Hotelier Aron Harilela urges true reform in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is badly in need of constitutional reform and its political difficulties are an Achilles' heel for global competitiveness, prominent hotelier Aron Harilela says.

"We have a systemic problem. There's no question about it and it needs wholehearted reform," the chairman and chief executive of the Harilela Group told the . "I think the government should take into account that the people want solutions not just in housing or a cry for a mandate. It has to be deeper than that."

In an interview with the in 2013, the hotelier spoke about the disenfranchisement arising from the lack of political representation and difficulty in securing jobs and homes. Now, post-Occupy Central and on the heels of another democracy rally last Sunday, he says the problem has only stagnated and is a serious cause for concern.

"I wear a couple of hats. One, my postgraduate was in political philosophy so it's very close to my heart," Harilela says. "Obviously, I'm a businessman and I also have to see that part of the disenfranchisement. It worries me in Hong Kong, it really does. I have been saying this for a few years. Occupy Central was a manifestation of that. There are a lot of different elements and we need to take control of them, which are constitutional reform, social mobility, economic mobility.

"Young students need to have a chance … the administration has to realise these students are their citizens. It should take into account their wishes.

"Decisions are taking a long time to be made. One of the biggest impediments for growth for entrepreneurship is just inaction. I was asked earlier, 'do you ever rescind your decisions?' Actually not very often, but if the people I work with tell me to change my decision, I'm happy to. Usually I make decisions very quickly and hardly ever change it, but you need to get moving. The Hong Kong situation is stagnant. Stagnancy is just the destroyer of economics and mobility."

The only son of self-made hotel magnate Hari Harilela - Aron has five sisters - he says he is grateful to have spent nearly two decades working with his father before his death three months ago.