Hong Kong banks score 2.3 out of 10 on quantum readiness
27 JULY 2026, HONG KONG
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority assessed the banking sector's quantum readiness on 27 July 2026 and scored it 2.3 out of 10. The regulator set a target of 10 by 2030 and found that about half of the banks assessed lacked a formal plan. The low score shows the sector sits early in its preparation despite the growing international attention to quantum risk.
The 2030 target gives the score meaning. A target of 10 out of 10 represents full readiness across the dimensions the HKMA measures, so the gap between the current 2.3 and that target maps the scale of work banks must complete over the remaining years. The finding that half the banks lack a formal plan identifies the most basic gap to close first.
A numeric readiness score is a useful supervisory tool. It makes progress measurable and comparable across banks, so both the regulator and each bank can track movement toward the 2030 target. It also makes a lagging bank visible, which creates pressure to act rather than defer, since a low score is harder to explain away than a vague assurance.
Why it matters. The HKMA has quantified a problem that other regulators describe qualitatively: Hong Kong banks start from 2.3 out of 10 with a 2030 target of 10. The score and target together create clear, measurable pressure. Banks without a formal plan have the most ground to make up, and the ones that build an inventory and roadmap now will show the fastest improvement in future assessments.