A Trump visit to Hong Kong would be a strategic masterstroke

If one word could capture the essence of Hong Kong, it would be resilience. Just two years ago, much of the international community had written off Hong Kong. A widely circulated newspaper commentary carried the headline: “It pains me to say Hong Kong is over”. Though the writer later changed his opinion, the piece captured the pessimism about the city’s future as a global hub. Hong Kong’s dramatic comeback is well documented. According to Boston Consulting Group, the city has overtaken Switzerland as the world’s largest cross-border wealth management centre, with US$2.95 trillion in offshore assets last year. This surge was driven by wealth flows from mainland China and a listing boom. Hong Kong also climbed to second place in the International Institute for Management Development’s global competitiveness rankings, its highest since 2019. These milestones signal not just recovery, but renewed momentum. Geopolitical tensions have, in some respects, worked in Hong Kong’s favour. Over the past two years, Chinese companies have increasingly pulled back from US listings, with many choosing Hong Kong. Anecdotal evidence points to a growing influx of overseas Chinese financial professionals and academics – many US-born or naturalised Chinese Americans – relocating to Hong Kong, drawn by its unique position as an East-West bridge. Now, the city stands at another pivotal moment to elevate its international stature. This opportunity stems from the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Beijing in May. The summit set a more positive tone for bilateral ties, creating room for pragmatic engagement. Hong Kong should seize this window to repair and strengthen ties with the United States and its Western allies. Relations had cooled after the 2020 national security law. US sanctions on Hong Kong and mainland officials, including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, damaged the city’s image and made many foreign leaders, businesses and tourists hesitant. While these sanctions had limited direct economic impact, they reinforced broader concerns about Hong Kong’s openness and predictability. One need only visit the Hong Kong government’s protocol unit website to see the stark reality: the number of foreign leaders visiting in the past six years can be counted on one hand. Official contact and cooperation with the US government have stalled. Even meetings between the city’s political or business elites and American consulate representatives have been discouraged. These barriers have hindered Hong Kong’s ability to project its strength and soft power. Yet improving US-China ties open genuine possibilities for warm relations. A positive vibe was evident at the June 23 American Independence Day celebration in Hong Kong. More than 1,000 Americans and local representatives from across Hong Kong society filled a hotel ballroom. US Consul General Julie Eadeh highlighted the deep-rooted American presence in the city and spoke warmly of the shared history and enduring friendship that have shaped ties for generations. Hong Kong Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong emphasised the expanding footprint of US firms, noting that last year the number of American companies rose by 11 per cent to 1,550. Both speakers referenced Trump’s Beijing visit in May, underscoring the potential for renewed momentum. Trump’s planned return to China in November for the Apec summit in Shenzhen presents an even greater opportunity. The city should lobby Beijing to incorporate a more meaningful Hong Kong dimension into the summit agenda, expected to draw leaders from all 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies on November 18-19. Beijing has good reasons to showcase Shenzhen – China’s tech prowess, innovation and the rise of the Greater Bay Area. Precisely because of these ambitions, Beijing has compelling incentives to help Hong Kong shine. The city remains a vital engine of the Greater Bay Area. While Beijing assigned Macau the Apec tourism ministers’ meeting last month and Hong Kong the finance ministers’ meeting in October, more can be done. Inviting Trump and other world leaders for a visit to Hong Kong would be a strategic masterstroke. Such a move would deliver multiple benefits. First, the presence of Trump and other world leaders would thrust Hong Kong back into the spotlight. Leaders would gain a first-hand feel for the vibrancy of “one country, two systems” in action. Second, the visit would allow world leaders to witness China’s world-class infrastructure. A mere 15-minute high-speed train ride from Shenzhen to Hong Kong offers seamless connectivity. If time permits, returning via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge would provide an unforgettable perspective of the Greater Bay Area’s economic gravity. Trump is no stranger to Hong Kong. In 1993, he visited the city seeking investment deals. He was effusive, expressing interest in building a Trump Tower in Hong Kong – though the project never materialised and relations with his financiers in the city on another project later soured. His familiarity with the city adds a personal dimension that could make a return visit particularly resonant. Finally, a successful visit could help expedite the resolution of lingering issues, such as US sanctions on Hong Kong officials. Well known for his transactional approach, Trump might be open to a deal. Precedent suggests flexibility is possible: China previously sanctioned US senator Marco Rubio, yet as secretary of state he has engaged with Chinese leaders. Similar flexibility could pave the way for constructive outcomes. Hong Kong’s story is one of remarkable resilience. The Apec summit offers a timely platform to translate this resilience into renewed global prominence. Beijing, Hong Kong and the international community all stand to gain.

A Trump visit to Hong Kong would be a strategic masterstroke

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The city should seize the opportunity offered by warming US-China ties and the coming Apec summit to burnish its global prominence

The city should seize the opportunity offered by warming US-China ties and the coming Apec summit to burnish its global prominence