bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Letters

Singapore has overtaken Hong Kong
I am really curious about David Dodwell's conclusion that economies like Shenzhen, Shanghai or Singapore have always been biting at Hong Kong's heels, when economic data proves otherwise in the case of the Lion City. ("Betting on that extra mile," January 16.)
For example, the average growth of Singapore's gross domestic product and GDP per capita has outperformed Hong Kong's over the last 45 years.
Its GDP was only half that of Hong Kong more than 20 years ago.
Today, the Lion City's GDP is slightly ahead, and its GDP per capita is 25 per cent higher than in Hong Kong.
Unlike Hong Kong, it is a tiny independent city state with no natural hinterland.
It has to allocate huge sums from its annual budget as well as sizeable human resources to security and defence, and spends a fair bit on public housing as well - a key pillar of its evolving social safety net for wealth redistribution.
While Hong Kong may have topped the charts according to the Heritage Foundation's definition of "economic freedom", has this resulted in better outcomes for its people?
Disposable income, especially for the middle classes, is on average higher in Singapore by any measure.
About 90 per cent of Singaporeans own their homes. This achievement is unmatched anywhere in the world.
Above all, a more thorough comparative survey of many sectors in Hong Kong and Singapore - from property to aviation and from health care to utilities - will likely show more open market competition in the latter economy, even though some writers seem to insist that active state involvement in the economy is taboo.
It is true that good governance is a rare and precious commodity, but it is also fair to say that the Singapore public sector is widely regarded as one of the most forward-looking and entrepreneurial in the world.
Mr Dodwell may wish to know that Singapore remains ahead of Hong Kong in economic competitiveness surveys by the World Economic Forum and the World Bank.
He is right not to agree with the prevailing local belief that the SAR will always win. Its failings are on the record.
Hong Kong will fulfil its potential only when its most ardent fans overcome their illusion about the city's superiority and learn to stop congratulating themselves like a doting grandparent.
John Chan, Singapore
 
China had to take stand on Diaoyu Islands
Tom Plate claims that "China's new assertiveness" is responsible for its territorial disputes with Japan and that this assertiveness is based on China's belief that Japan is in decline ("Slippery slope", Janaury 17).
He claims China "began reasserting old claims (against Japan ) almost fearlessly". Firstly, the problem is singular, not plural. Only the Diaoyu Islands are in question. Nothing else. Aside from this issue, relations between China and Japan are good. Second, and more importantly, the tense situation was caused when Japan unilaterally annexed the Diaoyu Islands in September 2012. It was not China that told Japan to do so.
Finally, it's absurd to say that Beijing thinks Japan is in decline when Japan has one of the world's largest and most advanced navies and has a powerful air force with the best American planes and technology.
It's just that China is powerful enough to at least say something. If it doesn't say anything now, future Japanese leaders will say China has no rightful claim to the Diaoyus since it never tried to claim them.
Jim Robinson, Wan Chai
 
Don't single India out for rape criticism
For the past year, there have been numerous news reports on rapes and women's safety in India, resulting in India being labelled as "a country of rapes". Is that really is the case?
The press in India has the utmost freedom to inform the public on current events and it does so with complete dedication, so more and more rapes are being reported now. However, the world has mistaken this for a lack of respect for women and an increase in rape cases.
The press in other parts of the world does not report such cases. For example, in the US, few rape cases would even get a mention in the country's newspapers because other major crimes dominate. This is a trend in developed countries.
In addition, India has a high conviction rate of 24 per cent, which is very impressive considering that it is a developing nation.
The conviction rate in the world's most powerful nation, the US, is just 3 per cent, and it has the highest number of reported rape cases in the world.
Given the fact that India only has 13 qualified judges per 100,000 citizens, it is shocking that its conviction rate could surpass that of major developed nations such as America.
It is impossible to fully understand the problems in Indian society unless you're Indian - just like it would be foolish of us to expect the world to understand the reasons for conflicts between Hongkongers and mainlanders.
India is on its way to a brighter and safer future for women, moving on from the incident that shocked the world. India is committed to solving its problems but we cannot expect results overnight.
Perhaps all we can do is wait for the improvements and changes to bear fruit.
Kamal Dhindsa, North Point, Jayoti Sharma, Sai Ying Pun
 
Preschool education hurts children
I am writing to express my concern about the popularity of preschool education.
It seems that "winning from beginning" is a phenomenon in Hong Kong. Lots of parents send their children to different types of courses, like piano classes and interview skills classes.
However, I do not think it is a really good idea to send a child to so many classes.
I believe that if children start to study too early, it is neither good for their development nor for their future studies.
There are only so many hours in a day.
If they spend their time when they are so young with this intensive schedule, they will be left with less time to enjoy their lives. They may become less enthusiastic about their studies.
If they are forced to study hard at too early an age their brains may become data-saving machines, but they may not learn to think for themselves.
To improve Hong Kong children's ability and let them have a happier childhood, I strongly recommend the government enacts a law to ban preschool education.
Marco Lau, Tsuen Wan
 
More welfare spending bad for Hong Kong
Many citizens were unhappy with Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's second policy address, in which he proposed many measures to help the poor. It seems the address ignored the middle class.
The aim of Leung's address was to stabilise his decreasing popularity rating. Yet he forgot the long-term effect of policies to benefit the lower class.
Firstly, the recurrent expenditure of the government will increase. The amount of tax imposed on the middle and upper classes have to increase inevitably to balance the public finances. Secondly, when the government starts the implementation of welfarism, the incentive for the poor to find jobs and acquire a better education will decrease. Finally, the competitiveness of Hong Kong will decrease.
Sam Yip Tsun-him, Ma On Shan


Letters to the Editor, February 2, 2014

Singapore's central business district. Photo: Bloomberg

Betting Hong Kong can go 'extra mile'

Hong Kong's Kwai Tsing container port; one of the conduits between the city and the world. Photo: Bloomberg

World may suffer for China's distorted view that Japan is on the slide

Slippery slope

Japan may be ageing, as is much of Asia, but it is anything but unproductive or spent or destitute. Photo: EPA

Opinion

I am really curious about David Dodwell's conclusion that economies like Shenzhen, Shanghai or Singapore have always been biting at Hong Kong's heels, when economic data proves otherwise in the case of the Lion City. ("Betting on that extra mile," January 16.)
