|
In the context of Hong Kong¡¦s plight during the recent
spread of SARS, I choose the term ¡¥race¡¦ in the very
positive sense of the word. We compete in school when we
were young; we compete in the work place now. We race in
sporting events and campaign with great speed and vigor
for our limited public offices. But none has the kind of
urgency and importance as the race to control the many ill
effects of SARS right now. In facing this unfamiliar and
deadly enemy of nature, we should look at this race
sportingly, as the driving force for progress.
Margaret Thatcher waged war with Argentina over the
Falkland Islands, which has hardly any political or
economic values. President George Bush seized the
opportunity of the 911 event and raised war with Binladen
and Sadden Hussen with only some distant indirect
connections. Both emerged as undisputed leaders despite
the relatively weak reasons for the wars and the real
economic troubles that they were facing at home. They
achieved these results because the cause helped them to
unite the nation with a clear sense of purpose. They
delivered achievable results decisively and created a feel
good factor for their people leaving them confident and
proud. Leadership was demonstrated by acting long before
the nation demanded that something be done. They won their
cases as leaders in the race against time.
In a Letter to Hong Kong I wrote for the RTHK on the 6th
April, 2003 (full text on my web-site), I was amongst the
first to announce that Hong Kong is at war with SARS. I
call on the sense of public duty of the media and citizens
of Hong Kong to play on the same team in times of
adversities to win the battle over nature¡¦s mischief and
the opinion of the world. Now, we are joined by many more
cities in this global village.
Fighting a common enemy
This time round in the history of mankind, nations are not
at war with each other but at war with SARS as our common
enemy. Whether we like it or not, leaders of these cities
are all competing and racing against time on a global
scale in full view of worldwide TV and media headlines.
Billions are watching daily for every small step of
medical progress made; every effort that we make to
control our borders as part of our responsibility to the
global community and most certain of all, they will be
watching the incredibly stubborn figure of casualties that
refuses to go down.
In the case of Hong Kong, the war that our political
leaders face is on two fronts. Internally, we are fighting
with the disease to save lives; racing against time to
bring life back to normality and to save the economy from
a serious structural blow. Externally, we are racing,
hopefully in the positive sense of the word, with other
great cities to see who are the better managers in this
crisis. It is a serious challenge as well as an
opportunity to demonstrate leadership.
Leadership in medical technology; managerial skills in
border control; in good communications and public
education; and most important of all, in winning the
support of the people of the city.
To give credit to where credit is due, Hong Kong won
handsomely in the first round in honesty and transparency.
Despite some of the half hazard co-ordination to start
with, accurate and important public information were
dispatched and surprisingly, reported by the press very
responsibly. Compare this traditional strength of ours
with the Mainland; it is something we should be very proud
of.
Outstanding medical professionals
We also shine in the professionalism and bravery of our
medical personnel. They continue to risk their lives
undaunted by the high risks of serving the sick, despite
the confusion and bureaucracy of the Hospital Authority
and they are still not properly protected (comparing to
their counterparts in places such as Beijing) to help them
minimize their own risks. I am also proud of our
researchers at the Universities who are putting their
longstanding differences aside and have achieved so much
in so little time. Even the top Universities in the world
could have hardly done better.
However, there are also many areas where the Government
could have done better. Then Mayor of New York Giuliani
took the lead immediately after the 911 disaster. He
worked creatively and diligently ahead of the commentators
and therefore, the popular public opinions and earned his
due respect from the whole of America as a forthright
leader.
Good and bad
Hong Kong was the first city to recognize this seriousness
of the outbreak but our top leaders are amongst the last
to show a sense of urgency. We also seemed to be unaware
and oblivious to the fact that the whole world is watching
and still operate in our own usual bureaucratic snail
pace. For example, we were one of the last Governments to
listen directly to the plights and needs of the medical
personnel in the frontline. We have to wait till others
close their borders on us before we are willing to take
our own border control much more seriously.
Despite our Universities and private sector offering help
to the Government, they were ignored and we were outpaced
by Shenzhen in installing infrared scanners in the border
control areas. We lagged far behind Singapore, which has
much less of a problem at this stage than Hong Kong, in
delivering relief and economic revival measures. If Hong
Kong still wishes to lay claim to the title, Manhattan of
Asia, our Government must pull up its socks on the long
road ahead and be ready to bring out that competitive
spirit that has made Hong Kong such a great city.
I believe that the fundamental strength of Hong Kong that
has made us a leading international city in the East is
not in the size of our fat Government Reserves. The people
of Hong Kong have always been quick to seize an
opportunity. Given the right environment, we will respond
swiftly to changes with imagination and resourcefulness.
However, the Government must work in tandem with the
private sector in order to succeed. By this I mean every
move by the Government must elicit a similar and greater
move by the much bigger private sector. It is only then
the community acts in concert and all the strength and
enthusiasm are directed to the common goal. Hong Kong will
not win in this important race if the head thinks its own
thoughts while the heart beats its own rhythm leaving the
hands and legs totally uncoordinated.
I urge the Government to give all the support it can to
our medical scientists and caretakers. They are our brave
soldiers in the battlefield at war. It must take the lead
too, to direct, channel and coordinate the tremendous
voluntary efforts of the private sector that are ready to
give but not quite sure how. In delivering the relief and
economic revival measures, the Government must ensure that
the retail, restaurant, hotel and aviation industries will
also respond with self saving packages like generous
discount offers and rewards to stimulate consumptions.
Stimulating the economy
I have also advocated the issue of consumption coupons in
view of the fact that Hong Kong lacks any feasible
financial tools to stimulate the domestic economy without
significant leakages. I appeal to the community of
accountant to stand behind the Government despite its
shortcomings and let us concentrate on dropping those
bleak SARS statistics and on boosting the economic figures
of Hong Kong. Remember that the race for leadership is not
just about Mr Tung and his handful of top officials but
about Hong Kong staying in the race to be a leading city
of Asia.
Dr Eric Li is the LegCo
Accountancy Functional Constituency Representative.
For more information, refer to his website at
http://www.ericli.org
¡@
¡@ |
