Prof. Hudson McLean

After publication of my opinion-; The General in USA, The President in Sri Lanka & The Double Sided Coin – Posted on November 1st, 2009, I received a comment  from a reader that reader(s) should keep out of – President vs General.

Anyone with a positive interest should actively follow this saga, since it affects every single citizen of Sri Lanka and the voice of the Patriots.

As an active participant in the LankaWeb  Forum for over ten years, I consider the primary objective is to encourage civilised open dialogue. In my personal opinion, LankaWeb has contributed immensely to the Sri Lanka expats and other patriots to express their opinions and cultivate dialogue.

In my above article, I did not take the side of the President or the General but attempted to highlight forces in the shadows trying to cast intrigue and suspicions on the Leadership and the good General is within this Leadership.

Said that, any reasonable, sane human being should recognize the fact that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has performed an incredible task during a brief period under three years.  Equally General Sarath Fonseka has conducted himself as a military leader par excellence. As said before, this was a Team Effort.

As my good commentator said, both the President and the General are equally highly motivated, intelligent Patriots, who would not harm the country, they fought to save. This is accurately observed!

At the end of the day, the voters, the punters, the trouble makers would take sides, but in this case, I sincerely believe neither the President nor the General would demean their dignity to discuss their differences of opinion, which each party is entitled to, in the open Galle Face Green.

Thank you for your comment, Mr Sydney Zoysa!

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Prof. Hudson McLean

The General goes to USA on a part official and part personal visit during a tongue wagging saga whether the General is planning to take a shot at the next Presidencial elections for the Top Seat.

The Secretary of Defence makes a statement to the effect that that the entire saga is created by the Opposition by driving a wedge between the President and the General.

In the meantime the Secretary of State of USA and the Foreign Secretary of UK and with the tacit support of the likes of Norway are trying to rehabilitate the remnants of LTTE Terrorists and paint the Tiger in white to look more like a docile sheep.

Despite the cloud over Raj Rajaratnam, his minions led by Rudrakumaran are actively seeking vengeance from the entire Island of Sri Lanka.

During the past few weeks, it was in the Public Domain that the UNHCR supported by USA, UK are claiming Human Rights violations by the Government of Sri Lanka as well as the Tamil Tiger Terrorists of LTTE. However, there is no head in the LTTE to carry the can.

And the President has responded that HE and he alone shall accept the full responsibility of any violations perpetrated by the Sri Lanka Defence Forces. The buck stops at the feet of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Now the good General is denied his invitation to an official ceremony, publicly humiliated, which the authorities should be ashamed of, for not having checked out any pre-requisites for such an invitation. Then the USA authorities invite the General for an interview to discuss War Crimes against Humanity.

Whilst USA has been and still are the biggest perpetrators of war crimes in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and many other countries, the USA now acts as the Police, the Judge and the Jury, as well as the Hangman.

The Sri Lankan Embassy offer full legal support to the General, which is of course should be accorded to the Chief of Defence Forces of a Sri Lanka.

There are two sides to each coin but three sides to every story, Yours, Mine and the Truth.

One might claim that this entire exercise is a pure charade. A game of political mischief! A double faced game, perhaps even funded by the LTTE Terrorist dirty money.

Hold the General who is denied Diplomatic privilege because he has a Green Card. Hold him back till President Mahinda Rajapaksa declares a Presidential election which might throw suspicion on President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the hold-up. This might create an Afghanistan type scenario as happening now and de-stabilise the country with the help of the Opposition and the Tamil Diaspora.

Or release the General with due apologies and allow his return at his leisure to arrive in Colombo as a hero of sorts. That would also appease the opposition.

Whatever is the outcome, the opposition stands to benefit. “Heads Rajapaksa Loses, Tails Wickremesingha Wins”. Thats “Fair”? Game in politics!

The man who can deliver the “bananas” home is none other than the General.

As an Officer and Gentleman, I hedge my bets that the General will tell the Truth!

First, the General was not aware of that he would be invited to a tete-é-tete.

Second, he was rather taken aback and humiliated by the withdrawal of an official invitation to an important event.

Third, as the ex-Commander of the Army, he accepted direct orders from the Secretary of Defence, an ex-subordinate Officer, but with full acceptance of responsibility to defend the country and to his army.

