Disclosed are: a hollow micro particle having a reduced refraction index and excellent alkali resistance; a method for producing the hollow micro particle; a coating composition which can form a coating film having an excellent anti-reflective effect and excellent alkali resistance; and an article which can exhibit a high anti-reflective effect for a long period. Specifically disclosed are: a hollow micro particle which is mainly composed of SiO2 and contains Zr, wherein the content of Zr (in terms of ZrO2) is 0.1 to 15 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of SiO2; a coating composition comprising the hollow micro particle and a disperse medium; an article comprising a base material and a coating film comprising the coating composition and formed on the base material; and a method for producing a hollow micro particle comprising the following steps (a) and (b): (a) in a dispersion solution containing an SiO2 precursor, a zirconium compound and a core micro particle, causing a shell mainly composed of SiO2 and containing Zr to precipitate on the surface of the core micro particle to produce a core-shell particle; and (b) dissolving or decomposing the core micro particle in the core-shell particle.