Letters | Behind the Hong Kong protests is social instability rooted in a free market that favours the wealthy

I’m writing in response to James A. Dorn’s column “If protesters want to protect Hong Kong’s way of life, they must win the war of ideas” (August 2). Mr Dorn is a China specialist and a senior fellow of the Cato Institute, a conservative think tank similar to The Heritage Foundation, which often declares Hong Kong the “world’s freest economy” even as Hong Kong’s working class endures horrid living conditions here. Mr Dorn alludes to a “war of ideas” and criticises socialism with Chinese characteristics, even though China has made tremendous economic progress and enjoyed political stability. One wonders why Mr Dorn’s ideas about Hong Kong or China should be adopted.

China has not dictated how the US or other Western countries should run their economies or political systems, nor has it solicited advice from these free market theoreticians or think tanks. China has lifted at least half a billion people out of poverty, helping to alleviate poverty globally.

Another country which has done exceptionally well and which has not subscribed to neoliberal dogma but retains strong state control of the economy and political freedom is Singapore.