Fourth, His unquestionable allegiance to his Commanding Officer, the President, who has publicly declared that he, as the President and the Minister of Defence shall be totally responsible for the actions of his Defence Forces.

Fifth, That said, the General should let his legal team do the talking!

Or would USA start a Nurenburg type Trial against General Sarath Fonseka? Or send General Fonseka to the Hague? And then the Sun would Rise from the West!

In this particular event, the Double Sided coin was minted by the forces who are trying to destabilise the Island. Just make a wish and flush the coin in the nearest loo.

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Prof. Hudson McLean

Many opinions have expressed their concern on the current predicament of two Giants trying to fight for the spoils. Or it is just “spin” created by subtle planning?

One one hand we have President Mahinda Rajapaksa who demonstrated his leadership and diplomatic skills of a Statesman and on the other the General Sarath Foseka who led his armies to annihilate the most ruthless terrorist LTTE Tigers during two years.

Neither President Mahinda Rajapaksa nor General Sarath Fonseka could singly stand up and claim total credit. This was a team effort. A joint project. And both won for the country.

As one might read directly on-line (not in between), the LTTE Tiger Diaspora have not given up. The world was aware that the terrorists had both political and financial backers overseas, who supported the LTTE Terrorist activity in Sri Lanka.

First the Sri Lankan commandos who located and brought back KP from Malaysia/Thailand to Sri Lanka, which in itself was a highly commendable operation. KP is singing right now, an embarresment to the Diaspora, Rajaratnam, Erik Solheim and many more.

Within months billionaire Raj Rajaratnam found himself in deep water and the American authorities confirmed the extent to which Rajaratnam was involved in financially supporting the LTTE Terrorists. This is only the beginning. There is more to surface.

The Rajaratnam investigators also discovered the political manoeuvres which have gone all the way up to the White House. That explains the position of Hillary Clinton. Wonder who settled her Presidential bid debts? This should be subject to further scrutiny.

According to most recent analysis, both USA and India were giving tacit support to LTTE Terrorists to carve up Sri Lanka and empower LTTE to support USA/India by default against China, Russia and possibly Iran on the control of oil supply routes which Sri Lanka sits upon most comfortably.

Although, USA and EU have still following the same doctrine, despite one of the major financial players has suffered a public humiliation, politics have short memories.

There are other players yet to surface, in Italy, France, Scandinavia, Australia and indeed Canada.

Those who are currently afloat on boats trying to enter Australia and Canada are the next generation funded by the LTTE Diaspora, to the tune of US$ 75,000-; a piece for the boat ride, who and their kith and kin in Sri Lanka, would be indebted for life, to repay their debts with allegiance to the LTTE for future potential acts of terrorism.

In the meantime, the LTTE machinery with the tacit support of the political players are doing their utmost to disturb the potential stability which Rajapaksa-Fonseka have created.

What better way to create instability by creating conflict through selfish greed and power-hunger between two Great Giants, who might go down in history as a team who saved the Island of Sri Lanka by eradicating Terrorism or the two Giants who destroyed themselves in a quest for power?

We do hope that the two great minds are strong enough to resist temptation of power for the sake of personal gratification.

As a subscriber to LankaWeb expressed with accuracy, “Velupillai Prabhakaran would laugh in his grave that what he failed to achieve in his lifetime, was realized by his supporters after his demise!”

President Rajapaka, General Fonseka, should under no circumstances give this pleasure to the remnants of LTTE, its Diaspora and those who supported LTTE Terrorism in the governments of USA, EU and India.

Your team effort will be destroyed and history will tell of a sad story of how Divided We Stood and United We Fell!

No joy to the audience, Monkey without the Organ Grinder OR the Organ Grinder without the Monkey.

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Prof. Hudson McLean

Easy Come – Easy Go? Not quite!

Sh*t has Hit the Fan and the Investors have started the Dollar Diarrhea Run.

As history has shown, when the doo-run-run starts, with the CEO out on bail with a $100 million tag, its bad news.

Too bad the man has invested in the Top 10 companies in Sri Lanka. That news is in Public Domain.

Lets now see Who is Who underneath the Sheets! There must a few who are now suffering from diarrhea, clutching onto a bottle of whisky between the loo and the drawing room.

