It's hindsight time for Hong Kong's business sector, which has compiled its annual list of the 10-most-concerning business-related issues in 2007.

Donald Tsang being reelected as Hong Kong's Chief Executive for a third term tops the list along with the 10 major infrastructure projects he highlighted in his policy address.

The robustly growing stock market ranked second, and the United States subprime crisis came in at third.

Readers of the Hong Kong Commercial Daily newspaper, along with members of 16 local business associations ranked the issues for the second-straight year.

As the selected issues addressed public concerns, the vote could enhance civic consciousness and advance understanding between the government and the public, Financial Secretary John Tsang said in a video.

Yu Kwok-chun, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Guangdong Community Organizations, said 2007 was a fruitful year, due to the skyrocketing economy, growth in the export trading and service sectors, and the lowest unemployment rate since 1998.

The list also contains issues related to the inflation of food prices, new policies in the processing-trade industry, and the halt of the "through-train" program. The program, if implemented, would allow individual mainland investors to invest in the Hong Kong financial market.

Yu, for one, was not as optimistic about the 2008 local financial market as he was last year. But he noted that while the US subprime crisis still clouds the global economy, Hong Kong is backed by the mainland's growing economy.  (By Peggy Chan)

2007's most-concerning business issues

1. Donald Tsang being elected for a third-term as Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, and his announcement of the 10 key infrastructure projects

2. The stock market skyrocketing by 10,000 points in 10 months

3. The US subprime crisis inducing an influx of hot money into Asian markets

4. A new leadership core emerging from the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China

5. President Hu Jintao giving Hong Kong four pieces of advice on the 10th anniversary of the HK SAR handover

6. The strengthening Renminbi and the weakening US dollar

7. Soaring food prices and the inflation rate reaching a nine-year high

8. The mainland's new policy regarding the processing industry, forcing Hong Kong enterprises in the Pearl River Delta Region to find a way out

9. The halting of the "through-train" program meant to allow individual mainland investors to invest in Hong Kong's financial market

10. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress setting a timetable for constitutional development in Hong Kong after the Chief Executive submitted a report on the subject