Conrad Hilton used to say that there were three essential elements to any hotel's success. These were 'location, location and location'.
That formula works for cities as well. British traders had their eye on the island of Hong Kong because of its strategic location at the mouth of the Pearl River. Similarly, Singapore's success has been due in no small part to its strategic location at the intersection of vital sea lanes linking the Indian and Pacific oceans. Sir Stamford Raffles saw the potential of the swampy, thickly jungled island and picked it as a trading post for the British East India Company.
Largely because of their locations, Hong Kong and Singapore are two of the world's busiest ports. Ships from Europe and the Middle East bound for Japan and other Asian countries sail down the Strait of Malacca to dock in Singapore.
But this situation could change. While a city cannot alter its geographical location, the geography itself can change.
The Bangkok Post reported this week that Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh had 'quietly awarded a contract to Hong Kong firm Phuket Pass Project to conduct a feasibility study on the ambitious plan to dig a canal across the Kra isthmus'. A quick look in the atlas reveals that the Isthmus of Kra is in southern Thailand, close to Malaysia. At its narrowest point it is only about 100 km wide. A canal at that point would link the Andaman Sea with the Gulf of Thailand, eliminating the need for shipping to travel down the congested and pirate-infested Strait of Malacca. This could turn Singapore, some say, into the world's former busiest port. Malaysia will also be affected.
But the signing of an agreement to conduct a feasibility study does not mean that a Kra canal would materialise any time soon. Estimates are that it would take seven to 10 years to build the canal - seven if nuclear power is used and 10 otherwise.
A little research showed that such a canal had been considered intermittently for several hundred years. A couple of phone calls revealed a generally sceptical attitude. 'It's not going to work,' was one response.