The business leaders who aren't worried about Occupy Central

High property prices and inadequate infrastructure were more serious threats to Hong Kong's competitiveness than Occupy Central, speakers at the South China Morning Post's Redefining Hong Kong debate said yesterday.

"We have no problems with Occupy Central. It's not a huge issue. I don't think it will slow down business," said Ian Bolin, chief transformation officer of Infiniti, the luxury brand of Japanese car giant Nissan Motor. Infiniti's global headquarters is in Citibank Tower in Central.

Occupy Central would also not affect Digital Realty, because its Hong Kong staff could work from home using online technology, said Kris Kumar, the US data centre firm's Asia-Pacific head.

"There is always something political going on," said Robert Partridge, Asia-Pacific private equity leader at EY, one of the big four accounting firms. "Business always goes on. Is it changing the course of Hong Kong? No."

Rupert Hogg, chief operating officer of Cathay Pacific, said: "I grew up in Scotland. The political debate in Hong Kong is insignificant compared to Scotland."

Debate over whether Scotland should secede from the United Kingdom is at fever pitch.

Hogg warned: "The big competitive threat is if we don't grow the infrastructure as the market demands. The danger is if we don't build the infrastructure, it won't capture the growth in the region, and the growth will be diverted to other areas."