Hong Kong’s role as an intermediary between the Chinese mainland and the world will not change, but only deepen in the coming future, said Frederic Neumann, chief Asia economist and co-head of Global Investment Research Asia at HSBC.

Hong Kong has long served as an intermediary, bringing in foreign businesses and capital while helping mainland enterprises go global and channeling mainland capital overseas.

The geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties have raised concerns over whether Hong Kong’s role and competitive edge can be sustained under such circumstances. “If you ask me how that’s going to evolve, I think it’s just going to be essentially deepening that process,” Neumann told China Daily in an interview in Shenzhen on Wednesday.

The economist said the Chinese market size will become larger, with more capital coming out of the country, more trade deals, listings and a larger equity market, and the special administrative region’s role as an intermediary will only deepen against the backdrop.

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He also expressed optimism over Hong Kong’s upcoming Five-Year Plan (2026-30), saying the blueprint will benefit a range of sectors, including real estate, healthcare and finance, by easing regulatory barriers and promoting synergy with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

“On most measures, the area is not as integrated as it should be. Whenever we can align regulations, make it easier for transferring business, it will have enormous potential,” he said.

Chen Yanshan contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at sally@chinadailyhk.com