Public reaction to Finance Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po's 2019-20 Budget report has been mixed. Coverage and discussion on various media has been more focused on immediate expectations - particularly handouts and sweeteners or the lack of them - than on the need for future development. Such editorial choices on the part of traditional media were entirely expected because they knew what local residents wanted to know first and care about most. That is why media treatment of this all-important announcement has not changed much in the past 21 years - if not longer. There is nothing wrong with being present no matter whom we are talking about, but the government must think ahead when it comes to fiscal decisions.

The new budget indicates the special administrative region government will spend an additional HK$45 billion on innovation and technology development in the next fiscal year, which is not exactly a huge sum compared with money earmarked for welfare, housing and healthcare. What is noteworthy is that the additional spending demonstrates the government's commitment to making Hong Kong's vision of becoming an inno-tech hub and smart city fitting the status of a leading metropolis in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area city cluster in the coming years come true. What is mentioned in this budget may not seem much now, but there is little doubt more will come in the next one, and hopefully even more as it becomes clearer with passing time how better we can keep the plan going forward.

Let's keep in mind that Hong Kong is already an international financial center in its own right and its inno-tech development will make sure it will only grow stronger and smarter in the years to come. The financial industry, which is dominated by the banking and insurance sectors as well as fundraising activities, is not only a leading growth engine but also a major employer in Hong Kong. However, the advance of financial technology, a crucial part of the current inno-tech push around the world, may put Hong Kong in a dilemma of artificial intelligence versus white-collar jobs. Of course the maturing smart city will find more and more people being replaced by AI-enabled automation, or robots if you will. It's only a matter time before we must create new jobs for humans only.

That is why Hong Kong must think ahead and give its future generations the right education so they will have the necessary knowledge to make a decent living alongside all the offsprings of inno-tech development. We are pleased the SAR government is well aware of that prospect and has made provisions for the education sector to get necessary upgrades down the road. It is hoped such provisions will increase if the circumstances require. After all, we cannot afford to stay behind just to keep some old jobs. Humans created AI to work for them - not to be like them.