I refer to the article “Singapore a good policy laboratory for other countries: Expert” (Straits Times, Jan 19).

It states that “Singapore is a “policy laboratory” that both developed and developing countries can look to in crafting their policies. ..

In his book, he examines the Republic’s domestic policies in areas such as education, post-retirement savings, housing, ethnicity and transport.”

I was in Hong Kong when I read the above. So, I checked out the statistics on government social welfare spending in Hong Kong.

Social welfare spending: $2.5b vs $130m?

Perhaps arguably, the biggest difference between Hong Kong and Singapore may be that whilst Hong Kong’s social welfare spending was HK$13.4 billion (S$2.5 billion) –  Singapore’s equivalent (ComCare) spending was only S$130 million.

Rats in a laboratory?

If I may borrow the writer’s words – don’t you think Singaporeans,  especially the needy and lower income, may in a sense be like rats in a laboratory?

In this connection, we should applaud and support initiatives like “Chiam, Peng Siong team up for new charity foundation” (Today, Jan 19) – “Two Singapore icons, veteran politician Mr Chiam See Tong and former star swimmer Mr Ang Peng Siong, have come together to set up a foundation that will provide financial aid to people who need it to pursue their goals, but fall outside the current systems that provide such help.”

Leong Sze Hian