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China Briefing | With Hong Kong at a crossroads, city needs a strong leader and a Build Back Better plan to reboot
- Hong Kong is in dire need of a reboot after mishandling of pandemic and protests roiled the city because status quo no longer works
- Hong Kong’s next chief executive must lead the city out of its political quagmire, economic lethargy, and social disharmony that have tarnished city’s reputation
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Hong Kong is experiencing not only a public health crisis but also a crisis of confidence. That is probably the only certainty among the uncertainties surrounding Asia’s World City, the present and future.
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The Hong Kong government may have badly mishandled its response to the latest Omicron-fuelled outbreak of Covid-19 infections, but the city will tough it out one way or another in the coming weeks, particularly after the leadership appeared to have got its act together to ramp up vaccinations among other control measures.
But to restore confidence and social harmony is most likely to take years. The city’s incompetent and incoherent handling of the pandemic has further added to despair and gloom over its future.
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Hong Kong leader hints of possible easing of Covid-19 restrictions as city records 21,650 new cases
Hong Kong leader hints of possible easing of Covid-19 restrictions as city records 21,650 new cases
Hong Kong appears to have lost its way as it lacks not only an exit plan that leads it back to normality, but more importantly, a well thought out strategy to bring back the shine and allure of Asia’s premier financial centre.
It is a cliché but true that Hong Kong is at a crossroads. It has suffered a serious dent in international reputation because of what has transpired in recent years – the mass protests, riots, and now the mishandling of the Covid-19 outbreak. Local residents are exasperated, expats consider leaving, and mandarins in Beijing seem to be running out of patience.
Hong Kong needs its own version of a comprehensive Build Back Better plan and a new strong leader to guide the city out of the political mud, economic lethargy, and social disharmony.
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The make or break moment will come on May 8 when Hong Kong chooses its next chief executive.
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