In a news article published in the 26 August 2019 edition of the Business Times on market talk that some IPOs may be re-routing from Hong Kong to Singapore, Stefanie Yuen Thio said: “The way I see it, Singapore companies that were considering listing in Hong Kong because of its access to China’s capital flows, may well think twice. It has always been an uphill battle getting the Hong Kong market excited about a Singapore business that may not be so well-known to Hong Kong investors. The Hong Kong protests may well tip the balance in our favour and convince Singapore companies to come home.”

She added that if China chooses to respond to the unrest by deploying economic measures, it could have a painful impact on Hong Kong.

“If China tightens its capital markets, or focuses more on the development of the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, Hong Kong will become less enticing as a listing venue,” she said.

“For Singapore, we continue to shine as a Reit listing venue, with several big Reit IPOs this year alone. With the trade tensions between China and the US still simmering, international capital is looking for a neutral haven, whether to park in real estate or in listed securities. While Singapore does not wish for an unstable world economy, our role is to be a safe and well regulated place for investors.”

The story may be found here: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/hong-kong-turmoil-may-re-route-some-ipos-to-singapore