Sunday, May 28, 2006
Hong Kong is traditionally a mishmash of the Colonial West and the Imperial East. The dichotomy of these differing societies is still evident in this British outpost and China Special Administration Region. From the surreal and lavish housing at The Peak to the long rows of house at Kennedy Town; from the modern MTR system to the quaint electric trams; from the spawning shopping malls at Causeway Bay to the bustling night markets at Mong Kok, Hong Kong is the story of the will of a people who have fought tooth and nail to exist in a place where truly East met West.
Hong Kong gave this blog the impression that it is always changing. However, the change seemed to have stopped midway. Next to old five storey apartment blocks are fifty storey buildings that are thin as chopsticks. Main highways on Hong Kong Island are criss-crossed with tram rails and stations. Roads at Kowloon are permanently close to make way for night markets. Over and over, the feeling seems to be that modernization is taking place only at pockets of city, truly lassiere faire at its best.
However, this somewhat understates the rate at which Hong Kong is really improving its services sector. Indeed, the level of service exceeds that of Singapore, and this blog believes is fast closing the level offered by Japan and US. A very common sight is shop attendants standing at the door, greeting every customer as they enter and exit, complimented by attendants attaching themselves to each customer until something suitable is found. Of course, there are some nonchalant attendants, but this blog will suggest that as a whole, even these black sheep are better than average in Singapore. Indeed, there is a long long way for Singapore to go in terms of service standards.
Here is a city where residents really fend for themselves, quite unlike the morons Singaporeans have become. Houses maybe small and transport maybe expensive but in the centre of the city is the Western Market, a structure that will most likely be torn down in Singapore. The tram system is such a obstruction and planning headache that in the government of Singapore will most likely have it torn down without batting an eyelid. And yet, in Hong Kong, it provides the cheapest transportation service available, at a flat rate of only HK$2.
This blog believes that Octopus card is the most marvelous innovation in Hong Kong. It is truly a cash card cum EZ-link card, which is really no mean feat in a city where 4 different banks issues different notes. While it maybe too naive to suggest that Hong Kong is utopia, clearly Singapore needs to take some cue from Hong Kong and stop believing that Singapore is the first and foremost amongst the Asian Dragons.
For all the wonders that Hong Kong conjures, there is still a element of metropolitan malaise. A very obvious effect of the lassiere faire economy is the smog that covers the whole city. Students of economics will be able to point out that the pollution is at least to some extent an externality that the government has not addressed. The crime rate is also relatively high, with the numerous CCTVs bearing witness to more than their fair share of crimes. Complains about air conditioning unit's condensation dripping on faces and clothes are also rife. These are all really the result of insufficient planning, and precisely the problems that are associated with a lack of regulation.
This blog will not comment on which system of government is really better, but an interesting question will be whether Hong Kong is a better place to live in as compared to Singapore? This blog believes that the answer depends on what you want. Five days of Hong Kong is an eye opener, but five years maybe a ticket to get lung cancer. Singapore may have more regulation but for all its trumpeting about efficiency, Hong Kong still fares better in that respect, with better services to boot.
11:36 PM
