Why Hong Kong is Losing Global Relevance

One economist has warned the city may face a decade-long slump driven by real estate debt, lost neutrality, and weaker competitiveness.
Why Hong Kong is Losing Global Relevance
Bull statues in front of screens showing the Hang Seng stock index and stock prices outside Exchange Square in Hong Kong on Aug. 18, 2023. Tyrone Siu/Reuters
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News Analysis

In a move that has rattled investor confidence, New World Development Co. (HKEX: 0017)—one of Hong Kong’s most prominent property developers—has deferred coupon payments on its perpetual bonds, citing liquidity concerns amid ongoing market volatility. The decision has raised concerns among analysts about broader structural vulnerabilities within the city’s real estate and financial sectors, recalling the bond defaults that shook mainland China’s property market in recent years.