Singapore, Hong Kong can work together to become ‘shining cities’, fill ‘special niches’: Manpower Minister Tan See Leng

Singapore and Hong Kong, two prominent financial hubs, have unique strengths that can be leveraged to attract fresh talent, according to Singapore's Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng. He advocates for a collaborative approach between the two cities, rather than a competitive one. He believes that both cities can shine brightly if they utilise their unique strengths and work closely together. He does not necessarily agree with the notion that these two cities are in a race to attract global talent. Instead, he recognises the innate advantages and special niches that each city possesses. For instance, he identifies the Greater Bay Area as one of Hong Kong's strengths, which is considered one of China's most attractive investment destinations. He also acknowledges that while many countries are devising strategies to attract new talent, growth is not a zero-sum game. Healthy competition, he argues, strengthens cities and creates more vibrant and dynamic environments. Tan See Leng expressed these views at the Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2023, a forum focusing on trade and investment issues between Hong Kong and Southeast Asian countries. The summit was attended by business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, mainland China, and the wider region. Amidst intensifying competition for top talent in key industries, Tan See Leng emphasised the different strengths of Singapore and Hong Kong. He highlighted Hong Kong's potential as a springboard for talent growth, given its strong ties to the Chinese hinterland and its central location in the Greater Bay Area, a region with a gross domestic product of about US$2 trillion. Similarly, he sees Singapore as a springboard for talent growth into Southeast Asia. He also mentioned Hong Kong's aspirations for cities like Macau, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, which are part of Beijing's ambitious Greater Bay Area plan to create a thriving global technology and economic centre around the Pearl River Delta. This could also serve as a magnet for global talent. In terms of collaboration between the two cities, Tan See Leng noted that Hong Kong and Singapore have multiple opportunities for trade exchange and have established frameworks for collaboration. He also mentioned regular exchanges between civil servants from both cities. He has hosted Hong Kong's Chief Executive Lee three times in the past year alone. He also referred to the opening of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong in 2017 by IHH Healthcare, a private healthcare group, during his tenure. Tan See Leng also emphasised Singapore's openness to global talent, in the wake of recent outcry over job competition between locals and foreigners. He stressed the importance of transparent, predictable, and clear selection processes for foreign talent, and mentioned frameworks in place to assess how these foreign workers can complement the local workforce. He also highlighted the Singapore government's significant investment in its local workforce, providing training opportunities and programmes to facilitate career switches. He believes that this combination of factors will ensure a sustainable future for local talent, complementing foreign expertise and adding value to Singapore's workforce. He concluded his opening remarks in Cantonese, expressing his hope that Singapore and Hong Kong will maintain their interconnectedness and work together to elevate Asia to new heights.