By almost any measure, Hong Kong plays second fiddle to Singapore

Although I admire Tan Jee Say's courage as an opposition voice in Singapore, I mostly disagree with his view that the Hong Kong government has done better than Singapore on policies related to population growth, immigration and economic well-being of its citizens ("Frontiers for growth", March 30).

To begin with, Hong Kong has already lost its identity from "mainlandisation". Singapore's per capita gross domestic product is among the world's highest, surpassing Hong Kong's. Singaporeans enjoy superior education, health care and, most importantly, an internationally respected housing scheme, making them a home-ownership society.

Temasek Holdings (the Singapore government's investment arm) also performs far better than our Mandatory Provident Fund in managing retirement savings. One also doesn't see Singapore's elderly poor collecting used cardboard boxes or living in cage homes.

Hong Kong can ill afford a population increase to the extent planned by Singapore as it can't even manage to house its current population appropriately. Hong Kong's resources, from education to public health care, are stretched to the limit. We can't even meet demand for infant milk formula!

Singapore's immigration scheme focuses mainly on skilled workers - unlike Hong Kong, which draws from the huge population across the border, straining our resources further.

Hong Kong spends a great deal on infrastructure but not enough on building a skilled local workforce, as has Singapore.