[winbig]

I am not sure if Hong Kong has lost its shine.  But when its throne in the financial sector was lost to Singapore, and it being China's bank, if Guangdong was China's factory, I think flights of some variety had taken place.  There's a pun; I was not talking about aeroplanes when I wrote flights but talents, capital, and overall business confidence..

Hong Kong might have been a gateway to China before, but if you are using that to refer to distance rather than access to China's markets, then Hong Kong is only a gateway to Shenzhen and perhaps Guangzhou as well, if you compare Singapore being a "gateway" to JB and perhaps Malacca as well.  That's using distance, as you did.

Hong Kong which is situated at the far southeastern end of China is not near Chengdu which is tucked deep inside China's belly.  There is no reason for international travellers to fly to Hong Kong and transit to Chengdu when they can fly directly there.

Gateway doesn't mean, u can fly there means u r gateway leh.