HONG KONG - In an article about global cities, in September 1993, Time magazine declared that the decade of the '90s, dominated by trends of globalization, belonged to "the Hong Kong of the Americas."
It was a rather uncommon and forward-looking tribute to Miami's global status. The comparison between these two cities is an interesting one.
During a visit here last week, I saw posters around the main international business district that advertised Hong Kong as "The Asian World City," a claim that is reminiscent of Miami's posturing as "Capital of the Americas."
Hong Kong and Miami both emerged as world cities at a very rapid pace, in the second half of the 20th century - with Hong Kong about a decade ahead of Miami.
The rise of both Hong Kong and Miami was much faster than that of most other major world cities because of similar sets of geopolitical circumstances.
Both cities became primary destinations of large number of immigrants who were fleeing repressive communist regimes in the regions.
- Due to the influx of Chinese from the mainland, Hong Kong grew from about 800,000 in 1949, when the communists came to power, to 3 million in 1960. Hong Kong's "Mariel" took place in 1962, when Mao Zedong opened the border gates to allow some 70,000 to flood into the British controlled territory within two weeks. At the present, the total population is 6.5 million, if we include Kowloon and the New Territories - all administratively part of Hong Kong.
- Like Miami about 10 years later, Hong Kong became a symbolic place in the ideological war between communism and capitalism. It was a place where refugees had a chance to prove their former oppressor wrong through their economic success stories.
- Already by 1960, Hong Kong had turned into an economic powerhouse of manufacturing, trade and finance. In 1997, when the British were treaty-bound to return the territory to China, Hong Kong's economy was so vibrant and powerful that it was speculated by some that Hong Kong would be "taking over" the mainland, not vice versa.
But if the geopolitical origins of Hong Kong and Miami show some interesting similarities, they are in many ways very different kinds of world cities.
There is a difference in size, obviously, but more important is the difference in image.
While Hong Kong is first and foremost known, all over the world, as a place to do business, Miami is not. Business is Hong Kong's heart and soul. Miami is more about leisure and pleasure.
Hong Kong beats Miami, hands down, when it comes to an environment that is conducive to international business. Within hours of a visit to Hong Kong, any Miamian is bound to be impressed with - and envious of - the infrastructure, the personal service, and the ways the city presents itself to newcomers.
Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport is located on Lantau Island and it is about 19 miles from the central business district of Hong Kong.
The airport is efficient, comfortable, friendly and super modern. Without going outside, you can get on a train that makes you feel like you are in a science fiction movie.
It takes you to downtown Hong Kong in about 20 minutes.
While on the MTR train, your mobile phone will ring with a message saying that the local provider "SmarTone welcomes you to Hong Kong. Dial *368 and you will be connected to major hotels, airlines and other tourist and business services."
If you have any questions or concerns, you can also ask one of the MTR "ambassadors" who pass through the compartments to offer their services to anyone in need.
The train is meticulously clean and superbly designed from an aesthetic and ergonomic point of view. The compartments are light and airy and you don't see any advertisements, except one. It reads: "MTR is Hong Kong's Fast Track to a World Class City."
When you turn on the TV in your hotel room, the first channel that comes up is the "Hong Kong Channel."
It features highly informative programming about the city, with a positive spin, and it repeats every hour or so.
There are segments about the port, trade, the city's achievements in transportation, future development plans, but also about recreation, ethnic foods, sightseeing and other things of interest to any traveler.
Compare that, for example, to the programming of Miami's Channel 7, which is likely to scare some visitors to our city from leaving their hotel rooms altogether.
Granted, Miami beats Hong Kong when it comes to recreation, the nightlife, beaches, etc. This is a great place to vacation, retire, live, or party, so much so that fun and games are almost naturally bound to overshadow whatever else this city is about.
The question is: does Miami mean business?
Jan Nijman is a professor of Geography and Regional Studies at the University of Miami