Hong Kong Cleans Up

In 1895, British traveler Henry Norman pronounced Hong Kong about as insanitary as any place in the world under civilized rule. Though conditions have improved, the citys Victoria Harbour remains unswimmable, its public housing is still a shambles and its back alleys provide habitats for rats. Now SARS has inspired the government to look for ways to spruce up the citys streetsand its image. Led by bow-tied Chief Secretary Donald Tsang and his Team Clean, Hong Kongs mandarins have settled on an approach that is down-right Singaporean. Last week, the government proposed...