Hong Kong's close alignment with mainland may hurt its bid to regain global relevance

City hopes first geopolitical summit will boost its quest to be a 'super connector'

- Magdalene Fung

HONG KONG - Having emerged from a series of protest- and pandemic-induced crises in recent years, Hong Kong has been working to regain its global relevance.

In hosting what the city's leaders have described as Hong Kong's first geopolitical summit this week, the government is signalling its intention to redefine its role in terms of contributions towards world development, among other areas.

But the reality is Hong Kong remains held back from its full potential, given its close alignment to the mainland and

perceptions that the city might have been preoccupied with national security issues at the expense of global connectedness, said analysts.