Maintaining resilience top priority for CE

Chan Tak-leung writes that the new leader of Hong Kong will inherit a robust, hard-working city — keeping it that way will bring support

In 1997, the People’s Republic of China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong when the former British crown colony became a special administrative region under the SinoBritish Joint Declaration and “One Country, Two Systems” principle. The citizens of Hong Kong have lived and worked in the SAR under this principle and the Basic Law for nearly 20 years. Three Chief Executives have been nominated and elected locally to oversee the administration of the SAR during this period. The next one will be chosen shortly.

It is time to look at the balance-sheet of challenges and achievements of the SAR so the new CE might know how best to nurture and administer this “Pearl of the Orient” for the next five years.

To begin with, some would say that the road to self-governance has never been easy. This applies to Hong Kong as well. If one looks back over the past 20 years, the SAR surely had quite a bumpy ride. Let’s look at the challenges first. The catalog of challenges started with the onset of avian flu immediately after the handover, followed immediately by the Asian Financial Crisis.

Then there were severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which resulted in 300 deaths, the controversial and failed attempt to legislate for Article 23 of the Basic Law and the global financial crisis in 2008. There was also intense debate over cross-border mothers, visitors and shoppers, corruption among senior public officials, failure to secure universal suffrage, a dispute over the national education curriculum, “Occupy Central”, increasing numbers of South Asian migrants and the debates surrounding their presence.

On top of these came delays in the legislature as a result of filibustering, the emergence of people advocating localism, the Lunar New Year riot last year and sporadic social conflicts and tensions. All these incidents underlined the need for Hong Kong to have someone who is able, farsighted, diplomatic and determined to undertake the role of CE for the next five years.

Against the backdrop of challenging events and recent political discourse in the SAR, Hong Kong has continued to shine on the global stage. The World Bank’s Financial Development Index rates Hong Kong as the world’s top city.

The SAR has also been recognized as the world’s freest economy for the past 23 years; that is no mean feat. Hong Kong occupies fifth place in the world’s most-competitive city league table; it is the eighth-largest trading entity, the 11thlargest global trading city, the No 1 re-export center and the most popular global tourism center. All in all, is that quite remarkable or not?

These accolades and global recognition confirm that Hong Kong has continued to attract businesses and investment because of the efforts of its many hardworking and enterprising citizens. These continuing achievements are something the SAR’s citizens should be proud of.

There is also a need for all citizens to reconfirm their personal commitment to ensure these miraculous achievements continue. The SAR must count its blessings; it has survived all these challenges unscathed.

If one looks at another global city like London,

Be a Chief Executive of the majority and not for the few. This is how you serve and how you relate to the SAR’s citizens.

which has 8.7 million people compared with Hong Kong’s 7.38 million, the challenges have not been dissimilar. Londoners started to elect their own mayor in 2000 but unlike Hong Kong’s Chief Executive the mayor does not have to deal with a legislature and is subjected to scrutiny by an assembly of 25 elected members.

London has similar issues to Hong Kong such as the lack of school places and unaffordable homes, along with transport headaches, strikes, terrorism and more recently uncertainties surrounding Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.

The main difference between the two global cities, administratively speaking, would be that London has 33 elected local authorities (including the City of London). These have their own budgets, mainly from the central government, and run their education, housing, planning, public health, social care and cleansing services. By comparison, Hong Kong’s 18 district councils have limited responsibilities over most public services.

The various global league tables show conclusively that Hong Kong is a global player and the region is here to stay regardless of all the distractions.

The city has the added advantages of the Chinese mainland’s Belt and Road Initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, stockconnect links with Shanghai and Shenzhen, not to mention its built-in freedom, proximity to the thriving mainland and a host of emerging economies in Asia, as well as linguistic and cultural advantages. The SAR’s continuing successes are to be expected.

There is no harm, therefore, in reminding aspiring CE candidates that the SAR is extremely resilient and tough; at the same time most of its citizens are hardworking and enterprising.

There might be political and ideological hindrances but if one persists with fulfilling the basic needs and demands of the SAR’s citizens, they will be always on your side.

Be a Chief Executive of the majority and not for the few. This is how you serve and how you relate to the SAR’s citizens — which matters most if you want to win over their hearts and minds.