After the storm: how Hong Kong can hold on to its status as a global business hub in the Asia-Pacific

ABSTRACT

Hong Kong went through turbulence and uncertainty when social unrest in 2019 became out of control, changing geopolitics triggered by US-China rivalries reshaped the entire business environment, and COVID-19 brought most economic activities to a standstill. Challenges came from all fronts, and at one point of time, observers expected a collapse of this global city. However, Hong Kong responded, as the six contributions in this special issue will show. The effects of the punitive US measures are two-sided. Also, Hong Kong has demonstrated institutional resilience in making strategic response adjustments. It holds on to its status as a highly ranked global financial centre and a business hub.

KEYWORDS:

• US-China rivalries
• Cold War
• political embeddedness
• institutional tenacity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tai-lok Lui

Tai-lok Lui is Chair Professor of Hong Kong Studies and Director of the Academy of Hong Kong Studies at The Education University of Hong Kong. His research interests are in the areas of class analysis, urban sociology, and economic sociology. He is the co-editor of Hong Kong 20 Years after the Handover and Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Hong Kong.

Ingyu Oh

Ingyu Oh is Professor of Organizational Behaviour and Business Communication at Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka, Japan. Before coming to Japan, he held professorial and other positions in international business and organizational studies at Korea University, Bristol Business School, UC Berkeley, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, the University of Waikato and the University of Oregon. He has published numerous books, monographs and journal articles in the area of organizational studies, pop culture industries, innovation and globalization. He is Associate Editor of Asia Pacific Business Review.

Chris Rowley

Chris Rowley is with the Kellogg College, University of Oxford, UK, he is Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Education, Tohoku University, Japan, and he is Professor Emeritus at Bayes Business School, City University of London, UK. He has over 30 years’ experience in university systems in the UK, Europe and Asia and has won several international grants and has published over 800 articles, books, chapters, and practitioner pieces. He regularly provides interviews, expert comments and opinion pieces to the international media, including news services, TV, radio and practitioner outlets.