Better communication required between Hong Kong and mainland

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By CGTN's Gao Jing

Hong Kong has become more integrated with the Chinese mainland, both politically and economically, over the past two decades. However, frictions and contradictions are also emerging as the integration becomes deeper.

To address such thorny issues, Robert Koepp, Director of the Economist Corporate Network, said during the special program "Hong Kong Connects" on CGTN's "The Point with Liu Xin," that Hong Kong administrators and the Chinese mainland authorities should embrace more openness through dialogue.

CGTN Photo

Drawing parallels to a romantic relationship, Hong Kong did not show enough respect to the Chinese mainland, despite few preferential policies being provided, he said.

He added that the people of Hong Kong are very happy with the current relation, especially for professionals, noting that young people do have their differing opinions.

Paul Luk, Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at Hong Kong Baptist University, said that the students of Hong Kong know about the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, adding that there is a lack of communication to help them understand the ambitious plan.

“The students don’t have a sense of belonging (about the initiative) …They don’t know how they themselves can be connected with the Belt and Road Initiative,” he said.

CGTN Photo

Building on what Koepp and Luk said, Andrew Leung, an International and Independent China Strategist, said that it is important to find Belt and Road initiative-related projects and provide opportunities to engage young people, not only from Hong Kong, but also the Chinese mainland and beyond.

"A lot of people have little idea how these projects can be related to Hong Kong,” he noted.

To have Hong Kong better connected with the Chinese mainland, Leung also suggested that small- and medium-sized enterprises follow the suit of state-owned enterprises in looking abroad under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Hong Kong can make it easier for them to establish a foothold globally, he argued.

Liu Xin concluded by saying that "Hong Kong has to listen and cater to the needs of different parties as a linking point. While at the same time, people on the mainland need also to take a second look as to how to take Hong Kong more closely to their hearts. That’s the key to a greater interaction between Hong Kong, Chinese mainland, and the rest of the world".