21-12-23
The transformation, when not abrupt, of a city is always fascinating. It increases the hope for a better quality of life in your arms. Old things became new. New things then turned old. We only have to continue to be interested in. It is pointless for us to resist or condemn.
How many times has Hong Kong changed from the ashes? She did something incredible in the past: from a fishing village to a commercial port, from a commercial port to a manufacturing base, from a manufacturing base to an international financial centre. Since 1842, more than 180 years have passed.
The ‘hinterland’ surrounding a city is such an importance because it enlarges a city’s ability to attract huge numbers of opportunities and talents to it. It facilitates the expansion of the economic, social and cultural activities into the hinterland radiating from the city. It can also help the city become the centre of influences in the region. Hong Kong is lucky. We have a hinterland called ‘ The Greater Bay Area’ (GBA)(大灣區) along the Pearl River with a huge population of more than 80 million people! A lot of them also speak Cantonese.
China’s GBA Plan is a long-term ambition to make a ‘mega-region’ that will progressively integrate and revamp 9 major cities within this Pearl River Delta, plus 2 special administrative regions—Hong Kong and Macau—into a single gigantic zone which can be globally competitive against the existing leading city clusters such as San Francisco and Tokyo Bay Areas that are developing the ‘Tech’ industries. Hong Kong will serve the GBA in her unique role as an international financial, commercial and cultural centre of the world.
Space is an exciting factor that allows one to dream big. Now, Hong Kong is no longer a tiny island but had acquired a large hinterland. Dream in life is essentially unattainable unless we are prepared to go through a difficult period of transformation—in which we have to adjust and sacrifice.
The benefit of finding the pros and cons of a new situation is discovering what should be the deep inner directions of our future life. Being liberal-minded is needed. Never choose to focus on the worst in some of your options and the best in other people’s options. One of the new options for a man in Hong Kong is: whether I will continue to live here or move to another city in the Greater Bay Area? This decision is more difficult for the retired seniors who like the attractive standard of living of other GBA cities with a lower cost of living. On the other hand, leaving Hong Kong, a city that they are familiar with, is not easy.
There are 4 kinds of interacting forces among the public against the transformation of Hong Kong from a ‘stand-alone’ city to being a part of GBA. These forces are competitiveness, supplementation, co-operation and fusion.
Mr A said, “I am a taxi driver. Now on Saturdays and Sundays, thousands of people leave Hong Kong and go to GBA cities for a weekend break. My business is quiet. For me, GBA mega-zone simply means more ‘competitiveness’ for a man in the street!”
Mr B said, “For me, I can see the ‘supplementary benefits’. I am an elderly citizen: I am offered good social welfare both from the governments of Hong Kong and the local city of GBA. For example, Hong Kong gives me medical care while the other GBA cities give me money subsidy for public transport.”
Mr C said, “I am glad to see ‘co-operation’ of Hong Kong and other GBA cities on more and more things. The 2 jurisdictions now issue a ‘cross-boundary vehicle licence’ and I can enjoy driving freely between Hong Kong and the hinterland.” The future advantages will be immense when 90 million people in Hong Kong and GBA, through ‘co-operation’, get together to work. Our differences do matter, but our common interests matter more.
Mr D said, “The process of joining two or more things together to form a single entity will happen more and more. I call it ‘fusion’. Look at my family: my son married a GBA girl. She brought her dad and mom to live permanently in Hong Kong when our daughter will take a Guangzhou accountant as her husband. Isn’t it ‘fusion’?”
Many things in life seem impossible, then they become probable. Soon, they will be inevitable.
‘GBA Zone’ is still not a well-known term internationally. Given 10 to 20 years, it may become a famous place, full of exciting windows for people from all over the world.
Behind all these great developments, 3 things cannot be downplayed by Hong Kong: her international standard of justice, international style of thinking and international way of doing things. These 3 account for maintaining the supreme status of Hong Kong. Without such a Hong Kong, we will not be able to facilitate GBA to be connected globally. Hong Kong will not be different from any other GBA city. We have to make sure Hong Kong, in reality, stands and functions uniquely. People may hear your word, but our 3 actual attitudes to the international community count. People in Hong Kong must learn to be tolerant, liberal-minded and creative.
The concept of ‘Greater Bay Area’ zone is a radical piece of change and its effects will transcend the borders of the tiny city of Hong Kong. Will the amalgamation dilute the powers and influences of Hong Kong or may it further upgrade us as a global financial and commercial melting pot? There are 10 other competing cities in GBA but the ‘Rule of Law’ of Hong Kong is most treasured by the international community against other cities. One should therefore not subjectively attack or selectively disregard and our Courts’ decisions (for example, recently giving LGBT their legal rights) which are binding even on the Government. This will create a very dangerous political precedent, especially for the world to observe. What we must do is to understand and tolerate each other as members of equal rights in order to anticipate a more dynamic and diversified international city. Truly profound education breeds humility and acceptance.
All of us have the exciting choice as to whether we will take part or stay aloof in the transformation, but in any event, the future fate of Hong Kong city will surely be economically and socially out of all recognition. Hoorah!
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