Munich is the city that Hong Kong can be, with the right governance
- A regional centre of business and finance, innovation and culture, with a great quality of living, Munich is everything that Hong Kong would want to be
- To be that truly world-class city, Hong Kong needs a government that is representative and responsive to people’s needs
I would wager they would be more than happy if the fundamentals of Munich could be laid over Hong Kong’s grid.
A city’s development should be organic. There is no model that can be copied and imposed on a society; geography, culture and history always dictate circumstances. But ideas can be considered and adapted and when suitable, adopted. Munich is awash with them, from vehicle-free streets and green belts to outdoor restaurants and beyond.
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Mercer places Hong Kong 71st and Monocle, 16th. I do not deny that there are problems with such data-driven appraisals, based on issues such as the cost of housing, crime, number of museums, public transport and the like. Too often, they are a product of the likes and tastes of those doing the research and have in mind an imaginary citizen who is usually well-educated and affluent.
I also have an inbuilt bias – my father was born and raised in Munich and I have relatives there. But such matters are incidental to the fundamentals of a city that functions well, has clean streets and air, high-quality food and housing, plenty of green space for exercise and relaxation, theatres, art galleries and museums packed with culture and achievements, and an obvious, all-round enjoyment of life by citizens. The city’s subway says much: It has no entry and exit gates, ticket buying being about trust and respect.
It also does not tear apart neighbourhoods in the name of development. I was able to visit the home my father was born in 90 years ago, enjoy an ice-cream from the same shop he used to go to as a child and see where he and his brother bought beer for their father.
Peter Kammerer is a senior writer at the Post