By HONG LIANG (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-09-25 07:23

Michael Owen, the blue-eyed boy to millions of football fans around the world, is back in form, with style in spades.

That Owen had made a dramatic comeback from a career-threatening injury that had troubled him for almost 18 months was clear when he scored his second goal for England against Russia in the European Cup matches. He was calm, deliberate and confident as he slammed the ball into the net.

Owen has said little about the long spell of frustration and self-doubt that had seemed to have robbed him of his magic on the football pitch. But the past three matches he has played for England have spoken volumes - and proved his critics wrong.

I admire Owen's personal triumph not only because I am one of his many fans, but also because I see in it an inspiring lesson that is relevant to many young people in Hong Kong, which seems to be tangling with its own case of self-doubt despite the rapid economic recovery that has taken place since 2003, ending years of recession.

The implosion of asset values during the recession from late 1997 to mid 2003 seems to have drained the optimism and self-confidence from a large segment of the public. Demoralized, they are not in their best form to face the challenges of a rapidly changing economic environment.

Business leaders, politicians and academics have said much about the loss of competitiveness to various mainland cities. This, in turn, has raised the question of Hong Kong's "relevance" to the mainland's economic scheme.

But the often-inconclusive debate on Hong Kong's economic future seems to have taken on an overly negative tone. It is important to remind our young people that past experience shows that individual initiative and perseverance have always been the main driving force behind Hong Kong's economic growth.

The massive build-up of infrastructural facilities in many mainland cities, especially Shenzhen and Shanghai, is impressive. And the challenges these cities pose to Hong Kong in a range of sectors, including cargo handling, logistics and, to a lesser extent, financial services, are real enough. But the mainland's economic development, so very large in scale and diverse in scope, is generating new opportunities that were unimaginable in the past.

Hongkongers are known for their quick-mindedness and flexibility when adapting to rapidly shifting market forces. This hard-won reputation is now being threatened by self-doubt, which has led to rising skepticism about our core values of hard work, tolerance, fairness and a devotion to the rule of law, in form as well as substance.

To regain our self-confidence and set an example for our young people, we must try to reestablish our faith in the core values that gave us the inner strength to overcome the many economic challenges in the past. Only then will we be able to teach our young people to see the economic changes around us as an inspiration for regeneration rather than an excuse for failure.

Sports critics said Owen's injury forced him to reflect seriously on his future as a football player. Although he is still young at 27, his days as a charging bull are clearly over. His apparent success with his new incarnation as a cool-headed scorer who makes himself available in the best possible position of attack is a testimony to the power of adaptability.

There is no shortage of well-educated young talent in Hong Kong. Although our young people are enjoying the fruits of the economic recovery, they must force themselves to reflect on the longer-term future of Hong Kong and adapt their mind-sets and skills to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities made available by the economic development on the mainland.

E-mail: jamesleung@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/25/2007 page10)