The second point regarding the Singaporean economy is its isolation. Singapore is a small city state whose political economy is isolated from Malaysia, Indonesia and the rest of Southeast Asia. As it is not attached to a large country, it has no larger territorial economic obligations to support. Like Hong Kong its success is largely dependent on its ability to isolate itself politically and economically from the surrounding poverty which exists in neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. Geography and population are always important.
Most cities become what they are due to their physical location.
This is especially true for Singapore and Hong Kong. Singapore is strategically located on the primary East-West shipping trade route. Hong Kong is located in a strategically position on the Southern coast of China. Both have excellent deep-water harbors. When compared to their neighbours, the small scale of the two cities is apparent.