Hong Kong increasingly seen as a safe haven in troubled world

When the unthinkable becomes normal, stability becomes the new premium – and Hong Kong is well positioned. The world we thought we understood even two years ago no longer exists. We are living through a period of disruption that, until recently, would have seemed unthinkable.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the US-Israel war against Iran are reshaping long-held assumptions about energy, security and alliances. Trade is being reordered through tariffs, industrial policy and geopolitics. Technology systems and supply chains are fragmenting. At the same time, major economies are experiencing deep internal divisions that affect their policy direction and global posture.

This is not simply volatility – it is structural change. Crucially, it is happening everywhere rather than being confined to one area. It is reshaping the environment in which governments, businesses and investors operate.

For decades, the global economy rested on a relatively stable model: open markets, predictable policy environments and a clear hierarchy between “developed” and “emerging” economies. That model is now shifting.