satisfy their needs for diversified asset allocation.

Hong Kong ranked first globally in fintech offerings, reflecting the joint effort of the Government and the industry over the years to leverage technology in delivering more convenient, efficient and inclusive financial services has earned international recognition.

On asset and wealth management business, a total of $35.1 trillion in assets was under management in Hong Kong as of the end of last year, representing year-on-year growth of 13%, with an 81% surge in net fund inflows to $705 billion, fully reflecting the affirmation of Mainland and overseas investors towards the Hong Kong market, the Government added.