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Maybe I should have clarified as economic freedom, outscoring Australia and New Zealand. For actual civil liberties, you are right, the government is somewhat C

Maybe I should have clarified as economic freedom, outscoring Australia and New Zealand. For actual civil liberties, you are right, the government is somewhat Chinese, somewhat corporate, and somewhat people controlled. Source: http://asiancorrespondent.com/hong-kong-blog/freest-econonomy-rankings-2010 http://asiancorrespondent.com/hong-kong-blog/freest-econonom... For the 16th straight year Hong Kong has ranked top of the ladder as the freest economy in the world, according to the Index of Economic Freedom by the Heritage Foundation. [...] This lofty ranking is generally attributed to the efficient processing of business applications, low tax rate and disciplined fiscal management by the government. 1. Starting a business in Hong Kong takes only six days while the rest of the world's average is 35 days 2. Hong Kong's weighted average tariff rate is zero per cent in 2008 3. Individuals enjoy a sliding scale tax rate between 2 and 17 percent 4. Maximum tax rate for businesses is pegged at just 16.5 percent 5. Import duties for beer and wine were removed in 2008 6. Tax revenue as a percentage of GDP stood at 14.2 percent 7. Inflation was generally low, averaging 3.5 percent between 2006 and 2008 8. There are no limits and no screening on foreign ownership when setting up foreign firm (except broadcasting) 9. There are no requirements on current transfers, access to foreign exchange and movement of profits.

DanielN 16y ago
ah. ok. That totally make since. I guess my concern in holding up HK or Singapore as shining examples of economic freedom and efficiency are that both of them come with pretty terrible cases of second class citizenry as a direct byproduct of their economic freedoms. (I know this is not at all the point you were trying to make) Go to any apartment in central in HK and you will find a 5 by 5 foot room serving as maid quarters. Then go out in central on a Sunday afternoon and you will see the streets packed with Malaysian and Philippine maids. Then go look at the stats on the number of Chinese businessmen kidnapped in Malaysia and the Philippines every year and tell me there isn't a problem. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_on_Fire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_on_Fire) This problem doesn't exist anywhere in mainland China or Taiwan. And ultimately it is hard not to view it as an ugly byproduct of economic liberalism in these particular cultures.
- jasonjei 16y ago
  Great examples. You might also remember that it took Hong Kong forever to protect races and sex status. Singapore Airlines is notorious for discriminating age, sex, and looks of its flight attendants.
  - kirvyteo 16y ago
    If I may ask, you mean you will like the government to "force" or "regulate" the airline to take over the recruitment so that there is one male and one female in every cabin and at every age group? Where is the "freedom" in that? :) And with regards to looks, you got to be kidding me. I assume you are implying they are only getting beautiful ladies. :)
    - gort 16y ago
      "If I may ask, you mean you will like the government to "force" or "regulate" the airline to take over the recruitment so that there is one male and one female in every cabin and at every age group?" That's not what non-discrimination means at all. What the demographic mix of the employees ends up looking like ought to bear a strong resemblance to the mix of applicants; nothing more.

DanielN 16y ago

ah. ok. That totally make since. I guess my concern in holding up HK or Singapore as shining examples of economic freedom and efficiency are that both of them come with pretty terrible cases of second class citizenry as a direct byproduct of their economic freedoms. (I know this is not at all the point you were trying to make) Go to any apartment in central in HK and you will find a 5 by 5 foot room serving as maid quarters. Then go out in central on a Sunday afternoon and you will see the streets packed with Malaysian and Philippine maids. Then go look at the stats on the number of Chinese businessmen kidnapped in Malaysia and the Philippines every year and tell me there isn't a problem. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_on_Fire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_on_Fire) This problem doesn't exist anywhere in mainland China or Taiwan. And ultimately it is hard not to view it as an ugly byproduct of economic liberalism in these particular cultures.

jasonjei 16y ago
Great examples. You might also remember that it took Hong Kong forever to protect races and sex status. Singapore Airlines is notorious for discriminating age, sex, and looks of its flight attendants.
- kirvyteo 16y ago
  If I may ask, you mean you will like the government to "force" or "regulate" the airline to take over the recruitment so that there is one male and one female in every cabin and at every age group? Where is the "freedom" in that? :) And with regards to looks, you got to be kidding me. I assume you are implying they are only getting beautiful ladies. :)
  - gort 16y ago
    "If I may ask, you mean you will like the government to "force" or "regulate" the airline to take over the recruitment so that there is one male and one female in every cabin and at every age group?" That's not what non-discrimination means at all. What the demographic mix of the employees ends up looking like ought to bear a strong resemblance to the mix of applicants; nothing more.