The press conference of 2017 China Urban Competitiveness Report (Hong Kong) was held in Hong Kong on 26 June 2016. 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 2017 Report is “Housing Price System: The Leverage and Trap of China in Transformation”, identifying the new property price system and revealing the new urban cluster pattern in the process of economic structural transformation in 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.
The Foundation’s Executive Director Ms. Karen Tang (middle), Prof. Ni Pengfei (left) and Prof. Shen Jianfa introduced this year’s report
According to the Comprehensive Economic Competitiveness Index in 2016, the top ten cities are Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Beijing, Macao, Suzhou and Wuhan. Hong Kong is ranked second in the Comprehensive Economic Competitiveness Index. The sub-index of overall efficiency competitiveness is ranked after Macao and Taipei. High degree of agglomeration, streamlined business regulations, and good professional services are the contributing factors. The sub-index of overall incremental competitiveness is ranked 19th, up by 17 places from last year. Although potential markets have been located for the traditional industries where Hong Kong enjoys clear advantages, Hong Kong needs to develop new sources of growth by promoting new industries driven by innovation and hi-tech, facilitating the diversification and upgrading of industrial activities, and strengthening the foreign trade relations. Hong Kong tops the Livability Competitiveness Index and Sustainable Competitiveness Index, and needs to continue the progress of knowledge-based city development. Although Hong Kong is still a leader in these competitiveness indices, the city must be prepared in the context of the new global economy. Hong Kong should carry out economic restructuring and build itself a new-type global city in order to adapt to the new environment and grasp new opportunities.
Concluding the press conference, Ms. Karen Tang, Executive Director of the Better Hong Kong Foundation commented that “I am glad to find that Hong Kong keeps its high competitiveness and has improved in the areas of economic growth, innovation, ecology, and social service mechanisms. In the context of new global, regional and national environments that are posting both challenges and opportunities to Hong Kong, we need to further advance Hong Kong’s capacity in economic, social, environmental, and regional development. With opportunities arising from the “One Belt One Road” and the Grand Bay Area initiatives, I believe that Hong Kong could elevate to a new height with sustainable development and competitiveness.”
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 (front row, 4th right) was held before the press conference