Opinion | The world is actually open to hearing about the real Hong Kong

Emerging from the ashes of two devastating world wars, the Salzburg Global Seminar was founded in the summer of 1947, at a crucial moment when the international order was in upheaval. The organization’s founders recognized the need to promote greater mutual understanding among nations and envisioned a platform for open dialogue and exchange across borders.

At a time marked by growing nationalism, ideological polarization and rivalry between the great powers, especially between China and the United States Such platforms are crucial to promote intercultural understanding and explore common approaches to solving global problems.

The theme of this year’s Salzburg Global Weekend, which took place from 21 to 23 June, was “Looking East: Confronting Assumptions and Exceptions of East and West in an Unstable and Multipolar World”.

The event was attended by nearly a hundred delegates from 21 countries across four continents. I delivered a keynote speech entitled “Navigating a New Multipolar Landscape: Hong Kong’s Enduring Relevance.”

Over the past few years, I have learned that many people outside Hong Kong have preconceived notions about the city in the context of China, and that their opinions are influenced and distorted by seemingly persistent, misleading and negative narratives in the Western media.

Tourists from the mainland take pictures at Hong Kong’s Kennedy Town waterfront on June 1. Photo: Xiaomei Chen — Mainland tourists take photos on the waterfront of Kennedy Town in Hong Kong on June 1. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

To clarify the matter, I presented basic facts and clear differences between Hong Kong and mainland China, which surprised and enlightened some listeners. This was a positive step forward.

For example, I mentioned that delegates wishing to visit Hong Kong only need to book a flight and a hotel room, as visitors from around 170 countries are granted visa-free access for periods of seven to 90 days. By comparison, only Chinese nationals from 59 cities in mainland China can a travel visa to Hong Kong for a maximum of seven days.

The audience was surprised to learn that Thailand, in contrast, has a more open approach to Chinese tourism, allowing visa-free entry for all mainland Chinese. Many in the audience questioned the logic behind controlling the flow of mainland Chinese visitors to Hong Kong.

I pointed out that the legislation under general legal practice. The principles of fairness and justice guarantee human rights. Foreign judges continue to sit Supreme Court of Appeal Hong Konga practice that is uncommon in other countries and differs from the legal systems of other jurisdictions, including mainland China.

I noticed that we also have a different legal system based on British Common Law and a different currency pegged to the US dollarSome of this may sound simple, but it could help people abroad fully understand how Hong Kong is part of China. works completely differently.

Many also wondered why China wanted to keep Hong Kong as a separate system and not fully integrate it. I explained why this arrangement can continue indefinitely as long as Hong Kong adds value.

In 2022 President Xi Jinping stated that there was “no reason for us to change such a good policy” and that China would “stick to it in the long term”, stressing the central government’s determination to preserve Hong Kong’s unique governance model.

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My goal in sharing this perspective was to provide a more holistic, locally grounded view of an often simplified or politicized issue.

I was prepared to meet many skeptics in the audience and didn’t necessarily expect to change their views. However, I was happy that many participants thanked me afterwards for giving them a local perspective on the situation. I never expected them to agree with me, but at least they have a broader picture before making a judgement.

The government often calls on us to focus on Hong Kong’s positive stories. But we should talk about more than just these stories. We should also be honest about our challenges and shortcomings. Authenticity is the best way to convince the international community to look beyond public perceptions abroad.

A balanced and nuanced portrayal of Hong Kong’s positive and negative realities can foster a more informed and constructive dialogue. While some in the audience were skeptical, the fact that many participants expressed gratitude for the local, objective and honest perspective suggests that this approach was appreciated.

Ultimately, authenticity and honesty will enable us to better address Hong Kong’s complex problems and achieve meaningful engagement with the international community.

Bernard Chan is a businessman from Hong Kong And former Chairman of the Executive Council

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