Like most of us, I start my day with checking emails and sitting on work video calls. Invariably the video conversations start with two things: the stability of Hong Kong as a centre for doing business, and exchanging gossip, rumours and facts where we can about the COVID situation in our respective countries.
Hong Kong has seen some very major changes in recent years. As a permanent resident since 1997, Hong Kong has been home for me and it has been difficult to watch the events unfold here particularly in the past 10 years.
But Hong Kong is doing what Hong Kong does best – evolving.
It did so many times under the British and is doing so now as part of PRC. The changes happening now will see Hong Kong integrate further into mainland China and, as part of the Greater Bay Area, and in my opinion will see China open up further to the rest of the world. From a business perspective, very little has changed in Hong Kong – except for the effects of COVID of course. Hong Kong is still one of the world’s largest financial centres, and many entrepreneurs, small business owners and multinationals set up Hong Kong as there regional if not international head office.
In Hong Kong, banking continues to be a challenge, much the same as it is in most other jurisdictions around the world with compliance defining the rules for running a cross-border business these days. For me, Hong Kong will continue to be one of the world’s freest economies, and prominent business centres, but yes it has changed and necessarily will continue to evolve.
When it comes to COVID, it’s a whole other discussion. The first 15 or so minutes of almost every video call these days is devoted to exchanging information, gossip and personal experiences about COVID in our respective countries and the progress or lack there of around getting access to vaccines.
Like many people I have lost family members and friends in the midst of this pandemic. Last year my mother passed away, but I was unable to make it to Australia for her funeral – thanks to near impossible travel and quarantine restrictions.
I have not seen my daughter since February last year, and I miss her more that I ever thought possible. On my work video calls, I am often asked if I will take the vaccine or not even if it was readily available. My answer is that I would take 100 doses of it if it means I can get on a plane to see my daughter soon. And my sister in Hong Kong too. Whether or not this still means 2 weeks quarantine at each end of my trip back remains to be seen. But I am trying to arrange my vaccinations as soon as I possibly can.
There is a lot of uncertainty and change in the world now and we are definitely seeing the formation of a new world order. But the one constant in this madness is the people we know, love and trust. I don’t know about you, but I intend to keep my colleagues, clients and family as close as I can, and help anywhere I can, as we understand and learn to accept our new normal way of life.