There must be a few nervous souls from both political parties in power as well as other key persons from military and the government, hoping that tomorrow never comes.

Whatever one might say about the American Dream, the judicial circus plays its role quite well. Of course there are American jails and jails. Where the cream of the criminals get a better deal than the rif-raf.

If at the end of the day Raja has to forego his $10 million pad in New York, he might spend a few years, not the entire 20×5 years, in a reasonably comfortable pad in jail, taken care of pretty well. Not like the slum at Welikada Jail in Colombo Borella.

I knew of a pair of Canadian twins who duped President Johnson with brown envelopes and ran a $100 million scam in 1976, ended up in very comfortable prison cells, each twin taking turns, and the other holding court in London.

Like many of the Ponzi players, Raja has certainly melted a few $100 millions of moolah under ficticious names in the Bahamas, Malaysia, Cyprus, Singapore, Norway etc to warm his toes on a chilly day.

Wonder what role Erik Solheim has played in this game?

Would KP know something? Of course KP knows a lot. He did the Forex deals.

I would not be surprised if KP just happened to commit suicide one of these days! Also accidents do happen.

This will be the Raja-Gate of 2009. So much to look forward to!

Also the Presidential and Parliamentary elections may have a new meaning now!

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Prof. Hudson McLean

Having noticed many a remark with buckets of gossip, on the Rajapaksa Clan which now dominates the Rulers in Sri Lanka, it is well worth looking at the big picture in a global scenario

When John F. Kennedy was elected, one of his first appointees was his brother Robert F. Kennedy as the Attorney General and Confidant. Patriarch Joseph Kennedy wanted all of his sons to take over the White House. It almost happened, if not for the Curse of Kennedys!

George W. H. Bush got his moronic son Dubya two terms in the White House and Jeb as the Governor of Florida. And Jeb might still make a dash for the White House.

In Egypt, Syria, Jordon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Gulf States, the ruling baton is handed down from father to son. The parasites cling on to the same blood groups.

India shall maintain the Gandhi Dynasty on track possibly for the next few generations.

Singapore also started the Lee Dynasty by the Founder Lee Kwan Yew, getting his son Brigadier General Lee Hsien Loong into the Prime Ministerial stakes, with his wife Madam Ho Chin running the Temasek empire.

United Kingdom escaped the Dynastic feature but due to high democratic visibility, just managed to sponsor a few within the family circles. The families of the Ruling Class certainly made a great deal of hay whilst the sons shone.

Russia operates in a much classical manner where the selected few are allowed to make money as long as they support and dance to the Kremlin Top 10.

As one may have noticed that during the last ten years, China has officially named 105 Dollar Billionaires in 2009, with as many unsurfaced, with the Motor Mogul of BYD (Build Your Dreams) fame coming right on top of the pile.

Sri Lanka had the Senanayake, Bandaranaike, Jayawardane-Wickremasingha Dynasties with Premadasa (in-waiting), now the Rajapaksa Brothers & Company eyeing to maintain control.

Actually, give credit where its due, the Rajapaksa clan is the only Ruling Family which delivered the goods during one single term in office. Without the trusted support from the Rajapaksa brothers, President Mahinda Rajapaksa would have been taken for a long ride by the hangers-on.

Whereas, Bandaranaike clan was reputedly making hay during the insurgency with General Ratwatte leading the retirement pension schemes, Premadasa who came from nothing (riding a bicycle in a sarong in Kotahena), ended up as a wealthy real estate owner before the Tiger Terrorists cut him short.

People who enter politics do not participate in this game for charitable reasons. In politics, charity begins at home!

There is an old story, where a renown politician by the name of David Allen Thomas STRANGE whose last Wish was that his Headstone should be engraved with the epitaph…..”Here Lies An Honest Politician”.

When asked why?

He responded by saying that everybody would then respond….”Dats STRANGE!”

So much for Honesty in Politics! Funny Ha Ha!

Prof. Hudson McLean

Immediate aftermath of the World War 11, with Marshall Law governing many countries created opportunities to several Generals to lead countries such as USA, France and dictators to govern many countries.

