These are all the "physical" constraints.
I will tell you the real reason Sinkies cant compete (whether is it the GLC scholars, oppositions, the Towkays or the low class peasants) is they lack creativity, independent thought, boldness and most importantly an opened mind.
Their "WORLD" is only Singapore.
The South East Asian ethnic Chinese left Qing Dynasty's totally bankrupt famine ridden China and make their presence in the region.
Even now the PRC peasants venture to US, Australia, Africa, South America, Europe, work hard, rags to riches. While the Spanish were sitting there complaining about their bankrupt economy, the PRCs made it by opening $1 shops selling cheap stuff to the impoverished Spanish. Most of these "Italian Made" designer goods are made up by PRC immigrants in Italy.
The Japanese who comes from a very advanced economy has built up very successful restaurant chains overseas (Ajisen is owned by a Japanese based in HK, even in SG there now many well know ramen shops owned by Japanese based here).
Fact is the world have never witness a nationality as castrated as Sinkies where they continue to get screwed (trains breaking down, electricity/petrol price not dropping in tandem to crude price crashing down, middle classed PMETS getting replaced by FTs) and reprimanded in their face by the ruling party for being LOSERS. I don't even see that in totalitarian countries like North Korea, not in Communist China or autocratic Russia! Imaging Western European leaders or Japanese PM go tell their unemployed peasants as LOSERS, need SKILLS UPGRADING, lowered expectations (while they and their GLC scholars continue to reek millions)! And