Participants in the Greater Bay Area Healthcare Talents Visiting Programme arrive at West Kowloon Station on April 17. Persistent concerns about Hong Kong’s press freedom, judicial independence, cost of living and the national security law have held back efforts to draw urgently needed talent from places other than the mainland. Photo: Jelly Tse
Opinion
Quentin Parker
Quentin Parker
To win over global talent, Hong Kong must show its freedoms aren’t lost
While concerns about Covid-19 and social unrest have largely eased, negative reports persist around the world about the city’s freedoms and judicial independence
Rather than wait for a return to the good old days, officials must work hard to ease the fears of those considering a move here
Much has been made concerning the dearth of talent coming to Hong Kong after the exodus following years of social unrest, the Covid-19 pandemic and negative perceptions about what Hong Kong has become. This triple whammy of bad headlines has percolated around the world.
We were a beacon of free trade, stability and liberal values. The city sat well with large numbers of high-quality expatriates who came to Hong Kong to answer the call for top-tier talent.
The first two issues have largely passed into history, and harmony has returned to the city, but negative perceptions linger. This is an ongoing push factor despite many strong pull factors remaining: a globally significant fintech sector, robust economy, strong regulatory and compliance infrastructure, world-leading universities, and vibrant nightlife.
Even given these advantages, a replacement influx remains elusive. Our global city needs global talent, today – even if our overall population has edged up 2.1 per cent in a year, thanks to the border reopening and largely mainland response to talent schemes.
So, what can Hong Kong do to get back its mojo, restore faith and regain its place at the top of the class in business, banking, fintech, investment and its other strengths?
There is no reason to be passive and just hope things will return to the “good old days”; we can be proactive. Competitors such as Singapore are providing incentives for talent recruitment, and we should do so too. Half measures yield less than a glass half full. A revitalised government committee could focus on this issue while ensuring key sectors’ voices are heard.
Officials could consider a number of schemes, for example: placing ads in target countries extolling the opportunities and lifestyle Hong Kong offers; a refreshed set of promotional videos; a government-supported roadshow of firms in key sectors travelling to major cities to lure fresh talent; and a support scheme for talent that provides incentives in key areas such as subsidies, advice and sharing information.
Surveys of foreign workers who left Hong Kong could be carried out to discover the underlying reasons for their departure; we should learn from their responses and address their concerns to reduce the push factors.
The lands straddling the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The development of Northern Metropolis, an economic hub focused on innovation and technology, is intended to drive further integration with Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area. Photo: Martin Chan
The city could seek to diversify its talent pool by embracing emerging sectors and smart-city industries as befits the vision for the Northern Metropolis. It should also address concerns about Hong Kong’s press freedom, judicial independence, legal protections and regulatory resilience.
One important issue is the global perception of Hong Kong’s national security law, a topic that has emerged as a strong push factor. Perception can be a powerful force once it takes hold, and it is notoriously difficult to shift when that happens. This is something that can happen in any field, including science.
One recent story that could help quell concerns about the national security law and judicial independence is the Court of Appeal quashing one of two charges against Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and six former opposition lawmakers for their roles during the 2019 protest movement.
Whether you agree with the court’s decision is not the important thing. Rather, it sends a signal to the world that Hong Kong’s legal system allows such outcomes.
Jimmy Lai walks through Stanley prison on July 28. Seven of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy advocates, including Lai, partially won their bid to quash their convictions on August 14 over their roles in one of the biggest pro-democracy protests in 2019. Photo: AP
These developments run counter to the perception that Hong Kong is not able to apply its own laws to local matters. Stories reinforcing the positive message must be distributed widely. If the government wanted to play smart politics, it would not appeal against the court’s decision but accept the judgment graciously. Justice will be done.
There is no shortage of reports in foreign media that feed the perception that dissent is stifled in Hong Kong, that Beijing is running everything and that the freedoms the city once enjoyed are a thing of the past. These are exaggerated, but the perception generated by these reports persists.
We are at a crossroads on this important issue that gives talented people who might be drawn to Hong Kong reason to think twice. Clearer leadership and direction, aided perhaps by wise counsel behind the scenes, will make the truth obvious. This will help restore Hong Kong to its place as a beacon that attracts the cream of the world’s talent.
Quentin Parker is an astrophysicist based at the University of Hong Kong and director of its Laboratory for Space Research
