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Ming Wong
Ming Wong is senior vice-president, Asia Pacific, at United Way Worldwide. [email protected]

A profit-at-any-cost corporate mindset has created deep inequalities that are a major factor behind the protests roiling Hong Kong. Companies that can invest in people and focus on delivering value to society will be initiating a paradigm shift that will ultimately benefit shareholders.

The impasse between the government and supporters of the Occupy Central movement can be traced to two problems: silo thinking and a divided mindset.

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah has done Hong Kong a great disservice with his alarmist view that our fiscal reserves will be depleted in 20 years, following Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's announcement the government will spend up to HK$20 billion per year on measures to alleviate poverty.

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Hong Kong today faces unprecedented challenges hindering its pursuit of a better and more sustainable future. Persistent environmental problems along with social issues, including our worsening wealth gap, lack of affordable housing, ageing population and growing community discontent, hold us back even as our city continues to garner top spots in many world competitiveness surveys.