a tale of 2 cities.
hongkong, korea, taiwan, china, japan are very much homogenous
places where confucianism and a strong belief in hard work run deep
and play a very important aspect in their daily lives.
Hongkong was a land of opportunities where free trade reigns
under covetous british rule for a hundred years with a big
question mark hanging over its future when the lease
was running to its end in pre 1997 times. As such, the people
of hongkong work their guts out day after day, not knowing what
lies ahead for their families but mostly hoping that they can
emigrate to other cities primarily where there are many chinese
too. Quite a fair bit emigrated here then.
This hard work characteristic of the hongkongers (which LKY is
bemoaning our lack of here as we been mollycoddled for far too
long) plus the driving fear of the communist china takeover propel
hongkong to being one of the economic miracles of today's asia
besides japan, korea, taiwan and singapore which majority
incidentally share a similar shade of skin (any co
incidence?). With such an attitude, coupled with the large amount
of hardworking immigrants from commies china coming in to add to
its labour force, it is no wonder that hongkong was so successful
as a free enterprise place before the takeover and still is after
its takeover as china has adopted a one country, two systems
approach to it. Thus hongkong is still able to build upon its
momentum as a free trade area from its british era days to today
and it is still fuelled by cheap labour from its massive
hinterland. (singapore too)
singapore on the other hand, is a young independent
country, with the majority being chinese but lesser in number as
compared to hongkong and certainly not homogenous. We went through
the birth pangs after being thrown out suddenly and left to die.
Being not homogenous has its disadvantages as shown by its past
tensions and riots from religious, race and languages
differences, a problem which other places like hongkong,
japan, korea, taiwan dont face much of.
But did our leaders fret? Did they run away when they could???
After all some were overseas scholars and were pretty
qualified to be able to walk into any western country they wish,
including LKY. Hell no!! Instead he and his able
leaders rolled up their sleeves and quickly drew up a blue
print for the young nation and charted its progress through
turbulent waters and avoiding the jagged rocks which has sunk many
in this part of the world albeit they were better built with
natural minerals and resources.
3rd world to 1st in less than 50 years of independent rule!
Co-incidence again?
PAP propaganda line again.
