我在武汉逍遥。略感有罪。带着沉重的心情，我问了一个问题。

我的领英博客说：

Is Hong Kong better off than Wuhan?

I have visited Wuhan three times in as many weeks, analysing a bad-debt project. I am having a great time here.

Known as the Chicago of China, Wuhan is the capital of my native Hubei Province. I did my undergraduate studies here in 1979-83. But I have never looked at it closely until now, having dismissed it as an economically irrelevant backwater.

What a mistake! Wuhan is a vibrant place.

Against the background of Hong Kong unrest in recent weeks, I am asking myself two questions:

(1) Who are really better off: the people in Hong Kong or here?

(2) Why does the Communist regime enjoy popular support, though the West may not acknowledge this inconvenient truth?

China has all sorts of problems but there is no slum in Chinese cities. China remains a tough and harsh place for the ordinary people but even the 15 of my jobless relatives and fellow villagers have spacious housing. Hong Kong fares far worse.

For too long, officials in Hong Kong have hidden themselves behind excuses: land shortages, legislation, environmental concerns, etc. The truth is that they are privately praying for still higher property prices, and that the plight of the ordinary folks is not their priority.