The Netflix sensation Squid Game has taken the world by storm, coming out tops in viewership in multiple regions and becoming the talk of the town – and even the globe – despite being a TV drama not in English. The nine-episode series transcends language and culture, mesmerising audiences from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds. This fictional story follows a bunch of cash-strapped debtors who, at the invitation of an enigmatic organisation, partake in a competition where they play children’s games to win the ultimate prize – money to pay off their debts and lead a wealthy life. The only catch is they need to survive long enough by outlasting their opponents. A familiar plot, isn’t it? What’s the appeal then? First, the show exposes the underbelly of South Korea, a capitalist society where income inequality and the wealth gap have left many citizens feeling disenfranchised and discouraged. The divide between the haves and have-nots depicted is so raw and real that it strikes a chord with viewers. The world of the games is a microcosm of South Korean society and epitomises the inequality arising from class division: the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Throughout the show, the game contestants at the bottom of the hierarchical pyramid are just playthings of the wealthy at the top. Participants play the games to survive, whereas it is a mere form of entertainment for VIPs watching from afar. Second, the drama boldly portrays the dark side of human nature. The participants live on the fringes of society and are always willing to take a gamble, both literally and figuratively. With the stakes so high, they are still willing to increase their bets, which speaks volumes about their greed but also their irrationality arising from the need to survive, sometimes at the expense of others. There is hardly any trace of morality in them if a life-threatening situation arises during the games. That raises the million-dollar question we often ask in the real world: can humanity resist the temptation to commit atrocities, or will the dark side of human nature prevail in the face of adversity? Whether from a macro, societal perspective or a micro, individual standpoint, Squid Game touches on such concepts as class, free will and equity. Perhaps life is a game, after all, but we only live once so we might as well treasure it rather than gamble it away in a game. Jason Tang, Tin Shui Wai Solve housing to ensure happy, stable Hong Kong Reading the Post , my attention was attracted to an article about Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s accident, “Fractured elbow will take 3 weeks to heal, Lam says” ( October 19 ). Another question flashed in my mind. How long will it take to heal our divided society? We missed an opportunity to achieve the goal in 2014 when Lam was chief secretary and met students in an attempt to defuse tensions. The meeting didn’t achieve anything. It only deepened mistrust and led to more social upheaval in 2019. People used to say the former colonial masters had planted “landmines” in Hong Kong, problems waiting to explode. Long after the handover, our own deep-rooted problems have surfaced and we haven’t handled them satisfactorily. In 2009, liberal studies became one of the compulsory subjects in the Diploma of Secondary Education examinations. Some politicians said this was the subject feeding the fire of the social movement of 2019. This was not a landmine planted before 1997. Can we still blame the British? Housing is one of Hong Kong’s Gordian knots. We were told we did not have enough land and this led to the spiralling increase in property prices. But during the recent policy address , we were told we would have land for future development in the next 20 years. Between then and now, the public has essentially been in the dark. We don’t have the relevant information to argue with the government. As we are soon going to launch an ambitious Northern Metropolis project, should we put all government departments under one roof to handle housing, urban renewal, temporary housing, leasing and mortgages? In so doing, we can provide more job opportunities for civil servants and their horizons will broaden. We could even attract more people from the private sector to work for the government. Hong Kong and Singapore present a tale of two cities in a modern setting. Lee Kuan Yew always envied Hong Kong, which has the motherland at its back. The difference is that Lee handled housing carefully and was able to gain trust and respect at home and abroad. So, if Hong Kong’s chief executive wants to enjoy the same privilege, either the incumbent or the successor should learn from our rival city and, if possible, surpass Lee and Singapore. Hongkongers could then enjoy stable and happy lives. This is my wish for Hong Kong for 2021 and beyond. Lo Wai Kong, Lai Chi Kok Central banks must head off hyperinflation Central banks have a duty to protect the world from hyperinflation. If we do not control inflation, then central banks will fail in their role and there will be loss of trust among people around the world. What if all our savings become worthless overnight and the cost of bread escalates to an unimaginable level? While this doesn’t seem believable, it is possible unless central banks control the inflation that has spread as economies open up around the world after being shut for months during the pandemic. This can be the next biggest problem, if not controlled right away. We need to prevent the global economy from overheating or else face hyperinflation. Rishi Teckchandani, Mid-Levels