SOMETIMES THERE IS A NEED TO MOVE THE GOALPOSTS.

Maybe, I am wrong- hard to believe, I know- but even those with whom I once lived are suddenly looking somewhat dull.

What I am seeing today an appalling lack of inspirational leaders in almost every industry and with most surrounded by subservient hires to do their bidding.

There’s a very noticeable talent drain and strain, which is no doubt why something very important to our lives- the imagination needed to be creative and depend on those with the skills to deliver what’s needed- has either been lost in the wash or rinsed out to make way for technology and perhaps even nepotism.

As I been saying for decades, technology is not the idea. The idea will always come from the human thought process which can lead to leaders with vision as opposed to inheriting those we had no say in.

The fires in Hong Kong last week and with so many drowning in the sadness of it all have changed us forever- and with some questioning why some are in the positions that they are in.

We are in desperate need of magical fishermen to help find us new loaves of bread, because the old rolls have become stale.

The Beatles and Bob Dylan were my fishermen who provided inspiration and I am constantly learning from everything they created because we need to have inquisitive minds and never think that we know it all.

As a writer, I write, and my words and my music whenever I pick up the guitar and strum two certain chords take me to where I need to go at any particular time and address things on my mind.

This is because the inner me is showing me about how best to use those subjects I know pretty well- like words, good melodies, the importance of effective communications which is really not that different to having A&R skills in music, and what we in advertising know as PSAs- Public Service Announcements.

I remember trying to explain to someone who I thought knew better about the power of Public Service Advertising, but this was before realising that I was dealing with an individual who wanted to own and rule over everything.

He was lacking in substance and empathy and probably hadn’t spent much time being with children.

Children are so new to the world that they are both awestruck and confused about so many things, especially the thinking of adults when in Panic mode.

This was when I realised the need to “go rogue” and do what I believed needed to be done. 

In Hong Kong, there will be the usual television variety shows to raise money and create awareness of a disaster like the Tai Po fires, and this is fine, but let’s not forget that we’re in 2025 and not still in the Eighties.

The world has changed and many are still lost in a post pandemic malaise. It’s also known as depression, something that would probably be lost on our parents and grandparents.

The cure for almost everything are Hope and Happiness.

This is something we are seeing in the different people who are part of the backbone of Hong Kong coming together and being united in every facet of rebuilding Hong Kong.

We- the community have the wherewithal to know what is needed.

What the government and those other organisations with their coffers full of money need to do is a better job of inspiring the heart of the city and supporting all those doing the heavy lifting.

There’s no more tolerance for the game of divide and conquer.

It’s not going to be an easy way back and it’s something that could take years to achieve- and only we know what works best for us and why.

It’s no different to taking those twelve steps and realising that four or six are enough and how this is a very personal journey.

We, Hong Kong Belongers should constantly be raising the bar and leading by example from which there will emerge a new generation of leaders as we are seeing in people like Zohran Mamdani and what now 36 year old Sanna Marin started to do for Finland when she was prime minister of the “happiest country in the world” at 34.

As Bob Dylan sang all those many years ago, The Times They Are-A-Changing.

The world needs new thinkers and those with a vision to help plot a new course for the future generations.

If not, it will be the same old dance of going around in circles and which the next generation will not be happy to inherit.

These positive changes need to happen as seamlessly and we must do the best we can to make this a reality.

This won’t happen overnight, but it’s about each of us coming together as one team and being united for today and tomorrow.

I would like to think that little Hong Kong is showing the world how to take a sad song and make it better.

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Born in Ceylon, Hans Ebert is an award winning advertising executive whose powerful campaign to gain the Right Of Abode in the United Kingdom for ethnic minorities in Hong Kong won Gold at the London Advertising Awards.

He also helped launch McDonald’s in Hong Kong, created the Happy Wednesday brand for the HKJC, was part of the team to launch STARTV and MTV in Asia plus ran the International divisions of Universal Music and EMI Music in Asia.

As a journalist, he has interviewed every iconic personalities from Billy Joel, legendary music producer Quincy Jones, and actor Peter Sellers to working on music for David Bowie, Robbie Williams and Gorillaz.

He also coined the term Canto Pop when writing for Billboard magazine.

He has a penchant for women who remind him of Diane Keaton.