The press conference of 2015 China Urban Competitiveness Report (Hong Kong) was held in Hong Kong on 18 May 2015. It was organized by the Better Hong Kong Foundation and co-organized by Center for City and Competitiveness of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Led by Prof. Ni Pengfei of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the theme of the 2015 Report is “Giant hand: lift the new map of Chinese cities”, indicating that the integration among cities and regions under the new trend of socio-economic development is going to sustain the future of China. The press conference was chaired by the Foundation’s Executive Director Ms. Karen Tang where Prof. Ni gave a presentation on the report and further explained the overall competitiveness of Hong Kong and Prof. Shen Jianfa from the Chinese University of Hong Kong commented on the findings about Hong Kong.
(L to R) Prof. Ni Pengfei, Ms. Karen Tang and Prof. Shen Jianfa briefed local media about the highlights of the report
According to the Comprehensive Economic Competitiveness Index in 2014, the top ten cities in are Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Suzhou, Beijing, Macao, and Wuxi. Hong Kong is surpassed by Shenzhen in comprehensive economic competitiveness and is ranked second. The condition of “managing the city without sufficient innovation” does not change. Hong Kong is still over-dependent on trade, financial sector, shipping, tourism, and professional services, while the attention to small-scale, emerging, and potential industries is not enough. There is no new industry to support and lead Hong Kong’s development in long term.
Hong Kong leads in sustainable competitiveness but the sub-index of knowledge-based city is weakening. Hong Kong is ranked first with the index of 1. Hong Kong is also ranked first in the sub-indices of harmonious city and urban-rural integrated city. Hong Kong tops the eco-city sub-index, benefiting from the achievement of a series of environmental protection and energy policies. The city is ranked second and third in cultural city and info-city sub-indices respectively. Nevertheless, the city is ranked 19th in knowledge-based city sub-index, fell by 14 places from last year. Although it is still in a leading position, and there are increases in R&D expenditure and number of R&D personnel, the Hong Kong government does not provide sufficient support to innovation and science & technology development. Hong Kong is also lack of bold plans and effective incentive system for technological innovation.
Concluding the press conference, Ms. Karen Tang, Executive Director of the Better Hong Kong Foundation commented that “Though Hong Kong still tops other cities in the Sustainable Competitiveness Index, it is not easy for Hong Kong, as a mature economy, to maintain its leading position in the Comprehensive Economic Competitiveness index amidst the enormous growing power in the cities in the Mainland. It is a signal for Hong Kong to speed up, to innovate and to reinvent itself with some new driving engines. Hong Kong shall make use of its competitive edges especially its world class services in Finance to ride on and to facilitate China’s new grand plan of “One Belt, One Road”. In the past three years, we have been advocating the Government to map out its long-term development plan for innovation and technology and new emerging industries. However, the establishment of the Innovation and Technology Bureau is delayed. Good opportunities lay ahead of us but we have to seize them. They will not wait for us neither will our competitors”.
Before the press conference, the Foundation’s Executive Committee Chairman chaired a luncheon discussion where members of the Foundation and invited guests exchanged and shared their views on the report. Please refer to the PowerPoint presentation of the press conference for highlights of the report.
A discussion luncheon chaired by the Foundation’s Committee Chairman Mr. Ronnie Chan (middle) was held before the press conference
