While Hong Kong Waits in Line, Singapore Distributes 5 Million Masks

(Bloomberg) -- With no sign the coronavirus outbreak will be under control any time soon, surgical masks -- the three-ply, pleated rectangles that typically sell for a few cents each -- have become a political flash point across Asia.In Singapore, where an election is expected soon, the government touted its move to deploy some 1,500 servicemen to help distribute 5 million masks, accompanied by a bilingual, cross-platform public health campaign.By contrast, Hong Kong politicians from all corners