Transnational Corporations and Business Networks: Hong Kong Firms in the ASEAN Region

Drawing upon extensive field research in Hong Kong and South-east Asia, this book
focuses on networks of business and personal relationships as a key means of
transnational operations. The book highlights the role of Chinese business networks in
facilitating the emergence of transnational corporations from an Asian newly
industrialised economy—Hong Kong. Beginning with the observation that today’s global
economy is increasingly made up of cooperative networks and alliances among
transnational corporations, the book examines the emerging characteristics and
competitive advantage of transnational corporations from Asian NIEs. A business
network perspective is used to examine the organisation of transnational business
activities through intra-firm, inter-firm and extra-firm networks. Based upon qualitative
case studies, the book explains how Hong Kong firms organise their South-east Asian
operations through the overseas Chinese Business and personal guanxi networks.
This book is a timely theoretical and empirical contribution to the recent debate on the
nature and operations of ‘bamboo networks’ within the global economy and their role in
the rapid economic growth and regional integration among Asia-Pacific economies.
Henry Wai-chung Yeung is Lecturer at the Department of Geography, National
University of Singapore.