India-Hong Kong Bilateral Relations

Consulate General of India

Hong Kong

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India - Hong Kong SAR Bilateral Relations

 

 Background

1. India’s relations with Hong Kong are historical and date back to the 1840s when Hong Kong became a British colony after the Treaty of Nanking as the result of the First Opium War. From trading ties established in the middle of the 19th century (1840 onwards), relations today span sectors such as investment finance, services, maritime, shipping, logistics, culture, education and trade.
   
   

Political Relations and visits

2. The Commission for India, set up in 1951, was re-designated as Consulate General of India on October 15, 1996, in advance of China’s assumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong, which took place on July 1, 1997. The Consulate also has accreditation to Macau, which reverted from Portuguese rule to China on December 19, 1999.
3. The early 2000s witnessed keen interest in Hong Kong in India’s economic growth and its status as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Expectations here are that with deepening of economic reforms in India in the coming years, India-Hong Kong relations should deepen and trade and economic ties should expand.
4. In October 2010, Donald Tsang, the then Chief Executive (CE) of Hong Kong along with the Governor of Guangdong province led a business delegation on a visit to India. During the visit, he met Governor of Maharashtra, MOS for External Affairs & Finance Minister during his visit.
5. In February 2016, at the invitation of Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the then Chief Executive (CE) of Hong Kong CY Leung visited India in order to increase the level of economic engagement between India and Hong Kong and provide boost to the business, investment and people-to-people links. It was the first official visit to India by a Hong Kong CE. He led a 40 strong multi-sectoral business delegation, the largest one accompanying CE amongst his official overseas visits. During his visit, CE called on Hon’ble Prime Minister, Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister. He also addressed the business events organised by Indian and Hong Kong Chambers of Commerce.
6. Hong Kong has always acted as a “Gateway to China” for the companies in rest of the world. With the rapid growth in engagement between the Chinese and Indian economies, Hong Kong presents a great opportunity to act as a “Gateway to India” for the mainland companies and become an important stakeholder and a beneficiary of this huge opportunity.
7. Hong Kong has witnessed a series of High Level visits, which are detailed below:
   a.   May 2015: visit of Gujarat Chief Minister Smt. Anandiben Patel
   b.   September 2015: visit of Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley
   c.   September 2015: visit of Telangana Chief Minister Shri K. Chandrashekhar Rao
   d.   May 2016: visit of Haryana Chief Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar
   f.   May 2018: visit of MoS (Tourism) Shri K. J. Alphons
   g.   May 2018: visit of MoS (H&FW) Shri Ashwani Kumar Choubey
   e.   September 2018: visit of Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Raghubar Das
8. With effect from January 2017, Hong Kong government made Pre-Arrival Registration a compulsory requirement for all Indian nationals who intend to visit Hong Kong visa-free for 14 days.

Bilateral Agreements

9. Agreements signed between India and Hong Kong include:
   a.   Agreement on Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgements (1968), [which was re-notified by Government of India in July 2012 due to a change in the nomenclature of Hong Kong courts following handover of sovereignty to China in 1997],
   b.   Agreement Constituted by Exchange of Letters Between the PRC and India on matters related to the Consular Convention (December 1991),
   c.   Air Services Agreement (1996), and an MoU on Air Services Agreements pursuant to the Air Services Agreement (February 2012),
   d.   Customs Cooperation Agreement (1997),
   e.   Surrender of Fugitive Offenders (1997),
   f.   Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (September 2009),
   g.   Agreement for Mutual Recognition Arrangement in respect of Authorized Economic Operation (AEO) programs between Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) of Government of India and the Customs and Excise Department of the HKSAR Government (November 2013)
   h.   Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons (January 2015), and
   i.   Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) (March 2018)

Commercial relations

10. There has been considerable growth in the commercial relations between India and Hong Kong. Hong Kong companies also have been increasingly looking at India as an investment destination. Many Hong Kong companies have huge presence in India. This includes China Light and Power (CLP), Li & Fung, Kerry Logistics and Peak Re, to name a few.
11. Hong Kong is host to a large number of Indian professionals in banking, IT and shipping. Four public sector banks and two private sector banks from India are currently operating in Hong Kong. Numerous global financial majors, investment institutions and fund managers operating in India have their regional headquarters in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is also a major sourcing centre for Indian companies. It has emerged as a major re-exporter of items it imports from India to Mainland China.
12. Hong Kong is a major hub for exhibitions and conferences. Trade fairs in Hong Kong are an important opportunity as they provide a platform for the buyers and sellers across the globe to come together and interact. More than 60 fairs are held in Hong Kong annually. Indian companies participate in many of these exhibitions to promote exports, mainly through export promotion councils and sectoral promotion boards.  

