So why would they choose to live there then? Ok, maybe it's a matter of money or something, but if not, for them, it is better.
Anarcho-Capitalism in real life: Hong Kong's Kowloon Walled City
- Thread starter bluechinagroup
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So why would they choose to live there then? Ok, maybe it's a matter of money or something, but if not, for them, it is better.
To the OP: I assume you're a local so you know far more than me.
I've been living in HK for the last couple of months and I'll stay here until the end of the year. One of the things I've realized is that not everything in HK is as laissez-faire as I thought. Biggest example is property.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but in HK the government owns all the land by default, and it only auctions small fractions of it to private developers. But a developer can't just buy a piece of land if they feel like it, and build a skyscraper.
I totally agree with that kind of thing, especially in a city like HK where space is so limited and thus it has to be managed very well. But it differs quite a bit from other capitalist countries where the majority of the land is private and it can be freely sold and it most cases developed without a lot of hassle.
There also seem to be quite a few monopolies here. Supermarkets are all owned basically by the same person and there's a cartel type of agreement to keep the prices high. This is of course a result of having a very laissez-faire approach, but IMO it's an example of when more government is better than less government.
I've been living in HK for the last couple of months and I'll stay here until the end of the year. One of the things I've realized is that not everything in HK is as laissez-faire as I thought. Biggest example is property.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but in HK the government owns all the land by default, and it only auctions small fractions of it to private developers. But a developer can't just buy a piece of land if they feel like it, and build a skyscraper.
I totally agree with that kind of thing, especially in a city like HK where space is so limited and thus it has to be managed very well. But it differs quite a bit from other capitalist countries where the majority of the land is private and it can be freely sold and it most cases developed without a lot of hassle.
There also seem to be quite a few monopolies here. Supermarkets are all owned basically by the same person and there's a cartel type of agreement to keep the prices high. This is of course a result of having a very laissez-faire approach, but IMO it's an example of when more government is better than less government.
Better than being trampled by the alternatives...Small government libertarians...
You're indeed right on both the land lease system and the cartels. I just take the bad with the good. Also it doesn't hurt that I bought property while the property market was depressed. I immigrated to HK in 2004 on an Investment Visa and currently have permanent residency.
What visa to apply for to gain residency in HK?
I'm actually on a student visa. I work online more than full time but I've also been studying Economics and Political Science in the Netherlands for the past few years. I only do it because I like it, lol. Not expecting to get any financial benefits out of my diplomas.
I'm currently writing my final research dissertation, and since my specialization is in the economics of East Asia, I've been living in Taiwan, the mainland, and now HK to conduct research onsite.
I'm currently writing my final research dissertation, and since my specialization is in the economics of East Asia, I've been living in Taiwan, the mainland, and now HK to conduct research onsite.