Regarding Anthony Cheung Bing-leung's article ('Sage reflections', July 26) on Hong Kong under 'one country, two systems', seedlings are being sown and saplings are sprouting to interpret and adapt Confucianism and other native ethical teachings.
Every day we see and hear different East-West attitudes, speaking habits and lifestyles among the old and young, not to mention the many nationalities living in harmony within our community.
This modernising trend continues apace through increasing academic exchanges between Hong Kong and mainland universities. As the mainland opens up even more to the rest of the world, surely the two-way flow between Chinese culture and civilisation on the one hand, and the time-hallowed values of Western and other civilisations on the other, will be unstoppable.
In the meantime, Hong Kong, with its many internationally recognised professional bodies and extensive non-governmental organisation networks, ought not to be missing the boat in China's modernisation process, now that the SAR has been included in the 12th five-year plan.
The city possesses a unique East-West brand image through which our entrepreneurs can render reliable quality services on the mainland.
As a free port and international city, Hong Kong has long been admired as an open-minded platform for new and innovative ideas, which has fostered among our citizens an enduring spirit of entrepreneurship and daring.