SUMMERTIME.... AND THE LIVING IS EASY....
All across Hong Kong small children were heard asking their parents on Sunday... Mummy, Daddy - what is that big orange thing in the sky? and where has all the water gone?
Yes the sun finally returned after what has to have been the most consistently miserable weather for years. I feel so pale I might as well have wintered in England. Anyway hopefully that was the end of winter, and the false dawn that is spring, and summer is finally here. Typhoons, rainstorms, sunshine, cold beer and locals out in 36 degrees and 99% humidity but still wearing hats, scarves, sun visors and thick woolly clothing lest a ray of sunshine get to their skin and make them turn any colour other than ghostly white.
I think we should start a movement to turn the titles around and dub the locals gweilos - after all they are without doubt the whitest people here.
Friday, April 16, 2004
THE CHARIOTEERS FILM REVIEW
I've been meaning to mention this all week but kept forgetting. I went to the flicks last weekend and saw Starsky and Hutch.
If any of you out there are 30+ and were glued to the original TV series as a kid, as I was, then you simply have to see this film. The car is there, Captain Dobie is there, the huge collars and horrible clothing are there. And as for Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson as the 2 supersleuths, they are simply brilliant. And Snoop Dogg as Huggy Bear? Awesome.
It's a very lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek movie - one of the few of recent times which I have actually laughed out loud at - and is simply great if you feel like a non-mentally-taxing trip to the movies.
Unless of course you're too young to have seen the show first time round in which case you'll have no idea what the hell is going on and it'll all be meaningless.
And while I'm reviewing things..
FASHION REVIEW
If you are young enough to not know the original, then you will probably be sitting in the cinema wearing flares, like some of the characters in the movie, under the misguided impression that they are cool. They are not. They also weren't cool the first time around. And those of us old enough to have seen the original Starksy and Hutch are very smug about knowing this. We are all giggling at you as you strut around in them.
I've been meaning to mention this all week but kept forgetting. I went to the flicks last weekend and saw Starsky and Hutch.
If any of you out there are 30+ and were glued to the original TV series as a kid, as I was, then you simply have to see this film. The car is there, Captain Dobie is there, the huge collars and horrible clothing are there. And as for Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson as the 2 supersleuths, they are simply brilliant. And Snoop Dogg as Huggy Bear? Awesome.
It's a very lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek movie - one of the few of recent times which I have actually laughed out loud at - and is simply great if you feel like a non-mentally-taxing trip to the movies.
Unless of course you're too young to have seen the show first time round in which case you'll have no idea what the hell is going on and it'll all be meaningless.
And while I'm reviewing things..
FASHION REVIEW
If you are young enough to not know the original, then you will probably be sitting in the cinema wearing flares, like some of the characters in the movie, under the misguided impression that they are cool. They are not. They also weren't cool the first time around. And those of us old enough to have seen the original Starksy and Hutch are very smug about knowing this. We are all giggling at you as you strut around in them.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOUIS VUITTON
Tonight is the night that the beautiful people of Hong Kong have been waiting for. Louis Vuitton are hosting a huge 150th anniversary party inside a tent which has been erected on the Tamar Site (where the excellent HarbourFest was held, but that's another story). The tent will have the famous LV logo beamed onto it for the night to make it look like a huge version of one of their famous cases.
The locals love of big name brands and ostentatious consumption means that this is the ultimate event to be seen at. The guest list is a closely guarded secret but I think we can rest assured that most of the canto-pop stars and starlets will be there, along with most of Hong Kongs A-list celebs, socialites and billionaires. Tickets are apparently keenly sought and many a socialites future in the upper echelons of Hong Kong society rests pretty much on securing an invite.
It says a lot about the number of their over-priced bags they are able to shift here that they chose Hong Kong to celebrate their 150th anniversary rather than Paris, which is after all their base.
there are 2 things I don't get about this...
Firstly - why the brand is so popular - I can see maybe a wallet or a purse being nice, and why women might want say a handbag of theirs, but the complete obsession with all their products here mystifies me totally. You can buy LV mobile phone holders, PDA holders, keyfobs, golf bags, shoes, notebooks etc etc... and if you go to Mongkok you can also pick up fake LV kleenex box holders and toilet roll holders if you really want to totally decorate your flat to look like a LV shop.
Secondly - why would anyone, particularly people who are used to the good things in life, want to spend their friday night stuck inside a large tent, decorated to look like a suitacse, which has been set up on a car park, surrounded by tuneless wonders, nice-but-dim socialites and billionaires who probably charge for every word they utter.
I can't think of anywhere I'd like to be less.
