On July 14, 2026, Hong Kong's textile and garment industry released a research report titled 'A Scheme for Creating New Advantages for Hong Kong's Textile and Garment Industry,' proposing six key policy recommendations to proactively align with the national 15th Five-Year Plan. This move signals a shift from passive adaptation to active strategic positioning within the national framework for traditional industry optimization.
The report, authored by a team from HKUST's Li & Fung Supply Chain Research Institute and guided by the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), enjoys broad support from the Hong Kong Textile Council, the Federation of Hong Kong Textile Industries, and multiple trade associations. The timing is deliberate, aiming to influence policy formulation during the critical drafting phase of the 15th Five-Year Plan.
Core Proposals: From Institutional Upgrades to Ecosystem Revitalization
A central recommendation is to upgrade the 'Clothing Industry Training Authority' into a more powerful executive body responsible for overall industry coordination and serving as a liaison with national authorities. This would create a more unified and decisive 'industry brain,' benefiting mainland buyers through streamlined standards and supply chain coordination.
In trade finance, the report suggests expanding the definition of Hong Kong's corporate treasury hub to include 'procurement centers' and 'procurement activities' under a 'CTC+ model.' The logic is clear: attracting multinational procurement centers to Hong Kong would generate significant trade financing demand, revitalizing financial flows into the real economy. For SMEs relying on Hong Kong for re-export trade, this could lower financing costs and improve cash flow.
Fashion Hub and AI+ as Dual Engines
The industry proposes an open-door policy to attract global fashion talent and suggests developing Sham Shui Po into a regional fashion landmark. This is not merely a cultural initiative but a strategy to upgrade Hong Kong from a manufacturing and trading hub into an international fashion center with cultural export capabilities. For mainland brands, this offers a low-cost testing ground for 'telling China's story' and going global.
On the technology front, the report emphasizes the implementation of an 'AI+ textile' strategy. It recommends establishing an 'Industry AI Application Acceleration Program' to fund fine-tuning of general AI models for textile-specific tasks. This means SMEs can access pre-tuned AI tools for quality inspection, production scheduling, and design without developing their own models. For mainland factories, a successful Hong Kong pilot could provide replicable solutions, lowering the digital transformation barrier for SMEs in the Yangtze and Pearl River Deltas.