13 September 2000
Dear
all,
Since the great achievement
resulting from the opening of the mainland China in 1978 has been clearly
observed and obviously experienced by the Hong Kong people, we often scare
that one day in the very near future, Shanghai for sure will replace
Hong Kong.
I had such a deep
worry years ago, but not now. When I thought over the problem very
carefully, I concluded that only when the "socialism with Chinese
characteristics" is completely removed, especially the core element ---
"socialism" whatever you call it---then, the real threat could only exist.
Otherwise, the Shanghai nightmare was just a distorted illusion created by
our panicky mind. My reasons are:
1. Hong Kong's success comes in
the very first place from "the capitalism with the colonial
characteristics", the core element being capitalism. In my view, no city
of socialism in nature can replace it. Never! Not until Shanghai evolves
into a capitalistic city. However, how long do you think will China become a
real capitalistic nation, pals?
2. Even if China succeeds in
changing herself into a capitalistic nation, I say, the Chinese characteristics
tarnished with the deep-rooted Chinese feudalism is a liability pending removal.
When you compare the capitalistic Taipei with Hong Kong, you may see my point.
Have you ever worried about the "Taipei threat"? If not, why? If you
never feel the threat from Taipei, how come a socialism Shanghai can pose
a threat?
3. Hong Kong and
Shanghai are not a "zero-sum" combination. What
Shanghai gains does not necessarily what Hong Kong loses and the vice versa.
The two cities can actually co-exist comfortably and share a
"win-win" situation, I believe. Don't you all agree?
Attached below is an article
published on HK i-Mail of which the points of views can supplement my opinion.
I hope you would enjoy reading it.
FONG
Yuen Wah
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Flashy Shanghai still
has a long way to go |
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I HOPED it
would not happen again, but in my heart, I knew it would. And it did. Like
almost every time I had travelled with the Shanghai-bound carrier, the flight
was delayed. A flight delay can happen anywhere to any airline. The
point is how they are handled. In this case, when passengers finally boarded
the plane almost an hour after the scheduled time, there was no apology, and
no explanation. I asked a Shanghai flight attendant why there was no
communication with passengers. Her immediate reaction was defensive, claiming
that it was not due to any fault of the airline but rather instructions from
Hong Kong air-traffic control. ``Why didn't you just say that to
the passengers then? I think we would like to know that,'' I said. She looked
at me, obviously trying in vain to make some sense out of what I said. ``But
if it wasn't our fault, why should we explain anything? It would look as if
it was our fault.'' She completely missed the point. Like every other time
before, I gave up and ordered a drink instead - and was told that wine was
not available. This minor incident says a lot
about Shanghai. Outwardly, Shanghai looks exciting. Its skyline is becoming
increasingly like Hong Kong's. The city has the world's third-highest
building, a state-of-the-art stock exchange, as well as the
neon-light-decorated Bund promenade and the newly developed Pudong district.
Boutiques featuring almost all world-known brands line the major streets,
while five-star hotels have sprung up in all corners of the city. In the more trendy bars and
clubs, fashionably dressed young local people spend their weekends drinking
and smoking with expatriates till midnight, before moving on to rave parties
where they take ``head-swinging pills'' and dance till dawn. Their lifestyle
reminds Hong Kong visitors of the Lan Kwai Fong trendies. Thus, many people conclude that
Shanghai is a city of the 21st century that will soon replace Hong Kong as
the commercial capital of Asia. To me, it is all a myth. Yes, the brilliant
buildings, constructed at an amazing speed, make every Chinese proud. But
building high-rises is easy compared with changing people's mindset, their
ways of thinking and doing business. Those cannot change overnight. Like most major mainland cities,
Shanghai has an almost weird combination of modern, high-tech and grand
elements, as well as backward thinking and embarrassing behaviour. The
pollution is bad. Once out of the five-star hotels, people start spitting in
the street. It is worse if you are trying to
get something done. Press enquiries are often ignored; even for the
supposedly modern joint-venture companies, it can easily take weeks to get
even the simplest information. A nightmare for non-Shanghainese is that once
local shop assistants hear your Putonghua, they tend to show obvious
reluctance to serve you - just like the attitude of Hong Kong shop assistants
towards mainlanders 10 years ago. Perhaps my impressions of the
city are rooted in my experiences as a child. The first time I went to
Shanghai with my father - who spoke Shanghainese - I was upset by the
condescending treatment I received from locals, even though I was from the
capital, which people from everywhere else on the mainland worshipped.
Because of this experience, I have always regarded myself as Beijinger. But
the experience did have a positive outcome: when I later moved to Hong Kong,
I was a lot better prepared to face the prejudice. Once a Shanghainese girlfriend
who moved to Hong Kong said to me: ``I think the Shanghainese are just like
the Hong Kongers. They are both shrewd and hard-working, but at the same time
greedy, arrogant, self-centred, and prejudiced against anybody who is not one
of them.'' Having said that, if the
Shanghainese could share some of the other qualities of Hong Kongers, such as
their efficiency and pragmatic approach, the city would really stand a chance
of catching up in the next couple of decades - but they have a long way to
go. Angelica Cheung is the Hong Kong iMail executive editor, features/magazine 12 September
2000 / 01:44 AM |