Hong Kong's economy will remain buoyant this year, growing by 2.5%-3.5%, with an expected return to a more robust fiscal position following several years of budget deficits, financial secretary Paul Chan said in his annual budget speech on Wednesday. "In the medium term, protectionism will persist in some major economies, while fragmentation of the global economy will continue. Nevertheless, the rise of the "Global South" and the reshaping of the global trade and investment landscape will unlock new markets and new growth areas," Chan said.