Imagine that an alien was beamed down to Hong Kong, to study humankind. Unable to venture out into the streets without scaring people, he hid himself away in a city-centre apartment and studied the species by reading newspapers, watching television and listening to the radio.
Now, after six months on a diet of every available newspaper and media source - with only the view from his apartment window to supplement it - it is time for him to be beamed back to his home planet. So, what will he tell his superiors about our civilisation?
His report may well contain the words 'baffling' and 'contradictory'. Judging by what he saw from his window, he will say Hongkongers appear remarkably civilised, free, successful and happy - for inhabitants of a relatively primitive planet.
However, judging from what he read, watched and heard inside the apartment, it would appear that this seemingly peaceful, thriving city is a seething cauldron of political discontent and anger - which could bubble over into mayhem at any moment.
If the alien felt disoriented by these conflicting perspectives, he could comfort himself with the fact that he is not alone. Many other outsiders have come to Hong Kong and found themselves bemused at the sight of an advanced and comfortable society that seems determined to run itself down.
The respected Heritage Foundation, an American think-tank, ranked Hong Kong the world's freest economy for the 12th successive year, this month - highlighting how our low-tax, business-friendly city is an example to the rest of the world.
You could be excused for missing coverage of the foundation's report, however, beneath the mass of newsprint and TV and radio coverage devoted to the constitutional debate - and the defeat of electoral reforms that the government put before legislators last month. You could also be excused for thinking that the people of Hong Kong are obsessed by politics, to the extent that it completely overshadows their view of the importance of the city's economic situation. In thinking that, however, you would be entirely mistaken.
A look at the monthly findings of the University of Hong Kong's public opinion survey will tell you that, whatever the impression that the city's newspapers, TV and radio stations may give, the economy is the overwhelming concern for most Hong Kong people.
While the debate over electoral reforms was at its peak and dominating headlines last month, 54 per cent of interviewees said economic problems were their top concern, while 32 per cent cited social problems.
Only 8 per cent said political problems were their principle worry. The findings carry an important message. A sound and free economy is the cornerstone to Hong Kong's success. It is crucial that we do not lose sight of this fact, or take it for granted, and crucial that we do not allow political debate to distract us from the issues that matter most to people. We must work at protecting and nourishing the economic advantages that make us the world's freest economy.
Constitutional development is a matter of great importance to Hong Kong and I would not seek to belittle it in any way. We in the Liberal Party are working as hard as anyone to try to push the process forward and to move us towards our ultimate aim of universal suffrage.
However, we must remember that Hong Kong is foremost a thriving city of commerce and boundless economic freedoms. In the heat of political debate, we must not allow ourselves - like visiting aliens - to gain a false perspective and fail to safeguard the ingredients that make our extraordinary city an example to the world.
James Tien Pei-chun is chairman of the Liberal Party