CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Friday, November 6, 2020 GBAFOCUS | GBA3 Infrastructure paves Scan to watch the way to glory the video Legendary builder Gordon Wu Ying-sheung was among the first Hong Kong tycoons to recognize Shenzhen’s potential. Now he says it’s time to let it lead the way forward. Willa Wu reports from Hong Kong. Miracle Makers A checkpoint of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Property tycoon Gordon Wu Ying-sheung proposed the idea of the bridge for the first time in 1983. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY hen Gordon Wu Ying-sheung Macao with nine mainland cities, is the larg- land is like begging when having a gold proposed building a super- est economic zone development in the world. bowl at hand,” Wu said. highway to connect Shen- Gordon Wu It strives to rival Silicon Valley in the United Meanwhile, Wu said Hong Kong should zhen and Guangzhou in (fifth from left) States. change its mindset as the leading force in 1981,W the infrastructure and property tycoon poses with Ahead of the ceremony, the central govern- Southern China. “When Shenzhen started to thought it would take the quiet fi shing town Guangdoing ment showered Shenzhen with a package open its door to overseas investment, Hong next to Hong Kong 100 years to become a province of favorable policies, ranging from boosting Kong was like a big brother to it, helping it a modern metropolis. officials at the innovation-driven economy to luring profes- lot. Now it is time for Hong Kong to accept On Oct 14, the 84-year-old was recog- groundbreaking sional talent. that the leading role could be shouldered ceremony for nized — for having recognized early that In Wu’s eyes, the engine role Shenzhen is by di erent cities, and cooperation is the the Guangshen his assessment need not be so. Attending a going to play is sending a message to Hong only way to consolidate your advantages,” Expressway on celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of April 23, 1987. Kong: Prepare for challenges. Wu said. the establishment of the Shenzhen Special PROVIDED TO CHINA Challenges Hong Kong is facing are not He implored Hong Kong to stay vigilant Economic Zone, Wu was the only Hong Kong DAILY just from Shenzhen. Sandwiched between in maintaining its edge — professional ser- property developer among 40 people hon- China-US trade tensions and caught by the vices such as fi nance and legal, and provide ored for their contributions to the 40 years COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong’s GDP them to Shenzhen in the development of of development that have pushed Shenzhen levels of leadership and managing capital. shrank by 8.9 percent in the fi rst quarter of innovation. to fi fth among Asian cities in terms of GDP. “I wanted it to commence service as soon Don’t just follow a trend 2020 and 9 percent in the second. “Don’t just follow a trend after learning “I think the honor shows that I had not as possible,” Wu said. “It would play an But the veteran businessman is optimistic others are making money of it,” Wu said. failed Shenzhen,” Wu said during an inter- important role in the country’s develop- after learning others are for his home city. He said that Hong Kong “Do what you are good at. Excel in it so that view in the boardroom on the top fl oor of his ment.” making money of it. Do is capable of meeting challenges if it can fi x nobody can catch up with you.” 64-story Hopewell Holdings headquarters in On July 1, 1997 — the day Hong Kong what you are good at. two problems: the city’s governing style and Wan Chai. When Hopewell Centre was com- returned to the motherland, the Guangshen acute housing needs. Messages to the young pleted in 1980, it was the city’s tallest — and Expressway opened for tra¡ c. Shortening Excel in it so that nobody “The leadership of Hong Kong should be When asked if his success could be fi rst round — building. travel time to no more than two hours, the can catch up with you.” more proactive and fearless. Don’t avoid copied and pasted by today’s Hong Kong highway links two of the mainland’s four the pressing a airs in their charge,” he said. youth, Wu said it sure can. Gordon Wu Ying-sheung, chairman Bridges, tunnels, roads fi rst-tier cities and has a daily tra¡ c volume He referred to the city’s longstand- “As long as they care to look for opportu- of Hopewell Holdings Ltd Wu was among the first wave of Hong of around 600,000 vehicles. ing, deep-seated problem — affordable nities in the Bay Area, and be more tolerant Kong investors to plough money into the Along with the expressway project, Wu housing. “I