Youth must open eyes to mainland

Comfort zones are often difficult to break out of. Familiarity is comfortable and enjoyable, while that which is unfamiliar causes anxiety. A survey showing that two-thirds of young Hongkongers do not want to work on the mainland would, in such circumstances, seem unsurprising. Looked at from another perspective, though, the figure is encouraging: 33.2 per cent were adventurous enough to be open to the idea.

Having a closed mind to a cross-border job would seem odd given Hong Kong's tight labour market and the greater choices and opportunities on the mainland. Our city's 7.1 million population compared to 1.4 billion in itself tells of the scale of what is on offer. Wages that are fast catching up to local ones and in some industries surpassing them are in large part due to GDP growth rates that are three times higher; living standards can be as good, even better.

It is all a matter of being willing to make the move - and of the 1,001 people aged between 18 and 29 who were questioned by Chinese University researchers for the Bauhinia Foundation think tank's survey, 2.3 per cent were eager. Perceptions are largely at play. Those who think negatively of the mainland are less likely to want to work - or even travel - there, no matter what the possibilities. Of those unwilling, 22.8 per cent lacked confidence in the rule of law; 15 per cent saw mainland society negatively; and 18 per cent said they were not used to the way of life there. But there will always be those who are not adventurous, who already have a good job or family commitments: some 17.2 per cent did not want to leave home. Others aspire to work in places beyond China.

Some people prefer the protection of Hong Kong's rule of law. But it is also obvious that others lack knowledge and understanding of the changes that have taken place on the mainland. That is a matter of education and schools and the government has to do more to teach and inform. To ignore the opportunities is to be blind to the possibilities, experiences and choices offered by our vast and diverse nation.