Experts look ahead

Hong Kong has a high standing on the international stage, partly due to the city's overall competitiveness. What do you think has made Hong Kong competitive? What should Hong Kong do to consolidate and maintain its competitiveness?

Edward Liu Yang, a veteran mainland-born solicitor who has lived in Hong Kong for 12 years

Edward Liu Yang: "One country, two systems" is the biggest advantage and the foundation for Hong Kong's dazzling achievements in various fields. It is precisely because we belong to the same country that Hong Kong has the opportunity to integrate into the overall national development situation, enjoy the national development dividends as "our own" and provide assistance for national development.

Joephy Chan Wing-yan, the youngest member of the city's seventh-term Legislative Council

Joephy Chan Wing-yan: Hong Kong is unique because it is a melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures as well as traditional and modern values. Hong Kong is so distinctive, as we enjoy rights under "one country, two systems" enshrined in the Basic Law, which is empowered by the central government. Therefore, we must use our best endeavors to ensure "one country, two systems" fares well so that we can maintain our competitiveness.

Stanley Sy Ming-yiu: In my opinion, positioning is crucial to Hong Kong. To shore up our competitiveness and advantages, we need to clearly understand our unique position－"leveraging the mainland while engaging the world". As a well-known international city and financial center, Hong Kong is good at bridging the country and the world. It provides us with opportunities to cooperate with many other countries and regions since the aforementioned positions greatly increase our competitiveness and attractiveness internationally. To consolidate the positions, we should explore and develop more new industries such as innovation and technology, and the culture and creative industry.

Patrick Choi: Hong Kong is an international city with one of the freest economic systems in the world. I think Hong Kong's competitiveness lies in having a sound legal system, low tax rates, thriving financial services, professionals from all over the world, and world-class infrastructure. It's also a good location for overseas companies to tap the mainland market.