Pansy Ho Chiu-king, a prominent businesswoman based in Hong Kong and Macao, said Hong Kong will retain its driving role in the development of the 11-city Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with the city again becoming a stable society under the National Security Law. In an interview with China Daily, the group executive chairperson and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings said she looks forward to sharing with the international community Hong Kong’s gradual return to normalcy from the protest violence, among other favorable changes.
In an interview with China Daily, the group executive chairperson and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings said she looks forward to sharing with the international community Hong Kong’s gradual return to normalcy from the protest violence, among other favorable changes
In September 2019, Ho addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council, telling the world about the months-long violence and chaos that the city had endured — a stark contrast to Western countries’ and media’s portrayal of the situation in the city as brave young people fi ghting for freedom.
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“These radical protesters carry out violent acts in the name of human rights, but they are, in fact, violating the basic human rights of expression, safety, and livelihood of other citizens who neither are part of this group nor share their radical views and tactics,” said Ho in her capacity as the chairwoman of the Hong Kong Federation of Women.
She cited her own experience of encountering rioters who attempted to silence her with “vicious threats and provocative remarks”.
Recalling that experience a year later, Ho said she hopes to help express Hong Kong people’s true views, especially on behalf of the women’s group, a non-political, non-governmental organization.
She will continue to use such platforms to communicate with the international community to show the changes in Hong Kong, including the National Security Law, which took effect on June 30 and is regarded as an antidote to the prolonged social unrest in the city.
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The people of Hong Kong share the same wish with their mainland compatriots that the international community should respect China’s sovereignty, and understand that Hong Kong is clearly part of China, a fact beyond doubt, she said.
This file photo taken on July 29, 2019 shows Pansy Ho, chairperson of Hong Kong Federation of Women and chairperson of Women Power Forum, in Hong Kong. (ROY LIU / CHINA DAILY)
Ho noted that, in addition to gaining understanding and support from the outside world, what was more important was “what Hong Kong people ourselves would like to see as our future”.
“Our destiny, as well as our development in the future, is definitely going to be tied to the nation,” she said.
Therefore, Hong Kong should champion all the opportunities that have been granted by its motherland, for example, the GuangdongHong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The business leader said she found rich opportunities for collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in terms of technology development, which she believed will provide great prospects for the younger generation in Hong Kong.
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With its trading facilities, logistics systems, and educational resources, Hong Kong could explore the areas of creative industries and make a name for itself as a vibrant international cultural hub, she said.
“I believe that in the future, Hong Kong could continue to be a major driving force in the development of the Bay Area, one of the major regions of China’s economic development,” she said.
Seeing the resilience and unity of Hong Kong people during the pandemic has enhanced Ho’s belief in the city’s future.
The special administrative region has become a good example of how collaboration between medical experts and the community can keep the COVID-19 pandemic under control.
She highlighted the efforts of the city’s medical professionals amid the pandemic, and said that
Hong Kong people showed a strong spirit of self-discipline to make sure the majority could make it through the crisis.
She also hopes the community can grasp a unique moment of “downtime” to refl ect and refocus on what is important for Hong Kong, a world-class city, and start preparing for a good beginning to the post-pandemic era.
“I’m also quite hopeful, as well as confident that come 2021, Hong Kong will reestablish itself (as a force in the world),” she said.
