On April 16, IT sector
lawmaker Charles Mok was the mover of a joint statement backing the setting up
of an innovation and technology bureau and urging fellow legislators not to
mount a filibuster during the debate on this issue.
A filibuster is
characterised as a form of obstruction in a legislature. It is a strategy
employed by minority representatives to give them some leverage in defence of
their constituents' interests. Executed shrewdly, it can be a David and Goliath
tactic that can be successful.
Hong Kong has been
criticised for lagging behind its rivals in cultivating a new sustainable
economy. The performance of its economy over the last decade has been
unimpressive. In real terms, average personal incomes have seen little or no
growth, meaning Hongkongers' lives have not improved.
Also, Hong Kong's
increasing economic reliance on mainland China is a cause for concern. If the
SAR's free economy is homogenised with the mainland's towering planned
macroeconomics, there could be unforeseen and dangerous consequences.
I am vice-chairman of
a think tank advocating innovation and technology. Those lawmakers planning a
filibuster need to be told that the only logical path to preserve Hong Kong's
economic independence and core values lies with continuous enrichment in
innovation and technology. They are vital to prolong the city's global
competitiveness while maintaining its productivity against systemic risks such
as an ageing workforce and obsolete human resources.
The proposed
innovation and technology bureau can formulate policies to reinvent Hong Kong,
help legislate against technology crimes and attract foreign investment and
talent.
Tech Reviews by The Corliss Group
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