“Hong Kong blends my passion and love for China”, Stephen Phillips, Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong said in a recent interview with GDToday.

Phillips moved to Hong Kong in 1989 and spent most of his adult life in this city. Now he is dedicated to helping both Chinese mainland and international companies set up and grow.

In post-pandemic era, Hong Kong sees new opportunities as the intra-Asia trade investment flows are about to yield growth. “The intra-Asia trade investment flows are going to set pace of growth elsewhere, in particular, from the GBA in China as a whole into ASEAN and vice versa, Hong Kong is right in the middle of that, said Phillips.

Meanwhile, he pointed out that a digital belt and road is breaking physical distance, allowing companies to supply so many more countries from a limited number of the locations. “Many people thought of belt and road as infrastructure, roads, rail, airports, and so forth. But this rapid adoption of technology really means that the digital belt and road is realizing that earlier, as E-commerce, remote health care services, Fintech, E-logistics and all of these things are coming together.”

In his eyes, Hong Kong is a special place where he feels he has the best of all worlds. “Hong Kong’s international nature features dynamism, work ethic, and a melting pot of people.”

As for the future plan, Phillips has no intention to leave and will continue working here until he retires. “We have had a couple of really tough years, the social unrest, and then COVID. But I remain incredibly optimistic. Hong Kong is still the vibrant, exciting, high potential city that we all know it is”

The social situation has become far more stable. And obviously, national security law has ensured that, he said.

Planning | Zhao Yang, Wing

Reporter | Keane, Hannah

Video | Axin

Editor | Ou Xiaoming, Jerry