The prospects of Hong Kong rest on whether we can ride on this trend, developing and introducing the right products and modern services for the Mainland market; whether we can attract more Mainland companies to use Hong Kong as the springboard to go global, and anchoring in Hong Kong their operating and treasury centres for overseas expansion. 13. I have always been optimistic about Hong Kong’s future. Yet my optimism rests on the very presumption that Hong Kong people would continue to make the right choice for our future. Indeed it is our choice: what’s the way forward? Where will it lead us? We could well choose to indulge in past success and languish in self-pity, fretting that our monopoly access to the Mainland market would chip away as reform and liberalisation continues to take hold. We could choose to squander our time and opportunities resting on our laurels. Alternatively, we can choose to maintain a healthy and positive interactive relationship with the Mainland on the basis of “One Country, Two Systems”. We can cherish the hard-earned success made possible by the concerted efforts of generations of Hong Kong people and pass on our “cando” spirit. We can also capitalise on our strategic position to leveraging the Mainland while engaging the world. I trust and remain hopeful that we would make the right choice that promotes Hong Kong’s prosperity, maintains our stability and leads us to a bright future. 4  BIS central bankers’ speeches
There is a tendency to try to re-invent the wheel and overlook past experience, but by taking a step back and learning from one another, we can have a much greater positive impact in our communities. Roadshow Workforce Experience Sustainable economic growth and thus broad-based prosperity is dependent on a healthy job market, one in which employers can find the skills they need and workers find jobs that allow them to grow and move up the economic ladder. The challenge is developing a system that encompasses both and is accessible to all those seeking a job. Our workforce development initiative aims to promote dialogue and a greater understanding of promising policies and programs that allow workers, especially those in low and moderate-income communities, to develop in-demand skills and connect them with employers. We can achieve this by connecting with workforce stakeholders through policy forums, roundtable discussion sessions, and examining areas through our research and outreach. One of the best aspects of my job is the opportunity to visit communities across our Second District. The skills gap and the uneven economic recovery among different communities are consistent themes I hear, not just in the Second District but also in my previous job on the West Coast. I also have heard about a variety of policies and programs that seem to be making an impact and could have broader potential that are worth sharing.