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Only a fool would disregard the blunt wake-up calls that have been delivered to Hong Kong in recent days ... two of them no-punches-pulled warnings from the central government that reflect the stark facts of economic life in the 21st century.

First, Wang Guangya, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, told us that Hong Kong has two courses ahead - political struggle or economic development. Wang's blunt call for a serious rethink of our future direction was then driven home with equal firmness by top political adviser Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Speaking in Beijing to a visiting delegation from the Friends of Hong Kong Association (FHKA), he said Hong Kong people must remain united and work harder to meet the challenge that Shanghai's Free Trade Zone (FTZ) will pose to our future economic competitiveness.

If that wasn't enough, a serious wake-up call came from one of Asia's most powerful businessmen, billionaire tycoon and aptly-nicknamed "Superman", Li Ka-shing, who warned that Shanghai's bold step forward will have a wider and faster knock-on effect on Hong Kong than most people are yet aware of. He added tellingly: "It will have a big impact on Hong Kong".

Furthermore, looking ahead to activists' plans to "Occupy Central" next year, Li said: "I do not agree with occupying Central. It will adversely affect Hong Kong's image as a financial center and have a negative impact on the city's economy."

Meanwhile, FHKA Chairman Chan Wing-kee said: "Yu (Zhengsheng) called on us to stay united and comply with the Basic Law under all circumstances. He said Hong Kong must enhance its competitiveness as the country continues to open up, and that the future of Hong Kong is closely entwined with that of the country."

In light of all this there should be no more empty talk among legislators, intellectuals and influential thinkers. We have been warned, and amply so . . . our future is now in our hands.

Political rivals can have honest disagreements but they must first bury their hatchets to allow cool-headed exchanges and find solutions to our problems, rather than trying to bury their opposite number as their first priority.

When Shanghai FTZ opens next week it will release a cornucopia of positives for international importers and exporters including such attractive deals as: a more favorable international tax policy; settlements in either RMB or foreign exchange; open offshore bank accounts; more transparent operations policies; cancelation of the restriction enterprise qualification; and fast-tracked construction of an international finance center.

Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai believe the FTZ will attract foreign investors back to Shanghai from the inland cities where they have been concentrating their activities in recent years. Also, many US enterprises previously wary of exporting from Shanghai because of its high operational costs are reconsidering their options. Winning back their high level of business is one of the main strategic reasons for the creation of the FTZ.

The importance the central government attaches to the project is shown by the fact that Premier Li Keqiang will attend the opening ceremony.

The FTZ covers 28 sq km including bonded areas plus a bonded logistical park and another comprehensive bonded area for airfreight passing through Pudong Airport. Besides the nearby airport, the FTZ taps into the port city's road, rail and sea transport network.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong faces another challenge from its long-standing friendly enemy in the south - Singapore. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong proposes to relocate its container port and use the vacated land for a three-pronged drive to expand urban development by building more residential, industrial and commercial properties. Also, with more "silver citizens" now reaching retirement age, Singpore's public healthcare system will get a shake-up along with greater emphasis on lifetime health-insurance schemes.

Like Hong Kong, Singapore faces an ever-increasing problem with refuse disposal. But, like our neighbor Macao, Singapore incinerates much of its trash, using the process to generate energy that is fed into the port city's power grid. This win-win process has also been going on for at least 30 years in Japan. It seems there is much we can learn from our friendly rival who appeared to be much bolder and innovative than us in finding solutions to intractable problems that we both share.

Hello ... is anybody in the corridors of power listening?

The author is Op-Ed editor of China Daily Hong Kong Edition. albertlin@chinadailyhk.com