Tan See Leng: SG & HK can be “shining cities” working together

SINGAPORE: Singapore and Hong Kong can work together closely rather than be competitors in the global talent competition, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng at the South China Morning Post Hong Kong-ASEAN Summit 2023 on Monday (Oct 9).

“However, growth is not a zero-sum game. Healthy competition makes us stronger and creates more vibrant and dynamic cities,” Dr Tan said, adding that “we all stand to benefit if we invest in human capital, remain open to the flow of capital and encourage the exchange of people and ideas.”

Speaking in Mandarin in clips SCMP posted, he said the two cities are in a ‘prime position to be a springboard for talent growth’ in mainland China and Southeast Asia. The Manpower Minister hoped that Hong Kong and Singapore would keep their interconnectedness “and work together to bring Asia to new heights”.

When asked about the “fierce” global competition between the two cities, Dr Tan said that he does not necessarily subscribe to this view as both cities have their own “innate advantages” and their own “self-special” niches.

“Hong Kong has a rich hinterland, the Greater Bay Area, the aspirations and so on that’s set in terms of how that development is going to be with Shenzhen, Guangdong, Macau, and then the new upcoming Hengqin development. These are all very, very good bright sparks. So in that sense, I think both of them can actually be shining cities and we work closely together rather than compete, right?”

Moreover, the minister urged Singapore and Hong Kong to cooperate closely.  Both could be “a very solid springboard to leapfrog… into our respective regions”, with Hong Kong being the gateway to China and Singapore to Southeast Asia.

Dr Tan pointed out that regular exchanges between the two cities’ top civil servants are greatly beneficial when it comes to civil service. So far this year, he has hosted three meetings with Hong Kong’s Labour Secretary. A few months ago, in July, the city’s Chief Executive, John Lee, visited Singapore for the first time in his official capacity at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his entourage.

He also underlined that Singapore is open to global talent. This is important, he said, because Singapore has no natural resources. “Our only resource is human resource.” So, it’s important to have a very “transparent, predictable and clear” framework for the way talent can come into the country to work. /TISG

Finance careers: Singapore vs Hong Kong