{
  "id": 14004374,
  "title": "Hong Kong can boost regional prosperity through ‘soft connectivity’, adviser says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/hong-kong-can-boost-regional-prosperity-through-soft-connectivity-14004374",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T17:03:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post-hong-kong",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370644/hong-kong-can-boost-regional-prosperity-through-soft-connectivity-adviser-says"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The chief adviser to Hong Kong's leader has emphasized the city's potential in boosting regional prosperity through \"soft connectivity\", a concept that could transform its unique advantages into effective regional governance. Stephen Wong Yuen-shan, head of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit, made these remarks at a conference in Shenzhen, highlighting Hong Kong's institutional strengths and its close ties with mainland China and the wider world. Wong stressed that Hong Kong is evolving into the region's institutional \"harbour\", where trade from regional markets could converge and benefit from the city's soft connectivity advantages. He explained that \"soft connectivity\" could encompass digital trade agreements, carbon markets, and cross-border logistics policies. Wong underscored that under Hong Kong's \"one country, two systems\" framework, different legal, monetary, customs, and regulatory arrangements operate within a single country. He noted that Hong Kong has gained valuable experience in linking disparate systems and facilitating cross-border exchanges. Wong further suggested that as the Asia-Pacific region transitions from physical to digital, service-based, and environmentally conscious trade, soft connectivity may become increasingly vital for the region's future development. He concluded by asserting that Hong Kong could play a significant role in building this connectivity. The Asia-Pacific Think Tank Forum, where Wong delivered his keynote address, was organized by the Shenzhen Academy of Social Sciences and Shenzhen University to commemorate the mainland Chinese city's hosting of the Apec leaders' meeting next month. China is set to host Apec 2026, with the theme \"Building an Asia-Pacific community to prosper together\". Wong reiterated that a community is built on mutual recognition of contracts, certificates, data, and ultimately, each other. Hong Kong is scheduled to host the finance ministers' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum next week.",
  "summary": "Hong Kong’s institutional advantages and close ties with mainland China and the wider world can contribute to the Asia-Pacific region’s prosperity, a key adviser to the city’s leader has told a conference. Stephen Wong Yuen-shan, head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, said on Monday that Hong Kong was transforming itself into the region’s institutional “harbour” – where trade from regional…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "CNA Explains: How the new Huanggang Port will improve Hong Kong-mainland connectivity",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/cna-explains-how-the-new-huanggang-port-will-improve-hong-kong",
        "published": "2026-10-12T11:19:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Hong Kong can boost regional prosperity through ‘soft connectivity’, adviser says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/hong-kong-can-boost-regional-prosperity-through-soft-connectivity",
        "published": "2026-10-12T17:03:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}