To: Worswick, Bocsco and all, re: HK & Shanghai
I think we have two threads of thought here, which may be worth separating. The first is Worswick's assertion that HK has had its day, it may be Shanghai's next. My two cents worth: I think this most likely will be the trend, this being the intention of some of the major power brokers in Beijing (just so they can then point to a model that a new Shanghai can flourish and dominate China's economy under the auspices of "Socialist Capitalism" over HK, which is an offspring of the old "Nationalist Capitalism". HK, as Bosco so rightly points out, came into ascendance when it benefited from the old money from Shanghai, and the new money flowing back from the overseas Chinese.
Which brings me to the second point: IMHO, regardless of whether it is HK or Shanghai that gains ascendancy in the years to come,the dominant players will still be the "Old" Shanghainese (these are actually not necessarily originally native Shanghainese), and the overseas Chinese tycoons, and the money flowing back from Taiwan (significant part of which also originated from Shanghai).
So, at the end of the day, the key players are still the Shanghainese, the Cantonese, the Teo Chew (Chau Chow), the Fujianese from Foochow and Amoy. It will be very unusual (and totally uncharacteristic) to find any commercial Chinese group that grows lazy, fat and complacent over time.....
Steve. |
