On April 29 2026, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in conjunction with the banking sector’s Taskforce on SME Lending, unveiled a comprehensive suite of measures designed to bolster small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) amid heightened global economic volatility.Firstly,The 18 participating banks in the Taskforce have further expanded the size of dedicated funds from HK$370 billion in October 2024 to over HK$450 billion at present, that used to be set aside in their loan portfolio for SMEs.Secondly, the participating banks will provide targeted credit relief which includes tenor extensions and flexible repayment schedules specifically for the transport, logistics, and manufacturing sectors which have impacted on their operational performance caused by fluctuating oil prices.Thirdly, the participating banks will speed up the approval process and inform SMEs for their finance application within a 30 business days time frame.This will enhance the efficiency and transparency of the approval process, enabling customers to stay informed about their application status and make flexible planning and financial arrangements in response to market developments and operational needsFurthermore, the HKMA is championing business transformation by introducing “step-up” repayment plans for supporting SMEs on expanding in digital,green initiatives and transformation processes.The participating banks in the Taskforce will introduce loan arrangements with customised, flexible repayment plans that are tailored to the specific business needs of individual SMEs.Thus, this will encourage SMEs to work on further business transformation.Lastly, these measures include deepening fintech integration in which the participating banks will utilize trade data to automate credit assessments and expedite trade finance through the Cargo Pilot Programme and the Commercial Data Interchange (CDI). This can benefit them to conduct credit risk assessments on the enterprises more effectively as a result.
This latest round of support builds upon a robust framework that has already benefited over 89,000 cases since 2024, representing an aggregate credit limit exceeding HK$209 billion, ensuring Hong Kong’s SMEs remain resilient during structural economic shifts.
Source:https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/news-and-media/press-releases/2026/04/20260429-4/