Gold futures set for Hong Kong comeback as mainland China’s appetite for the metal grows

City aims to broaden gold offerings and expand clearing and storage facilities to seize opportunities in the surging market

The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is pressing ahead with the relaunch of gold futures as mainland China’s appetite for the metal continues to grow.

The city would continue to introduce new gold products and facilities to capture the growing opportunities of the gold market, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Thursday at the LME Asia Metals Seminar 2026 in Hong Kong.

The HKEX planned to relaunch gold futures in coming months and seek market feedback to refine the products, Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Joseph Chan Ho-lim told lawmakers on Monday.

It will be the fourth attempt since the 1980s. The most recent launch was in 2017, when the bourse operator introduced gold futures denominated in US dollars and yuan. While both contracts remain listed, there has been no turnover in the past two years, according to exchange data.

“This time is more optimistic because the previous launch was only by the exchange, but now the Hong Kong government is building an ecosystem of clearing and storage while China is also supporting Hong Kong to be a gold trading hub,” said Robert Lee Wai-wang, a Hong Kong lawmaker and chairman of Grand Finance Group, on the sidelines of the seminar.

Financial Secretary Chan said Asia accounted for some 60 per cent of global annual gold demand.

“To better capture these opportunities, we are building a central clearing system for gold, with trial operations scheduled for this year,” he said. “Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Airport Authority is fast expanding gold storage capacity, with a target exceeding 2,000 tonnes within three years. Last month, Hong Kong also listed a new gold ETF [exchange-traded fund] with physical redemption options.”