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OpinionLetters

Letters | Hong Kong become like boring Singapore or Vancouver? No thanks

  • Don’t overlook the flaws in these cities, and remember that there is more to ‘liveability’ than having decisions made for you

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Hong Kong is a city with its own share of problems, but be wary of utopian solutions. Photo: Winson Wong
Letters
I refer to Barry Wilson’s opinion piece (“If Singapore and Vancouver can create liveable cities, why can’t Hong Kong?” January 21). In comparing development plans for Hong Kong with other cities, he could not have chosen three more boring cities than Singapore, Vancouver and Edinburgh. There is more to quality of life than being mollycoddled. Perhaps in his next opinion piece he could list a few of the major urban problems the citizens of these cities face, such as the dire destitution and drug addiction on Vancouver’s downtown streets, and the sterility that marks Edinburgh and Singapore outside their downtown and tourist areas.

Mr Wilson’s piece is yet another green, socialist dream summed up in his concluding paragraph where he expresses his disdain for a future that plans for jobs for the many (what’s wrong with that?), profits for the few (has it ever been any different?) and maintaining as low a tax burden as possible (again, what's wrong with that?).

Of course, in his utopian vision the only freedom left to any of us would be riding our pedal cycle along designated routes.

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Would it be too difficult to point out that air quality and significant amount of land use in Hong Kong are primarily the result of our location on the doorstep of the powerhouse of China that is Guangdong province? Regarding air quality, our skies are quite clear during the long, hot, summer months when southerly winds blow off the sea, and quite the reverse when northerly winds blow down from China. It really is that simple.

G. Bailey, Ta Kwu Ling

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