HONG KONG: Hong Kong is deepening its pitch to Malaysia and Asean as a “super connector” between Southeast Asia and China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA), positioning itself as both a financial hub and a gateway into Asia’s fast-integrating innovation economy.
Speaking at the South China Morning Pos GBA-Asean Summit 2026 last week, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said Asean has become one of Hong Kong’s most important economic partners amid shifting global conditions.
“Asean has been our second-largest merchandise trading partner for the past 16 years in a row. Last year, our bilateral trade in goods grew an impressive 29%, year on year, reaching US$214 billion (RM875.1 billion).”
Lee said Hong Kong is stepping up its role as a conduit between Asean and mainland China, particularly through the GBA, which he described as an “integrated cluster” of 11 cities with a population of more than 88 million.
He highlighted Hong Kong’s positioning as a rules-based international business hub, noting its legal and financial systems as key advantages for regional partners. “Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China. We offer a highly open, transparent and international business environment.”
Lee said Asean participation in Hong Kong’s economy continues to expand, with around 830 Asean companies operating in the city last year, reflecting growing confidence in Hong Kong as a platform for accessing mainland China.
The summit, attended by senior officials and organisations from across Asean, underscored growing regional alignment between Southeast Asia and the GBA, as global supply chains continue to shift towards Asia.
Hong Kong-Asean Foundation chairman Dr Daryl Ng said Asean and the GBA are increasingly complementary economic engines with deepening trade and investment flows.
“Asean is home to close to 700 million people, a young, dynamic population, and is one of the world’s most dynamic growth engines. Meanwhile, our GBA is one of the most vibrant areas in China, with GDP exceeding RMB 15 trillion last year and a population expected to surpass 90 million by the end of this decade,” he added.
Ng said Hong Kong plays a central bridging role between the two regions.
“Hong Kong, in the middle of GBA and Asean, is ideally positioned to act as a bridge connecting these two enormous catchments,” he said, citing rapidly growing trade flows routed through the city.
Ng pointed to Hong Kong’s role in capital markets, noting recent listings of Asean-linked firms, including a Malaysian logistics company, as evidence of deepening financial integration. “This demonstrates the attractiveness of Hong Kong as an international financial centre and the role that it has played.”
South China Morning Post publisher Tammy Tam said geopolitical fragmentation has pushed global capital towards more stable and connected Asian hubs, with Hong Kong emerging as a key beneficiary.
She added that Asean’s growing importance in supply chains, manufacturing and the energy transition makes it a natural partner for the GBA.
The summit also highlighted Hong Kong’s expanding regional engagement, with Lee noting the establishment of its Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur last December as part of efforts to deepen ties with Malaysia and Asean economies.
For Asean policymakers and businesses, including Malaysia, Hong Kong is increasingly positioning itself as a dual-access platform: offering legal certainty and financial services on one hand, and proximity to mainland China’s industrial base on the other.
Lee said Hong Kong is also preparing to deepen integration with regional trade architecture, including its bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free trade bloc.
Discussions throughout the summit focused on strengthening cooperation in digital technology, artificial intelligence, logistics, sustainable development, talent mobility and more.
The event also marked the official launch of the Asean Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong), aimed at strengthening trade and investment links between Asean economies and the Greater Bay Area.
The chamber is supported by Invest Hong Kong and is designed to facilitate business partnerships, market access and cross-border collaboration for Asean enterprises operating in or expanding into Hong Kong and mainland China.
