Three principles Hong Kong can learn from Singapore

Singapore has the honour of being the first country that Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam is visiting since her inauguration last month (Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam hopes to learn from Singapore during upcoming trip; July 31, online).

As a former Hongkonger who has settled down here, I think that there are a few things the territory could learn from Singapore.

First, Hong Kong can do better in languages. Most Singaporeans are well versed in their mother tongue and English. When the Speak Mandarin Campaign was implemented decades ago, it was met with resistance, as many Chinese preferred to speak in dialects.

Today, most Chinese Singaporeans can speak fluent Mandarin, which allows them to converse with Chinese from Taiwan or mainland China. Most Singaporeans are also fluent in English, allowing them to do business with most of the world.

I came to Singapore after my Form 5 certificate examination (equivalent to the O-Levels). Though I scored an A in my Hong Kong English exam, I could hardly converse in English with my Singaporean schoolmates.

And though I could speak fluent Cantonese, I could hardly speak Mandarin. To do business with the rest of the world, English and Mandarin are more important than Cantonese.

Second, Hong Kong’s leaders must be willing to implement policies that are effective, but unpopular or painful. The Certificate of Entitlement and Electronic Road Pricing are effective in controlling the car population and congestion, yet they are unpopular among motorists.

Third, Hong Kong can do better in housing, as prices have reached a level that even graduates would be unable to afford. Paying rent has become a form of alternative taxation.

Creating a housing board to provide affordable, subsidised housing for most residents would be a way to solve their housing woes. Of course property developers in Hong Kong would not be pleased at such a policy.

Pushing out unpopular policies to improve Hongkongers’ lives would require vision, conviction and planned execution.