Business confidence in Hong Kong has strengthened for 2026 despite continuing global uncertainty, according to a survey published on Monday by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Hong Kong.
The survey, which polled senior decision-makers at AmCham member companies, found that over 50% of respondents were optimistic about the business outlook for the next 12 months, up from 33% last year.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing continue over issues including trade tariffs. Last October, after talks in South Korea between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two countries agreed on measures including trimming tariffs, resuming U.S. soybean purchases, cracking down on illicit fentanyl trade, and pausing export controls on rare earths.
“Companies continue to view U.S.-China tensions as the foremost business challenge,” the AmCham report said.
Respondents cited general uncertainty in the outlook (61%) and the perceived lack of differentiation between Hong Kong and mainland China (62%) as the biggest factors affecting their companies. Other challenges included trade tariffs (30%) and compliance with U.S. and Chinese regulations (29%). The survey was conducted between November 2025 and January 2026.
AmCham noted that Hong Kong remains an attractive corporate base, with 92% of multinational corporations indicating they have no plans to relocate their headquarters from the city in the next three years.
A Hong Kong government spokesman told Reuters in January that improving consumer and business sentiment, along with expected further U.S. interest rate cuts, is likely to support consumption and investment, even as external uncertainties persist amid rising geopolitical tensions.