Read our main feature: Expat or immigrant?

When immigrants poured ashore in New York in the 19th century, they were lured by the Declaration of Independence’s promise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. The phrase is comparable to France’s promise of “liberty, equality and fraternity”, as well as Canada’s slightly more prosaic “peace, order and good government”, and it has helped to define America’s immigrants ever since. It is a code by which the American people aspire to live.

Our government recently revitalised “Brand Hong Kong” and recast the territory’s core values as: free, enterprising, excellent, innovative and quality living. That’s not as snappy as “liberty, equality and fraternity”, and it’s hardly the stuff to inspire this territory’s inhabitants to a higher plane of existence. So if we had to boil it down to a succinct three terms, what would be Hong Kong’s equivalent promise to potential new residents?

“Opportunity” has to be included, for Hong Kong truly does offer a shot at success for those willing to take risks and work hard.

“Stability” could perhaps be another. Hong Kong has long been an economic powerhouse in spite of its relative lack of physical resources. Year after year it has delivered robust economic growth, and even as voices of protest grow louder for full suffrage and against such projects as the Guangzhou express rail link, the territory does boast a remarkably stable political and social environment, especially seen in comparison to nearby countries. Only severe outlying forces – regional or international economic crises, SARS – have been able to rattle that equilibrium, and even then not for long.

Obviously, “democracy” can’t be included in the list, and therefore it’d be pushing it to include “freedom”. “Excellence” would be a contender, but that sounds too much like hopeful branding speak than actual reality. So how about we settle on “productivity”. The city’s ultra-convenience – an outstanding public transport system, always-open shops, technological advancement, proximity to other countries – provides the perfect conditions for maximising output. People can be busy here, they can get things done, and a potential spin-off is a high degree of self satisfaction.

“Opportunity, stability and productivity”. That could be the clarion call to immigrants, one potential guide by which to understand what it means to be a Hongkonger. It’s the commitment the city makes to you, which in turn demands a commitment of its own: personal investment in the city.

Hamish McKenzie

Read our main feature: Expat or immigrant?