Is There a Future for Engineers in Hong Kong

1
Is There a Future for Engineers in Hong Kong?

• CUHK EE
• 2003.2.17

2
Is it really all gloom and doom?

• The most common grumblings
• The world is not doing well, but HK is doing
  worse
• Even though China is an exception, HK is being
  marginalized and there is no role left for HK
• Even if HK can contribute, it is no longer
  competitive.

3
Is the world in trouble?

• Business cycles are a fact of life the last two
  decades were simply an anomaly
• ride with the tide survival depends on rising
  and falling together
• China is by far the brightest spot, and there is
  plenty of room for growth. This is our unique and
  invaluable comparative advantage !

4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
(No Transcript)
7
Does HK really benefit from Chinas rise?

• HK serves China in a unique and critical role
  the worlds top 3 financial center the worlds
  leading transport hub a world city in Asia which
  international business prefers

8
For the last 2 years voted as the Worlds 1
Airport by over a million travellers.
Worlds 1 International Air Cargo Throughput
since 1996 selected as Cargo Airport of the
Year in 2002.
9
In 2001, the port of Hong Kong handled some 178
million tonnes of cargo (90 from Southern
China), making the territory the world's busiest
container port.
10
Does HK really benefit from Chinas rise?

• HKs promixity to the fastest growing and most
  dynamic region of China provides tremendous
  advantages
• GuangDong accounts for over 40 of Chinas total
  exports and pays 1/7 of Chinas total tax
• Shenzhen is the hi-tech centre of China
• in 2001, 1,500 computer components makers, 500
  software companies, and 200 RD centers.

11
(No Transcript)
12
Does HK really benefit from Chinas rise?

• China provides HK the most competitive
  manufacturing base and the most promising market.

13
A recent quote from London Economic Times, 2003/2

• Monthly direct foreign investment is US 1
  Billion
• HK is still the leading investor
• more investment into China than the rest of Asia
  put together
• Fastest economic growth in human history
• The new workshop of the world.

14
But are we still competitive?

• Arent we too expensive?
• How did we become so expensive?
• Is that our goal or is that a sin?
• What can we learn from others?
• London, New York,
• Vietnam, Bangladesh, .
• Whatever happened to our added value?

15
Yes, what is our VALUE?

• how much is that worth?

16
What is our strength?

• We are really the bridge between the world
• and China. The bridge is built on
• understanding of different cultures via exposure
• mobility
• interpersonal skill built first and foremost on
  language and presentation skills.

17
What sort of engineering graduate will a China/HK
company be looking for?

• Language (English Chinese) skill
• Cultural awareness
• Willingness ability to face the world
• Leadership as a team leader, and then as a
  manager beyond.
• Based on subject knowledge (expertise).

18
Language

• Market driven
• Breakdown of space and time barrier internet
  email become the direct channels
• Communications skill packaging form over
  matter.

19
Cultural Awareness

• Stage 1 moving beyond ??? ???
• Stage 2 talking about ??? to Foreigners and
  about Shakespeare to Chinese
• Stage 3 talking about Shakespeare to Foreigners
  and about ??? to Chinese.

20
Facing the world

• People skill
• Understanding and then overcoming the cultural
  barriers
• a venturous and confident spirit
• Go anywhere
• See anyone
• Do anything.

21
Leadership

• Humble
• Participatory
• Responsible
• Decisive.
• This will take plenty of time.
• This will take lots of effort.
• Most of all, do you want to be a leader?

22
Do we still need subject knowledge?

• Of course! But the pace and complexity of
  technical expertise demand more from you
• Attitude the willingness to learn
• Methodology learn how to learn
• Substance basic knowledge as a foundation

23
And if you can achieve all that..

• Chinese companies will be glad to have you to
  help them link up to the outside world
• Foreign companies will be glad to ask you to help
  them penetrate into China
• Hong Kong will be proud to have you as our sons
  and daughters.

24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
Example an IC Development Support Centre at HKSP

• In 2000, Chinas total IC import was HK92 B
• 64 B in GuangDong
• 32 B by HK Manufacturers in PRD.
• Forecast for 2005 GuangDongs IC consumption
  will be 164 B
• The Centre will bring in capability to design,
  test and validate ICs for this market others.

27
How many engineers will HK need by 2005?

• The IC Development Support Centre will need 2,000
  IC design engineers
• Other initiatives such as the Photonics Centre in
  Applied Science and Technology Research Institute
  will need more
• Foreign companies now coming into the Science
  Park are already hiring
• Eventually there has to be a recovery of the IT
  and other hi-tech industries.

28
What then will be a future HK?

• An economically integrated but politically
  separated entity with PRD
• The region becomes the worlds most competitive
  city-region
• top notch infrastructure
• wonderful quality of life.
• In short ...

29
A place we are proud to call our home.
30
Appendix
31
Do you want to be a part of that success?

• How can I NOT be replaced?
• How can I take full advantage of all the
  favorable conditions to make myself ever more
  valuable and competitive?
• How can I leverage on the biggest geographical
  and human resources advantages and play a far
  bigger role?

32
Simple indicators

• Do you read English newspapers / magazines /
  books?
• Is your email / ICQ in English?
• Can you watch an English movie without subtitles?
• Do you have or seek opportunities to converse in
  English?
• Do you ever travel independently?

33
The world has never been as accessible, as
dynamic, and as promising.

• And it is yours for the taking.
• Go for it!