Bilateral Trade

13. India was Hong Kong’s 10th largest import market destination in FY 2025-2026. The value of imports of goods from India to Hong Kong increased by 33% over a year earlier to US$ 8 billion. On the other hand, India was also Hong Kong’s 5th largest export destination. The value of goods exported from Hong Kong to India decreased by 23% over a year earlier to US$24 billion. India-Hong Kong bilateral trade was US$ 32 billion in FY 2025-2026, registering an increase of 25%. 
14. Indian exports to Hong Kong primarily include pearls, precious and semi precious stones, electrical machinery and equipment, mineral fuels and mineral oils, nuclear machinery, fish and crustaceans, optical and medical instruments, railway or tramway locomotives, raw hides and skins and leather, pharmaceutical products, and articles of apparel and clothing accessories.

India-Hong Kong SAR Bilateral Trade

Values in US $ Millions

(Source: DGCI&S, India)

Trade and Investments

15. Hong Kong occupies the 15th position in FDI equity inflows into India with cumulative FDI amount of US $ 4.8 billion (April 2000 to December 2025).From January to December 2025 (During Calendar Year 2025) FDI equity flow from Hong Kong is US$ 61.40 Million

Cultural relations

16. Indian Council of Cultural Relations and the Chinese University of Hong Kong signed an MoU on ‘Establishment of the ICCR visiting professorship of Indian Studies’ in 2015. The MoU was renewed in May 2023.
17. A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Consulate General of India, Hong Kong, Central Hindi Directorate, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education of India & Hong Kong Examinations & Assessment Authority (HKEAA) to facilitate the conduct of Hindi language examination for students sitting for their Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE). 
18. The International Day of Yoga is celebrated in Hong Kong every year since its inception. The event is well-attended, including by members of the Consular Corps, Indian Diaspora, expatriates and locals. In 2026, the International Day of Yoga event was organized at the Convention Hall in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), which was well attended by members of the Indian diaspora and local HongKongers.
19. The Consulate has organised multiple Indian Film Festivals since January 2025, including Raj Kapoor Film Festival, first-ever Indian Film Festival in Macau and a Film Festival showcasing Bollywood Romantic films. The Film Festivals were well-attended by the locals as well as the Indian diaspora. Further, in March 2025, the Post organised the first-ever Incredible India Festival in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong in partnership with Lan Kwai Fong Association (LKFA), which showcased a kaleidoscope of Indian culture including Indian Hindustani classical music and classical dance performances, Garba folk dance, Bollywood fusion dances, Yoga sessions, cooking workshop, screening of Indian film 'RRR', Ayurveda wellness talk, Kerala wall mural folk art and desi bazaar showcasing regional Indian cuisines, Indian handicrafts including ODOP (One District One Product) items from the state of Rajasthan, masala chai, spices, Indian dresses and jewellery, and Ayurveda wellness products. The event saw participation of around 2000 people, with extremely positive response from locals and expats in Hong Kong, and enthusiastic participation of the Indian diaspora community in various events scheduled in the Incredible India Festival.
20. In March 2026, the Consulate organised the second edition of the Incredible India Festival in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong in partnership with Lan Kwai Fong Association (LKFA), which showcased a kaleidoscope of Indian culture including Indian Hindustani classical music and classical dance performances, Garba folk dance, Bollywood fusion dances, Yoga sessions, cooking workshop, screening of Indian film 'RRR', Ayurveda wellness talk, Kerala wall mural folk art and desi bazaar showcasing regional Indian cuisines, Indian handicrafts, masala chai, spices, Indian dresses and jewelry, saree draping, and Ayurveda wellness products. The event was very well attended, with an extremely positive response from locals and expats in Hong Kong, and enthusiastic participation of the Indian diaspora community in various events scheduled in the Incredible India Festival.

Indian Community in Hong Kong

21. Hong Kong has for more than 150 years been home to a large Indian community and its contribution to Hong Kong’s emergence as a hub of global finance and trade is well known. Due to their long presence, Indians have been able to integrate themselves into the mainstream Hong Kong society. The Indian community is equally proud of its dual heritage and of their relations with both India and Hong Kong. Members of the Indian community established well known institutions in Hong Kong such as the Hong Kong University, the Ruttonjee Hospital and the famous Star Ferry.
22. Increasingly, a large number of Indian professionals are coming into Hong Kong, working in the service industry, banking and finance, information technology, shipping, etc. The Indian community in Hong Kong is estimated to be nearly 44140 (including Indian nationals and People of Indian origin) and approximately 32790 hold Indian passports. Sindhis, Gujaratis and Punjabis (Sikh) form the largest component of the community. There are more than 40 Indian associations present in Hong Kong that are run by diaspora/ people of Indian origin.
23. So far, four Hong Kong based persons of Indian origin have been awarded the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award: Late Dr. Hari Harilela (2003), Late Mr Rusy M Shroff (2006), Mr. Harindarpal Singh Banga (2011), and Mr. Lal Lokumal Chellaram (2021).
24. In 2024,  the number of Indian students studying in Hong Kong universities was 553.

Useful Resources:

• Consulate’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CGIHongKongChina  
• Consulate’s Twitter account: https://x.com/CGIHongKong 
• Consulate’s Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/cgihongkong/ 
• Ministry of External Affairs website: https://www.mea.gov.in/