'Foreign investors eager to explore HK opportunities'
Gordon Wan, a Hongkonger working for a venture capital company in Silicon Valley in California, said he hopes there will be more exchanges between businesses in Hong Kong and San Francisco going forward. On the sidelines of the Apec summit, Financial Secretary Paul Chan held a lunch gathering with entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, a hub for venture capital and technology startups. Wan, one of the attendees, told RTHK that foreign investors are eager to explore what Hong Kong has to offer. “Even though there's geopolitical tensions in the near term, I think in the long run Hong Kong will remain a key financial hub especially in Asia," he said. "Portfolios select Hong Kong as a location to go public, mainly because of the geographic location and the legal system and other advantages that Hong Kong can offer." Wan said being from Hong Kong and having knowledge of different languages and cultures gives him an edge when working in a multicultural firm in California. He also hopes the Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco will provide more opportunities for Hong Kong and US companies to collaborate. “More communication is always a good thing, to understand each other and to create business opportunities and collaboration opportunities,” he said. “They [US firms] may consider setting up offices in Hong Kong, create job opportunities and help especially startup companies that want to set up offices in Hong Kong. They will in return foster Hong Kong growth in the tech industry as well.”