During the past half a century both democratic and non-democracies suffered the misfortunes of having Captains, Colonels and Generals taking control of several countries but history has proved that military mentality and democracy do not travel well together.

Recent examples in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand are a case-in-point.

Ceylon as Sri Lanka was known, almost went under the hammer with Rear Admiral Royce de Mel and his brother Maurice, an army officer, colluded with several others to over throw the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike out of Temple Trees. And failed.

Since then, late Senator Edmund Cooray, Chairman of Browns Group attempted a (Coo..) Coup-de-Etat but fizzled out prematurely and the good Senator took a well deserved rest in his Westminster flat and worked his day at Tozer, Kempsley and Millburn Ltd.

I had the opportunity to peruse a very well presented, logically analysed, well balanced, brilliant article in Sunday Island Politics – “Gota’s Bombshell”……….. ………

http://www.island.lk/2009/10/18/politics1.html

…….which explained so well that even a blind idiot should understand. Complements to Editor, Island.

Well Done! Island!

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brothers have done a fantastic job with the aid of the military led by General Sarath Fonseka. Both the Organ Grinder and the Monkey have performed in harmony to ultimate victory.

It is upto the Commander-in-Chief to ensure that his Officers are well treated, looked after and are satisfied. The C-i-C needs his Officers more than the Officers need him, to put it mildly. General Fonseka deserves a well remunerated and a challenging opportunity in commerce or in a combined role within High Government Office.

Said that it is plain ugly for the Chief of Defence Staff to spit at his C-i-C and throw in the glove!

As the article in the Island expressed very clearly, it is very likely there are evil forces behind this “stirring the pot”. I would go the extra mile and state that the rumour mongering is initiated by the LTTE Tamil Diaspora with the connivance of the likes of Solheim-Milliband-Clinton brigade to create dissent within the Rajapaksa inner circle.

UNP as a party is a spent force. The Leaders-in-Waiting ie: Karu Jayasuriya, S.B.Dissanayake, Sajith Premadasa, Rukman Senanyake with the President-in-Waiting Ranil Wickremesingha, will have a long wait. They have nothing to lose by sacrificing the proverbial “sacrificial lamb” in this case General Sarath Fonseka to the alter.

The good General, even as the unlikely sole candidate, is bound to lose if he goes against Mahinda Rajapaksa. If the General gets the backing of UNP and JVP, he will be in the same pot as a bunch of traitors who sold the country to the Tamil Terrorist LTTE and its cohort Erik Solheim.

Mahinda Rajapaksa would lose a highly competent military brain. The General would lose his face and probably emigrate to Australia or Canada and seek retirement employment in the security industry, in a subservient function, totally unfit for a top General. A dissident or a mutineer has little to offer to a bigger employer since the all vital loyalty factor ceases to exist.

With all options open, it is logical to assume that President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be returned to power with a greater mandate.

As the Island clearly presented, which ever comes first, the Presidential or Parliamentary elections, Mahinda Rajapaksa is set to dominate Sri Lankan politics in the foreseeable future.

Quoting Shakespeare, “Ambition Should be made of Sterner Stuff”, but lets not give Mahinda the opportunity to yell, “Et tu, Sarath?”

Its upto the two great personalities to sit down one2one over a bottle of Chivas Regal or Kasippu, supported by a few devilled prawns, to hold a grown-up civilized tete-a-tete and kiss and make-up, for the sake of the country which both men love so much, and fought for!

Lets hope that all this talk was just a loud burp after a jolly good lunch.

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Prof. Hudson McLean

I felt that I had to put my two cents worth of comment to the on-going saga of the President & the General.

First of  all General Sarath Fonseka is no ordinary mortal.  He has proved beyond any doubt that he is a highly skilled strategic planner who could put his Plan to Action. And succeed.

Second President Mahinda Rajapaksa has shown his political savvy thinking far into the future.

With over 60% of gains in the recent polls, Mahinda has already planned his next ten year strategy in maintaining leadership in the country.

The electorate has seen what Mahinda has successfully achieved but would not understand or give two hoots if H.E goes to the polls to seek to change the constitution.

By doing that HE can reverse the current system and make the Presidency a symbolic decorative Head of State with no Executive Powers.  H.E also has the powerful machinery to go to the electorate, and as the Leader of the Party, become the Prime Minister, with full Executive Power.

