Hong Kong Textile Industry Unveils Six Strategies to Align with 15th Five-Year Plan, Sham Shui Po Poised as Fashion Hub

Hong Kong's textile and garment industry is actively redefining its role, moving beyond traditional processing and trade intermediation. On July 14, the industry jointly released a research report titled 'A Textile and Garment Industry Plan to Create New Advantages for Hong Kong,' proposing six development strategies. The core objective is to upgrade Hong Kong from a 'follower' into a key 'super value-adder' within the national 15th Five-Year Plan framework. This move comes as China's textile sector transitions from scale leadership to comprehensive leadership, and Hong Kong's strengths in supply chain management, financing, and design remain irreplaceable. The report was authored by the Li & Fung Supply Chain Research Institute of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, with guidance from the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) and support from multiple industry associations. One of the most actionable recommendations is to upgrade the functional positioning of the Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA) from a training body to an executive agency for industry coordination, serving as a liaison window with national authorities. Another key proposal focuses on revitalizing the trade finance ecosystem. The industry calls on the government to expand the definition of Hong Kong's corporate treasury hub competitiveness to include 'procurement centers' and 'procurement activities,' creating a 'CTC+ model.' This would attract multinational procurement centers to relocate or return to Hong Kong, generating significant trade finance demand and benefiting local SMEs. On the fashion front, the industry envisions building Hong Kong into an international fashion hub by attracting global talent with an open attitude and fostering long-term collaboration between international designers and local supply chains. Flagship events like 'Hong Kong Fashion Fest' should be scaled up, with cross-sector integration into film, music, and tourism. A long-term plan includes transforming Sham Shui Po into a regional fashion landmark. Technologically, AI application is seen as a key driver of new productive forces. The industry recommends establishing an 'Industry AI Application Acceleration Plan' to subsidize fine-tuning of general AI models for textile-specific use, and creating a fast-track 'AI+Textile' approval process for joint applications by enterprises and local AI firms. Specific measures include increasing AI skills training subsidies for SMEs, deepening collaboration between enterprises and public institutions for digital transformation guidance, and optimizing the 'Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund (TSF)' to build an 'AI Tool Library.' The underlying logic is for the government to share initial R&D risks while industry organizations lead implementation, preventing IP leakage and nurturing digital talent. These strategies collectively aim to position Hong Kong as an indispensable 'super value-adder' in global supply chains, driving high-quality development for the national textile industry.