From: chiu@pyramid.unr.edu (Edward S.N.Chiu)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.hongkong
Subject: Economy of Hong Kong and China.. No more running dogs please!
Date: 14 Dec 92 06:36:23 GMT
Organization: University of Nevada, Reno  Department of Computer Science


	Recently there were numerous articles talking about communism 
and captalism. Some people even used some offensive wordings like 
"running dogs" or "arrogant Hong Kongites". This article tries to
analyse the economy of Hong Kong and China as SOME people might always
think that Hong Kong people are just running dogs for British.

	Hong Kong's economy is far more better than China's. The
reasons behind are:
	
	(1)	The flow of money and expertise from China, especially
		Shanghai, during 1930s.
	(2)	Influx of immigrants from China, especially Southern
		China, during 1940s to even 80s.
	(3)	Hong Kong has been a free port ever since British took
		over.
	(4)	Hong Kong has been serving as a middle man between
		China and other countries. 
	(5)	The tax system is simple and the government seldom
		interfere with the business. (I have to state clearly
		here: no tax from Hong Kong people has ever been
		directly put into British government's pocket.) The
		personal income tax is one of the lowest among the
		world. 
	(6)	Hong Kong people generally are hard-working, and have
		been survived in many crisis like the 1973 stock
		market crash, talks about Hong Kong future in 1984
		etc.
	(7)	With the establishment of ICAC, corruption has been
		cut down tremendously. ICAC was established in 1973 and
		its sole purpose is to eliminate corruption.

	From the above observations we can see that the success of
Hong Kong is a result of the people of Hong Kong. And I do have to
give credits to the British as it happens that British created such an
environment for the people of Hong Kong. 

	It is indeed that  China's economy has been growing very fast 
during the past years. It is the result of Deng's reform, but it is
also because of the 'foreign' money and expertise. The economic growth
rate of course is amazing, but we have to see the real economy of the
country and the living standard of the people, both in cities and rural
areas. Now there is a very unbalanced living standard when comparing
the cities along the coast and those inland cities, especially rural
areas. There are still lots of room to improve. Comparing the economy
of Hong Kong and China AS A WHOLE is still not very sensible.

	When asking why China is still a very unstable market to
business people, I have an immediate answer: corruption. It is a fact
that most CG officials are practising corruption. If you want a deal,
you would better give the officials some 'presents'. Too many such
government's involvement is really not nice. Too bad there is no ICAC
in China. Those top officials just abuse the beautiful word
"communism" and uses their rankings for power.

	It looks like there are many problems in China while Hong Kong
is perfect. It is absolutely true that if China wants to be a
superpower again in the world she has to do a lot. Now Hong Kong is
facing the change of sovereignity and now people of Hong Kong realise
that as we don't even have a say in the talks between the CG and BG on
the future of Hong Kong, we need a democratic government, with least
influence from BG (now) and CG (after 97). It is really stupid to see
that the new airport project has to be OK'd by both BG and CG for a go
ahead. Also, Hong Kong Chinese don't want to be run over by tanks.

P.S. 	Flaming people by calling "running dogs" are not nice. Every
person has his own polticial view and if somebody is really stubborn
on something it is senseless to shout at him/her again. 
Edward Sung-Ngan Chiu      +-----+  Internet: chiu@pyramid.cs.unr.edu
University of Nevada, Reno |     |  BITNET: chiu@equinox.bitnet
Work Phone: (702) 784-6037  \    |  To sound TKRGSS from land to land!
Film Library & CS PC Lab      \|~'  "STUDIUM ET OPERATIO" 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.hongkong