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Vision of becoming Asia's World City is well within reach
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The Government announced today (Monday) that a high-level advisory group, comprising Hong Kong leaders from the Government, the business sector, the academia and others, outlined a strategic framework to make Hong Kong Asia's World City as well as a major city in China.
That strategic framework is included in a document called "Bringing the Vision to Life, Hong Kong's Long-Term Development Needs and Goals". It was released today by the Commission for Strategic Development at a seminar that brought together hundreds of public and private-sector representatives to discuss the views of the Commission.
Four strategic themes
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The Commission, which is chaired by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, and includes 14 leading members of Hong Kong's public and private sectors, believes that Hong Kong must strengthen its links with the Mainland, enhance its competitiveness, improve its quality of life and reinforce its identity and image if it is to realise its long-term vision.
Seven key industry sectors and focus areas
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The Commission also believes that there are seven key industry sectors and focus areas that will support Hong Kong's positioning as Asia's World City. They include financial and business services; attracting and retaining the regional headquarters of multinational corporations; tourism; information services and telecommunications; innovation and technology; trade, transportation and logistics, as well as creative and cultural activities.
Developing World City credentials
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The vision of becoming Asia's World City was first outlined by the Chief Executive in his 1998 Policy Address. At that time he said that Hong Kong had the potential to not only be a major city within one country, but also the most cosmopolitan city in Asia, enjoying a status similar to that of New York in America and London in Europe.
The Commission believes that these World Cities are major centres of global commerce because they have the economic structure, the hard and soft infrastructure, the institutions, the quality of life, the cosmopolitan and outward perspective and the relationship with their hinterlands that enable them to attract international capital, businesses and skilled individuals.
The Commission, in its document, has outlined the strategic themes that would enable Hong Kong to develop these World City features.
Mainland links to be expanded
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In strengthening its important links with the Mainland, the Commission believes that Hong Kong should build on its strong role as a service provider, trader and major investor in the Mainland's economy.
Hong Kong has long had links with other cities in the Pearl River Delta Region and it should strengthen those so that a strong "city-region" is created.
Hong Kong should also begin to expand its links to other regions in the Mainland such as the Yangtze Delta and Basin Region and the central and western regions.
Hong Kong will maintain its competitiveness
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The Commission believes that Hong Kong's long-term competitiveness will rest on its ability to maintain the highest quality human resources, a supportive environment for innovation and technology, excellent physical infrastructure, the freest and most open economy, a favourable business environment and respected and effective public institutions.
Public and private sector efforts to improve the quality of education and vocational training; the attraction of skilled professionals, not otherwise available in Hong Kong, from the Mainland and overseas; the promotion of technology-based investments by local and international companies; enhancing Hong Kong's role as a transportation hub; continuing efforts to develop Hong Kong's technology infrastructure; fostering competition throughout all sectors of the economy; continuing to focus on cost-competitiveness; and updating and upgrading public sector systems and services will all play a role in enhancing Hong Kong's overall competitiveness, according to the Commission.
Quality of life integral to economic development
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Hong Kong's quality of life, including such areas as housing, the environment, health and welfare, as well as arts and culture, will play a key role in its successful development in the New Economy that is being built around knowledge-based industries.
"The Commission believes that a focus on sustainable development and efforts to generate community-wide support for that focus will be important elements of Hong Kong's long-term success in enhancing its quality of life," a spokesman said.
Moreover, urban renewal can play a role in improving housing supply. Efforts on the environmental front should focus on, for example, waste management and recycling, conservation of natural resources and wildlife habitats and preservation of buildings of historical and architectural significance. Public information programmes that promote environmental education and conservation will play a role in making this possible.
In the health care sector, the Commission believes that preventive care, broadening financing sources through public and private sector cooperation and integrating Chinese medicine practices, education and research can all support the long-term development of Hong Kong's health care system.
The Commission also believes that in relation to social services and welfare, there is a need to explore the development of service-oriented employment opportunities for members of the workforce who do not have skills needed by knowledge-based industries.
It also believes that the importance of a safety net for the disadvantaged members of the Hong Kong community needs to be an ongoing development priority.
Creative and cultural activities are not only important in making cities attractive places in which to work, live and visit, but they can also make significant contributions to Hong Kong's economic development.
Commitment to a common vision for Hong Kong
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The development of a greater sense of civic pride and commitment to both Hong Kong and China as a whole will support Hong Kong in achieving its long-term vision. This sense of civic pride should be strengthened by an appreciation by the people of Hong Kong of Chinese history, culture and traditional values, at the same time integrating the knowledge of both China and the West.
Reinforcing Hong Kong's identity and image will be critical elements of its success in achieving its position as Asia's World City, according to the Commission.
This will require the promotion, within Hong Kong, of a greater sense of commitment to the achievement of a common vision for Hong Kong's future and the proactive and strategic promotion of Hong Kong to key Mainland and international audiences including investors, trading partners and visitors. Success in this area will have a positive impact on Hong Kong's ability to achieve key economic, social and cultural objectives.
Commission on Strategic Development
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The Commission on Strategic Development was established two years ago by the Chief Executive to advise him on Hong Kong's long-term development needs and goals. During that time it has conducted reviews and commissioned studies on issues related to Hong Kong's long-term development. The Commission will continue to provide advice and counsel to the Chief Executive.
The full text of the Commission's document can be accessed by visiting the website at http://www.info.gov.hk/cpu.
End/Monday, February 21, 2000
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