Not just another mainland city: Hong Kong should trumpet capitalism, lead Greater Bay Area, and shun bureaucratic excess
- Economic setbacks and political uncertainty have dented the city’s confidence, but it remains a world-class hub for business and finance
- Now is not the time to shy away from free-market practices or simply accept a supporting role in China’s development
The contrast between the two cities could not have been greater. Leaving behind the freezing cold weather and pent-up frustration over zero-Covid restrictions in Beijing, I felt right at home in Hong Kong, thanks to the warm weather, kind welcome of old friends, and feeling of freedom.
As I have observed to friends in Hong Kong, being away from the city for three full years means that all I see are its positives, while they are deeply worried about its negatives.
But before the city gets back on its feet, I believe it must untie three hard knots which threaten to constrict its future development, based upon my extensive talks with political and business contacts over the past two months.
Hong Kong must do more to counter that perception. Hong Kong’s development may have been stalled because of political wrangling over the past 25 years, while the economy of neighbouring Guangdong has grown by leaps and bounds.
But the city’s unique advantages remain intact and it has much to offer in terms of financial services, innovation and technology, transport and logistics, medical services, and education.
Hong Kong should not sell itself short; it must regain its dragon head status.
Because of political developments in the past three years, some political and business elites in the city have consciously or subconsciously started to second-guess what Beijing thinks on issues concerning Hong Kong, or to please Beijing by copying some of its practices.
More worryingly, as Beijing tightens political controls over the city, some mainland officials based in Hong Kong have started to put on airs, demanding favours at meetings or Mao-tai liquor over meals.
This is very unsettling. As far as running an efficient and clean government is concerned, Hong Kong has little to learn from mainland bureaucracy. In fact, the opposite is true. Granted, it is important for Hong Kong’s civil servants to learn how the mainland bureaucracy works to ensure smooth cooperation, but they should zealously resist the mainland’s bureaucratic practices.
This is also something on which Beijing should keep a close eye, to ensure its officials based in Hong Kong don’t introduce the practice of formalities for formalities’ sake to pollute the city’s clean and efficient system of governance and ways of life.
Wang Xiangwei is a former editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post. He now teaches journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University