Mr. Shangkong | A tale of two cities reveals the art of ambition and confidence
The traditional rivalry between Shanghai and Hong Kong has gone beyond finance to now embrace the world of high-priced culture
Many readers of my column know I am a native of Shanghai and have been working and living in Hong Kong since 2008. The column is called Mr. Shangkong, which combines Shanghai and Hong Kong into one word.
Given my background, I am often asked by friends in either city more or less the same question: "Which city is better?" Well, I have to say I can't offer a simple answer.
In all fairness, I think there is one thing that more and more people may come to agree on. It's that Hong Kong seems to have more internal struggles and less confidence than Shanghai right now. In other words, Shanghai is on the uptrend on many fronts, from the development of its financial industry to art and culture, while Hong Kong gives many people a feeling that it has been stuck in a time warp for some years.
After the big debate on which will be the better financial centre for China and even the world in the next decade, Shanghai and Hong Kong have recently taken their competition beyond the financial industry.
Now, it's also about art and culture.
Last week, Christie's chief Steven Murphy announced to the world that his firm would become the first foreign auction house to independently auction and exhibit on the mainland with a special licence issued by the central government.
Murphy chose Shanghai as the site for the branch company through which Christie's will host its first onshore auction this autumn. Previously, Hong Kong had been a natural venue for Christie's high-end auctions targeting mainland art collectors and investors.