Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. The world is suddenly a much more uncertain place. It is worth asking who stands to benefit from that uncertainty. The answer may be Hong Kong and mainland China. Not because they are immune to chaos, but because the chaos has narrowed the list of places where capital feels safe.
The erratic and self-defeating
tariff policies coming out of Washington have shattered any illusion of US predictability. Meanwhile, the European Union is locked in a tug of war between those who advocate for
more regulation to solve problems and those who recognise that endless rule-making strangles growth. This paralysis, coupled with the rise of
Eurosceptic movements, has left investors looking at traditional Western anchors with growing unease. The old “safe havens” no longer feel quite so safe.
This instability has been dramatically heightened by the
war in Iran. The conflict has shaken capital and oil markets. Sustained higher energy prices rippled through the global economy, adding a stubborn layer of cost and unpredictability to every business calculation.
Yet, this scenario also generates opportunity for those astute enough to seize it. For all the criticism directed at Beijing, China is emerging as a stabilising force in a world tilting towards disorder. This is precisely what capital craves: stability and trust. Nothing is more attractive to investors.
The task for the governments of Hong Kong and Beijing is to recognise this moment for what it is and create an environment attractive enough to welcome that displaced capital. Rhetoric is not enough. The
Hong Kong market has been sliding these past few months. It needs a signal from the government that shows a serious commitment to improvement.
