Now Hong Kong must turn its international edge into national impact

Ken Chu (LLD) is the chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group, with businesses in hospitality, leisure, entertainment, sports, wellness and education in China.

Hong Kong’s first five-year plan marks a new chapter for the city and will prompt discussion about individual priorities and initiatives. But there is another question worth asking: what can Hong Kong bring to the national journey over the next five years?

As China begins its 15th five-year plan, Hong Kong has an opportunity to think more deliberately about its distinctive contribution to national development.

Much has been said about Hong Kong’s role as a “superconnector”. The description remains apt, but that role is evolving. Hong Kong’s value does not come simply from sitting between China and the world. It comes from its ability to help businesses, capital, talent and ideas move between different markets and systems.

That capability has been built over generations. Hong Kong combines deep connections with the mainland with an international financial system, common law tradition, professional expertise and extensive global business networks. These attributes are particularly valuable as geopolitical tensions, technological change and shifting supply chains make cross-border business more complex.