If H.E continues to deliver, as the Head of the Party and Prime Minister, H.E can reign as long as he lives.

Any slime who is now trying to put a spanner into the wheels of a good working relationship between the President and the General seems to have missed this point.

Yes the General can place his candidacy to become the President at the next Presidential elections, but the new President might just be the figure-head to meet and greet the great and the ugly.

Where as by decent co-existence with the powerful, popular President, the General might go for other goodies which he could receive from a grateful President.

A Deputy Ministerial Portfolio should not be the ambition of a General who actually deserves to greater heights in life.

In Singapore, the government actually compensates the Military and Defence leadership with very lucrative commercial positions.  With a brilliant, creative, analytical mindset which can Plan the Work and Work the Plan, General Fonseka should be offered a highly compensated commercial position to develop defined key tasks and challenge.

Apart from top ceremonial Diplomatic positions in London, Washington, Paris or Tokyo, Sri Lanka needs an iron hand with an intelligent head to develop the infrastructure for inward investment.  General Fonseka is also known for his honesty and military thinking.  He could also utilize a 100,000 of his soldiers for civil duties alongside military functions and compensate accordingly.

The General would be ideal to hold a roving position as Ambassador-at-Large to straighten out the infrastructure for inward investment.

At the same time, his military logical presentation skills should be put to use in attracting inward investment, as a Special Advisor to the President / Prime Minister. A title of First Deputy Prime Minister or Executive Vice President should be given thought.

The last thing General Fonseka should consider is to join the Opposition Party as their candidate to take-on H.E Mahinda Rajapaksa.

One cannot compare General Eisenhover or Charles de Gaulle of WW11 fame in the same context in as the 30 year internal battle with the LTTE Terrorists.

I am certain that good friends have given some advice to the General on entering politics, as with the Presidential advisors who may have talked with H.E regarding an unhappy General.

Both H.E Mahinda Rajapaksa and General Fonseks need each other, for themselves as well as for the country.

And both of them are well informed of the continued good comradership or ending up as a divorced couple.

Monkey Needs the Organ Grinder as much as the Organ Grinder Needs the Monkey.

Future will tell!

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Prof. Hudson McLean

Frustration must be an understatement when the Presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton lost out to Barack Obama.

Despite the strongest possible but gentle support of the popular President Bill Clinton, without overwhelming the egostic pride of Hillary, the first Afro-American charmed his way to the Hot Seat.

Then Obama kept Hillary guessing whether the position of VP might be thrown in her direction.  Having now seen the character of the woman, the world must be grateful that Hillary missed out on the possibility of getting into the Hot Seat by a sudden demise of Obama.

The position of Secretary of State is as good as becoming the VP although, its miles away from the potential opportunity to become the President by Default.  The perks of the Secretary of State are substantial, as the Spokesman in Chief for USA on all major Foreign Policy matters.

However Secretary Clinton has demonstrated that she is carrying a heavy chip on her shoulder.  The word “Bill” makes her pimples rise from all corners of her body.  As everybody knows, Bill Clinton is a highly intelligent, clever, driven, Statesman, with a sex drive to match his ego.  When normal cigar smokers dunk their cigar in fine cognac or wine prior to lighting, Bill used his innovative skills to seek alternative solutions.

Meeting with Sergei Lavrov the Russian Foreign Minister, Hillary pressing the wrong button to set the Russian-American right, was wrong at the point of pressing.  Quite clearly she did not check the buttons before this very important meeting. The big-headed all-knowing style and confidence of the woman.

When it was disclosed that the Tamil Tiger Terrorist LTTE were bank-rolling Hillary Clinton Presidential campaign, the funds were quickly returned to senders.  Most certainly, the Clinton campaign staffers were fully aware of the background of the financial backers but hoped that the matter would never come to light. Hence the soft-spot for the lost tribe of Tigers.

When the US government is spending trillions of dollars of US taxpayers funds, sacrificing thousands of innocent young American lives, combating terrorism, it is incomprehensible that one of the most senior American leaders in the government is supporting terrorism.

Did Hillary Clinton had the common decency to send a Thank You note to the President of Sri Lanka on the destruction of the most  ruthless terrorist group the world has ever encountered?

