Brexit has UK SMEs looking East for global growth

• 45% identify Hong Kong as the gateway to the Chinese mainland
• 36% state the Brexit debate makes trading with Hong Kong or China more attractive
• Young entrepreneurs with less confidence in Europe most likely to have traded with Hong Kong or China in the last year

14 September 2017 – Research for the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in advance of its flagship “Think Asia, Think Hong Kong” event returning to London on 21 September 2017, found that almost half (45 per cent) see Hong Kong the gateway into the Chinese mainland and other Asian countries. Although confidence for business growth in Europe and Asia are broadly similar (57 per cent and 62 per cent respectively) 36 per cent of UK SMEs state that the Brexit debate has made the prospect of trading with Hong Kong or China more attractive.

Over a quarter (28 per cent) of UK SMEs believe that it is easy to set up as a foreign business in Hong Kong and almost a quarter (21 per cent) are attracted to its low tax rates. Additional assets identified include Hong Kong’s good levels of English (51 per cent), the long standing political relationship between Hong Kong and the UK (32 per cent) and its proximity to China (36 per cent). The biggest opportunities that businesses recognise for launching into the Chinese mainland is its huge consumer base (42 per cent), followed by its growing middle class (35 per cent) and ability to be early adopters of technology (27 per cent), whilst the challenges include the language barrier (57 per cent), the rule of law and perceived red tape and regulation (both 41 per cent).

According to the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) latest Annual Business Survey on Importers and Exporters, only 5 per cent (104,600 out of a total of 2,129,800 businesses) of UK companies were merchandise exporters in 2015, while the number doubled to 10 per cent (216,000 out of 2,129,800) if services exporters were also included. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council suggests that Brexit offers the UK an opportunity to develop a more independent, autonomous trade policy towards Asia that can play to its economic strengths. Both goods and services (i.e. financial services, high-tech solutions and educational services) exporters are in a prime position to ride on the structural transformation underway in many Asian countries, which are moving towards a service-based economy, bringing benefit to both sides.

The research suggests that UK SMEs are underestimating what a well-established route launching into Hong Kong is. When asked how many UK companies currently operate in Hong Kong, 32 per cent could not identify any, while the strongest response (20 per cent) came for 250-500, when the actual answer is closer to 1,000. Not surprisingly the big global names of HSBC and Barclays were the most recognised at 51 per cent and 41 per cent respectively, but even well-established brand names such as Vivienne Westwood and Twinings scored very low at just 7 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

William Chui, Regional Director, Europe of the HKTDC comments: “It’s great to see that UK SMEs are identifying the benefits of launching into Hong Kong as part of their global growth strategy at this time of European uncertainty. And also, that they are valuing Hong Kong as a hugely well positioned launch pad for businesses wanting to ‘crack’ the lucrative but notoriously challenging to penetrate Chinese mainland market. What I think a lot of UK SMEs are failing to realise however, is how many UK businesses of their size are making a real success of launching into Hong Kong.”

Hong Kong is the UK’s second-largest export market, third-largest import source and third-largest trading partner in Asia. Hong Kong is also the UK’s second-largest source of foreign investment and largest outbound investment destination.

Just 16 per cent of businesses surveyed have traded with Hong Kong or China in the past year, but a further 26 per cent have been considering it over that time frame. Interestingly, this appears to be a youth market with the young entrepreneur bracket the most likely to have traded with Hong Kong in the past 12 months (25 per cent) compared with those aged over 55 (15 per cent).

The areas in the UK that have put the most consideration into branching into Hong Kong are the North East (41 per cent) followed by London (34 per cent), and then Yorkshire and the Humber (30 per cent).

Think Asia, Think Hong Kong website: www.thinkasiathinkhk.com/2017/en/index.html

Media Enquiries and Event Registration
In the first instance, please contact the HKTDC’s London press office:
Jo Williams
Tel: 020 3874 3057/ 07825 686 930
Email: jo.williams@rochesterprgroup.com

The HKTDC London office:
Martin Evans
Tel: 020 7616 9504
Email: martin.evans@hktdc.org

And for Hong Kong specific enquiries, the HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department in Hong Kong:
Vince Lung 
Tel: (852) 2584 4341          
Email: vince.mh.lung@hktdc.org

About this research
Carried out between: 22-25 Aug 2017

Sample: 1,000 recipients including at least 50 in each of London/South/Midlands/North and devolved countries (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), from SME companies spanning 1 to 250 employees, senior managers, directors, and company owners, with responsibilities that lie in the area of doing business internationally and nationally.

About the HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.