Promising future

Prominent young leaders from various sectors in the community give their views on the changes that have taken place in Hong Kong since 1997, as well as their vision for the future.

Henry Ho Kin-chung,

founder and chairman of One Country Two Systems Youth Forum, a think tank

Edward Liu Yang, veteran mainland-born solicitor who has lived in Hong Kong for 12 years

Joephy Chan Wing-yan, youngest member of the city’s seventh-term Legislative Council

1. This year commemorates the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. How do you see the SAR’s development in the past 25 years?

Henry Ho Kin-chung: The city has thrived in the past 25 years under the “one country, two systems” policy. With the support of the central government, Hong Kong has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy, retained our capitalist system and hastened our integration with the Chinese mainland, which has achieved rapid GDP growth in the past 25 years. We’ve contributed to the motherland’s impressive economic development and benefited from it in many ways.

Edward Liu Yang: Since its return to the motherland, Hong Kong has been making progress in international rankings on the rule of law. According to the Worldwide Governance Indicators project of the World Bank Group, Hong Kong’s percentile rank in respect of the rule of law was 69.85 in 1996 before the return to the motherland. With the full implementation of “one country, two systems” and safeguards provided for by the Basic Law after the return to the motherland, Hong Kong’s scores in respect of the rule of law reached 74.75 in 2000 and have been consistently above 90 since 2003. The indicators published in September 2021 revealed that Hong Kong attained a score of 91.83 in 2020, demonstrating again that the city’s rule of law has a solid foundation, and that our efforts in the maintenance of the rule of law are recognized internationally.

Stanley Sy Ming-yiu: Over the past 25 years, Hong Kong has achieved a new level of prosperity by consistently strengthening our cooperation with our motherland and the world. Indeed, Hong Kong’s economy has hugely benefited from the rapid development of the nation’s economy in recent years and our relationship with the motherland is undoubtedly one of the greatest advantages that we have.

Patrick Choi: The 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a milestone for the country and Hong Kong. In the past 25 years, the HKSAR government has developed very well with its traditional strengths. However, Hong Kong has not been able to fully develop the innovative technology industry and so it lacks new economic growth drivers.

2. How about the development of “one country, two systems” in the course of the past quarter of a century? How have these changes affected the city and you personally?

Henry Ho Kin-chung: Our strengths in financial services, professional services, the common law system, as well as being an international city, have matched well with the Chinese mainland’s booming development in the past 25 years. More and more Hong Kong people from all walks of life and age groups have gained from the huge opportunities on the mainland. For myself, I’m glad to have obtained a PhD in law under the supervision of renowned Peking University scholar Professor Rao Geping. I got a deeper understanding of constitutional law and the Basic Law under his supervision, which inspired me to set up a youth think tank, One Country Two Systems Youth Forum.

Edward Liu Yang: In 2010, I moved to Hong Kong to work and live. I have had the privilege of witnessing many changes in Hong Kong. I have gone from being a fresh junior lawyer to an established partner in an international law firm. I would say the success in my life and my career is inseparable from Hong Kong.

Joephy Chan Wing-yan: Having witnessed “one country, two systems” in the face of all sorts of smearing and malicious attacks, I feel obliged to ensure “one country, two systems” fares well, bringing stability and prosperity to Hong Kong as a contribution to the development of modern China. … It has given me a sense of mission and made me decide to enter politics.

Stanley Sy Ming-yiu: The practice of “one country, two systems” did face a lot of challenges over the past 25 years. The misunderstanding of the mainland and the dissatisfaction on various social problems eventually led to severe political conflicts in the city. Fortunately, after the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, the city has regained harmony and safety. I personally took a great lesson from the political conflict in recent years, and it strengthened my belief that “one country, two systems” is always the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s prosperity.

3. Tell us more about Hong Kong. How would you describe Hong Kong as a city to live in, work and do business?

Henry Ho Kin-chung: Hong Kong is a vibrant city, combining the best of China and the West, with both urban and natural scenery. Hong Kong people are efficient, flexible and open to new ideas. Although Hong Kong is an overcrowded city, it’s convenient and it’s not uncommon for people to hold five or six meetings a day — from breakfast meetings to having drinks after dinner. World-class natural scenery and hillsides are readily accessible from the city center in just 30 minutes.

Joephy Chan Wing-yan: I would describe Hong Kong as being a young adult at the young age of 25, who is energetic and full of hopes and possibilities. The implementation of the National Security Law ended the chaotic situation in Hong Kong after 2019, bringing Hong Kong from chaos to stability.

