Not a zero sum game
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Many of us who have visited the Shanghai World Expo might have also tried the Shanghai subway system which has greatly expanded in the last few years as part of the preparation for this great event. It is a somewhat complicated system comparable to ours, but is brand new. Nevertheless, I must say that apart from the waist-high gateways in open stations, set in place to prevent people from falling or jumping onto the railway, our system clearly is still superior. That is probably why our MTR has won many management contracts in cities outside Hong Kong.
As a passenger I can access only the two systems from a customer's point of view. The Shanghai system is overall very efficient and clean, but the platforms are rather stuffy on a hot summer day, indicating that the ventilation system is not powerful enough. All the stations of a certain line bear the same design and the same colour, making them quite indistinguishable and confusing. On the other hand, trains on the different lines have different designs. In cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong, where the rail system is run by one company, this is rather odd as it would mean a much higher inventory of parts and a logistics nightmare.
Maintenance is always weak on the mainland, and this applies to the Shanghai subway system as well. Operating for many decades, the Hong Kong MTR looks as good as new, but on the Shanghai system, you can see minor problems everywhere unattended.
I highlight the above observations to make just one point: In the service sector, Shanghai is still not an equal competitor to Hong Kong. We should target London, New York and Tokyo and move forward to catch up with those cities, instead of looking back and becoming paralyzed with fear and worry. In the future, there is always room for at least two great cities in China, the country destined to become the world's biggest economy in the next two decades. If Shanghai is willing, our MTR should extend a helping hand to upgrade Shanghai's railway service. Both cities will benefit from such exchange, as after all, this is not a zero sum game.
The author is a member of the Commission on Strategic Development.
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