Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Hong Kong’s government invited Wall Street’s biggest names to a summit to show the financial hub is open for business after nearly three years of isolation due to pandemic curbs.
Instead, top bank executives’ attendance at the gathering has become a lightning rod for criticism of China’s human rights record as participants face pressure to speak out about Hong Kong’s disappearing freedoms or stay home.
Hong Kong democracy activists and US legislators have charged that the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit is being used by authorities to whitewash a brutal political crackdown that has transformed the once-freewheeling territory beyond recognition.
About 200 financial leaders representing top financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, UBS and BlackRock, are expected to attend the summit, which takes place November 1-3.
During the event, bankers will…
