Six new stocks and one exchange-traded fund (ETF) were listed on their first day, including the Indonesian gold mining company Merdeka Gold, which is making its secondary listing in Hong Kong.

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, stated at the listing ceremony that the listing of Indonesia's leading gold miner in Hong Kong reflects the enhanced confidence of mining companies in Hong Kong as a primary financing and trading hub, as well as confidence in establishing a complete ecosystem in the Asian time zone, highlighting the close economic ties between Hong Kong and Indonesia, and even between Hong Kong and "Belt and Road" partners.

He mentioned that Hong Kong is actively building a vibrant international gold trading market. In the complex geopolitical environment, Hong Kong is safe, stable, and has robust financial infrastructure, attracting physical gold storage, trading, and settlement activities. The authorities will leverage the advantages of "one country, two systems" to deepen cooperation with the mainland and international markets, enhancing its position in international gold pricing and trading.

He pointed out that various key tasks are being steadily advanced, including plans to increase Hong Kong's gold storage capacity to over 2,000 tons within a few years. The government's gold central settlement system is planned to be trialed this year, enriching the variety of investment products, including gold ETFs and tokenized gold, studying tax incentives for related activities, and promoting the establishment of industry-led institutions to strengthen global connections, with the hope of creating a comprehensive, liquid, and reliable ecosystem that benefits all types of market participants.

Editor: Song Jialiang