Finance can be unleashed as a force for good, to deliver social impact and bring economic windfalls for ordinary citizens, from youth advancement, financial literacy, and promotion of the arts and technology to climate change efforts.
As Asian economies face recession worries, many are putting climate action on the back burner – but climate resilience goes hand in hand with economic stability.
The latest Asia Business Council survey shows firms are worried about politics increasingly encroaching on business and driving potential decoupling. Energy is the top concern amid high prices and the continuing fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Hong Kong’s unique political system can serve as a case study for those studying policy in institutions around the world.
Women are indispensable to Hong Kong’s future growth; closing the wage gap, while providing more support at home, can pave their re-entry to the workforce.
More companies are collaborating to explore how the technology can make operations more efficient, which could form the building blocks of the next-generation internet. Just as the internet allows information and innovations to be shared across borders, the world will benefit most from having an open metaverse.
The success of the government’s green bond scheme provides plenty of scope for investing in groundbreaking energy projects and pursuing ambitious climate policy. Yet, our leaders can’t seem to think bigger than a few low-carbon buildings and waste management fees.
The new Hong Kong administration should build on the city’s strengths to enable business partnerships and cultural and educational exchange that connect Hong Kong and mainland China with Japan and South Korea.
Increasing supply chain resilience in Asia can help blunt the worst effects of climate change, improve biodiversity and closed loop thinking, and even help eradicate the scourge of modern slavery.
After its mishandling of Omicron, Hong Kong needs a program of damage control to regain investor confidence and bring stability back to residents’ lives. That means building economic resilience, strengthening networks for trade and talent, and putting substance behind claims of being a world city.
