Exclusive | 'I would never bet against HK': Austrian business leader Wilhelm Brauner shows positive attitude towards city's future

Hong Kong is still the most efficient city in Asia, Mr. Wilhelm Brauner, Chairman of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong & Macau, said in an interview on March 25.

Although an unrest happened in HK in previous years, Mr, Brauner still considered HK one of the safest cities in the world since it owns a mature legal framework represented by the Basic Law. "As a citizen, as a person who walks through all areas of town... you don't have to have any fear and you know that you will be safe."

According to Mr. Brauner, challenges still exist even though instability has been largely eliminated, waiting for the business sector all over the world to face. However, those challenges can be seen as obstacles or tests.

"I think we're looking at still a few more challenging years, but if any place can bounce back, I still have my faith in HK and I would never bet against HK." At the same time, he stressed that if the development of the Greater Bay Area could be fully implemented, HK would be greatly benefited.

Talking about HK's uniqueness, Mr. Brauner showed his humor, "HK is the only financial center where you can drive from the stock exchange to the beach within 15 minutes."