noticed that Shenzhen’s rapid when facing a di erent culture,” he said. Chinese mainland after then-paramount was involved in building the Shajiao B Power development is in part because the gov- He recalled when Hopewell Holdings leader Deng Xiaoping ushered in the reform Station in Dongguan city neighboring Shen- ernment has solved the housing problem, invested in building infrastructure on the and opening-up policy in 1978. zhen, which solved Shenzhen’s lack of a suf- even though a large number of people mainland, some mocked him for building Wu took a di erent approach from his fi cient supply of electricity. from rural areas were heading to the city roads on soil where people could not fellow businessmen. Instead of putting Shenzhen was among in the fi rst batch of at that time,” he said. afford bicycles. Now, Wu stands 41st of money in manufacturing, he set his eyes on cities designated in 1980 as special economic Wu also attributed part of the violent Hong Kong’s 50 richest persons in 2020, bridges, tunnels and roads. zones, which were granted greater latitude in turbulence Hong Kong experienced in the according to Forbes. Wu described his business interests as a creating policies attractive to overseas inves- latter part of 2019 to insu¡ cient a ord- “There is a population of 1.4 billion refl ection of his “pragmatic” character. tors as part of the nation’s economic reform. able housing for the city’s youth. Starting behind the Bay Area. That is a vast market “I never touched things I didn’t know,” Shenzhen’s o¡ cial data shows that the city’s in June 2019, protests against a proposed that generates capital and is in great need said Wu, who earned his bachelor’s degree in urban development has grown from three sq extradition law amendment, which was of talent. And most importantly, it is much civil engineering from Princeton University km in 1979 to 940 sq km today, as a perma- ultimately shelved, morphed into violent easier to reach your own country than in 1958. nent population of over 13 million. clashes between radicals and police. foreign ones,” Wu said. Wu recalled telling Liang Xiang, then- When asked about the reasons for “How can you ask people to work for Another message Wu wants to convey to Shenzhen’s Party secretary, that a city Shenzhen’s success, Wu said the city was the city’s development if they are not the young: Learn Chinese history, especial- requires three types of hardware to built on the policy the municipal government Shajiao B Power Station in Dongguan sheltered in a proper place?” he said. ly what has taken place since the mainland thrive: transportation, electricity and has consistently adhered to: reform and city, which was designed by a team Hong Kong has ranked as the world’s introduced reform and opening-up. communication. Knowing nothing of opening-up. led by Gordon Wu. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY least affordable housing market for 10 “The history of modern the mainland communication, he would provide the other “Few governments around the world consecutive years, according to the annu- will help Hong Kong youth to learn how the two for Shenzhen. A pragmatic man, as he are able to consistently adhere to the same al Demographia International Housing country shapes its economy and how that puts it. policy for 40 years, and always encourage A ordability Study. promises a bright economic prospect,” Wu The business icon’s investments in Shen- entrepreneurship,” Wu said, adding that the Wu backs the government’s proposed Lan- said, adding that he believes more youth zhen include the Guangshen Expressway, consistency in policy helped craft a stable tau Tomorrow Vision reclamation project, will be willing to build their future in the the Chinese mainland’s fi rst expressway environment for development. announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Bay Area. built with overseas investment. It directly He also praised the people of Shenzhen Cheng Yuet-ngor in her 2018 Policy Address, Chinese history is an independent com- connects Guangzhou with Shenzhen and for their determination to pursue social which is intended to house 1.1 million Hong pulsory subject in Hong Kong’s junior high Hong Kong at the Huanggang Port. mobility. “The city leaves an impression on Kong residents by 2035. The Legislative schools, with a newly revised curriculum, The project started from Wu’s unpleas- me that people are eager for advancement. Council has yet to approve funding for the which was applied in 2019, that includes a ant experience in traveling from Guangzhou It is hard for such a city not to succeed,” Wu project’s preliminary study.