Hong Kong ─ Switzerland

The bilateral relationship between Hong Kong and Switzerland remains stable. In 2022, Switzerland ranked 16th among Hong Kong’s trading partners in the world. The total trade between the two places amounted to CHF 9.17 billion in 2022. About CHF 2.12 billion or 3.9% of the total trade between Switzerland and the Mainland of China was routed through Hong Kong in 2022.

• 16th place
  HK's trading partner in the world
  (2022)
• CHF 9.17 billion
  Bilateral trade volume
  (2022)
• 3rd place
  Switzerland's trading partner in Asia
  (2022)

In 2022, Hong Kong's main exports to Switzerland were ores and concentrates of precious metals, waste, scrap and sweepings of precious metals (other than of gold) (52.4%), silver and platinum (25.5%) and jewellery (19.4%). Major Swiss exports to Hong Kong included watches and clocks (34.3%), jewellery (20.8%) and silver and platinum (10.6%).

As of 2022, there were 54 regional headquarters, 84 regional offices and 117 local offices in Hong Kong representing parent companies located in Switzerland as well as using Hong Kong as a gateway for doing business with the Mainland of China and the rest of Asia.

In January 2018, authorities and private sector representatives from Hong Kong and Switzerland signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) in Switzerland on strengthening collaboration in financial markets, fintech and promotion of private wealth management.

In October 2017, Hong Kong has signed an agreement with Switzerland for conducting automatic exchange of financial account information in tax matters (AEOI).

In June 2011, Hong Kong and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member, signed a Free Trade Agreement. The agreement is Hong Kong's first free trade agreement with European economies. It covers trade in services and goods as well as investment, and other trade-related issues like protection of intellectual property. The agreement has further strengthened bilateral relations between Hong Kong and Switzerland.

Hong Kong and Switzerland also signed a comprehensive agreement on the avoidance of double taxation (CDTA) in December 2010. The CDTA would help investors better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities, foster closer economic and trade links between the two places, and provide added incentives for companies in Switzerland to do business or invest in Hong Kong, and vice versa.

Recent high-level visits underline the importance of relations between the two places. In May 2019, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, welcomed a finance delegation led by Zurich Canton Government Councilor, Mr Ernst Stocker, to Hong Kong. In September 2018, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met with the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Professor Klaus Schwab, in Hong Kong. In October 2017, Ms Corine Mauch, Mayor of Zurich visited Hong Kong and met with the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam. In April 2017, Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer, Head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), led a delegation from the Confederation and Swiss financial centre to Hong Kong.

From Hong Kong, in April 2023, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, led a delegation to visit top-notch companies from the biotechnological and pharmaceutical sector in Switzerland. The Secretary also hosted a reception at the 48th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (Geneva Inventions). In January 2023, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, travelled to Davos to hold bilateral talks with representatives from politics, business and the media and to take part in various events and receptions as part of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting. In January 2020, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, leading a Hong Kong delegation, attended the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, joined the visit. In June 2019, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited Geneva, Switzerland to attend the 108th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC). In January 2019, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos. The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, joined the visit. In October 2018, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, attended the Swiss International Finance Forum in Zurich and delivered a keynote speech on "40 years of reform and opening up in China: A Hong Kong Perspective". In January 2018, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, visited Switzerland and met with senior government officials and representatives from the financial services, innovation and technology, culture and education sectors. Mrs Carrie Lam also spoke at two panel sessions at the WEF Annual Meeting 2018 in Davos.