Contents

Editorial (Growth through leadership) - By John Wan
Hong Kong Union for Young Leaders - By Alexander Mak
Letters to Editor
Leadership Conduct - By Harry

editorial

Growth through leadership

John Naisbitt was in town last week speaking to a congregation of Asian business leaders. This is of course the author of Megatrends and Megatrends Asia and has been described as the world's best known futurist.

True to his reputation, Naisbitt's speech was insightful, articulate, inspiring, humorous and philosophical. No reports or paraphrasing of his presentation could do this great trend-forecaster sufficient justice, but I would limit myself to one idea I picked up, or I think I picked up - the one on growth and leadership. What follows is my interpretation of the idea rather than a report of what he said.

Naisbitt pointed out that economic growth was a relatively new phenomenon, one that had only been around for two centuries. Before that, people lived in a largely predictable environment. Life was rather orderly. Economic growth is a consequence of increased human activities following increased population, because people were living longer, but more importantly, a consequence of advances in technology following the industrial revolution.

The industrial revolution however was not accompanied by social and cultural revolutions or changes that would be necessary to enable mankind to take full advantages of technological advances. Fortunately, in a free market, changes will take place anyway, with or without the people being aware of the changes or wanting the changes. The market place will self-organize and self-correct to produce a future in which the people could capitalize on technology, resulting in growth and an improved human race.

Communities which ride on technological advances and changes would do well, while those that cannot tend to suffer. This is where leadership comes in, particularly in bad or uncertain times. Strong leadership would provide a community a focus and the necessary steer. Governments with leadership tend to nurture and encourage entrepreneurship, which would in turn stimulate economic growth.

Rotarians are business and professional leaders and are by definition entrepreneurs. Now is the time they stand up and be counted. Now is the time they show their mettle.

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Letters to Editor

You are welcome to write to Club Webmaster John Wan on any topic, particularly in response to articles published in Kingspark News. We would publish all contributions as long as the authors identify themselves, the contents are not offensive or abusive, and would not offend common decency or common sense. You need not be a Rotarian to write to us and you have a choice to withhold your name in the published version. Where the contents make reference to statements or policies of individuals or organizations, we would try to obtain a response fro the latter for publication in the same issue if possible.

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Leadership Conduct
By Harry

I would like to respond to the subject of your Editorial in the last issue [7 October].

In some way, the discussion relates to the idea of transparency, in a way that the panopticon would ensure that the inmates act with proper comportment, for fear of being watched at all times. Unfortunately, in the case of corporate governance and political dealings, there is an opaqueness and generally accepted conscience as opposed to transparency.

When scandals, frowned-pon business practices or underhand deals are exposed, the public consciousness is heightened and people are made more aware. While it may sound preferable, our lives are already wrapped up in whatever worlds we choose to lose ourselves in, much to the dismay of reality. From that standpoint, a large part of life is accepted without thinking, because thinking leads to questioning and questioning leads to answers, and these answers may not be those that we seek or would rather not know about. On the surface, this sounds like ignorance is indeed bliss, but the alternative is truly eye-opening.

Take for example, the much-acclaimed and talked-about book, 'Fast Food Nation.' This book exposes how fast food chains across the world operate, complete with the unscrupulous and unsanitary practices of fast food services. Anyone who has read the book or heard citings from it, will be unable to order their Big Mac and Whopper, Jr. without pausing. The innocence is lost.

More grave scenarios exist, however. Take the example of the growing awareness regarding terrorism and airplane safety. How many people will now actively fear while fastening their seat belts on a boarding airplane now? How many people will scan faces, and subconsciously wonder whether terrorists are aboard? And as shallow as it may be, aren't those that wear particular ethnic garb scrutinized even more so? Again, our consciousness has been awaken and forced to deal with complexities that yes, while we should know, but we have preferred not to have to confront. There is solace in the way the 'system' works in the background, almost unquestionably.

But when that system falters, and the problems are published front and center, the fear and uncertainty seep through, shaking the stability we have come to know. When kidnapping became prominent in years past, no longer were kids allowed to roam parks and playgrounds with uninhibited joy. There was always the concern of strangers and safety. Parents or adults seeking to merely offer a token of kindness through a lollipop or piece of candy were shunned, as if they would potentially woo or poison the children. Kids can no longer enjoy the fruits of their Halloween bounty, knowing that heathens have potentially aimed havoc with their 'offerings.'

While it may be a virtue to question everything, so as to not leave oneself vulnerable or unprepared, the depths of society and the innumerable issues that exist far outweigh our capabilities, and as such, we rely on certain constructs to function without much thought. When I pay for a purchase with my credit card, I shouldn't have to fear that I'm leaving myself vulnerable for a hacker to tap into my account and raid my personal funds. But that exists. I shouldn't fear opening my mail. But I do. And while I never thought much about where my clothes came from, I do now, especially with the proliferation of exposes investigating sweatshops and other malpractices in the industry.

Ultimately, particular events force us to open our eyes and see a picture that is far too gruesome for our comfort, and our eyes remain open forever. This may, or may not be a good thing.

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