Is there a future for Cyberport ?

[xuanxuan]

Hi, everyone
I appreciate your advices to my job hunting!
Here, I raise an open question on the IT industry of Hongkong. Hope everybody can bring out his vision.

As you know, Cyberport is being completed in Hongkong (costed 2 billion USD). It's supposed to provide a world-class environment for the clustering of quality IT related companies. In another word, Hongkong may hope to prosper its IT industry through this project.

Some of you have commented that Hongkong has no IT industry. I think it's true to some extent. There is few software/system developers. There is almost zero research lab or R&D company. Although some universities (like HKUST) have recruited many good professors/researchers, most of them focus on academia. A lot of high degreed graduates have gone overseas.

However, is it possible that a prosperous IT industry could be established in Hongkong in the near future? Hongkong is facing the mainland of China, which should have a huge demand (larger than anywhere else) for IT products and solutions. Hongkong has abundant intelligence support, as it possesses 3 excellent universities of Asia. Hongkong can offer great income to foreign IT talents, though the housing would be a little uncomfortable.

Look forward to hearing your opinions.

[shri]

While Hong Kong is not in the business of producing ideas, it is a huge consumer of IT products and services.

Don't expect a building to change the scene .... its a great building, but its only as good as the people and the intentions of the companies in it.

[nivantj]

Q---
As you know, Cyberport is being completed in Hongkong (costed 2 billion USD). It's supposed to provide a world-class environment for the clustering of quality IT related companies. In another word, Hongkong may hope to prosper its IT industry through this project.----

Cyberport was proposed and designed with great vision during IT bubble BOOM period and eventually approached to doom after burst of bubble. It hase been one of the biggest blunders among many other fantastic ones made by Govt since 1997. Although, infrastructure, facilities and everything built very well ( probably too good for some employees to afford food nearby ) and everything in place except enough tenants. Neverthless, somehow its has managed to retain its prestige as Luxurious Residential complex surronding so-called IT hub of Asia's world city. Mr. Tung should rather have though about developing township nearby for employees working in his Asian Hub... Hahah... just an alternative thought.

Q--------
However, is it possible that a prosperous IT industry could be established in Hongkong in the near future? Hongkong is facing the mainland of China, which should have a huge demand (larger than anywhere else) for IT products and solutions. Hongkong has abundant intelligence support, as it possesses 3 excellent universities of Asia. Hongkong can offer great income to foreign IT talents, though the housing would be a little uncomfortable.---------

---Prosperous IT industry in Hong Kong?? No way.....
---Hong Kong if facing China?? No way..... China has its own IT strength and is considered the second largest IT Professional providers in the world after India. In terms of IT Devlp and R&D HK is even far behind Singapore... No way it can compete China.
--- HK possesses 3 excellent Uni of Asia..
Well not only those 3 but all 7 Uni offers IT related courses and every year produces couple of thousands of IT gradus. Unfortunately, not too many companies to hire them....
--- Hongkong can offer great income to foreign IT talents.
IT Executives, Senior Managers???? probably yes... otherwise no. IT industry has cought the air of cost cutting and at the time when even US/ UK are moving all devlp, R&D and other backoffice operation to cheap locations like India and China..... Worndering who would prefer HK and that too Cyberport?... HaHahhhhaaaaa... To me no hope.

[fly]

I think its an oxymoron to expect "that a prosperous IT industry could be established in Hongkong in the near future", since it takes investments in time, capital, political support, etc. to establish any industry, let alone one that is still flat, even globally.

Just having a collective of nice buildings, giving it a fancy name, without the other intangibles that would seriously attract development and further investement by vendors, integrators, researchers, developers, etc. isn't enough, and I think it will be a while before we get more than just lip service from the gov't about HK turning overnight into an IT hub.

[JJexpat]

IMHO, the big issue for Hong Kong is finding a new way of thinking, moving out of a production/widget mentality and into rsourcefulness, creativity, innovation and proactivity. The work force is far too much oriented toward following a set procedure and even employees who know how to imporve it will not, in large part becuase an overly hierarchical social and work culture forbids it. The build it and they will come philosophy is just a sad example. Cool elevators tho.

Transform the culture...Hong Kong can soar. As it is, well, it is amazing that it has done as well as it has. One guys opinion...maybe I haven't had enough sleep ;-)

J