THE NEED FOR HONG KONG’S NEXT GENERATION TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP IT DOESN’T KNOW IT NEEDS.

The interest in the pastime had been waning for some time, and when I woke up on Sunday afternoon after being back in Hong Kong for a few days and seeing how the rest of the world lives and not just survives, the usual weekend horse races were on. I wasn’t the least bit interested in who was riding what and even thinking of having a bet.

All it did was make me wonder if gambling on horse racing is the most exciting consumer product the city has and where it rates with young Hong Kong- especially those in their early twenties?

Yes, the Hong Kong Jockey Club gives much to the city, but how exactly does this all work?

Not many seem to know and it’s this type of  apathy that adds and subtracts from the brand personality of Hong Kong- if it even has one.

As a one time advertising professional who other than working on leading global consumer brands, even worked with Peter Moss at the Government Information Services (GIS) on a couple of Keep Hong Kong Clean campaigns including writing a jingle some described as a “love song to rubbish” and sung by Alan Tam, I wouldn’t have a clue how to market today’s Hong Kong in any meaningful way.

Always believing in the power of emotional attachment in communications, and despite the many decades spent in the city where I went to school, found my various career paths, met the American Wrangler girl who became my wife and offered invaluable support system, I am proud to say that despite being the only child of very poor parents, and an “ethnic minority”, I achieved much in this city- and for Hong.

Hong Kong today is not exactly the Black Hole Of Calcutta, but it’s far removed from the brand I created for the Hong Kong Jockey Club and called it Happy Wednesday.

That was around fourteen years ago when the city really was a happy place.

Though not what it was in the eighties and nineties, it was still a long way from today’s Hong Kong that appears in constant need of Red Bull and Xanax.

So many appear to be extremely busy, but doing what exactly?

For example, how many of these various NGO “charities” organisations busily networking in Hong Kong perhaps giving with one hand and taking with the other?

As anyone who has been in Hong Kong for any length of time knows, just don’t question anything even when not believing what is being said. It’s pointless exercise.

As I have been saying for almost a decade, people make a city and everything in it.

This is where Hong Kong has come to a standstill and looks- and very probably is- offering the next generation nothing more than warmed over wontons. 

Today’s young people are not naive, they are not dullards and can certainly see through smoke and mirrors.

But what can they do?

Who are their leaders, and by this, I don’t mean those who try to be some naive version of Che Guvera.

We saw how that came undone during the Umbrella Movement and the protests of 2018.

Right now, the image of post pandemic Hong Kong is fuzzy and it’s advertising, marketing and promotions are certainly not attracting international visitors to these shores.

Let’s face it, what does Hong Kong have today that would have people queuing up to bother getting here other than perhaps the minimum for budget tour groups from Shenzhen who attend the races as part of a day trip like some might enter a freak show?

Forget about long term plans that are mentioned over and over again which might not even see the light of day.

Instead, what does this city have that’s attractive and available right now and can travel?

Please don’t say another museum or light show in the harbour that holds an interest level of about twenty minutes for the Selfie people.

What’s the ROI of something like this and couldn’t the money be used more effectively?

Compared to his blundering predecessor, John Lee, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, has done and is doing an effective job of ensuring that this is a safe city and is shown breaking bread with the elderly, kids, district board members and attending those events that need his endorsement.

His efforts are something to be applauded, but what’s also needed is the type of leadership from non politicians who understand or want to help and understand the next generation- those who this next  generation would trust and who they don’t see as more sinking empty vessels making the most noise.

With this in mind, America and the rest of the world are seeing exciting new leadership and new thinking from 34 year old Democratic socialist Rohzan Mamdani.

We first saw this type of young, exciting and empathetic leadership in Senna Marin, then, the 34 year old Prime Minister of Finland.

She was a breath of fresh air until social media played its game of Gotcha and she was caught actually dancing and having a good time with friends.

She resigned soon afterwards, because, well, why bother if one can’t lead a life full of fun and with friends?

As for Mamdani, he’s smart, gifted, a Muslim and was voted in as the next mayor of New York City very probably because of a different mindset that appeals to the younger generation.

This is the type of talent Hong Kong needs and not more glib waffling from Yesterday’s People who talk about things like bringing “joy” to Hong Kong while you sit there, astral travelling and knowing that they’re tap dancing as they go.

Speaking to a Hong Kong Chinese friend who, like me, has come up the hard way and doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone, he agrees that as part of an overall strategy, Hong Kong has skipped a beat by overlooking and nurturing those with leadership skills and getting to really know the NEXT generation of leaders without “research findings”.

There’s the need for experienced leaders who know how to appeal to heart and head, generate trust and break the pattern because Hong Kong is suffering from a dumbed down effect where EQ levels have tanked.

It’s about understanding who’s going to be filling new buildings, and instead of asking, “Where’s the beef”, it’s about asking, “Where’s the talent?”

There’s really no need for another so-called citywide reality show for flouncing “singers” or a “dance challenge” that happen with such stealth that no one even notices them.

Hong Kong today is a weird wok that’s being furiously stirred by many with no understanding of strategic thinking nor understanding what today’s young consumers want and also what they might need.

These things cannot be delivered by government departments and those working in fear for thin skinned power brokers with their hands tied by red tape and playing Let’s Pretend.

This has gone on for too long, and just maybe, there are those who don’t have time anymore for those who nervously laugh when asked pertinent questions regarding Hong Kong’s days of future passed, because they just don’t know. But they are too scared to answer in case people will notice.

These people have should think back to when Bob Dylan once said, “You’re invisible now, you have no secrets to conceal”.

Bottom line: Hong Kong is small enough to Think Big and be seen as the Hong Kong based INTERNATIONAL Fast Forward Movement.

This can be started tomorrow by those who know what they are doing instead of thinking something simple to death and turning the KISS Strategy into an eight humped purple camel.

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