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Q Does Hong Kong need fair-competition legislation?

The only puzzling thing about the debate over property companies forcing owners and tenants to pay for telecoms services they don't want or don't even use is why is there a debate? It is clearly unethical, underhanded and anti-competitive - even if it was mentioned in the property sales brochures. It should be made illegal as soon as possible.

It is another fine example of Hong Kong's 'free' market - free meaning free for the handful of men and their families who control it. The rest of us are just fodder spread in the feeding trough for the fat ones to gorge on. The outbursts by Sir Gordon Wu when some brave souls questioned his proposed demolition of the heart of Wan Chai to build a gigantic hotel is another example of just how these people assume they have the right to do whatever they want.

For decades these people have carved up business in Hong Kong as they choose, by taking advantage of the democratic deficit that exists. Their near monopolies on power, telecoms, property, buses and supermarkets are a shameful testament to one of the most successfully peddled myths the world has seen - that Hong Kong is a free economy and that government keeps out of business.

This sick joke has gone on too long. With the (painfully slow) advance of democracy it is to be hoped that the monopolistic grip of these families will be loosened and that business will really become free in Hong Kong. But don't hold your breath.

Roy Prouse, Stanley

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