During the third‑reading stage of the ‘2026 Tax (Amendment) (Automatic Exchange of Information) Bill’, the Deputy Financial Affairs and Budget Bureau delivered a comprehensive address reiterating the government’s resolve to strengthen tax transparency and combat offshore evasion. The speech recapped the successful passage of earlier stages, outlined the key mechanisms of the bill—including mandatory reporting of foreign account income, interest, dividends and capital gains—and underscored Hong Kong’s alignment with the OECD Common Reporting Standard. The Deputy highlighted the need for a phased implementation, proposing a six‑month grace period for smaller financial institutions to upgrade data‑collection systems, and called for continued stakeholder engagement to refine procedural details. He also emphasized that the legislation will take effect on 1 January 2027, with the first data exchanges slated for the subsequent fiscal year. The address concluded with an appeal to Council members to support the bill, framing it as an essential step to preserve Hong Kong’s reputation as a responsible, internationally‑compliant financial centre.