My Perspective on What's Happening in Hong Kong
I lived in Hong Kong for 9 years, and while I’ve since relocated back to the UK, I remain a permanent resident and as it’s the HQ of my business, Elliott Scott HR, I am lucky to visit 3 or 4 times a year. Last week was the first time that I’ve been back since the protests started and what I saw and heard surprised me.
What did I see?
Really, not very much. I can’t say that I saw a city in trouble and it amazed me how the dramatization of the news had given me a truly conflicting message about what was happening. There is a little more graffiti that I am used to seeing and on Wednesday night I could hear protests but in all honesty I saw a city that wanted to get on with being the great place that it is.
What are people saying?
I was lucky enough to meet Invest Hong Kong and while they couldn’t tell me exactly what is going to happen they were adamant that Hong Kong remains a region that is committed to the global community. They want businesses to thrive and invest and they will be launching further stimulus packages to ensure that this remains the case.
The expat community that know Hong Kong well are not worried, they have to plan their weekends a little more around the protests and with the MTR not functioning as efficiently as it usually does it is a minor problem, but life goes on and these people believe in the city. Those that had got caught up in protests said that it was a little worrying but, on the whole, it’s peaceful and if you’re careful, you will be ok.
The local community is slightly more divided. Some are clearly supportive of the protests and will continue this fight. However lots of others are losing sympathy as it is starting to damage the city. They are reaching a point where they are struggling to see what it is they are fighting for and where it will end. People have sympathy for the cause but they also have a family, they have lives, and they want to be able to live them without fear that protestors are going to bring the economy to a standstill.
What next?
This is key, most people that I spoke to believe that Carrie Lam has to leave before anything gets resolved, but people want a resolution soon. Life and business is continuing, we see that, but at some stage it will impact the economy in 2020 and if people start losing jobs and livelihoods suffer as a result all sympathy will be gone, whatever side you are on, and that will not be a good place to be.
Final thoughts
Don’t let what you see on the news scare you, Hong Kong remains a city that has so much going for it. The people are wonderful and if you do go, you’ll see very little (if anything) of the protests, just lots of people that want to welcome you to the city. Like Brexit, it’s a situation that‘s going on too long and people really are keen to just get on with their lives.
Global Head of Client Relationships
5 年I totally agree Stuart - I am fortunate enough to have travelled many times to HK and I will be packing a bag again next weekend. While the news here is undoubtedly worrying especially for first time visitors I will take care as I always do when traveling but will not be cancelling my trip, I have an amazing team out there and want to support them along with all of HK that I have come to enjoy over the last 18 months...
Vice President, Head of HR, Gap Inc. Global Supply Chain & APAC Psychotherapist / Counsellor at aMindset
5 年Thanks for this post Stuart. Some of us (@nickavery) are actively choosing to return to HK even now, and what you've written really resonates. It's a complex issue and won't be sorted overnight, but HK is a great city and its people will shine through.
Qatar Airways VP Talent Acquisition | Certified Psychometric Assessor, HR Strategy Leader
5 年Stuart- fair article although I’d make a few comments myself on some of your thoughts: 1. Most people feel more strongly about an Independent Police Inquiry into perceived violence. 2. They do want Carrie Lam to go but many feel that she will only go when Beijing has a ‘solve’ ready. There isn’t a likely successor so less likely to happen right now. 3. The future is a concern because the protestors are trying to use violence, and damage, to bring the politicians to the negotiating table - to get their ‘demands’ addressed. This tactic isn’t working because the Govt has no current interest in engaging the population. They prefer to state that it’s an ‘economic and housing issue’ - utter rubbish. 4. HK is, and will remain for quite some time, an amazing place; its a fantastic place to work and live. The protests, mostly, occur in certain areas and at certain times of the day/week. There is some impact on daily life but it is minimal. The Reporting conducted by many press outlets is hyped and heavily leans both ways depending which media one consumes. 5. I’d still rather be here than in a Brexit Britain or in the US - we all have domestic country issues. We will get through ours in HK. 6. It’s November 7th and it’s 27 degrees....??
Global HR / Talent Management & Operations Consulting HRConsultative.com
5 年I was too in Hong Kong last week and saw not much of anything. The city was bustling and I was able to conduct business as usual. This compared to the French yellow jackets’ movement of the past 12 months is nothing. Hong Kong is safe and welcoming.