[Bond Investment Guide] How to Buy Bonds in Hong Kong?
[Silver Bond 2026] Guaranteed return of 4.25%! How can you secure the maximum "9 exemptions" when subscribing?
Silver Bonds are retail bonds issued by the Hong Kong government for individuals aged 60 or above. The latest issuance in 2026 has a maximum size of HK$55 billion, with a three-year term, a guaranteed annual interest rate of 4.25%, and is linked to inflation. They carry low credit risk, have no secondary market trading, and allow for early redemption of principal and interest. The subscription period runs from August 21 to September 4, with a minimum subscription of HK$10,000. Subscribers who place orders through Futu Securities enjoy exemption from nine types of fees. Allocation follows a "rotating distribution" mechanism, giving priority to small investors, with an upper limit of HK$1 million per investor. Strong demand is expected, as these bonds offer stable returns and unique market characteristics, making them well-suited for investors seeking fixed-income exposure.
What is a silver bond?
The Silver Bond is a retail bond issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, offering a stable‑return investment option for individuals aged 60 or above. Its interest rate is linked to the average annual inflation rate and features a minimum yield; the principal is repaid at maturity. The Silver Bond 2026 was officially launched on September 15, with an issuance size of up to HK$55 billion (targeting HK$50 billion) and a coupon rate of no less than 4.25%.
2026's latest silver bond subscription offer: Futu provides up to "9 exemptions"
Currently, Futu offers subscription to silver bonds and provides9 free offers! Includes waivers of subscription fees, early redemption fees, custody fees, and more. Currently, if you successfully open an account and subscribe, you can also enjoy up to$1,600 Welcome Bonus。
Charging item | Charging | Charging party | |
Subscription | Subscription handling fee | Free of charge | Futu Securities waives |
Application processing fee | Free of charge | Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company¹ | |
Regular dividend payments | Interest collection service fee | Free of charge | Futu Securities waives |
Bond redemption | Redemption fee upon maturity | Free of charge | Futu Securities waives |
Early redemption fee | Free of charge | Futu Securities waives | |
Other services | Inactive account fee | Free of charge | Futu Securities waives |
Custody fee | Free of charge | Futu Securities waives | |
Transfer fee | Free of charge | Futu Securities waives | |
Transfer-out fee | Free of charge | Futu Securities waives |
1 Futu Securities bears this fee on behalf of its clients, as charged by the Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company.
Note: Fees may be subject to real-time adjustments in accordance with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or relevant regulatory authorities, and the final announcement shall prevail.
What are the latest eligibility requirements for Silver Bonds?
1. Age Requirement: Applicants must be aged 60 or older as of the bond application deadline.
2. Hong Kong Resident Status: Applicants must hold a valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or a Hong Kong Identity Card.
Subscription Method for the Silver Bond 2026
After the subscription opens, you can go to the Futubull app—Market—New Share Center to find Silver Bond and place your order. Note: Applicants who subscribe to Silver Bond through Futu must hold a Futu Securities account.
The silver bond is expected to announce its issuance size, subscription details, and allocation results no later than September 14, with an official issuance date of September 15, 2026. You can check the subscription results by going to the Futubull App—Market—New Share Center—Subscription Records.
Latest Subscription Details for the Silver Bond 2026
Subscription Period: August 21, 2026, 09:00 – September 4, 2026, 14:00
Minimum denomination: HK$10,000 per lot
Bond term: 3 years, with interest payments made every six months.
Guaranteed annual interest rate: 4.25% per annum
Each person may submit only one application; duplicate applications will not be accepted, and investors may apply for the bonds through only one designated distributing institution.
What are the features of silver bonds?
1. Guaranteed minimum mechanism, unaffected by interest rate fluctuations
The interest rate on silver bonds is linked to inflation, with the higher of the fixed and floating rates applied as the effective interest rate. The fixed rate is 4.25%, while the floating rate is calculated as the arithmetic average of the year-on-year changes in the Composite Consumer Price Index published by the Census and Statistics Department over the most recent six-month period, thereby mitigating uncertainty and controversy arising from inflationary fluctuations.
