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The wisdom of Australia’s fresh approach to China
Readers discuss why Canberra must keep its foreign policy options open, private DSE candidates in Hong Kong, and driverless vehicles for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's recently concluded visit ("How deals are trumping port dispute on Australian PM Albanese's China visit", July 17) is a welcome breath of fresh air in Canberra's approach to China.
Since the early 2000s, Australia's economic prosperity has been closely linked with China - Australians became wealthy selling China iron ore, coal and other natural resources that helped power China's extraordinary economic growth and societal transformation.
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Under the previous Liberal-National coalition government, Australia took an unwise turn in its foreign policy by uncritically siding with the United States and needlessly antagonising China - which culminated in Canberra effectively blaming China for Covid-19 by calling for an independent inquiry into its origins.
The past year has shown a world undergoing seismic changes. It is becoming clear that China will emerge as a dominant, if not the dominant, country that masters the industries of the future - such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, biotechnology and artificial intelligence, as most vividly demonstrated by the splashy emergence of DeepSeek's AI model to public awareness.
In the US, the Trump administration continues to double down on disruption and seeking short-term gains at the expense of long-term priorities - whether it is antagonising allies with tariffs and trade wars, defunding the country's own climate transition and scientific research, or provoking social conflict and internal division.
In such chaotic times, it is wise for Albanese to chart a middle-ground approach on the basis of common interests in Australia's relations with China and the US. All signs point to the future being shaped in China, so Australia would do well to keep its options open and maintain friendly relations with China, rather than needlessly bind itself to the declining (and erratic) empire that is the US.
Johnson Man, Sai Ying Pun
Why an increase in private DSE candidates is worrying
With the release of Diploma of Secondary Education exam results last week, the frenzy over university admissions continues. Here, some striking numbers might be unsettling local parents.
According to a local media report citing the Education Bureau, the number of private DSE exam candidates who are not pursuing the DSE curriculum grew from 189 in 2021 to 2,538 in 2025 - more than a 10-fold increase. Furthermore, out of these 2,538 private candidates, more than 70 per cent hold Hong Kong identity cards.
This increase has been linked to mainland students or the children of new immigrants who might be entering the DSE arena through intensive tutoring programmes. A cross-border tutoring industry is emerging, which focuses on the DSE exam. One such centre in Shenzhen has told me mainland students now make up 60 per cent of its DSE-centric classes.
This development might intensify local anxiety over resource allocation. In Hong Kong, policies often appear reactive and to be implemented only after issues - such as parallel trading and mainland women giving birth here - provoke public outcries.
The city's education policies should be fine-tuned to ensure fairness. This could include guaranteeing local students more places on sought-after university programmes, requiring new immigrants to provide proof of local education or implementing standardised grading by region to balance out differences among candidates.
At the same time, Hong Kong must foster a more integrated approach to talent development by focusing more strongly on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and enhancing job opportunities in innovation.
In conclusion, the inflow of private DSE candidates could be a double-edged sword, reflecting Hong Kong's ability to attract talent while potentially intensifying the competition for educational resources. It is crucial for Hong Kong to find a balance.
Dr Han Liu, research officer, Path of Democracy
Launch driverless vehicles on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge
We refer to the article, "In China, delivery robots now ride the subway to restock 7-Eleven stores" (July 15).
Shenzhen's deployment of delivery robots via the subway shows how innovation can unlock the hidden value of existing infrastructure.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, with its ample unused capacity and unique cross-boundary reach, offers a similar chance: it is the ideal place to pilot autonomous vehicles transporting goods and passengers, thereby boosting efficiency and regional integration.
In December 2024, the Airport Authority announced that a small driverless shuttle would soon run between the Hong Kong checkpoint of the bridge and the 11 Skies complex at the airport. While this is a welcome step, the next frontier should be deploying driverless vehicles to the bridge itself to enable true cross-boundary mobility. By taking this step, the governments of Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau could unlock the bridge's full potential and turn it into a catalyst for regional innovation and collaboration.
A recent minor driverless vehicle incident at the airport underscores the need for rigorous safety but should not delay progress. Now is the time for all three governments to work together on introducing cross-boundary unmanned vehicles and turning the bridge into a platform for practical, transformative progress in smart mobility.
Cici Luo, Lucia Luo and Regina Ngai, Kowloon Tong
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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