Hong Kong must seize the chance of coronavirus disruptions to overhaul its economy and politics

Pathogens have a long history of transforming human life. Covid-19 presents opportunities to change our high-consumption lifestyle, and tackle Hong Kong’s economic and political problems

Alice Wu

Published: 9:00am, 20 Apr 2020

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People often say they want change – until change knocks on their door. Then it’s all flailing arms and kicking feet as change drags us out of our comfort zone, disrupts our routine, and no one, save Donald Trump, can tell us when life can, if at all, return to normal.

Covid-19 shows that all of the phenomenal human advances and accomplishments have not made us immune to disease outbreaks and global pandemics. Perhaps we are not supposed to be.

Pathogens have been bringing humankind to our knees since prehistoric times, bringing down some empires and helping to build others (by decimating indigenous people). They have forced technological innovation, strengthened personal hygiene and public health measures, and meted out harsh lessons. They create powerful change.

Many governments are bracing themselves for seriously hard times ahead and know they will not be reopening economies to normalcy any time soon. Indeed, the world will emerge from this pandemic transformed.

Those who expect to return to their way of life pre-Covid-19 will be disappointed. A recent Harvard study has found that on-off social distancing may be necessary until 2022. A government can lift a lockdown and you can reopen your fancy restaurant tomorrow, but you’ll be reopening to a changed economic landscape.

Times like these can usher in tremendous opportunities, though. There is no better time to make sweeping changes to just about anything and correct human wrongs. Life was too good for too many of us to care about the environment. The crisis presents a precious opportunity to explore ways to reduce energy consumption and try out new models of travel, work and urban life. And, no, we don’t need the same shirt in all 10 colours.

An opportunity to cure Hong Kong economy’s addiction to Chinese tourists

Later this week, Hong Kong will have been fighting Covid-19 for three months. Are we prepared for some serious “no turning back” changes? Decades of talking about diversifying our economy has amounted to not much more than talk. But the collapse of Hong Kong’s tourism and related industries will demand that we adapt or die.

Most of us expect social unrest to flare in our streets again, once the outbreak is under control. Desperation and discontent could only have spread among the masses with rising unemployment and tension; also, the roots of lawlessness, conflict, distrust and discord have not been fully addressed. We are a society in a state of suspension – and without a political breakthrough, the violence will return to the city fast and furious.

Maybe this is why the “three JTs” – James Tien Pei-chun, honorary chairman of Liberal Party; Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, former president of the Legislative Council; and John Tsang Chun-wah, former financial secretary – hit the streets last week. The political veterans turned up at one of the busiest spots in Central district to hand out packs of face masks with “Hope for Hong Kong” printed on them.

Their appearance was highly orchestrated. It came just as they were putting out word that they will be fielding non-traditional candidates to run in the upcoming Legco election.

The three JTs have been quite open about their dismay with the political status quo in Hong Kong and it looks like they are seizing this opportunity to bring about a paradigm shift. The traditional structure of pro-establishment versus pro-democracy has given way to the divide between the blue and yellow ribbons that now defines the city’s politics. Our fundamental political problems remain. Breaking new political ground by transcending these enemy lines may be what the three are hoping to do.

And I, for one, am rooting for them – for any alternative, really. Because returning to our old political ways and old battlegrounds may very well mean the end of “one country, two systems”.

Alice Wu is a political consultant and a former associate director of the Asia Pacific Media Network at UCLA

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