“ Money is one of the greatest instruments of freedom ever invented by man. ... “

–  FA Hayek   

“<To Adam Smith, the notion of happiness can be understood to have three nested components>: Material Provision ; Social Engagement ; and the Tranquility that comes from acting Virtuously..”

–  Adam Smith/ The Hong Kong Heritage   

We see Wealth & Happiness as one key cornerstone of what we mean by the Betterment of the Humanities.

Building on the insights of Adam Smith, we propose to see Wealth as having three layers: Physical Health; Material Wealth; and Spiritual Wealth and Wealth is for enhancing Happiness for the entire Humanities

The importance of Physical Health to Human Wealth is clear and obvious though often overlooked as without physical health, no genuine and sustainable Material Wealth can be spoken of. We think it is interesting to note that Health and Wealth differs in only one alphabet. We would see Physical Health as the foundation of genuine Human Wealth and would aim at having such understanding being internalized into the minds of as many people as possible. We would also aim at facilitating the Humanities in terms of grasping the ways in which they can self-improve and self-manage their health to pre-empt illness which we see as a better model than the prevailing one of looking for doctors and medicines for curing after the problems have already reached certain levels.

As for Material Wealth; while “money cannot buy one happiness”, its importance cannot be over-estimated as it is the “currency” we often have to use to exchange for nearly all the things we want to get from others. It was said in the Bible that Jesus has once posted this profound question: “What gain would you have if you own the whole world but lose your soul?” While this question is profound enough, the answer or counter-question offered by Oscar Wilde may be even more profound still – “How can I have my soul if I do not own a little part of this world?”

And one may feel even more sad if one discovers that having a market whereby one can use money to engage in proper exchanges with others on a large basket of things is probably already quite a luxury which not that many people in history have really got it. As FA Hayek has remarked, “Money is one of the greatest instruments of freedom ever invented by man.”…..” It is money which in existing society opens an astounding range of choice to the poor man” which is often paraphrased as “only money will open itself to the poor, power never will.”

Whether one agrees with the above, one could probably hardly dispute another succinct remark made by FA Hayek: “A world in which the wealthy are powerful is still a better world than one in which only the already powerful can acquire wealth.”

In short, the activity of making money should facilitate a man’s ability to protect and enhance his freedom and herein may lie the greatest value and importance of the free market as a social institution invented and developed by man. Without a doubt, we are people who have deep appreciation on the significant benefits free market can bring to the Humanities, however large the limitations the Free Market may face.  Accordingly, we would seek to develop and expand opportunities whereby a growing portion of the Humanities can participate in the wealth-making process of the Free Markets in the world.

In addition, we think it is important to bear in mind that Adam Smith is a moral philosopher first and foremost and we do not think he is the kind of apologist for the pitfalls of the so-called capitalist societies as understood and described by many today.

We hence concur with view that one of the greatest motivation of Smith’s 10 years efforts to write the “Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations” could well be that of offering a path for the humanities whereby one can lift a large amount of the poor “out of poverty”. As such, material wealth or “material provision” in Smith’s own words, should  always be seen as a means to an end and this will be the position we shall keep holding.

We think it is noteworthy that, i the Theory of Moral Sentiments, Aam Smith has advanced a term called “The System of Natural Liberty and we are of the view that the Free Market is about getting something beyond and above material provision. As Jerry Muller has pointed out, “The Wealth of Nations is the most important work ever written about capitalism and its moral ramification. It was intended to make men better; not just better off.”

In his very impressive speech delivered to the Congress of the United States on 28 April 2026, King Charles III has made the following remark ; “The Founding Fathers were bold and imaginative rebels with a cause,,, By balancing contending forces and drawing strength in diversity, they united thirteen disparate colonies to forge a nation on the revolutionary idea of “life, beauty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The connection between the American Declaration of Independence and the thoughts of Adam Smith has been an issue remains to be sorted out by historians. There exists a perspective which says that the connection between them are very strong to the point that the Declaration of Independence can arguably be seen as the “political twin” of the Wealth of Nations and that the Founding Fathers’ vision about the US society, with individuals being endowed with “unalienable rights” and being free to the “pursuit of happiness” in their own ways really fit well into what Adam Smith’s thoughts would prescribe..

At the more subtle level, we reckon that Jefferson has emphasized the word “the pursuit of happiness” in the US Declaration of Independence which we think resonates well with Adam Smith’s idea of Happiness and that there is a profound Spiritual side to it, as aspect which we certainly agree and would devote much of our efforts to.

Adam Smith has put forward the idea that the Tranquility coming from Acting Virtuously constitute one main source of happiness and this shall be what we aim to focus on; and what the two other drivers – The Capital Markets and ESG – would revolve around.