As early as right after Hong Kong change in sovereignty, most
predicted Shanghai would replace Hong Kong as the most beloved city of China.
After all, Shanghai is the home grown city, whereas Hong Kong is an adopted son
or the return of the drifted son, of which the people’s mind set, their values
and the city culture are more cling to the West
which is very different from, and not so accepted in, the Mainland.
Do you really believe the one-country two-systems intact for 50
years? I do not. But I do believe it is the authority’ wishes to keep Hong Kong
status quo for 50 years. 50 years is short in human history, but it could be a
lengthy period for a government to maintain its “status Quo”. Then tell me what
you would do if you want to keep things as it is, better no backward or forward
especially no significant or remarkable developments that make the island stand
out at the world stage. If the Island is remarkable, it plays down the other
sister cities. If HK falls behind or backward, it hurts the locals and
authorities either. Then as a strategist or a person masterminds the political
and social balance， what would you do? Consider also from the authority’s point of
view, it is not just to deal with the immense situation. It needs, for long
term, to cater for the possible social and political upturns in China’s vast
landscape in the future.
In the late-80s when the US wanted to break their labour unions
in its own states, instead of having the trial in its own land, they chose New
Zealand as their Guinea pig. They spent money to lobby the NZ statesmen, labour
leaders, assisted them with US labour lawyers etc.. So the new labour law
(employment contract Act) was enacted in 1991 and labour unions were broken
down one after another, the US examined the outcome for their own sakes.
When Deng Xiao Ping started his economic reforms, he
experimented his ideology in a few places before rolling it out in other parts
of the mainland. So it came the 4 special economic zones Shenzhen, Zhuhai,
Shantou, and Xiamen. The leaders then studied their outcomes with respect to
their parameters of each zone such as environment, location, finance,
education, infrastructure, plus the various actions and actors involved.
As a strategic modeller, you are asked to produce the expected
outcome. Supposed the expected outcome is to keep the Status Quo including
economic, financial, political, and educational, GDP, technological. This is
not an easy task as it is an open world today with advanced communication
media, internet, not to mention possible Western
influences / interventions such as US, Japan and its likes. The utmost
important and controllable parameter is the Government as its policies would
affect both the public and private sectors. HK civil servants have the long
traditions of being executioners rather than venturers. Keep their rice bowl
full and their innovation will be silent. keep the riches and let them be the
icons for those that are eager for hopes. Keep everybody busy in their long
hours job to hocus their mind.
Keep their elected counsellors oppose each other whatever matter in their
everyday fights that no collaborative efforts and results could be achieved.
It is not expected any changes for the people from a new chief
executive election. Whatever the outcome is, there will still be the same
social rift, wealth polarisation, comfort for the middle class, skiing property
price, dreams for quick fortune as these are parameters that keep Hong Kong’s
status quo. Everything in the election and the social landscape has been well
planned over a decade ago especially after the July-1 Grand March in 2003. The
chief executive candidates are there to perform a show orchestrated by the
authorities. What you learn from the daily news are just episodes to make you
feel it is not a dull show.
There is no way you can plead you wishes to the authority. You
can see whatever you believe “legitimate petitions” in the Mainland have all
been cracked down by the Mainland authority. It is because only the authority’s
initiatives are legitimate. It is suggested to keep a low profile, keep everything unprovoked, live as an
ordinary person and do not expect ex-ordinaries. In Hong Kong, we have social security, public housing, medicare, full
employment. Although not everybody is well cared for, most do. After all, life
is not fair since the dawn breaks. What would you expect apart from an ordinary
life! If you are not contented and you believe you should be treated better
than others, then you can look for a better place for yourself. If you think
you are living a sad life, then go watch the 2016 movie “Manchester by the
sea”. You will learn what is the meaning of tremendous pressure in life and
live by your dark shadow. Check YouTube for the word “hunger” and you will appreciate
you have good food and clear water. Life in Hong Kong for most people is a
blessing though it is controlled.
