Hong Kong ranks fifth in Asia–Pacific for digital resilience, but a gap between leadership ambition and operational execution is limiting how quickly enterprises can recover from disruption, according to new research commissioned by Telstra International and published by Economist Impact.
Strengths and structural gaps
Hong Kong scores strongly on the “external enabling environment”, ranking third in APAC, and fourth on both leadership and workforce and cultural agility, reflecting active board‑level engagement and cross‑departmental digital discussion [Economist Impact 2026]. However, it sits fifth on technology and infrastructure and seventh on risk management, highlighting where the next gains will be needed.
The authors note that legacy dependence remains a key constraint: 62% of Hong Kong respondents report continued reliance on outdated infrastructure, the second‑highest share among surveyed markets and above the 52% average.
While 78% say they have formal digital or cyber resilience strategies, fewer than half appear to have implemented enterprise‑wide recovery mechanisms that are regularly tested, and just 36% take part in government‑led initiatives to boost cyber awareness and digital literacy [Economist Impact 2026]. This suggests a gap between policy intent and practical execution.
Culture, governance and recovery readiness
Leadership engagement is strong, yet only 38% of respondents say recent executive discussions have led to new investments or policy changes, below the 45% regional average, and 41% locate accountability for resilience in a single department, typically IT. Concentrating ownership in one function can slow coordination and impede holistic recovery planning.
“Recovery capabilities have not advanced at the same pace as strategy,” said Charles Ross, head of policy and insights, Asia‑Pacific, Economist Impact. “Modernisation is important, but digital resilience cannot be achieved through replacement alone. Organisations must ensure new technologies are flexible, rigorously tested and embedded into core decision‑making so they can respond effectively under stress.”
For Roary Stasko, CEO of Telstra International, the priority is “digital resilience that performs in practice” [Telstra International 2026].
As disruption becomes more frequent and interconnected, recovery time and continuity will increasingly shape competitive advantage.
