Letters | Hong Kong tricked into buying US and British myths on freedoms, democracy
- America is really an oligarchy and Hongkongers must be wise to the failings of the US system
- Hong Kong should adopt a Singapore-style system, which has proved successful when it comes to necessities like housing, health care and pension
America doesn’t practise real democracy to begin with, it is an oligarchy where elections are controlled by powerful business constituencies such as Wall Street, pharmaceutical companies and tech companies. The defence lobby, on the other hand, influences arms budgets and foreign policy, all in the name of security and freedom.
Hongkongers should be wise to the obvious failings of America’s economic and political system, as clearly evidenced by its suicide rates, homicide rates, incarceration rates, wealth inequalities, poverty, homelessness, unaffordable health care, and social polarisation, to name but a few issues.
02:10
Attack on US Capitol leaves suspect and one police officer dead
Britain, on the other hand, practises some strong socialistic policies such as having a high inheritance tax and the taxpayer funded NHS (National Health Service), although British companies that operate in Hong Kong insist on the Hong Kong government adopt a hands-off approach and low taxes (a legacy of colonial government).
Many large British and Western insurance companies that have a universal health care or universal pension system in their domicile country take advantage of the private health care and private retirement savings plans here in Hong Kong – for their own profit, at the expense of Hongkongers.
03:14
Is the US economy an oligarchy?
Hong Kong must stop these private corporations from profiting privately without bearing Hongkongers’ best interests in mind.
Hong Kong should, for reasons of stability, quickly adopt a Singapore-style system, which has proved successful when it comes to livelihood necessities like housing, health care and pension schemes – which are run by the state, and should not be allowed to fall into the hands of private corporations, whether local or foreign.
The Hong Kong government (with the support of the central government) should stop pleasing private corporations and vested interests (whether foreign or local), and have full autonomy on Hongkongers’ livelihood issues such as housing and health care.
01:31
Xi says he is ‘worried’ about Hong Kong Covid-19 cases during virtual meeting with Carrie Lam
Hong Kong’s stability or instability has little to do with an extradition bill: the debate over freedom or democracy only stirs up emotions and fearmongering, rendering the city vulnerable, with the situation worsened by the foreign press and foreign intervention.
Bernard E.S. Lee, Tung Chung