Stanley Sy Ming-yiu: I would describe Hong Kong as a very fast-paced city, where people walk fast, eat fast, speak fast, and live fast. Therefore, living and working in Hong Kong are not that easy. But for doing biotechnology business, it has a good environment as the government has started putting more resources into this field, especially in recent years. There is good support from the government and Hong Kong Science and Technologies Parks in terms of funding, machines and talent cultivation.

Ding Ching-hoi: In Hong Kong, there has always been a good environment for creative works, expression and publication. Because Hong Kong is a melting pot of Chinese and Western culture, I can easily learn information at home and abroad and communicate with friends of different nationalities, which is quite good for my work. Overall, I think it is a very suitable place for engaging in the cultural industry.

4. In the past 25 years, many industries have seen developments evolve. How about your industry or your sector? Among these changes, what has impressed you the most?

Henry Ho Kin-chung: Think tanks have thrived in Hong Kong in the past decade due to the growing importance of policy research in Hong Kong. I’m particularly impressed with the open-mindedness of many mainland officials who are keen to learn, willing to listen and adopt policies that are beneficial to Hong Kong.

Edward Liu Yang: Taking international arbitration as an example, Hong Kong is now a prominent international arbitration center. In particular, with the strong support of Beijing, Hong Kong and the mainland have signed a series of arrangements on arbitral award enforcement and interim measures, creating a unique leading edge for Hong Kong in dealing with cross-border disputes, including those of the Belt and Road Initiative matters. In the field of maritime arbitration, since 2020, Hong Kong has become one of the four international maritime arbitration seats recognized by the Baltic and International Maritime Council’s model arbitration clause.

Joephy Chan Wing-yan: The Hong Kong political system is much more efficient with a more-balanced participation after the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the revamping of the electoral system. As one of the first batch of LegCo members as well as the youngest member in LegCo after the consolidation of the electoral system, I am most grateful for the opportunity.

Stanley Sy Ming-yiu: As an entrepreneur focusing on biotechnology, I am glad to see that the biotechnology industry in Hong Kong has experienced rapid development and achieved great success in the past 25 years. My company Sanomics has received great support from the government and the HKSTP. Many other enterprises have also received policy support, which makes Hong Kong one of the most competitive cities in the world in terms of the biotechnology industry.

Patrick Choi: In the architectural and interior design industries I’m engaged in, the Chinese mainland is one of the largest export markets for Hong Kong’s design consultant services and is increasingly valued by Hong Kong designers.

In recent years, many mainland enterprises have expanded their operations and used the services of Hong Kong design companies to help them redesign their brands and strengthen their attractiveness to the global market, while maintaining their competitiveness in the domestic market. Hong Kong design companies are culturally innovative, responsible, and mature, protected by intellectual property laws, and adopt a professional service attitude . ... Among these changes, the most impressive is that Hong Kong and overseas design companies are cooperating in large-scale urban planning, architecture and interior design on the Chinese mainland.

Ding Ching-hoi: Many Hong Kong pop singers have gone to the mainland to seek opportunities, and its pop music culture has also created a positive impact on our industry. For instance, their music TV shows have provided a bigger stage for our singers and musicians. I also have produced a lot of music works with mainland musicians. The cultural and industrial exchanges in pop music between the two places have become increasingly frequent and extensive.

5. Can you still remember what were you doing on June 30, 1997? Some people, especially those in Western countries, had predicted Hong Kong’s demise when it was returned to China on July 1, 1997. Such rhetoric continues to this day. How do you feel about that?

Henry Ho Kin-chung: I had just graduated from university in 1997. I read a lot about historical literature during my childhood and was particularly sad about the history of colonization in the past 150 years. Hong Kong’s reunification with the motherland signifies the emergence of a strong China.

Edward Liu Yang: On June 30, 1997, I was only 11 years old and was still a primary school student in the mainland. Nevertheless, I still clearly remember that at that time, everyone in the country was eagerly looking forward to the return of the city, which washed away the old shame of modern China, and showcased our national strength. Looking back at the comments that were not optimistic about Hong Kong at that time, I just want to say that facts speak louder than words. The sustained prosperity and stability of Hong Kong resulted from the umbrella and support provided from the motherland since its return and under the principle of “one country, two systems” pursuant to the Basic Law.

Joephy Chan Wing-yan: Back when I was a child in the 1990s, Western media and politicians were already predicting the death of Hong Kong upon the end of British rule. Headlines of similar predictions return every now and again, especially after 2019. It’s just deja vu and old rhetoric. It’s such an irony that now we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. Perhaps the anniversary is the best demonstration to those being fooled and manipulated by Western media bias and political agendas.

Stanley Sy Ming-yiu: I remember that I was in Primary 6 in 1997. June 30 of 1997 was a normal school day and I went to school as usual. Facing new change, some people expressed worries and imagined many possibilities. I thought time would tell the truth. During these 25 years, Hong Kong has faced many ups and downs, but we still stand strong and play one of the important roles in the world.

