Biotech is especially important given the ageing population and economic ambitions of Hong Kong – and China as a whole. For the world, biotech protectionism will lead to more expensive treatments and greater health insecurity.

The interconnectedness that global cities once prized risks being eroded and dismantled as Covid-19 lingers and new variants emerge. Success will depend on cities’ ability to balance openness with health protection, growth with better livelihoods, and diversity with local character that fosters a sense of belonging.