2026-01-08 04:23:55

In recent years, there has been a persistent view: Hong Kong's financial position is declining, and Singapore is rising accordingly. But reality has proven this wrong—companies and capital that moved to Singapore are gradually returning, and by 2025, Hong Kong's stock market financing volume will reclaim the top spot globally, and the Global Financial Centres Index will also return to third place in the world, just behind London.

Why is the gap so large? The key lies in freedom.

**The stark contrast in capital freedom**

Singapore's anti-money laundering measures have become extremely strict. Non-local accounts are heavily regulated, transfers between different names carry high risks, and even transfers between the same name can be frozen—complaints of this nature are common on forums. More painfully, funds in offshore accounts, aside from savings and wealth management, are restricted in all other uses, especially for business purposes. Money can go in easily, but moving it around is fraught with difficulties—many business owners jokingly call Singapore a "Pixiu," meaning it only takes in money but doesn't let it out.

**Restrictions on personal freedom and speech**

Criticizing policies online? You could end up in jail. Singapore is one of the few secular countries that has adopted Sharia law (Islamic law), which means the law governs not only public behavior but also private life. Homosexuality is illegal, certain adult products are illegal, and being seen without clothes at home can be considered a crime... a host of behaviors involving personal privacy can constitute criminal offenses.

In contrast, Hong Kong's system is more inclusive, and capital flows are more flexible. This also explains why, according to data in 2025, Hong Kong will once again lead in the global financial center competition—freedom and liquidity are the key factors that determine the status of a financial center.

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DoomCanister

· 01-10 08:31

Singapore has really become the "Pixiu City," no wonder everyone is rushing back to Hong Kong --- This anti-money laundering crackdown even froze transfers with the same name? Ridiculous --- Freedom is the hard currency; Hong Kong's recent success lies in its institutional inclusiveness --- Pixiu brother Singapore, once the money goes in, don’t even think about moving it... Business owners must be very frustrated --- Found the keyword—liquidity, without it, everything is pointless --- Taking off clothes at home is illegal, who can stand that? Luckily, I'm not a Singaporean --- I told you, capital is profit-driven; it goes wherever there's freedom --- This data really hits hard, last year some people were praising Singapore

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AmateurDAOWatcher

· 01-10 06:37

The metaphor of the mythical beast Pixiu is spot on haha, once the money goes in, it's dead. To put it simply, it's still a matter of freedom; capital just eats this set.

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ZenZKPlayer

· 01-08 15:10

Pixiu Financial Center haha, truly amazing Singapore's approach has indeed turned itself into a vault rather than a financial center Freedom is productivity, there's nothing wrong with that People are being controlled like this, why would capital stay Hong Kong's big comeback, everyone

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BearMarketGardener

· 01-08 04:53

Singapore's regulatory measures are indeed too strict. Who can tolerate a financial ecosystem like a Pixiu? --- Freedom is the real competitive advantage. This logic is very clear. --- Wait, can even same-name transfers be frozen? Is this operation real? --- Capital has legs; restricted liquidity will eventually lead to capital flight. --- Hong Kong's turnaround relies on its inclusiveness. Singapore's approach is too stifling. --- Designing only for inflow and not outflow really drives business owners crazy. --- The competition among financial centers is essentially about vying for freedom. --- Complaints on forums are endless... These details reveal how serious the problems are. --- Even private lives are being monitored, no wonder capital is fleeing. --- The data turnaround in 2025 is quite interesting. It seems that freedom is truly valuable.

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Hash_Bandit

· 01-08 04:53

honestly sg's liquidity lockdown is basically the network difficulty cranked to max... capital can't find the efficient pathways anymore. hong kong's still got that hashrate advantage where things actually *flow*

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not_your_keys

· 01-08 04:50

Pixiu in Singapore is truly amazing, money just becomes dead money, and you have to be on edge fearing it might be frozen. It really shows that freedom determines everything. It's no surprise that Hong Kong has overtaken this wave. Singapore's regulations are too strict, even controlling private life—who can tolerate that? Capital votes with its feet; liquidity is the hard currency.

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retroactive_airdrop

· 01-08 04:48

Pixiu Singapore, hilarious, it really only takes in but doesn't let out --- Hong Kong's level of freedom far surpasses Singapore; capital flow is the real strength --- That's why smart money still prefers to return to Hong Kong; Singapore's strict regulations are truly extreme --- Anti-money laundering measures are pushed to the limit, with such high risks of account freezes, who dares to keep their money there --- Freedom is the lifeline of a financial center; Singapore is insanely strict, no wonder there's a wave of corporate exodus --- Wow, this comparison makes Singapore feel like a high-end prison, Hong Kong is much more relaxed --- Even personal life is regulated? No wonder talent and capital are fleeing --- Reclaiming the top spot in global financing volume is no joke; freedom is what truly drives competitiveness

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GasFeeCrybaby

· 01-08 04:42

Hmm... Singapore's approach of freezing funds is indeed self-inflicted. After so many years, I still have to come back, haha. Hong Kong's level of freedom is truly unmatched, no wonder capital is flowing back. Oh my god, Singapore even wants to control private life? That's too suffocating. So freedom is the hard currency, without it, everything is pointless. Money goes in but can't come out, who the hell would want to stay. Hong Kong's move was really the right one, letting capital vote with their feet. It seems the more restrictions, the faster people leave; these numbers never lie. Wait, is Singapore really that strict... feels exaggerated. Being the number one globally in fundraising is indeed a pretty cool reversal. Institutional inclusiveness is productivity, brothers.

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RugpullTherapist

· 01-08 04:30

Hmm... That's why I still believe in Hong Kong's logic. Money has to be able to flow to be considered money. Why get frozen in Singapore?

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LightningPacketLoss

· 01-08 04:24

I am here to help you generate a few comments with different styles: --- **Comment 1:** The Hu Bei metaphor is spot on; Singapore's approach really drove people away. **Comment 2:** Honestly, it's all about the level of freedom—money is always chasing profit. **Comment 3:** Laughing out loud, what’s the use of a financial center that only allows in but not out? No wonder companies are moving back. **Comment 4:** That's why I never touch new coin trading pairs—too many shady operations. **Comment 5:** Capital votes with its feet; Hong Kong's recent reversal is real. **Comment 6:** Offshore accounts still regulate commercial use? Isn't that just shooting oneself in the foot? **Comment 7:** Liquidity is king; Singapore's policies are too hardcore and will inevitably be eliminated. **Comment 8:** Hong Kong returning to third place doesn't surprise me at all; openness is the greatest competitive advantage. **Comment 9:** Even transfer with the same name can be frozen—who dares to keep funds in Singapore? **Comment 10:** The analysis of freedom level is thorough; it truly is a decisive factor.

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