Singapore
moves above HK in liveability for the first time: EIU
survey
SINGAPORE: Singapore has become more liveable than Hong Kong,
according to the latest Global Liveability Ranking released by the
Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on Wednesday (Aug 16).
Singapore rose 11 places to 35th in a survey that assigns scores to
140 cities based on each's stability, healthcare, culture and
environment, education and infrastructure.
This is Singapore's highest ever position in the ranking, and the
first time that it surpassed Hong Kong, the EIU said. Hong Kong
slipped two places to 45th.
The Australian city of Melbourne topped the list for the seventh
year running, followed by Vienna, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary.
Meanwhile, Damascus in war-torn Syria occupied the last slot.
"Singapore's jump up the rankings can be attributed to consistent
and impressive improvements in educational attainment, which has
delivered a perfect score for education and pushed the overall
score for the city-state above 90 per cent for the first time since
the survey began," said Jon Copestake, the editor of the
survey.
"However it is worth remembering that, although ten ranking places
now separate Hong Kong and Singapore, the difference between them
is marginal at just 1.6 per cent and both comfortably sit in the
top tier of liveability where there are few, if any, challenges to
lifestyle."
In Asia, Shanghai, Bandar Seri Begawan, Phnom Penh, Colombo and
Port Moresby also saw improvements in their rankings, which the
survey attributed largely to infrastructural improvements and
broadening cultural availability.
Source: CNA/jp
