The recent Tai Po fire aroused great sorrow in Hong Kong. It exposed not only latent building safety hazards but also, on a deeper level, underscored the critical importance of community resilience and professional governance. We have to confront the issues in our society head-on. They require even more urgent attention through professional, forward-looking institutional safeguards. The Legislative Council election on Sunday presents a pivotal opportunity for us to converge professional wisdom and reignite the path to prosperity.
Expertise is the most invaluable asset in a modern society. It manifests itself not only in the courage displayed by firefighters rushing into a blaze but also in the astute minds in the legislature chamber, capable of analyzing economic cycles, designing equitable tax systems, and planning for a sustainable urban future. Hong Kong’s prosperity has always been built upon world-class professional standards in finance, law, trade, and other fields. Faced with complex internal and external challenges, we now need lawmakers with solid professional foundations more than ever — be it the economic literacy to decipher financial statements, the public administration acumen to perfect social welfare policies, or the industrial insight to foster technological innovation. Only then can the laws and policies they enact precisely address societal needs and lay solid groundwork for renewed prosperity.
However, expertise devoid of deep compassion for the community is like a tree without roots. Genuine prosperity must allow every resident to feel fairness and warmth within the system. This demands that future legislators not only possess the macro-level vision to navigate institutional design but also the nuanced empathy to understand the people’s needs — from study space for children in subdivided units to healthcare security for the elderly and relieving operational pressures on small businesses. Translating professional knowledge into “people-centric” policies, ensuring that growth in financial data translates into a tangible sense of gain for citizens, is key to building a better Hong Kong.
Therefore, the vote on Sunday represents far more than a routine personnel change. It is our collective choice regarding Hong Kong’s developmental trajectory. Every ballot is a solemn mandate. Let us choose candidates who truly combine professional insight with community commitment, empowering them to repair our institutions with their skills, foster consensus through a pragmatic spirit, and collectively strengthen the foundation of prosperity with their profound love for Hong Kong.
Every eligible voter should value and exercise this right. Your vote will directly determine whether we remain mired in complaints about problems or take the first step toward a safer, fairer, and more prosperous future. This Sunday, let us use rationality and foresight to jointly write the opening chapter of a new era for Hong Kong.
The author is a member of the Executive Committee, Managing Executive Officer of ICBC (Asia), and Director of the ICBC (Asia) Charitable Foundation.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
