Editor:
Re: Capitalism thrives in undemocratic regimes, letter to the editor, March 14 My initial comment was rendered in the context of Delta council and Southlands and was in response to a writer who claimed that council's action with reference to Southlands was against democracy and then inserted capitalism into the equation.
I stand by my comments; however, to equate capitalism with what occurs in Hong Kong in particular and the rest of China in general, one ought to use the more correct term 'crony capitalism' or 'state capitalism.' For years Hong Kong was a desirable port in that it was a free port with no duty to be paid on purchased goods and thus, many items of clothing, footwear and small items of furniture plus jewelry and the like were bought by visitors to the British colony. I first visited Hong Kong more than 60 years ago during the Korean War and during subsequent visits over the intervening years, have noticed the 'much loved' British colony become a large, Westernstyle metropolis where those previous 'good deals' were no more. While Hong Kong and Kowloon across the water are still gems worth visiting, the ambiance of six decades ago is gone and has been replaced by an underlying sense of state control.
It is clear to all that mainland China rules with an iron fist within a velvet glove. Moreover, it is not surprising that China would, following the expiration of the 99-year lease on the island, want to retain the 'hard currency generator' that the former British colony was and remains. The so-called capitalism of China and to an extent, Russia, is not in the form that Western democracy encourages and in which it flourishes.
As a former entrepreneur, I am in favour of capitalism and can tolerate state capitalism as long as it furthers the well being and supports the economy of the country, but shudder at the controls imposed by that same state.
Bob Orrick
