Hong Kong’s much-touted role as the essential middleman for business between China and the world outside seems to be waning.
Recent figures suggest China no longer feels it is always necessary to channel its foreign investments through Hong Kong “compradores.”
China’s Ministry of Finance has reported that although its overseas investment was $56.5 billion in the first eight months of this year, up 18.5% on the same period last year, the amount going through Hong Kong fell by 11%.
Economists in Hong Kong are warning that the city’s role as an intermediary will continue to diminish.
