A generation of youth has been intensely schooled by private tutors and pumped up by parents’ expectations. The result? A mismatch between the jobs they want and the blue-collar jobs that need filling.
A legislator has suggested that the city should chase the medical tourist dollar, like Thailand and Singapore. But given the long lines of tourists and epic waits for medical attention in public hospitals across Hong Kong, it is hard to see how this would be viable.
The decision of some countries to impose entry restrictions on Chinese travellers amid a rise in Covid-19 cases in China has upset Beijing. The pandemic in general, and travel in particular, are issues on which solutions can be found relatively easily, which could be a source of goodwill amid larger tensions.
Artificial intelligence has demonstrated its potential to replace a host of professions beyond manufacturing, such as knowledge workers and artists. Knowledge is power – only now, it is AI that is the most knowledgeable and its ability to learn seemingly has no limits.
Talk of great power rivalry with the US makes China look strong and powerful, but recent unrest at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou factory shows a different narrative. China is not yet on an equal footing with the US: while it struggles to develop its hi-tech prowess amid US restrictions, it must protect its vulnerable position in the global supply chain.
Recognition of movie star Anna May’s efforts in championing fairer Asian representation in Hollywood films offers a chance to look back on the deep and unbreakable connection between China and the US.
The likes of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and director Chloe Zhao have made classical Chinese literature cool and shown that it can foster goodwill towards China. Whether Beijing can capitalise on Chinese literature in its soft power push, though, remains open to question.
Before the pandemic, the millions of mainland visitors who flocked to Hong Kong each year were a source of resentment among some residents. As the city prepares to welcome tourists once again, the government must do more to balance visitor experience with local quality of life.
Schools that see social media as a waste of time and a detriment to pupils’ learning are out of step with our rapidly digitalising world. Given the number of young people dreaming of a career in online content creation, we need teachers to help students safely explore digital spaces.
Both buzzwords express a desire, by young Americans and Chinese, to live a more balanced life, against a backdrop of mounting debt or extreme stress. Washington and Beijing must act because US-China competition is not limited to trade or geopolitical influence, but also the ability to give young people hope.
On one hand, English is beginning to overshadow Russian, with a US-led lunar programme and the emergence of private American space companies. On the other, Chinese is growing in prominence. And with new Beijing and Moscow cooperation, Chinese and Russian could be the working languages on the moon.
One by one, these little shops are going. Local culture is eroded a little more, as is the social network and a communal lifestyle. The failure to save these small shops, as opposed to historic buildings, will leave us with only a skeleton of cultural heritage – not the soul.
