While it is true, as Alibaba founder Jack Ma has argued, that extended working hours are not a problem for those passionate about their jobs, a top-down inflexible approach to how long employees work is not the way for Industry 4.0 to go.

Separate contracts for official use and for execution by private parties are common in the construction industry and property transactions, and are even legitimised by the courts.

Canberra has been thorough in examining its position on a rising China. London’s response is one of complacency verging on indifference.