While much of Europe is mired in debt and recession, some countries further afield are so flush with cash that they don‘t quite know what to do with it all.

Hong Kong is so rich that its government recently announced plans to give HK$600 (about £490) to more than 6 million people aged over 18. Added to a similar tax rebate that is in the works, the wealthy territory is giving back more than HK$40bn to its citizens.