Forbes (October 28)
“Amid a global slowdown in economic growth that has seen central banks lower interest rates near zero or below in an effort to provide stimulus,” a number of “major economies are on high recession alert.” These include Hong Kong, the U.K., Germany, Italy and China. “Other highly stressed economies around the world include Turkey, Argentina, Iran, Mexico and Brazil.”
Tags: Argentina, Brazil, Central banks, China, Economic growth, Germany, Global slowdown, Hong Kong, Interest rates, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Recession, Stimulus, Stressed, Turkey, U.K.
LA Times (September 6)
Carrie Lam’s tone-deaf withdrawal of the extradition bill may mark “the beginning, rather than the end, of more turbulence in Hong Kong.” It further fueled the groundswell of support. “This movement is the endgame for many in Hong Kong. People would rather sacrifice their own future than submit to authoritarian rule…. Beijing and the government must come to terms with the inconvenient truth that autocracy and repression have radicalized a single-issue movement into a people’s uprising for freedom and democracy.”
Tags: Authoritarian rule, Autocracy, Beijing, Endgame, Extradition bill, Freedom, Government, Hong Kong, Lam, Repression, Sacrifice, Submit, Tone-deaf, Turbulence
South China Morning Post (September 2)
“Hong Kong will have to endure more of the protest-ridden heat as the unrest continues beyond summer. And it’s going to heat up indeed. So the question remains… how long before Beijing runs out of patience?”
South China Morning Post (August 14)
“The crisis in Hong Kong appears to be careening towards a devastating climax.” But China “must pick the least bad option to resolve Hong Kong crisis” and that’s not a PLA crackdown. The PLA would be treated “as invaders, and resistance would be fierce and casualties unavoidable.” Furthermore, “an exodus of expats and elites would follow, and the Hong Kong economy – still a bridge between China the rest of the world – would almost immediately collapse.”
Tags: Careening, Casualties, China, Collapse, Crackdown, Crisis, Devastating climax, Elites, Exodus, Expats, Hong Kong, Invaders, PLA, Resistance
South China Morning Post (July 30)
“Prime Hong Kong office rents have seemed to defy the laws of gravity, especially in Central where monthly rents have increased from HK$20 (US$2.56) per square foot in 2003 to almost HK$140 per square foot. In the first quarter, rents were up 6 per cent from a year ago due to supply shortages. Nevertheless we believe that the potential for further core returns is limited, as we are late in the real estate cycle.”
Tags: Core returns, Cycle, Hong Kong, Limited, Office rents, Potential, Prime, Real estate, Supply shortages
South China Morning Post (July 2)
“Hong Kong has entered uncharted waters in terms of protest chaos and violence, with the storming and takeover of the Legislative Council building by mostly young activists opposing the now-suspended extradition bill.” A “fundamental rethink” by the government’s strategy is essential “to end the violence and move the city forward.” Ultimately, “cool heads must prevail to avoid further clashes and damage to both public property and the city’s reputation.”
Tags: Activists, Chaos, Clashes, Damage, Extradition bill, Government, Hong Kong, Legislative Council, Property, Protest, Rethink, Uncharted waters, Violence
The Economist (June 15)
The majority of Hong Kong’s courageous protestors were “young—too young to be nostalgic about British rule. Their unhappiness at Beijing’s heavy hand was entirely their own…. The Communist Party has been making clear that it will tolerate no more insubordination—and yet three days later demonstrators braved rubber bullets, tear gas and legal retribution to make their point. All these things are evidence that, as many Hong Kongers see it, nothing less than the future of their city is at stake.”
Tags: Beijing, British, Bullets, Communist party, Courageous, Future, Heavy hand, Hong Kong, Insubordination, Nostalgic, Protestors, Tear gas, Young
The Economist (March 19)
The Economist Intelligence Unit just announced the most expensive cities in the world. Due to inflation, Tokyo doesn’t rank in the top 10. “Singapore marks its sixth straight year at the top of the rankings, and is joined there by Hong Kong and Paris.” Osaka was the only Japanese city to make the top 10 in “the survey, which compares prices across 160 products and services.”
BBC (February 21)
“Chinese President Xi Jinping last year officially opened a bridge connecting Hong Kong to Macau and the mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai—the world’s longest sea crossing bridge—as part of China’s plan to connect Greater Bay Area.” This ambitious plan seeks to spur economic development and “lays out strategic visions for the major cities in the region to become hubs in different sectors.” For example, “Hong Kong would strengthen its status as a finance and trade hub” while Shenzhen would be a tech hub and “Macau would focus on tourism.” An impressive plan, but “analysts question whether its lofty goals can be achieved.”
Tags: Ambitious, China, Finance, Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, Tech hub, Trade, Xi, Zhuhai
Financial Times (May 20)
“Today, Hong Kong’s future as a global financial centre looks uncertain as the rival Shanghai Stock Exchange grows in size and credibility…. On the face of it, conditions at the HKEX look fine.” Revenues, profits and new listings were all up in 2017. “Yet Hong Kong was only third when it came to money raised in IPOs. Shanghai and New York were ahead by value, while Shanghai and Shenzhen surpassed the number of Hong Kong listings.”
Tags: HKEX, Hong Kong, IPOs, Listings, New York, Profits, Revenues, Rival, Shanghai, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shenzhen
