Pro Bono Publico

Pro Bono Publico

Perhaps some corporations never got the meaning and definition of the Latin term "Pro Bono Publico", or "Pro Bono" as it is usually referred to as. Literally, the phrase is defined as "for the good of the public". The effort involves voluntary professional services for those in need but are unable to afford the service. Charging reduced rate to a NGO and then marketing the effort as a pro bono service to glorify a firm's social contribution does not cut it. The intent of pro bono service is lost.

A professional firm has the social responsibility to serve the communities in which it operates. The endeavor should be genuine and without thought in any form of return. Unlike SOX, compliance to social contribution is not mandatory. However, when committed to pro bono services, a firm should do so by heart.

Improving the Quality of Living in Hong Kong

While New Jersey serves as a "lower cost living buffer" to New York and Yokohama serves as the Tokyo counterpart, that seems to be something missing for the population in Hong Kong. As a result, many find it very difficult to afford even marginally spacious apartment flats.

What is a "lower cost living buffer" after all? By nature, New York and Tokyo are crowded and estate costs are extremely high. For people with entry level positions, living within these cities is very difficult. And demanding moderate space is often a dream. However, New Jersey and Yokohama, provides low cost land and housing for people in working in the metropolitian cities. The mobile population works in NYC and Tokyo during the day, and returns to NJ and Yokohama by night. Transportation is convnenient and without buffer. Amtrak serves to connect between NJ and NYC, whilst express JR trains allow the commute between Yokohama and Tokyo city to be cheap and efficient.

The same cannot be said for Hong Kong. A land surrounded by sea in three directions, the only ways to expand habitable space are through sea reclamation or into the North. Reclamation is less than environmentally friendly, however, and room to build new city centers in New Territories, the last of available space to expand within the Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), is severely limited.

As a long term solution, Hong Kong and the province of Guangdong should be jointed, such that Guangdong serves Hong Kong the same way that NJ and Yokohama provide more affordable living space to the working population of NYC and Tokyo respectively. Removal of the custom between the HKSAR and Guangdong is necessary to make everyday transportation more seamless, and a high speed transportation system must be available to connect the two places. Law, culture and other infrastructures needs to be unified, which is much easier written than done. The availability of affordable real estates will improve the quality of living for those in Hong Kong and provide added opportunities for those in Guangdong.