Paul Chan vows Hong Kong can handle debt of bond-driven growth

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by William YiuFebruary 27, 2026 at 08:29 AM

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Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan has defended the city's ability to manage its debt amid plans to issue more bonds for infrastructure projects, particularly the Northern Metropolis development. Chan addressed public concerns, raised during a radio program, about the potential burden on future generations if the bond-funded projects fail to generate sufficient returns. He proposed increasing the borrowing cap of two bond programs to HK$900 billion to accelerate development, citing insufficient land revenue to cover capital works expenditure. Chan assured the public that the long-term investment returns from the megaproject would justify the increased borrowing, despite concerns voiced by a university student about potential economic risks. The government is relying on bond issuance to finance infrastructure investment.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Choi 50% Northern Metropolis ×270% Paul Chan Mo-po ×390% Hong Kong ×2100%

Keywords

bond issuance 90% government debt 80% northern metropolis 70% infrastructure investment 60% public works projects 50% economic returns 50% financial secretary 40% paul chan 40%

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Neutral

Score: 0.05

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South China Morning Post

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90%

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