[Jim W N]

Hong Kong’s success was not due to political force from the U.S. It was due to their free market economy that was essentially tax free. Hong Kong became an economic powerhouse (before China reclaimed it) by voluntary, unencumbered transactions in their marketplace.

[Rashputin]

Several scholars in Hong Kong who were born and raised in Hong Kong say that they couldn't have continued to exist to put policies of any sort in place were it not for very special arrangements with the US, UK, and China made including allowing officially embargoed goods and cash to flow into China in return for China agreeing to wait until the British lease was up before taking over.

So, sure, someone else paying the extortion money, buying off the people threatening you, and guaranteeing the original large investors won't lose money, are all absolute proof that effin' magic is the reason for their success.