Design guru says its time for Hong Kong to recapture its greatness
Designer Kan Tai-keung says city can thrive if it focuses on its unique advantages, including the rich artistic and cultural tradition of China
Q: What are the strengths that Hong Kong has and must capitalise on in the future?
A: Cultural fusion, a level playing field, the rule of law, social morality and respect for professional ethics
Hong Kong should not wallow in its current woes, or it will risk missing out on a golden opportunity, warns the city's design guru.
The city should seize these next few years to tap into its own competitiveness, while it is still ahead of the mainland, and play a smart game to survive and thrive in the flow of history, says Kan Tai-keung, an award-winning graphic designer.
However, Kan fears that Hong Kong was already heading into a decline well before the recent political rifts over the selection of the chief executive in 2017. He notes the findings by human-resources consultancy ECA International that ranked Hong Kong 33rd among the world's most livable cities, a fall of 16 places from its 17th spot last year.
"It came as no surprise to me," says Kan with a sigh. "I knew more than ten years ago that Hong Kong wouldn't be able to keep its competitiveness, not even in the Greater China region, much less in the world.
"The true international metropolis in China is Shanghai, which is second to none in its geopolitical location in the Yangtze Delta, and in its business talent from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, to whom Hong Kong owes its rise, too," he adds.
