Hong Kong eyes return to global financial map with summit amid talent crunch, geo-tension

By Scott Murdoch, Kane Wu and Selena Li

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong aims to restore its reputation as a global financial hub by playing host to a bevy of top Wall Street executives this week, defying critics who say a talent crunch and geopolitical tension will hobble its ambition.

The high-profile summit is the first in almost three years in the city since anti-government protests, the imposition of a sweeping national security law and strict COVID-19 containment measures clouded its status as a premier financial centre.

The Global Financial Leaders Investment Summit begins on Wednesday with participants including Goldman Sachs (NYSE:) Chief Executive David Solomon, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:) boss James Gorman, HSBC’s Noel Quinn and Standard Chartered (OTC:)’s Bill Winters.

Alongside the main theme of “navigating through uncertainty”, the summit is widely expected to focus on whether Hong Kong can remain a global financial centre after almost three years of border controls and pandemic restrictions.

For foreign financial firms operating in China and Hong Kong, however, navigating Sino-U.S. geopolitical tension and a depleting pool of talent in what is commonly touted as “Asia’s world city” will continue to prove challenging, analysts said.

“The Hong Kong government’s overarching goal is clear: to establish the narrative that the city has reopened … after years of COVID controls, protests and U.S. sanctions,” said Chris Beddor, Gavekal Dragonomics’ deputy China research director.

Global banks are playing their cards reasonably well in the face of a deteriorating political environment, he said, though there has been a shift among the expatriate workforce in Hong Kong in particular to other locations, such as Singapore.

“The geopolitical situation has deteriorated rapidly over the past two years or so, and the political environment in China has clearly shifted as well, both of which present hard-to-quantify long-term risks.”

Underscoring the tension, two U.S. lawmakers last week urged top American bankers to cancel their attendance, saying participation would contribute to human rights abuses by China’s government. Beijing rejects accusations of rights abuses.

COVID-19 CONTROLS

The two-day summit, organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) – the de-facto central bank – has suffered at least two marquee participants dropping out after contracting COVID-19.

Blackstone (NYSE:) President Jonathan Gray will not attend after testing positive for the virus, and will be replaced by Chief Financial Officer Michael Chae, a spokesperson said on Monday.

Citigroup (NYSE:) CEO Jane Fraser will also not attend due to COVID-19 infection, Reuters reported on Thursday.

The city’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan, one of the main speakers, also contracted COVID-19 during a visit to Saudi Arabia and will stay in that country for a “short while” to observe health requirements, the government said last week.

“The Financial Secretary will try his best to attend the Summit in person, and meet with participating financial leaders,” a spokesperson said. “Where this is not possible, he will join by video or through a pre-recorded speech.”

Those who make it will look for reassurances of the city returning to pre-pandemic normalcy, making it easier for them to move talent to Hong Kong.

HKMA head Eddie Yue told a local newspaper last week the event would send a clear message that “Hong Kong is back”, and it would be the “fireworks which draw the eyeballs of global talent”.

“I totally agree that the conference hopefully can be a very beautiful fireworks display,” said Hong Kong-based Gary Ng, senior economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis. “But it depends on what happens after.”

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