Hong Kong can solve socio-economic problems, like Singapore did: ex-diplomat Kishore Mahbubani
- Socio-economic inequality in the last 30 years has fuelled the protests, says Mahbubani
- The ex-Singapore diplomat also addressed criticism that he was too soft on China
Mahbubani said the socio-economic situation in Hong Kong over the past three decades – in sharp contrast to the situation in mainland China – was the underlying cause of anger in the city.
“The last 30 years have been the best years for the bottom 50 per cent of the Chinese population … China’s population have seen significant improvements in their living conditions – in food, housing, health, education, work and everything,” said Mahbubani. The Chinese government often highlights these economic achievements to justify its legitimacy.
“By contrast, in the past 30 years the bottom 50 per cent of Hong Kong has seen no significant improvement in their living conditions, especially if you look at housing. How can you live in a society where a university graduate who has struggled hard cannot find enough salary to buy a small apartment for oneself? So something has gone fundamentally wrong in that dimension. And that explains why people are unhappy,” said Mahbubani, who is now a distinguished fellow of the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore.