In the Media

Hong Kong’s first five-year plan is now open for public consultation. In recent media interviews, Prof. Heiwai Tang, Associate Dean of HKU Business School, shared some insights.

In the middle of this month, I attended a forum hosted by the HKU Business School South China Alumni Association Healthcare Chapter in Shenzhen. On my way there, I traveled with Professor Yi Huang from HKU’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. During our journey, we discussed his research fields: brain-inspired chips and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).

In the past, buying things online was a bit like going on a blind date. First, you check out the photos—mm, looking sharp. Then, you read the bio—genuine, professional, and trustworthy. Finally, you look at the reviews—five stars, repurchased three times, buy it with your eyes closed. So, you place the order, silently whispering to yourself: 'Even though we've never met, I'm willing to bet you're not a catfish.

In a recent CNN interview, Professor Heiwai Tang, Associate Dean of HKU Business School and Director of the Asia Global Institute, was asked what is driving this global push by Chinese companies. He noted three main reasons.

Recently, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) introduced a new plan to rectify problems in cross-border securities, futures, and fund business activities. With the support of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the rules governing the opening of securities investment accounts in Hong Kong by Mainland clients were also updated simultaneously.

The government originally planned to legalize basketball betting this year but abruptly halted the initiative due to concerns that it might fuel more participation in illegal 'prediction market' gambling. Prediction markets allow participants to wager on the outcomes of specific events across a wide variety of categories, including election results, geopolitical developments, and sporting events.

In an interview with Ta Kung Pao, Dr. Yifei Zhang, Senior Lecturer of Economics at HKU Business School, observed that when "I miss my father" becomes "what should I buy," the market reduces a priceless gesture of affection into something comparable, conspicuous, and delegable. He suggests setting a monetary budget cap on celebrations and redirecting attention to a "time budget" instead.

Dr. Yifei Zhang of HKU Business School explained to BBC Chinese that land finance is a one-off transaction— every sale permanently depletes the land available. Equity finance, in contrast, is a revolving model: it can yield returns, be reinvested, and mobilise private capital to foster industries and share the risks of research and development.

The IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2026 shows that Hong Kong ranks second globally, behind only Singapore. Prof. Heiwai Tang, Associate Dean of HKU Business School, said in the Hong Kong Economic Journal that, compared with Hong Kong, Singapore has long taken a more proactive to industrial development, especially in emerging industries.