bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Tammy Tam

“What is good for Hong Kong is good for China; what is good for China is unbelievably good for Hong Kong,” the city’s first post-1997 leader, Tung Chee-hwa, once said in what became a household quote.
Tung’s words reflected his strong conviction 21 years ago, when the city’s sovereignty was returned to China, and have since been echoed by many.
Interestingly, some used to half-jokingly say that while Tung was right in general, it could be the other way round in reality – only when the country faltered would it mean opportunities for Hong Kong.
This position is not devoid of logic; in fact it could be seen as the other side of the same coin.
That thinking was evident in the two-day China Conference organised by the Post in Kuala Lumpur last week, the first time the event was held outside Hong Kong.

Without doubt, the intensifying US-China trade war – or the “new cold war” as some speakers called it – dominated the heated discussions with about 900 participants from Hong Kong, mainland China, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries in attendance.
While Hong Kong was rarely mentioned throughout the event, it did not mean the city was irrelevant, but the opposite.
The American farmers caught in the US-China trade war crossfire
Understandably, major speeches and panel debates primarily focused on trade and economic prospects in the region amid a growing sense of insecurity over the trade war. But there was strong optimism as well, with Malaysian officials in particular stressing the need for long-term, healthy bilateral relations with Beijing, dispelling concerns about the post-election leadership’s China policy under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Malaysian Minister of Economic Affairs Azmin Ali, a top aide to Mahathir, made it clear in his closing speech that his country would look to China for global leadership, not just in trade and economics but in promoting universal values such as “freedom of conscience, mutual respect and justice”.

Malaysia also announced it was sending a delegation to promote its goods at China’s International Import Expo next month in Shanghai. The event, marking the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up, signals the transformation of the country from the world’s major exporter to consumer.
Coincidentally, the China Conference opened on the day Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, unveiled her policy blueprint for the city for the second year of her term.




While housing and land supply topped her agenda, minimising the direct and indirect impacts of the trade war remains a tough challenge.
It is in this regard that Hong Kong, which earlier signed a free-trade agreement with Asean, has a bigger role to play. Malaysia’s top trade negotiator, Norazman Ayob, in particular mentioned at the conference the importance of Hong Kong as a gateway to the China market that Malaysian businesses could capitalise on.

Realistically, the countries of Asean – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – do have concerns about the possible risks of direct trade deals with mainland China amid the ongoing showdown with the US.
This is where Hong Kong has a role to play under the “one country, two systems” policy, which affords it a special trade status with the US, as well as the benefits of the tariff-free Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement with the mainland.
What an ironic example of Hong Kong taking advantages of “opportunities” while “risks” are increasing across the border!
The question is, how can Hong Kong do something for itself and the country at the same time?


What are the ‘facts’ for Beijing’s top man in charge of Hong Kong affairs on his fact-finding mission to the city?

Never mind competing with Singapore, Hong Kong needs to engage international stakeholders to get back on world stage

How ‘two systems’ under ‘one country’ can facilitate a full reopening for Hong Kong

Interactions with Beijing have long been a political test for Hong Kong’s leaders – now it’s John Lee’s turn

City Beat

Does the US-China trade war mean an ironic new opportunity for Hong Kong?

Minimising the impacts of the Sino-US trade war on Hong Kong remains a tough challenge for the city’s government. Photo: AFP

Tung Chee-hwa, Former Chief Executive of Hong Kong, attends the Our Hong Kong foundation luncheon on land reclamation proposal, photographed in Wan Chai. 07AUG18 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Yang Berhormat Dato' Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Minister of Economic Affairs of Malaysia, attends day two of the China in Southeast Asia forum (China Conference) at the Hilton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 11OCT18 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Yang Berhormat Datuk Norazman Bin Ayob, Deputy Secretary-General, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia, attends Day 2 of the China in Southeast Asia forum (China Conference) at the Hilton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 11OCT18 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

News

Hong Kong

Politics

Hong Kong Economy

Speakers at the Post’s China Conference cognisant of city’s advantages, as an economy open to trade from the US, the mainland and Southeast Asia


Speakers at the Post’s China Conference cognisant of city’s advantages, as an economy open to trade from the US, the mainland and Southeast Asia.


US-China trade war

US-China trade war: All stories

Hong Kong economy

Malaysia

Asean

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

City Beat | Does the US-China trade war mean an ironic new opportunity for Hong Kong?

Speakers at the Post’s China Conference cognisant of city’s advantages, as an economy open to trade from the US, the mainland and Southeast Asia