Finance chief aid government looking into financing models for massive plan, which would involve building a 1,700-hectare cluster of artificial islands.

Comments come at forum after studies released show bleak future for workers as technological leap in automation expected to displace millions.

If technology is the future, Hong Kong needs to push for higher English standards to connect industry players to the rest of the world as the issue has been neglected for years and threatens the city's competitiveness.

Hongkongers lacked an acceptance of failure, often not learning from their mistakes, said entrepreneur who found success only at the third attempt.