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> This level of brain drain, as in the other mass migration events away from HK, could trigger the government to loosen their grip. I've heard that HK is no lo

> This level of brain drain, as in the other mass migration events away from HK, could trigger the government to loosen their grip. I've heard that HK is no longer as important to China as it was 20 years ago. HK's contribution to China's GDP has declined in relative terms as the rest of China has developed. With regards to the brain drain I get the impression that there are plenty of people from the mainland that could fill the gap.

throwaway1997 6y ago
Our biggest advantage is that we are a trilingual society with a deep understanding of both western and Chinese culture. Although there are many people in the mainland who have studied abroad, the ability to understand the needs of Chinese and Western business is definitely not as pervasive. But I agree that HK isn't anywhere as near valuable to China, especially in terms of finance.
- FabHK 6y ago
  > biggest advantage Plus the rule of law, I'd say. Well, historically.
  - dragonwriter 6y ago
    That's only dubiously a net advantage, even historically, of HK for the PRC. It's instrumental in some of the business advantages, but it also contributes to it's big political liability for a national regime for which the law is a convenience, not a limitation.
    - FabHK 6y ago
      Good point. I meant advantage for companies (or individuals) to base themselves there (rather than eg in China), not advantage in terms of benefit to China.
csomar 6y ago
That's in GDP terms. But lots of money flow through Hong Kong. If HK was to fail and get disconnected, China will lose a significant portion of their exports. Hong Kong imported around $264bn of products from China. These are unlikely going to HK mainland but rather re-routed to other parts of the world. It doesn't help that China is in bad terms with the U.S. and India. India is on track to become the third-world economy. China is gradually isolating itself from the rest of the world.
- redis_mlc 6y ago
  > Hong Kong imported around $264bn of products from China. HK has a trade tax loophole with the US that Trump is cancelling, just like the postal subsidy. #MAGA
- apexalpha 6y ago
  Just because HK couldn't facilitate it anymore doesn't mean the world will stop buying $260bn worth of goods and services. It would just be 'rerouted'.
akamaka 6y ago
Sure, just as New York is not as central to the American economy as it was in the 19th and early 20th century. It would still be a very heavy cost to lose it. A few percentage points of GDP might seem small on paper, and won’t be the end of the country, but it’s not something to scoff at.

throwaway1997 6y ago

Our biggest advantage is that we are a trilingual society with a deep understanding of both western and Chinese culture. Although there are many people in the mainland who have studied abroad, the ability to understand the needs of Chinese and Western business is definitely not as pervasive. But I agree that HK isn't anywhere as near valuable to China, especially in terms of finance.

FabHK 6y ago
> biggest advantage Plus the rule of law, I'd say. Well, historically.
- dragonwriter 6y ago
  That's only dubiously a net advantage, even historically, of HK for the PRC. It's instrumental in some of the business advantages, but it also contributes to it's big political liability for a national regime for which the law is a convenience, not a limitation.
  - FabHK 6y ago
    Good point. I meant advantage for companies (or individuals) to base themselves there (rather than eg in China), not advantage in terms of benefit to China.

csomar 6y ago

That's in GDP terms. But lots of money flow through Hong Kong. If HK was to fail and get disconnected, China will lose a significant portion of their exports. Hong Kong imported around $264bn of products from China. These are unlikely going to HK mainland but rather re-routed to other parts of the world. It doesn't help that China is in bad terms with the U.S. and India. India is on track to become the third-world economy. China is gradually isolating itself from the rest of the world.

redis_mlc 6y ago
> Hong Kong imported around $264bn of products from China. HK has a trade tax loophole with the US that Trump is cancelling, just like the postal subsidy. #MAGA
apexalpha 6y ago
Just because HK couldn't facilitate it anymore doesn't mean the world will stop buying $260bn worth of goods and services. It would just be 'rerouted'.

akamaka 6y ago

Sure, just as New York is not as central to the American economy as it was in the 19th and early 20th century. It would still be a very heavy cost to lose it. A few percentage points of GDP might seem small on paper, and won’t be the end of the country, but it’s not something to scoff at.