In recent years, China has gradually weakened Hong Kong's function as a financial port and has supported financial cities in its South China Sea policy to compete with Singapore. On the other hand, Sihanoukville is the only port city in Cambodia, and it is the key financial city for China because of its investment policies such as no foreign exchange control.
Previously, Prime Minister Hun Sen also proposed to make Sihanoukville a financial center and a financial city comparable to Singapore. As the old town of Sihanoukville has matured, the establishment of a fully functional new town as a carrier is imperative.