Washington, USA, 13 Jan – Hong Kong maintained its place as the freest economy in the world, according to the Economic Freedom Index for 2012 from the US-based Heritage Foundation, in which Macau was ranked in 19th place.

Hong Kong remained in first place with 89.9 points – on a scale of 1 to 100 – ahead of Singapore in second place with 87.5 points on a list including 179 countries and regions.

The area in which Macau’s classification – with an overall score of 71.8 points – was higher included levels of freedom in trade and investment as well as level of financial freedom, amongst others.

Amongst the Portuguese-speaking countries Cape Verde was ranked highest in 66th place, two places ahead of Portugal (68th place) and much further ahead of the rest – Brazil (99th), Mozambique (108th), Sao Tome and Principe (148th), Guinea Bissau (149th), Angola (160th) and East Timor (169th). (macauhub)