Then an unqualified statement about the rape of Tamil refugees in the IDP camps!  How can any responsible senior administrator make such (take it which ever way you like) a cock-up?

For a lawyer, this kind of irresponsible statement is unimaginable.

Now that Obama has received a Prize before even starting the Peace race, Hillary Clinton by his side will be a gross liability. 

Quite frankly, Hillary Clinton is demonstrating the “Peter Principle”, ie “Theory that people rise in their career in every hierarchy to the level of their own incompetence;”

The Get-up and Go in Hillary Clinton, Has Got-up and Gone!”.

Now that Obama has been crowned with a massive problem encrusted Crown, Obama advisors should look at ways to remove the excess baggage he is now carrying. Its best to jettison Hillary at the next hair-pin and offer her some alternative accommodation in a country in Africa, such as Zimbabwe or Dem Republic of Congo, or even Kenya, where she can go hunting or fishing!

When sliding starts, its difficult to ride the bike up-hill.

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Prof. Hudson McLean

The recently published World Bank Rating on Doing Business-;

http://www.doingbusiness.org/EconomyRankings/

plunges Sri Lanka to a pathetic 105 position,  but better than India at 133 position, with Singapore as No:1, out of 183 listings.

On the bureaucracy and corruption, Sri Lanka might rate in the Top 10.

During the immediate recent past, several top cabinet Ministers have been hitting the Top Spots promoting inward investments and claiming success. Until the house is cleaned, one should not  invite guests. These so claimed success stories are cobwebs and pie-in-the-sky dreams and a waste of tax-payers money.

Of course, when a government Minister delivers a presentation on investment opportunities to a selected overseas investor group, to a friendly audience, with a Sri Lankan Embassy sponsored cocktail party, naturally the guests politely say the right things, as a “Thank You” for the generosity.  This does not however turn into business. Just a Public Relations “Spin Doctors” justification for fees.

Any company or institution, prior to investment seeks an estimated cost of insurance cover on political, economic, environmental risks.  Once the Insurance Underwriters give their offers, under these bleak conditions, usually the investors back-down.

Now that the LTTE Terrorists have been eliminated, with a few potential terror threats by the remnants, Sri Lankan President has to face the other “terrorists or enemies within” Sri Lanka.

These are the local mafia who roam around the five start hotels seeking they prey on foreign businessmen, as can be confirmed with my personal experience.

Then the governmental bureaucracy bundled with corruption, would frighten off any foreign business inward investor.

Sri Lanka has all the right credentials to become one of the Top Ten locations for Global Business.  Only lacks proper clean, honest, dynamic leadership and direction in this front..

President should now, in the light of this World Bank Report  which received global coverage, appoint a Rajapaksa brother as Minister for Business Development under the Finance Ministry.

The logistics within Sri Lanka needs a good clean-up.

Currently the Rajapaksa name has credibility on honesty and management. This must be exploited to the maximum advantage where the President himself takes a global role as The Salesman and The Host.

Only a close confidant of the President can destroy the Enemy Within!

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Prof. Hudson McLean

The Strategic Location, for shipping, financial, logistics, overspill from Singapore & Dubai, a wealth of educated manpower and stable political climate could offer several Nations surrounding Sri Lanka an unenviable Service Hub.

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the land-locked Nations in the Himalayas could turn Sri Lanka into a Post Office, a support centre.

Major Courier companies such as DHL, etc could have an optional parcel sorting location for the Asian subcontinent.

Unlike Singapore and UAE which suffer from a shortfall of competent labour, Sri Lanka has in abundance a wide pool of labour for most aforementioned functions, within the country.

Hotels, restaurants and shops would definitely benefit from the spin-off, creating jobs in the service sector.

Now that the Foreign Ministry has polished-up their act, the President should direct the logistics, roads, telecommunications to be upgraded to Singapore levels.

Another important point is the Time Zones compromise between the East & West with an approximate 5 hour difference either way allowing at least 3 hours common working time availability.

Parallel with the other investments opportunities, SLG should consider laying the foundation by assigning competent leadership to kick-start this sector.

During a brief five year period, a new Hong Kong should start serving the Asian subcontinent.

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