For the 19th consecutive year the Heritage Foundation crowns the Territory as the "world’s freest economy”. But the lack of progress in the field of civil and political liberties, caused by ties with mainland China, are likely to undermine these efforts.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Despite being elected, the "world's freest economy "for the 19th consecutive year, Hong Kong may soon lose the throne because of the policies of the local government, closer the positions of Beijing. This is what emerges from the annual list compiled by the Heritage Foundation on global economic freedom.

Although the Territory is still in first place, in fact, experts from the American Foundation wrote: "the uniqueness of its commitment to economic freedom has eroded in recent years, and any further implementation of populist policies that empower the bureaucracy or undermine the principle of limited government could threaten its standing in future".

Immediately after the former British colony are Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada, Chile, Mauritius, Denmark and the United States. Taiwan is at the 20th place while mainland China is 136th. And in China (according to the Foundation) data relating to labour rights show an increase of 7.2 percentage points, although those relating to currency freedom lost 2.6 points.

Hong Kong's rating on "human freedom" is also good. The Territory qualified third - after New Zealand and the Netherlands - surpassing the United States and Canada: China arrives in at 100th place. However, with regard to civil liberties and personal freedom the Territory is down to 49th place: according to the authors of the report, because of its link with the mainland.

Commenting on the figures, in fact, the experts at Heritage writes: "No nation that has adopted economic freedom has ever failed to evolve towards civil and political freedoms, with only two possible exceptions: Singapore and Hong Kong. The great question for the future is whether ... market reforms ultimately lead to other freedoms in [mainland] China. "

 

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