HAS THE RUT BEEN ALLOWED TO SET IN, HONG KONG?

Music can give any city an identity. Think of what the Beatles and the Mersey sound brought to Liverpool and what Flower Power brought to San Francisco, not to mention, what J-Pop and K-Pop have done for tourism and building brand recognition plus various new business offshoots for Japan and Korea.

Apart from Coldplay being the first international music act to perform at the new Kai Tak Stadium, could Hong Kong soon feel the power and positivity of happy music and even happier dancing feet and something of a much needed makeover?

If and when when this hopefully happens, it’s about making it work- really work- in a sustainable way that’s constantly evolving.

Easy to say, but where in the world are Waldo and Carmen Santiago and the experience and talent to make any of this happen?

What’s also needed is a strategy in place with strong objectives and drop dead deadlines.

No more 5-8 year plans, please, because most of those who come up with these will- how can I put it?- most likely, not be around in 5-8 years time to see any of this through. 

And then what?

It can’t be more networking and long lunches that go nowhere and random things like the scattergun approach that recently greeted American YouTuber IShowSpeed to Hong Kong.

What did the very popular YouTuber with millions of followers bring to the city?

How many thought he was a Rapper or footballer? 

How many in Hong Kong even know what is a successful YouTuber?

It shouldn’t have been, but the YouTuber in Hong Kong was a waste of time with some, who should have known better, trying to teach IShowSpeed how to swear in Cantonese.

Could it have been better managed by something like a creative Department Of Cool with IShowSpeed being, let’s say, the host of a YouTuber festival which could be aimed at a very specific customer base?

Sad to say it, but Hong Kong is looking weak, desperate and confused with many asking, Who’s Minding The Store?

Meanwhile, I keep asking, What is the brand personality of Hong Kong?

The city that was once my home is being hobbled by petty jealousies, rumours, stupidity, boredom, silly power plays, lousy music and Lost Tatlerised Pretentiousness while trying to walk the squawk and deep dive into that waste of time known as “networking”, which has turned into “nutworking”. 

This powder puff fluff must somehow be made to disappear which is easier said than done because the rut has been allowed to set in.

It’s got to be about teamwork and creating a new and positive community vibe- and, again, how, especially in this Trumpty Dumpty world?

By being Tinkerbelle and just believing?

For Hong Kong, it’s not about constantly trying to find what might be wrong about something or nothing or everything- but righting these wrongs by finding solutions and trying to bring good things to the table. 

The bottom line is that Hong Kong has had many wake up calls over the years, but no one seems to have been listening.

That ringing in ears? It’s not Tinnitus: It’s a wake-up call for all of Hong Kong to re-learn many things, face some hard home truths and understand the bigger global picture.

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