Letters | Hong Kong’s harbour gives it an edge over Singapore
- Readers discuss Hong Kong’s natural advantage over Singapore, why the ‘0+3’ arrangement won’t attract tourists, difficulties in using air miles, and the prospects of the aviation industry
In recent times, claims have also been made that Singapore has overtaken Hong Kong not only as a financial centre but generally as a more attractive international metropolis to live in. This is highly debatable.
Hong Kong has a natural advantage over Singapore. We have a more diversified environment, with high hills and sea. Our Victoria Harbour is one of the best deepwater harbours in the world. It brings tremendous economic advantages including that of being Hong Kong’s most important tourist attraction.
The Singapore government, in its doubtful wisdom, has pursued massive reclamation to create land for development at the expense of the city state’s once beautiful harbour.
In contrast, since the enactment of the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance in June 1997, the Hong Kong government has wisely preserved our Victoria Harbour. Our government, through its Harbour Office and by the establishment of the Harbourfront Commission in 2010, has been making the harbour and harbourfront people-friendly for the enjoyment of present and future generations of Hongkongers, as well as tourists.