Hong Kong tycoons have expressed confidence in the Middle Eastโs economic outlook amid continued strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran and Tehranโs retaliatory attacks, stressing that the cityโs economy is unlikely to be affected.
Speaking to the media in Beijing on the sidelines of the โtwo sessionsโ โ the nationโs annual parliamentary meetings โ on Wednesday, Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, former heir apparent to Hong Kong property giant New World Development, said the Middle Eastโs economic prospects remained promising.
โMost of the Middle Eastโs economies are mature; we are cautiously optimistic about their prospects,โ the Chinese Peopleโs Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) member said.
Cheng also said the city could benefit from turmoil.
โIf Hong Kong continues as a superconnector between the mainland and the world while cementing its role as an international financial centre, it will emerge as an excellent safe haven for capital,โ he said.
Chengโs remarks came after US-Israel strikes on Iran disrupted global supply chains and drove up oil prices, as US President Donald Trump warned the war could last four to five weeks.