Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2001

Secondly under the 'one country t wo systems' concept. Ho ng Kong is a free, open market w i t h the rul e of law, d e an and accountable government, a n independent judiciary and all the rights and freedoms associated w i th an open plural society. These attributes have served Ho ng Kong we ll both from the poin t of v i ew of the local population and our overseas investors. We must do all we can to preserve an d indeed strengthen these systems . Thirdly, unlike other countries i n the region, we have an increasingly stron g and supportive neighbour, the mainland of China to rely on . WTO membershi p for China w i l l b r i ng not onl y greater market access to a population of 1.3 billion peopl e but it w i l l also mean that our country w i l l become more rules-based, more open and transparent, and more business friendly. These are areas to wh i ch international and Ho ng Kong businesses attach great importance and these are areas where Ho ng Kong can assist the mainland. Some may argue that w i th the eyes of the world turne d increasingly towards China, we shoul d be emphasizing 'one country' and forgetting about 'two systems'. I suggest that quite the opposite is true. Hong Kong can best help itself and help our country by leveraging o n our differences under the 'twosystems' concept. As China's w i n d o w on the rest of world, we can perform a rol e that no other city or province in China can perform and it is a role that w i ll take on added importance w i th China's commitment to comply w i t h the rules of WTO membership. We undermine our differences at our own peril. I n recent months, I have commuted a great deal i n taxis. As a group, taxi drivers give one a very good feel for the pulse of the community. The numerous conversations I have had w i t h taxi drivers convince me that there is hope for u s yet. Wi t h few exceptions, they demonstrate the very qualities that have made Ho ng Kong what it is — pragmatism, self-reliance, a capacity to face adversities and to survive. They do no t look to the government to bail them out. They are prepared to ride out the storm i n the hope that there w i l l be brighter days ahead. As John F. Kennedy said i n his inaugural address on 20th January 1961 : 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do fo r your country.' Each one of us in our own way , big and small, can help to make Hong Kong a better place. We need more people who are prepared to stand up and be counted, whether it is i n the public domain, behind closed door s or in the corridors of power or the academia. W e must put aside partisan politics and political correctness and do what is right. We need a greater willingness to forge a consensus for the wider communit y good. Hong Kong has been good to many of us. We should put something back into our society, whether it is by way of philanthropy or community involvement. In turning ou r sight towards opportunities i n the mainland, let us not forget that there w i l l continue to be opportunities here in Ho ng Kong if we look for them and apply our legendary entrepreneurial flair, our willingness to take risks and to w o r k hard. None of this is to belittle the hardship that many in ourc o m m u n i tyare facing at present. A n d it may well be that thing s w i l l get worse before they get better. But we have been there before and survived and prospered. Hong Kong still has a lot going fo r it. Investors round the wo r l d have not given up on us . Let us not give up on our selves. 54