Hong Kong Introduces New Statistical Domain to Boost Manufacturing and Emerging Industries

In a significant move to support Hong Kong’s economic transition, the government has introduced a new statistical domain to better capture and reflect the performance of industries linked to manufacturing and new industrialisation. The newly defined sector grew by an impressive 7.6% year-on-year in 2023, underscoring its growing importance in the city’s evolving economic landscape.

The initiative was spearheaded by the Innovation, Technology & Industry Bureau (ITIB) in collaboration with the Census & Statistics Department (C&SD). Together, they have developed a framework that redefines how economic activities related to production and innovation are classified and measured.

Using the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification Version 2.0 as a foundation, the C&SD has expanded its statistical coverage to include a wide range of modern economic activities. These span from product design, technological development, data services, and software development to testing and certification, as well as professional and technical services—all crucial components in today’s interconnected manufacturing ecosystem.

This reclassification arrives at a crucial moment as Hong Kong continues its shift toward a more innovation-driven economy. Accurate and detailed data will serve as a vital tool for policymakers in allocating resources and shaping initiatives that encourage the modernisation and upgrading of traditional industries.

The C&SD emphasized that this is not a one-time measure. As technologies and industries evolve, the department—alongside ITIB and other stakeholders—will regularly review and refine the statistical framework to stay aligned with the dynamic landscape of emerging industries.

This initiative marks a strategic effort to not only track economic changes more effectively but also guide future policy to strengthen Hong Kong’s role in the global innovation and manufacturing economy.