Albert Cheng

Opinion | If Singapore is now Hong Kong’s political role model, will it also inspire housing policy?

Albert Cheng says to solve Hong Kong’s housing crisis, instead of hedging its bets, the government should completely delink subsidised housing prices from the market

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A private condominium is constructed next to a public housing estate in Singapore in February 2017. Eighty per cent of Singaporeans live in government-built housing. Photo: Reuters

Albert Cheng

Published: 6:00am, 13 Jul 2018Updated: 6:08am, 13 Jul 2018

The Singapore style of governance championed by Lee Kuan Yew has been a model for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her predecessors Leung Chun-ying and Tung Chee-hwa.

Meanwhile, the city’s mainstream media has been trumpeting Singapore’s prosperous economy and stable society, while accusing the pro-democracy camp of hindering Hong Kong’s development.

It has been forgotten that Singapore is essentially a dictatorship. The People’s Action Party has been in power since the country’s establishment and is credited with its rapid economic growth. However, the party has also been suppressing the opposition.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Both the Singapore government and citizens pay a price. In exchange for the public’s support, the Lee family has ensured citizens enjoy a good standard of living and fair policies on housing, education, health care and retirement protection. Meanwhile, Singaporeans have their vote, which can restrain the government.

Hong Kong, on the contrary, is falling between two stools. The government has failed to accommodate the needs of Hongkongers, while democracy has been deteriorating. The opposition has been oppressed and human rights diminished. Governance in Hong Kong is catching up with Singapore’s dictatorship, but falling behind its efficient and effective policies.