London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Aug 20, 2026

Hong Kong tricked into buying US myth on democracy

Hong Kong tricked into buying US myth on democracy

America is really an oligarchy and Hongkongers must be wise to the failings of the US system. Hong Kong should adopt a Singapore-style system, which has proved successful when it comes to necessities like housing, health care and pension.
America doesn’t practise real democracy to begin with, it is an oligarchy where elections are controlled by powerful business constituencies such as Wall Street, pharmaceutical companies and tech companies. The defence lobby, on the other hand, influences arms budgets and foreign policy, all in the name of security and freedom.

Therefore, America gets involved in hubristic wars around the world – the latest proven failure being Afghanistan. America also impudently interferes on Hong Kong and Xinjiang, under the excuse of freedom and human rights.

Hongkongers should be wise to the obvious failings of America’s economic and political system, as clearly evidenced by its suicide rates, homicide rates, incarceration rates, wealth inequalities, poverty, homelessness, unaffordable health care, and social polarisation, to name but a few issues.

Britain, on the other hand, practises some strong socialistic policies such as having a high inheritance tax and the taxpayer funded NHS (National Health Service), although British companies that operate in Hong Kong insist on the Hong Kong government adopt a hands-off approach and low taxes (a legacy of colonial government).

Many large British and Western insurance companies that have a universal health care or universal pension system in their domicile country take advantage of the private health care and private retirement savings plans here in Hong Kong – for their own profit, at the expense of Hongkongers.

Hong Kong must stop these private corporations from profiting privately without bearing Hongkongers’ best interests in mind.

Hong Kong should, for reasons of stability, quickly adopt a Singapore-style system, which has proved successful when it comes to livelihood necessities like housing, health care and pension schemes – which are run by the state, and should not be allowed to fall into the hands of private corporations, whether local or foreign.

The Hong Kong government (with the support of the central government) should stop pleasing private corporations and vested interests (whether foreign or local), and have full autonomy on Hongkongers’ livelihood issues such as housing and health care.

Hong Kong’s stability or instability has little to do with an extradition bill: the debate over freedom or democracy only stirs up emotions and fearmongering, rendering the city vulnerable, with the situation worsened by the foreign press and foreign intervention.

Adding to the whole puzzle is Japan expressing concerns about China-Taiwan tension – but how many Hongkongers know that Taiwan was taken from China because of the first Sino-Japanese war? Japanese flags were even waved during the 2019 citywide protests; is Japan seen here as a symbol of freedom and peace?
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
England and Wales Have Fewer Than 1,800 Prison Places Left for Men
Suspected People Smuggler Arrested After Investigation Identified Him
Children's Doctors Warn That Vaping Can Lead Young People to Smoking
Prince Harry and Meghan to Move Back to Britain With Their Children
Hundreds of Thousands of Students Receive GCSE and Vocational Results Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Here Is What Can Never Happen in Your Country: Taiwan Is Giving Money to All Its People Because It Collected Too Much Tax
UK Inflation Rises to 2.9% as Energy Bills Jump
UK Issues New Conduct Guide for Asylum Seekers on Consent and Respect
Moderna Shares Surge After Positive Personalized Skin Cancer Trial Results
UK Markets Watch US National Debt Surpass Forty Trillion Dollars
UK Broadcasters Urge Government to Invest in Digital Participation and Broadband
CVC Capital Partners and Standard Life Launch Two Billion Pound Pension Risk Transfer Venture
UK Private Sector Productivity Growth Accelerates in Second Quarter
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband Condemns Israeli E1 Settlement Tender
UK Watchdog Investigates Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School Over Hidden Fees
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Plan Move to Private Home Outside London
UK Retail Sentiment Improves as Summer Spending Boosts Consumer Confidence
UK Aid Cuts Draw Warnings From Charities Over Humanitarian Consequences
UK Financial Conduct Authority Issues Guidance for Motor Finance Redress Scheme
UK Met Office Launches Aviation Programme to Reduce Climate Impact of Persistent Contrails
Former UK Civil Service Chief Received Record 500,000 Pound Severance Payment
West Midlands to Bring Bus Network Under Public Franchising Model
UK Government Drops Plan to Relax Affordable Housing Requirements After Backlash
UK Reaffirms Military Support for Ukraine Despite Russian Hybrid Warfare Threats
UK Technology Sector Expands Nearly 8 Percent as Digital Industry Outpaces Wider Economy
UK Drought Threatens Harvests Across England and Wales as Food Inflation Risks Persist
UK Government Pledges 442 Million Pounds to End Rough Sleeping by Christmas
UK Government Signals Willingness to Reconsider Digital Services Tax Amid US Tariff Threats
UK Inflation Rises to 2.9 Percent as Energy Costs Threaten Economic Recovery
NHS Hospitals Cancel Surgeries as Extreme Heat Pushes Ward Temperatures Above 40 Degrees Celsius
UK Heatwave Forces Emergency Measures as Wildfire Risk, Hospital Disruption and Drought Intensify
A Sleepless Night on Wall Street: Nasdaq to Begin Nearly Round-the-Clock Trading
"The First in the World": 69-Year-Old Protested Artificial Intelligence—and Went to Jail
Ukraine's Ousted Defence Minister Calls for Wartime Presidential Election
UK Marks Ten Years of Night Tube as London Weekend Usage Exceeds Eighty-One Thousand Journeys a Night
Met Office Issues Thunderstorm Warnings Across Northern Ireland Over Flash-Flood Risk
Frasers Group Raises Stake in Hugo Boss to Nearly Forty-Eight Percent
Scottish Clyde Marine Pilots Prepare for Strike That Could Disrupt Glasgow and Greenock Shipping
Twenty Passengers Injured After Southern Train Derails Near Lewes in East Sussex
Government Rules Out High-Speed Rail Revival Between West Midlands and Northern England
West Midlands Bus Network Returns to Public Ownership in Twenty-Four Million Pound Deal
UK Competition Watchdog Targets Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School Over Drip Pricing
Northern Ireland Health Minister Mike Nesbitt Resigns After Dispute Over Causeway Hospital Surgery Closure
UK Long-Term Government Bond Yields Rise to Five Point Eight Five Percent as Borrowing Costs Surge
UK Government Overhauls Planning Rules to Push Housing Development Near Major Transport Hubs
UK Health and Economic Pressures Highlight Wider Strain on Households and Public Finances
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Reaffirms Full Support for Ukraine Amid Russian Warnings
Sainsbury’s Suspends Live Facial Recognition at London Store After Customer Misidentified
Artists Urge UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to Reject New North Sea Oil and Gas Licensing
UK Government Awards Four Hundred and Fifty-Six Million Pound Civil Service Training Contract to EY and KPMG
×