Enough opportunities for Hong Kong’s youth in Greater Bay Area, but it’s not the answer to the city’s problems, says Allan Zeman
- Beijing needs one country, two systems as it has worked well so far, Allan Zeman says at the China Conference
- Other participants in the panel discussion also say that Hong Kong’s youth must not be forced to seek work in the mainland
Hong Kong’s independent judiciary and regulatory framework give the city an edge in the Greater Bay Area and even though it offers enough opportunities for the city’s disenchanted youth, asking them to move to the mainland is not the answer to ending the social turmoil plaguing the financial hub, according to prominent businessman Allan Zeman.
“The legal system is different, the independent judiciary … has always been the strength of the financial services [in Hong Kong],” said Zeman, who has made his name famous through high-end restaurants and is a significant landlord in Central, during a panel discussion titled The competition conundrum at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference on Wednesday.
The discussion focused on competition between cities in southern China and how many Hongkongers, especially those taking part in the protests, had no desire to benefit from the opportunities in China and the Greater Bay Area.
“Beijing is going through a difficult time understanding what’s going on in Hong Kong. Normally Beijing likes to be in control, they like to know everything that’s going on. And in this case, somehow someone completely took their eye off the ball.”
