Hong Kong's ability to transform itself from the mainland's entrepot into a pre-eminent Silicon Valley business hub for Asia has always been hobbled by doubts.
The SAR undoubtedly has the financial might to fund the evolution of enterprises into the new economy - besides Singapore, nowhere else in Asia is there such ready access to start-up capital and advice.
However, to a panel of influential technology industry executives gathered recently at the Internet World Asia conference, the answer to this question lies not in finance but in its workforce.
Executives may vent their pet peeves about the SAR - high cost of property and poor quality of life. But in the new economy, free-thinking minds rank high on the corporate wish-list.
As the gathered executives pointed out, attracting and developing individuals who can be innovation leaders will be the key.
A strong argument that Hong Kong will succeed is the track record its entrepreneurs have for continuous re-invention, bringing Hong Kong to Western levels of economic prosperity.