In comparing Singapore and Hong Kong, so often done superficially, Andy Xie (“A tale of two cities”, August 1) laid bare the astounding inequalities that define Hong Kong and are at the root of the city’s failure towards its own citizens, the young in particular. Unlike Singapore, where politics rules over business and not the other way around, here locals have to compete in the open market for basic needs such as housing, a battle lost to the powerful property developers who actually dictate the rules. Hong Kong boasts the most expensive houses in the world, which are out of reach for the vast majority of the population. No wonder the young have lost hope.

Strikingly, it is the local governments after the handover which are largely to blame for exacerbating this problem instead of addressing it, as Singapore has done successfully by providing affordable, decent housing to its citizens.