FINANCE

China to Let Mainland Insurers Buy Hong Kong ETFs Through Stock Connect

Published: Aug. 19, 2026 3:35 a.m. GMT+8

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China’s financial regulator said mainland insurers will be allowed to invest in Hong Kong-listed ETFs through Stock Connect. Photo: VCG

China’s top financial regulator said mainland insurance funds will be allowed to invest in Hong Kong-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through the cross-border Stock Connect program, a move expected to bring a new pool of long-term capital into the city’s market.

The change could strengthen Hong Kong’s role as an international asset-management hub while giving mainland insurers more options to diversify their portfolios.

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China’s regulator will let mainland insurers invest in Hong Kong-listed ETFs via Stock Connect, with no timeline set.
Hong Kong officials welcomed the move, citing support from Beijing and more long-term capital.
As of July 2026, 31 ETFs were eligible; southbound ETF daily turnover rose 61% YoY to HK$5.8B.

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Who’s Who

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What Happened When

July 2022：: Cross-border ETF trading under Stock Connect was launched.

As of June 30, 2026：: Combined average daily turnover in northbound and southbound ETF Connect trading was 4.75 times higher than in the program’s first year.

In the first seven months of 2026：: Average daily turnover in southbound ETF trading rose 61% from a year earlier to about HK$5.8 billion; average daily turnover for Hong Kong’s broader ETF market reached HK$40.6 billion, up 22%.

As of the end of July 2026：: 31 Hong Kong-listed ETFs were available to mainland investors after a series of eligibility changes.

Tuesday, August 19, 2026：: Xiao Yuanqi, deputy head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, disclosed at a meeting that mainland insurance funds will be allowed to invest in Hong Kong-listed ETFs through the Stock Connect program.

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