David Ng
Commentator/columnistArticles by David Ng
Society
Li Yundi's case shows the immaturity of Chinese society?
Last month, Chinese pianist Li Yundi was arrested for hiring a prostitute, setting off a storm of controversy, including the loss of some titles and accolades, and various institutions distancing themselves from him. His arrest shows that Chinese laws are fair but does it also expose the immaturity of Chinese society?
David Ng
Society
Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis: Castle in the air or realistic goal?
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam recently gave her 2021 policy address, in which plans were laid out for a 20-year project to develop a Northern Metropolis. Commentator David Ng affirms the need to increase land and housing supply to resolve Hong Kong's residential challenges such as subdivided units, while pointing out that the long timeline could mean challenges in following through on the project.
David Ng
Society
China's diving sensation Quan Hongchan: Is her rural family 'poor'?
Reflecting on the background of Chinese diving Olympic champion Quan Hongchan, David Ng makes some observations about the urban-rural divide in China. He notes that after years of China's rapid development, rural folk are still playing catch up economically, but they have not ruled themselves out of achieving success. Their own motivation will get them far, sometimes even as far as achieving Olympic glory.
David Ng
Economy
Why China is regulating the property market
Rapid real estate and infrastructure development in China over the past two to three decades has improved people's lives, but also led to rising housing prices and property speculation. Regional governments have started to step in with regulatory measures. Commentator David Ng thinks these are good signs, as a society's wealth should be distributed by labour and contribution instead of through housing.
David Ng
Economy
China's Greater Bay Area ready market for British education exports
While the UK imports a high volume of goods from China, it exports many sought-after services in areas including finance, law and accounting. Its latest niche is its expansion into education, targeting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.
David Ng
Society
Why Chinese local governments indulge in wasteful infrastructure projects
Even as China embarks on various infrastructure projects, how many of these projects are actually useful, or bring real benefits to the people they are supposed to serve? Are all of these projects truly worth the money and effort invested? Commentator David Ng takes a closer look at a "white elephant" tram system in the Greater Bay Area and considers the issues involved.
David Ng
Economy
Hong Kong commentator: Xinjiang's cotton production figures debunk the myth of forced labour
Hong Kong commentator David Ng says that despite the accusations by the West against China of human rights violations in Xinjiang such as forced labour, the region's economic trajectory and reliance on mechanisation seem to show a quite different truth.
David Ng
Economy
Innovation and 'new retail' driving the Chinese economy
Commentator David Ng explores the changes that are happening in China with developments in technology that allow vast changes in business models, from traditional offline transactions to online business, and "new retail", which combines the two. How will the Chinese economy grow under these forces?
David Ng
Politics
China's 14th Five-Year Plan will be a game changer
In anticipation of China's 14th Five-Year Plan kicking in next year, commentator David Ng examines how the proposals will affect the direction of China's economic growth, as well as China-US competition, and in turn shift the global order.
David Ng
Society
China's public healthcare system: Robust enough for 1.4 billion people?
David Ng goes over several key indicators in China's healthcare system to see how China's public healthcare system holds up. With medical advances driving up healthcare expenditure and a fast-ageing people, the most populous nation of the world has got its work cut out.
David Ng
