5 Reasons why Hong Kong is the Best Place for your APAC PR Hub | Eight Public Relations

If you’re looking for a public relations (PR) hub in the Asia Pacific region, look no further than Hong Kong. Hong Kong is one of the most international cities in the world, and it offers an ideal location for companies looking to expand their PR activities into new markets.

What makes Hong Kong stand out in the region? Let’s take a closer look.

1. Local and International Media Centre

Hong Kong is a top global financial centre and is, therefore, home to many international mainstream and trade media. For example, Bloomberg, Reuters, BBC, The Economist, S&P Global, CNBC Asia, Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse all have a presence in the city.

The local business and finance media are world-renowned and include the South China Morning Post, the largest English-language newspaper in Asia, and Chinese publications such as Capital, Hong Kong Economic Journal, Hong Kong Economic Times, Ming Pao Daily, and Sing Tao Daily.

This gives Hong Kong an edge when it comes to PR, as there is a wealth of media resources and contacts present in the city.

2. Prime Business Centre

Continuing with the international finance centre theme, there are 163 licensed banks, 17 restricted licence banks, 13 deposit-taking companies, and 42 representative offices of overseas banking institutions representing 34 economies and including 78 of the world’s largest banks.

Apart from banking and finance, every other industry sector is represented, including retail, transport, technology, healthcare, legal hospitality, education, and more. This matters because media coverage can generate new leads and business opportunities with a rich variety of potential clients located here in Hong Kong.

3. Strategic Location

Pandemic prevention restrictions are still in place in many markets, but when these are lifted, Hong Kong’s central location will again prove to be an advantage. Hong Kong is at the heart of Asia and is within five hours’ flying time of half the world’s population.

4. Infrastructure

Hong Kong is well-connected by air, land, and sea, with over 200 destinations served by direct flights from the Hong Kong International Airport. There are high-speed rail links to Mainland China, and an extensive public transport system comprising the MTR (underground railway), buses, taxis, and light rail.

This applies to public relations because it makes it easy to get around the city and meet with clients, partners, and the media. There is no need to waste time stuck in traffic or trying to hail a cab.

Before the pandemic, the ease of travel meant PR events taking place across the border organized and managed by Hong Kong-based agencies were commonplace and will likely resume in the future.

5. China’s Greater Bay Area

Saving the best to last, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) is a key initiative of the Chinese government to promote economic integration between Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province. This covers 56,000 square kilometers with a population of 70 million people.

An example of this integration is the Wealth Management Connect scheme which lets mainland Chinese investors invest in approved wealth management products in Hong Kong and Macau. According to this article in the South China Morning Post, banks have ramped up their wealth management teams and over 100 investment funds are awaiting HK Monetary Authority approval.

A lot is going on in the technology and innovation space in the GBA with investments by the HKSAR Government already at HK$100 billion in investment funding, research infrastructure, enhancing procurement and reviewing existing legislation and regulations, and more.

On the legal front, Hong Kong lawyers can sit a Greater Bay Area legal examination (approximately 600 enrolled in this in 2021) and, after training and registration, advise on civil and commercial matters in the GBA. More information can be found in this article on Lexology.com.

Hong Kong’s status as an international arbitration centre is further elevated thanks to the GBA. Read more about legal opportunities in the Greater Bay Area on the HKSAR dedicated Greater Bay Area website.

 

There you have it, 5 reasons Hong Kong is the best place for your Asia Pacific public relations hub. If you’re looking for a PR agency in Hong Kong, get in touch with us today on eight@eightpr.com.

Eight Public Relations is a PR agency in Hong Kong. We help technology and legal clients enhance their profile through public relations, media relations, content development, corporate reputation, thought leadership programmes, and digital communications.