The main issuers of public debt instruments are the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and a number of quasi-public, government-controlled institutions. Corporate, offshore, and supranational organizations raise significant amounts of funds through debt issues in Hong Kong, China.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is one of the principal issuers of Hong Kong dollar government debt, particularly Exchange Fund Bills and Notes (EFBNs). Other issuers include quasi-government institutions such as the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation (HKMC), Hong Kong Airport Authority, Mass Transit Railway Corporation, and the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation.

Corporate issuers from Hong Kong, China; the People’s Republic of China (PRC); and from abroad are major issuers of debt. Among corporations, convertible bond offerings are more popular than conventional bonds, as these instruments enable issuers to avoid principal repayments while allowing earnings to grow in pace with potential future dilutions of equity.

Supranational issuers include the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Although Hong Kong dollar-denominated corporate bonds represent the largest segment of the debt market, many issues are denominated in foreign currencies, as issuers with large funding needs seek to take advantage of Hong Kong, China's access to international capital markets.

A noteworthy development in recent years has been large, yuan-denominated issues by financial institutions in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including the China Development Bank and the Bank of China.