IN THE wake of Covid-19 isolation, Hong Kong is taking a targeted approach to reviving its position as a global business hub – an image that waned during the pandemic as expats left in droves amid tough restrictions.

To draw back talent, the government has rolled out a special visa programme, which has hooked tens of thousands of applicants. It is also pitching the industry hard as a sandbox for innovation, particularly with tech and phenomena such as the metaverse and Web3, where it is taking a comparatively lighter regulatory touch.

In April alone, Hong Kong hosted more than a dozen exhibitions on technology, fashion, and a variety of trading sectors. These events attracted over 65,000 buyers from around 160 countries, according to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.