First, the superior geographical location.
Singapore is located at the southernmost tip of Malay Peninsula. Its territory consists of Singapore Island and 54 small islands nearby. Its geographical position is very important, and it is called the "Oriental Crossroads". The northern part is separated from the Malay Peninsula by the Johor Strait, which is only 1.2km wide, and the western part is connected by long dikes, so the transportation is convenient. In the south, Indonesia faces each other across the Singapore Strait, which is 105 km long and 1.7 km wide, and guards the navigation arteries at the entrance of Malacca Strait. Hong Kong is located in the South China Sea of China, close to the Pearl River Delta, where China's economic vitality is the most developed, and on the golden passage of the Pacific Ocean.
Second, make use of geographical location to develop economy.
Singapore is a small country with dense population and poor resources. Relying on its unique geographical location, Singapore has developed its economy and become the economic center of Southeast Asia, mainly in the following four aspects:
1. Singapore Port is an international shipping, aviation and trade center with superior geographical location and ideal climatic and hydrological conditions. The annual cargo throughput exceeds 654.38 billion tons, ranking first in the world, and the international air passenger turnover ranks fifth in the world after the United States, Britain, France and Japan. On this basis, Singapore imported a large number of primary products from neighboring countries, collected, graded and packaged before exporting, forming a unique economic type with entrepot trade and shipping as the main body. Hong Kong, on the other hand, is close to the mainland, making use of the products produced by cheap labor in the mainland to vigorously develop entrepot trade and export-oriented economy.
2. Industrial and technical service center Singapore is surrounded by the sea, and the industrial field with oil refining and shipbuilding as its core is of world significance. There are five refineries in China with an annual processing capacity of 42.9 million tons, and the export volume of refined oil is second only to that of the Netherlands, ranking second in the world. Shipbuilding is a traditional advantageous department, which can not only build a variety of ships, but also be one of the main production bases of offshore oil drilling platforms in the world. Since the end of 1970s, the manufacturing industry has turned to technology-intensive sectors, and the electronics industry has developed vigorously. Television fax equipment, push-button telephones, optical cables and computerized train control systems have all entered the advanced ranks in the world. In recent years, the focus of development has shifted to building new science and technology parks, vigorously cultivating scientific and technological talents and developing cutting-edge technologies to meet the needs of reforming industrial structure. Here in Hong Kong, it is the traditional shipbuilding industry and electronic clothing technology advantages.
3. Investment and Financial Center Singapore has attracted a large amount of foreign investment due to its superior geographical location, convenient and fast communication, stable political situation and high national quality, which has contributed to the rapid development of Singapore's economy. At the same time, banks from all over the world gather in Singapore, which is the fourth largest financial center in the world after London, new york and Hongkong. Next to Hong Kong, I think you should understand that Hong Kong also has such advantages.
4. International Tourism and Conference Center In terms of natural, historical and cultural conditions, Singapore does not have outstanding advantages in developing tourism. However, taking advantage of its moderate geographical position, it has vigorously developed infrastructure, beautified the urban environment, provided quality services, simplified entry and exit procedures, and carried out various tourism "diplomatic" activities, thus attracting a large number of foreign tourists and holding a large number of international conferences in Singapore. At present, tourism has become one of the important sources of foreign exchange in Singapore. Singapore is called a garden city to develop tourism, while Hong Kong develops tourism through a good shopping environment. Hong Kong has the reputation of "shopping paradise".
In short, Singapore (Hong Kong) has made use of the special geographical conditions in the region, made full use of its strengths and avoided its weaknesses, and introduced and applied foreign capital, technology and management experience, thus rapidly improving its productivity and embarking on a unique and successful road of economic development. This successful road not only provides a development model for an island country like Singapore, but also provides valuable experience for the economic development of all countries in the world. Of course, because Singapore is highly dependent on foreign countries in many aspects and easily influenced by external factors, its economic development is fragile and unstable.