The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has submitted earlier its recommendations for the 2026-27 Hong Kong Budget, urging the Government to take decisive action to build a high skilled workforce, strengthen long-term competitiveness, and accelerate strategic growth ahead of Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s Budget announcement on 25 February 2026.

In its submission to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, CIMA outlines a set of eight practical recommendations across three priority areas:

• Prioritise the strategic growth agenda for Hong Kong in the New Industrial Age
• Promote strategic tax reforms to support economic growth
• Advance the skills agenda

Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, Chief Executive at The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, said:

“Hong Kong is at a pivotal moment in its economic transformation. By championing innovation, modernising tax policy, investing in future‑skills development and digital capabilities, and deepening collaboration across the Greater Bay Area, it can strengthen its role as leading global financial and business centre. Hong Kong has what it takes to move to the next stage of strategic growth – and now is the time to act.”

CIMA’s key proposals for the upcoming Budget include:

• Prioritise the strategic growth agenda for Hong Kong in the New Industrial Age

·         Adopt a clear and forward-looking industrial strategy that complements Hong Kong’s established role as a global financial and business hub. 

·         Prioritise the industry and technology agenda by fostering high‑value sectors such as digital technologies and AI, and leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, health sciences and green energy.

·         Enable SMEs and startups to thrive and grow by addressing scale-up challenges, access to finance, and entrepreneurial growth.

• Promote strategic tax reforms to support economic growth

·       Introduce a Business Transformation Super Deduction, allowing companies – particularly SMEs – to claim enhanced tax relief on qualifying capital and training expenditure related to digital transformation to improve productivity and resilience.
·       Couple the Super Deduction with eligible spending on green technologies and climate risk mitigation, encouraging businesses to integrate sustainability into their transformation strategies.

• Advance the skills agenda

·        Incentivise self‑learning by extending the Salaries Tax deduction for self‑education to online courses from globally recognised providers to help build a highly skilled workforce.

·        Extend the Continuing Education Fund (CEF) to fully reimburse tuition and exam fees for professional qualifications such as the CGMA Professional Qualification, CPA Exam, and technology- and ESG-related learning.

·        Establish a formal recognition framework for finance and business professionals to demonstrate Hong Kong’s commitment to attracting and retaining world-class finance and business expertise.

·        Reduce regulatory barriers and expand mutual recognition of professional qualifications to improve talent mobility between Hong Kong and Mainland China.