Comment

"Compare the verve and richness of Hong Kong with another largely Chinese community, Singapore, where the press is suppressed, opposition politicians harassed or driven into exile, where ideas don't flow, where theatre groups are closed down for satirising the authorities. The result is not one name - not one writer or dramatist, not even an artist or composer - comes to mind as a flower growing amid the sterility imposed from above. Peking rather likes the way Singapore is run, and Lee Kuan Yew has recently shared his wisdom with our Chief Executive-to-be. Is the colour and life to be leeched out of this fantastic city?"