Right on. In some systems, students were products to fit into the rigid corporate world/metrics or publish massive amount of repetitive research paper mechanically. (However, the regions you mentioned are not individualizing teacher and learning in general.)
ummm actually i was shocked when he mentioned Hong Kong... because as a Hong Kong student, I really dont think this city possesses those characteristics like creativity... FOR REAL...
Education system is not a machanics system but human system. It not as simple as input, process and output, it is about guiding, creating and exploring.
Learning and reading are actually full of hope and happyness but in Taiwan learning and reading are for test and work. Why? Life is not just for test. We are student, not examinee. Student life is for learning and examinee is for test.
Education in Hong Kong is not that good... Education in America is not that bad, at least, motivated students get their chances to learn; these things never happened in Hong Kong.