Hong Kong's finance chief has taken steps to strengthen business relationships with South Korea, particularly in light of recent geopolitical tensions. During a three-day visit to Seoul, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po highlighted Hong Kong's potential as a "superconnector" for Korean businesses looking to invest internationally.

Chan pointed out that there has been a significant increase in Korean investments in Hong Kong, with trading by Korean licensed firms reaching over HK$1.5 trillion (approximately $191 billion) in the first five months of the year. This figure is 2.8 times higher than the total for all of 2024. He noted that due to the pandemic and geopolitical issues, Korean investors have not visited Hong Kong as often recently, leading to misunderstandings about the city’s current situation.

To address these concerns and attract more investment, Chan proposed initiatives such as direct cross-listing of exchange-traded funds and introducing new financial products aimed at securing capital from Korea. He emphasized that Hong Kong can serve as a stable gateway for South Korean enterprises seeking opportunities within the Greater Bay Area, which includes Hong Kong, Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong province. This region is designed to become an economic powerhouse by leveraging its research capabilities and financial markets.

Original article (seoul) (macau)

This article is mostly about grown-up business stuff and doesn't give regular people like you and me any super helpful tips or tricks to do something cool. It talks about how some important people from Hong Kong went to South Korea to talk about money and business, and how they want to make it easier for Korean businesses to invest in Hong Kong. But it doesn't tell us what we can do or how it will change our lives. It's like a grown-up story about money and places, but it doesn't teach us anything new or exciting that we can use right now. It's not like a secret code or a fun game we can play. It's just grown-ups talking about big plans, but it doesn't make our lives better or give us any cool ideas to try.

"Hong Kong's finance chief has taken steps to strengthen business relationships with South Korea..."

This sentence uses a passive voice construction to downplay the role of the finance chief. It makes it seem like the actions are happening on their own, without highlighting the individual's agency. The focus is on the action of "strengthening business relationships," which could imply a neutral or positive outcome, rather than directly attributing it to the chief's decisions and initiatives.

The text conveys a range of emotions, primarily driven by the actions and statements of Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po, during his visit to Seoul. One prominent emotion is optimism, which is expressed through Chan's emphasis on Hong Kong's potential as a "superconnector" for Korean businesses. This optimistic tone is further reinforced by the mention of the significant increase in Korean investments in Hong Kong, with trading figures reaching impressive heights. The strength of this emotion is moderate, as it is balanced by a recognition of recent challenges, such as the pandemic and geopolitical tensions.

The purpose of this optimism is to create a positive impression of Hong Kong's economic prospects and its role in facilitating international investment. By highlighting the city's potential and the successful trading figures, Chan aims to build trust and confidence in Hong Kong's financial market, encouraging further investment from South Korea. This emotional appeal is a strategic move to attract attention and interest, fostering a sense of excitement and opportunity for Korean businesses.

Another emotion that appears is concern, which is subtly conveyed through Chan's acknowledgment of the decrease in Korean investors' visits to Hong Kong due to the pandemic and geopolitical issues. This concern is expressed in a measured manner, as Chan does not want to create an overly negative impression. Instead, he aims to address this issue by proposing initiatives to attract more investment, such as direct cross-listing of exchange-traded funds.

The purpose of this concern is to acknowledge the challenges faced by Hong Kong and to demonstrate an understanding of the potential barriers to investment. By expressing this emotion, Chan shows empathy and a willingness to address these concerns, which can help build a stronger relationship with South Korea. This emotional strategy is used to create a sense of connection and to assure Korean investors that their worries are being heard and addressed.

The writer's use of emotional language and strategic emphasis on certain aspects of the visit is a persuasive tool. By repeatedly highlighting the successful trading figures and Hong Kong's potential, the writer creates a sense of momentum and excitement, almost like a narrative build-up. This repetition of positive news and the use of descriptive phrases like "superconnector" and "economic powerhouse" help to shape the reader's perception of Hong Kong's financial landscape.

Additionally, the writer employs a comparative strategy by emphasizing the significant increase in Korean investments in Hong Kong compared to the previous year. This comparison makes the growth appear even more impressive and serves to highlight Hong Kong's attractiveness as an investment destination. By using these emotional and persuasive techniques, the writer aims to guide the reader's reaction, fostering a positive perception of Hong Kong's financial opportunities and its role in facilitating international business relationships.