Reuters
In 1997, the world watched as Britain returned Hong Kong to Chinese rule, with some pessimistic or wary about the outlook for the city and its role in the global financial system. Twenty-five years later, Hong Kong has so far retained its status as a financial hub, and some of the city's top executives are banking on a bright future as the territory remains a crucial springboard for investment into mainland China. Charles Li, former chief executive of bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) and founder of microfinance platform Micro Connect, said that although he believes the next 25 years will be "very different", he's optimistic.