HKTDC Chairman: US-China Tensions Unlikely to Derail Hong Kong Trade Growth
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) hosted its flagship promotional event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Tuesday (June 11), drawing its largest-ever delegation of more than 200 representatives from Hong Kong . HKTDC Chairman Graham Spratt highlighted that rising US-China trade tensions have not dampened Hong Kong's role as a gateway between the mainland and global markets, citing robust export and import growth . The event, spanning finance, technology, professional services, environmental services, and healthcare, underscored the deepening commercial ties between Hong Kong and Southeast Asia .
Key Points
- The "Think Business, Think Hong Kong" event in Kuala Lumpur attracted over 200 Hong Kong delegates, the highest number in the event's history
- Hong Kong's total exports and imports in June surged 53.4% and 45.4% year-on-year respectively, ranking the city as the world's fifth-largest merchandise trading economy
- Bilateral trade between Hong Kong and Malaysia jumped 40% year-on-year in the first half of the year
- The "China Plus One" supply chain strategy has benefited Southeast Asian manufacturers, with Malaysia's Penang emerging as a hub for semiconductor and storage chip production
- HKTDC Chairman Spratt assessed that China's cross-border tax enforcement would have a contained impact on Hong Kong's asset management and property markets
Why It Matters
The strong attendance at the Kuala Lumpur event and the robust trade figures demonstrate Hong Kong's resilience amid geopolitical headwinds and its growing relevance as a neutral business platform connecting mainland China with global markets . As multinational companies accelerate supply chain diversification away from China, Hong Kong's established financial infrastructure and professional services position it to capture increased demand for cross-border deal facilitation and investment management .
The strong attendance at the Kuala Lumpur event and the robust trade figures demonstrate Hong Kong's resilience amid geopolitical headwinds and its growing relevance as a neutral business platform connecting mainland China with global markets . As multinational companies accelerate supply chain diversification away from China, Hong Kong's established financial infrastructure and professional services position it to capture increased demand for cross-border deal facilitation and investment management .