Because the government has "guaranteed" a minimum interest rate of 4.25%, if you successfully win one unit of the silver bond—worth HK$10,000—you will receive at least 4.25% in annual interest, or HK$1,275. Moreover, should inflation exceed 4.25%, your actual yield will be even higher.
Silver bonds are issued by the Hong Kong Government and boast a high credit rating, resulting in extremely low credit risk. These bonds do not have a secondary market; if investors wish to cash out before maturity, the government will redeem them at par value plus any accrued interest. Should the need arise, bondholders may sell their bonds back to the government to recover both principal and interest, so investors need not worry about the impact of interest-rate cut cycles during the holding period.
2. "Cyclical Distribution," benefiting small investors
The allocation mechanism for silver bonds is very similar to that of green bonds and iBonds, aiming to accommodate retail investors with a per‑person cap of HK$1 million. If total subscriptions do not exceed HK$50 billion, all applications will be fully satisfied; if subscriptions are between HK$50 billion and HK$55 billion, additional issuance may be undertaken on a discretionary basis to meet all requests. Should total subscriptions exceed HK$55 billion, allocations will be made on a rolling basis.
The so‑called "circular allocation" can be understood simply as follows: the government will first allocate a tranche of bonds to each applicant. If the number of applicants exceeds 5 million, a lottery will be held to determine who receives bond allocations (with a target issuance size of HK$50 billion).
If any silver bonds remain, the government will allocate one additional bond to each citizen who subscribed to second‑hand or higher‑tier silver bonds. Should there be insufficient bonds to issue a second hand to every eligible applicant, allocation will be determined by lottery. Thereafter, the government will continue to apply this mechanism, issuing third, fourth, or further hands of silver bonds to investors until all available bonds have been distributed.
Advantages of silver bonds
1. Guaranteed Return
The guaranteed annual interest rate is 4.25%, and currently, Futu Cash Treasure offers a maximum 7-day annualized yield of 2.1844% for HKD and 3.5624% for USD.
2. Backed by the government, with extremely high security
Silver bonds are issued by the government and boast a high credit rating. They guarantee repayment of principal at par upon maturity, which is their greatest appeal to risk-averse seniors.
3. High flexibility, stable cash flow
With a term of just three years, the funds are not locked up for the long term, and holders can request early redemption from the government at par value at any time for other purposes. The silver bond pays interest semiannually, helping seniors meet their daily living expenses and generating a stable cash flow.
4. Low cost
By participating in the subscription through Futu, you can enjoy nine fee waivers (no fees for subscription, redemption, etc.). Bond offerings are available in lots of HK$10,000, making them accessible to all.
5. Simple and easy to understand
Silver bonds do not involve complex investment structures and, unlike stocks, are not subject to price‑fluctuation risk, making them accessible even to older investors with limited experience.
Silver Bond Dividend Payment Details
Year of release | Fixed interest rate | Maximum allocation | Total dividend per share* | Maximum total dividend payout* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | 3.85% | 17 | At least 1,155* | At least 19,635* |
2024 | 4.00% | 24 | At least 1,200* | At least 28,800* |
2023 | 5.00% | 23 | At least 1,500* | At least 34,500* |
2022 | 4.00% | 21 | 1,200 | 25,200 |
2021 | 3.50% | 14 | 1,052 | 14,740 |
2020 | 3.50% | 14 | 1,052 | 14,740 |
2019 | 3.00% | 6 | 912 | 5,472 |
2018 | 3.00% | 8 | 910 | 7,280 |
2017 | 2.00% | 10 | 722 | 7,220 |
2016 | 2.00% | 5 | 679 | 3,395 |
Unit: Hong Kong dollars
*The Silver Bond 2024/2025 has not yet matured, and both the dividend period and the interest rate are calculated based on a fixed rate.
The foregoing information is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results and does not represent any forecast or guarantee of returns on silver bonds.
Futu provides9-Item Fee Waiver Offer, all of which are directly waived at the time of customer subscription. The waived fees include the subscription handling fee, application handling fee, custody fee, dormant account fee, transfer-in fee, transfer-out fee, interest collection handling fee, early redemption fee, and maturity redemption fee. In addition, customers who successfully open an account now can enjoy up to$1,600 Welcome Bonus!


