There's a story in The Standard today on Hong Kong's declining birth rate that should be compulsory reading for all companies in the Territory. Here's the killer stat:

In the next five years, the number of students promoted to secondary school in Hong Kong will decrease by 33 per cent.

Last year, 63,000 students were promoted to the first year of secondary school. In 2014, the Education Bureau estimates that will drop to 42,000 (based on enrolments for 2008-09). The Standard focuses on school closures and the loss of teaching jobs (fair enough), but the other story is surely the 33 per cent decline in those attending university or receiving other types of training, the 33 per cent decline in numbers of young people moving into the workforce, and ultimately a 33 per cent decline in the number of potential employees. Companies are going to feel this in five short years...