6.

Stanley Sy Ming-yiu, chief executive of Hong Kong biotech startup Sanomics

Patrick Choi, Hong Kong interior designer

Hong Kong has seen deeper integration with the Chinese mainland since its return to the motherland. What are your expectations for the next 25 years?

Henry Ho Kin-chung: For the next 25 years, I’m confident Hong Kong will still be able to utilize our unique strengths and contribute to the nation’s development. Hong Kong’s functions are irreplaceable. On the other hand, I would like to see Hong Kong people getting more involved with the mainland, particularly in the Greater Bay Area.

Edward Liu Yang: I hope and believe that Hong Kong will better integrate into the overall plan of national development and make Hong Kong a part of the national “unified market” through the construction of the Greater Bay Area, so as to better serve the mainland market and enterprises in the economic development dominated by the domestic cycle. At the same time, Hong Kong should also take full advantage of the construction opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative, provide strong support for the country’s further opening-up in the fields of finance, trade, shipping and law.

Joephy Chan Wing-yan: I think the Hong Kong political system has been put back on track after the implementation of the National Security Law and the revamping of the electoral system, allowing us to bring Hong Kong a stable and prosperous future. Deeper integration with the Chinese mainland is an unmissable trend.

Stanley Sy Ming-yiu: Hong Kong’s deepening integration with the mainland will be a general trend in the future. To me and all other residents, this trend is also a great opportunity for us to achieve our personal goals. Our understanding of the nation’s development plan, such as GBA development, will become increasingly important in the future.

7.

Hong Kong has a high standing on the international stage, partly due to the city’s overall competitiveness. What do you think has made Hong Kong competitive? What should Hong Kong do to consolidate and maintain its competitiveness?

Henry Ho Kin-chung: The rule of law, professionalism, worldclass financial services and an understanding of China are our key strengths. The SAR government should invest more in tertiary education to nurture more talents. It should also devise a more comprehensive and attractive talent policy to recruit the best talents in the world.

Edward Liu Yang: Hong Kong has a pool of international capital, extensive international contacts and developed professional services. It has incomparable advantages in giving full play to its strengths and contributing to the needs of the country. In view of the new chapter, while actively integrating into the overall situation of national development, Hong Kong must also maintain its unique attribute of duality, so as to grasp the construction opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area, and facilitate the country’s opening-up in an all-around way.

Stanley Sy Ming-yiu: Hong Kong is always good at bridging the country and the world. It provides us opportunities to cooperate with many other countries and regions since the aforementioned positions greatly increased our competitiveness and attractiveness internationally. To consolidate the positions, we should explore and develop more new industries such as innovation and technology, and the culture and creative industry.

Patrick Choi: I think Hong Kong’s competitiveness lies in having a sound legal system, low tax rates, thriving financial services, professionals from all over the world, and a world-class infrastructure. It’s also a good location for overseas companies to tap the mainland market.

Hong Kong should further strengthen integration with the motherland and promote specialization and digitization in the local economy and trade.

8. What about the next 25 years? Hong Kong is now halfway through its 50 years of “one country, two systems”. Is there anything you would like to say to Hong Kong residents on this special occasion?

Henry Ho Kin-chung: I think Hong Kong people should be proud of being Chinese as our country takes center stage in the world. With the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the improved electoral system, the SAR government will be able to deal with the city’s deep-seated problems, such as housing, youth development and social mobility.

Edward Liu Yang: Since the country’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong 25 years ago, it is proven that the city is a blessed place that brings hope and opportunities for growth. As the 25th anniversary of the reunification approaches, Hong Kong’s development has entered a new era — with new opportunities and developments.

Joephy Chan Wing-yan: I have dedicated myself to ensure “one country, two systems” works well for all, and I hope that 25 years later, we together can continue to witness and demonstrate the superiority of “one country, two systems”.

Stanley Sy Ming-yiu: As we can see, the world has been rapidly changing over recent years. Hong Kong has also faced many challenges in this period. With the experience of the previous 25 years, I do believe that Hong Kong will have more ups than downs in the next quarter century. I want to say to all Hong Kong residents during this special occasion, let’s work together to build a better future for Hong Kong.

Patrick Choi: For the next 25 years, I would like to say to Hong Kong people on this special occasion: Stick to the “Lion Rock spirit” to embrace a better Hong Kong in the future with confidence, hope and love.

Ding Ching-hoi: Hong Kong’s return to the motherland over the past 25 years has not been a smooth journey, and everything we have now did not come easily. That’s why we cherish all the achievements we have made today. I firmly believe that friendship, unity, development and hard work are the eternal themes of Hong Kong society.