Opinion | Can Hong Kong find its Goldilocks zone?
Too much emphasis on ‘one country’ over ‘two systems’ will hobble the dynamism that made Hong Kong such a powerful magnet to talent and capital
As pressure mounts on Hong Kong to align with the mainland, it is often forgotten that the city’s great strength has always been its freewheeling style.
Hong Kong took risks, made fast decisions, and executed them with speed. It had a spirited attitude towards competition. And it learned from its mistakes. This anything-goes dynamism gave it the star power to attract adventurers and an endless supply of can-do talent and capital.
This dismal finding was compounded by another telling statistic from the Youth Development Blueprint: 52.7 per cent of people aged 25 to 39 are still living with their parents, and the number is growing. Where is the Lion Rock spirit that elevated the city from pirates’ bolt-hole to laissez-faire poster child?
While Singapore has been criticised for its overly cautious follow-the-leader approach compared with Hong Kong, these roles have seemingly been reversed. Across the border, even Shenzhen is racing ahead.
For a slowing mainland China, there is a temptation to tinker, and unleash Hong Kong’s proverbial horsepower. “One country, two systems” ensures a clear separation of roles, but things can change.
