As for HK, the UK government was stupid for not negotiating a better deal and installing a strong democratic frameworkk in the first place. It should have stayed under British control, it would have been much better. As for Heathrow, that is a difficult problem, there is the NIMBY factor and environmental concerns like noise and traffic problems that need to be addressed by democratically elected governments, or they will face a possible electoral backlash. It is the same in my home town Sydney with the new airport at Badgery's Creek finally approved. In the UK or Australia politicians can't ride roughshed over peoples rights. Projects can take longer to proceed in Western countries than in dictatorships like China because there are many checks and balances that need to be taken.