After four years of maintained growth, the global financial crisis led the Hong Kong economy into recession during the third quarter of 2008. The recovery was nevertheless prompt and vigorous and in 2010 the economy resumed a trajectory of strong growth, especially thanks to the dynamism of exports, stimulated by the growth of China. In 2010, the growth is estimated at 6 %.

The government’s priority is now to deal with the vertiginous rise in the real estate prices, which creates problems of social cohesion and access to housing. The announced measures seek to reduce the lever effect on bank lending, reduce speculation, increase the transparency of the market and expand the land available to developers.

The economic crisis has lead to the deterioration of the labor market, particularly in the financial services. However, the unemployment rate decreased to 4.4% in 2010 and should further decrease in 2011.

The manufacturing Industry's contribution to the GDP is also very low. The country's main industrial sectors are textiles, electronic components and household appliances, computer technology and communications.

The tertiary sector, particularly financial services, is the heart of economic activity. It contributes around 90% of the GDP and employs about 80% of the active population. Hong Kong is a services center for Asian companies, especially those that trade with China. Additionally, the tourism industry is booming. mainly due to an exponential increase in the number of visitors from mainland China.

Foreign trade was pursued intensively during these past years. Structurally in a deficit, the trade balance of Hong Kong has worsened due to the quicker rise in imports.

The island's main trade partners are China, Southeast Asia and Japan. 

The FDI fluxes, which have slowed down as an effect of the global recession, have again began to grow in 2010. This tendency will continue, due to the key role which the Asian reagion will play in global growth.

Hong Kong's attraction is due to a number of its strengths: its strategic position which makes the island the access gate to the Chinese market, its status as a free port, its simple and very incentive tax regime, its efficient infrastructure and legal security.