Hong Kong’s new lawmakers must reach out to the city’s youth and foreign businesses
- Legislators should start by listening to the city’s disillusioned young people and setting them on a more prosperous path
- They must also assuage the international business community’s concerns about the national security law and Covid-19 travel restrictions
Some young people fell for the false narrative that, one day, our city could be independent. It was never true but the allure of the idea was just too attractive to some and overwhelmed their common sense. It will take time to correct this thinking.
In the longer term, more use of the national language, more teaching of Chinese history, and more study of Chinese literature will gradually lead to a better understanding of Chinese culture.
In the short term, this proposed outreach programme by Legco must be a two-way process. The younger members in the new legislature, being closer in age and thinking, can assist in the process of gently setting our youth on a more realistic path.
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But they must also listen sympathetically to our university and senior high school students. After all, their concerns are real, even if their proposals are not always practicable.
Depending on the individual’s aptitudes and interests, he or she may consider possible openings in Liverpool or London. Far too many young people in Hong Kong seem to think the world ends at the Shenzhen River.
Stepping back and taking a broader view, they may find attractive opportunities in Dongguan, Guangzhou or other cities in Southern China, or even elsewhere in the country. Some of the new Legco members have been successful there, so can quote from personal experience.
Perhaps the most important result from the exercise will be to make our young people feel loved, or if that is too ambitious, at least not ignored.
The other group feeling somewhat neglected at the moment is the international community resident in the city, in particular the business sector. Once again, this must be a two-way process.
Legco members could start by emphasising how much they appreciate the presence of foreign companies and businesspeople in our city. After all, they are the cornerstone of our status as an international trading, financial and transport hub. Without them, our claim to be “Asia’s World City” would be an empty slogan.
They could also ask foreign companies about their concerns over national security and seek clarification on whether the introduction of the national security law had only an emotional impact, or whether there have been tangible issues causing compliance departments to recommend shifting operations away from Hong Kong.
In short, is there anything that could be done to improve the operating environment without prejudicing national security? Opening communication channels between the new legislators and foreign companies can only benefit efforts to preserve our attractiveness as a business city.
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The Legco team needs to get an update on how serious the loss of business activities is likely to be, and an assessment of whether they can be recovered once normal travel resumes.
The underlying message for Legco in dealing with both our youth and international business is the same: we need to talk.
Mike Rowse is the CEO of Treloar Enterprises