LettersHong Kong an innovation hub? Dream on, or visit Shenzhen
- Shenzhen spends on innovation, and Hong Kong on white elephants
- We have too many civil servants, who let the vested interests take over and ignore the needs of society
When I first visited Shenzhen more than 30 years ago, it was a dirty, corrupt, unregulated backwater overflowing with uneducated migrant workers. Some three decades on, it is home to tech giants and innovative companies like Huawei and ZTE (“Bad news, Apple: China’s smartphones are on the way up. Here’s why”, January 30).
Why? Because when China started making money it invested it in further growth. And its investments in infrastructure projects, health and education are now starting to pay off. Hong Kong, however, kept its money in the bank and let the vested interests take over.
In Holland we say, “Roll up your sleeves and start working.” Stop attending opening ceremonies and cutting ribbons. Get your hands dirty and fix a dysfunctional society. Start with a total overhaul of overlapping, malfunctioning and inefficient government departments.