There is much speculation regarding a “race for dominance” among financial centers in Asia, arising from the anticipated financial opening up of China. This frame of reference is, to an extent, a predilection that results from a traditional understanding of financial centers as possessing historical, geographic, and scale economy advantages. This paper, however, suggests that there is an alternative prism through which the evolution of financial centers in Asia needs to be viewed. It underscores the importance of “complementarity” rather than “dominance” to better serve regional and global financial stability. We posit that such complementarity is vital, through network analysis of the roles of Hong Kong SAR and Singapore as the current leading financial centers in the region. This analysis suggests that a competition for dominance can result in de-stabilizing levels of interconnectivity that render the global “network” as a whole more susceptible to rapid propagation of shocks. We then examine the regulatory and policy challenges that may be encountered in furthering such complementary coexistence.

We document Hong Kong SAR's evolving role as an international financial center in the Asia region, the importance of the growing special link with China as well as supply-side advantages, and outline the scope for future financial services growth. Hong Kong SAR has a long established track record as Asia's premier center for cross-border financial transactions. Further financial opening of China is likely to consolidate Hong Kong SAR's leading position as Asia's international financial center over the medium term. However, preserving Hong Kong SAR's first-mover advantage in the long-term calls for a development strategy that balances reaping the benefits from the special China role with the need to transcend into a truly international center in the long run.

There is much speculation regarding a “race for dominance” among financial centers in Asia, arising from the anticipated financial opening up of China. This frame of reference is, to an extent, a predilection that results from a traditional understanding of financial centers as possessing historical, geographic, and scale economy advantages. This paper, however, suggests that there is an alternative prism through which the evolution of financial centers in Asia needs to be viewed. It underscores the importance of “complementarity” rather than “dominance” to better serve regional and global financial stability. We posit that such complementarity is vital, through network analysis of the roles of Hong Kong SAR and Singapore as the current leading financial centers in the region. This analysis suggests that a competition for dominance can result in de-stabilizing levels of interconnectivity that render the global “network” as a whole more susceptible to rapid propagation of shocks. We then examine the regulatory and policy challenges that may be encountered in furthering such complementary coexistence.

This book provides unique insights into the politics of finance and the socio-political relations which drive financial policymaking in Hong kong, Singapore, and Shanghai. While the existing literature in the field focuses mainly on economic explanations for financial centre development, this book fills a gap by focusing on the socio-political relations which underpin the financial policy-making process. Drawing on extensive interviews with senior policy-makers and financial sector professionals, the book describes how state-industry relations drive financial policy-making in three major financial hubs. Insights and policy recommendations drawn from these interviews will be particularly useful for policy-makers and financial sector professionals hoping to draw lessons from the successful development of the three leading Asian financial centres. Business and Politics in Asia's Key Financial Centres draws on public policy theoretical frameworks for its analytical basis. The three chapters focusing on the historical development of Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai also provide a consolidated narrative with regard to the development of these three cities as leading financial centres, while also serving as independent case studies. Scholars focusing on policy processes and political factors that underpin financial sector development, as well as instructors and students of public policy, international political economy, and financial sector policy, will find this book useful for their research.

This book explores the manifold ways that the current confrontations between China and the US, and political tensions within the Special Administrative Region (SAR) has brought Hong Kong to the forefront of emerging political frictions between Beijing and the territory and growing international rivalry between the two powerful nations of the world. Unlike the situation in the post-WWII decades, which witnessed the internationalisation of the Hong Kong economy, this “New Cold War” poses challenges to the SAR’s status as a global city and international financial and business centre. The enactment of the National Security Law and the growing presence of Beijing in regulating the SAR’s domestic affairs triggered strong reactions from many countries. Hong Kong has to bear some of the consequences of measures imposed onto China as a result of current controversies. The shadow of China also raises many eyebrows about the prospects of Hong Kong as a free and liberal city. And the outbreak of COVID-19 and the concomitant interruption to economic flows and the movement of people further complicate the situation. This book will be of great value to students and scholars in the fields such as Economics, Sociology and Asia Pacific studies. The chapters in this book were originally published in the Asia Pacific Business Review.

Based on previously unpublished archival records, this book studies the origins of Hong Kong's post war rise to global prominence. It explores the expansion of the gold market, stock market, banking system, foreign exchange market, and insurance in the years 1945-1965. This book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the developme

This book analyzes the role of Hong Kong as a prominent financial centre . Issues such as taxonomy of financial centres, reasons for Hong Kong's past success, competition from other centres, policy issues, and speculation upon Hong Kong's future are discussed.

This book provides an overview of Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre, focusing especially on how Hong Kong has contributed significantly, and continues to contribute significantly, to China’s economic development. It considers the importance of Hong Kong’s stock market in raising finance for Chinese companies, explores the potential of Hong Kong as an offshore financial centre, and discusses recent regulatory reforms. It concludes by assessing the prospects for Hong Kong’s continuing success as a global financial centre, and puts forward recommendations for policies which would help secure continuing success.

Hong Kong's reunification with China on July 1, 1997 after 156 years of British rule was a historic event of worldwide significance. While the transition to Chinese sovereignty has so far been smoother than expected, there are lingering doubts concerning three interrelated issues: whether the Hong Kong dollar can continue to exist, whether the linked exchange rate can survive and whether Hong Kong can retain its role as an international financial centre. These issues are analyzed and discussed objectively in the first article of this book.The second article confines itself to the workings of the currency board. In addition, the future of the system after Hong Kong's historic reunification with China is briefly discussed.

3-in-1: Governing a Global Financial Centre provides a comprehensive understanding of Singapore's past development and future success as a global financial centre. It focuses on three transformational processes that have determined the city-state's financial sector development and governance — globalisation, financialisation, and centralisation — and their impacts across three areas: the economy, governance, and technology. More importantly, this book takes a multidimensional approach by considering the inter-related and interdependent nature of these three transformational processes. Just like the 3-in-1 coffee mix that is such an ubiquitous feature of everyday life in Singapore, the individual ingredients of Singapore's success as a global financial centre do not act alone, but as an integrated whole that manifests itself in one final product: the global financial centre.