WHATEVER VIEW is taken on the mayhem in Hong Kong—righteous rebellion or obscene rioting—it is a disaster for the territory's economy. And if one place stands to benefit from Hong Kong's troubles, it is that other east Asian, self-governing, Chinese-majority, financial, commercial and shipping hub: Singapore.
The two places have always seemed to have much else in common. Take the ease of doing business, where, thanks to light-touch regulation and efficient, uncorrupt bureaucracies, Singapore has second place and Hong Kong fourth in the World Bank's rankings of 190 countries. And both cities have prided themselves on their adherence to the rule of law and the low levels of violence on their streets.