(and this isn't just sour grapes cos I wasn't invited.... honest)
Tonight is the night that the beautiful people of Hong Kong have been waiting for. Louis Vuitton are hosting a huge 150th anniversary party inside a tent which has been erected on the Tamar Site (where the excellent HarbourFest was held, but that's another story). The tent will have the famous LV logo beamed onto it for the night to make it look like a huge version of one of their famous cases.
The locals love of big name brands and ostentatious consumption means that this is the ultimate event to be seen at. The guest list is a closely guarded secret but I think we can rest assured that most of the canto-pop stars and starlets will be there, along with most of Hong Kongs A-list celebs, socialites and billionaires. Tickets are apparently keenly sought and many a socialites future in the upper echelons of Hong Kong society rests pretty much on securing an invite.
It says a lot about the number of their over-priced bags they are able to shift here that they chose Hong Kong to celebrate their 150th anniversary rather than Paris, which is after all their base.
there are 2 things I don't get about this...
Firstly - why the brand is so popular - I can see maybe a wallet or a purse being nice, and why women might want say a handbag of theirs, but the complete obsession with all their products here mystifies me totally. You can buy LV mobile phone holders, PDA holders, keyfobs, golf bags, shoes, notebooks etc etc... and if you go to Mongkok you can also pick up fake LV kleenex box holders and toilet roll holders if you really want to totally decorate your flat to look like a LV shop.
Secondly - why would anyone, particularly people who are used to the good things in life, want to spend their friday night stuck inside a large tent, decorated to look like a suitacse, which has been set up on a car park, surrounded by tuneless wonders, nice-but-dim socialites and billionaires who probably charge for every word they utter.
I can't think of anywhere I'd like to be less.
(and this isn't just sour grapes cos I wasn't invited.... honest)
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
MOBILE PHONES
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that people in Asia are obsessed with mobile phones. Well here is a story that combines their love of mobiles with their love of superstition and "lucky numbers"
SHANGHAI, China, April 13 (UPI) -- An online buyer in Shanghai bid $1.1 million for a lucky cell phone number from an initial bidding price of only $12.
The deal was closed on EachNet.com on Sunday for 9,000,201 yuan after 70 bids online. The bidding started on March 27 on EachNet.com, one of China's biggest e-business Web sites, China Daily reported Tuesday.
The lucky number is 135-8585-8585, which sounds like "let me be rich be rich be rich be rich" in Chinese. Chinese people traditionally favor numbers with pronunciations similar to words that mean good luck and avoid numbers that sound like bad luck.
This is believed to be the highest bidding price for any lucky number in mainland China. Both the buyer and the seller are from Shanghai but remained anonymous after the deal. It was reported that the seller was an online shoe salesman who collects cell phone numbers as a hobby.
The seller must pay a commission of $2,700 to EachNet.com.
That is US$1.1mil by the way - not HK$1.1mil.
How insane is that?
And what about the seller? A man who "collects cell phone numbers as a hobby"? That is definitely below trainspotting on the list of pass-times, though he's having the last laugh. Please god just don't let him go and buy more numbers with the money. Let him do something useful with it like blow it all on wine, women and dim sum.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that people in Asia are obsessed with mobile phones. Well here is a story that combines their love of mobiles with their love of superstition and "lucky numbers"
SHANGHAI, China, April 13 (UPI) -- An online buyer in Shanghai bid $1.1 million for a lucky cell phone number from an initial bidding price of only $12.
The deal was closed on EachNet.com on Sunday for 9,000,201 yuan after 70 bids online. The bidding started on March 27 on EachNet.com, one of China's biggest e-business Web sites, China Daily reported Tuesday.
The lucky number is 135-8585-8585, which sounds like "let me be rich be rich be rich be rich" in Chinese. Chinese people traditionally favor numbers with pronunciations similar to words that mean good luck and avoid numbers that sound like bad luck.
This is believed to be the highest bidding price for any lucky number in mainland China. Both the buyer and the seller are from Shanghai but remained anonymous after the deal. It was reported that the seller was an online shoe salesman who collects cell phone numbers as a hobby.
The seller must pay a commission of $2,700 to EachNet.com.
That is US$1.1mil by the way - not HK$1.1mil.
How insane is that?
And what about the seller? A man who "collects cell phone numbers as a hobby"? That is definitely below trainspotting on the list of pass-times, though he's having the last laugh. Please god just don't let him go and buy more numbers with the money. Let him do something useful with it like blow it all on wine, women and dim sum.
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
POSH AND BECKS
A highly unscientific survey of some random blokes here at work has concluded that, given what a pain in the neck she is, and what a moron he is, it's a miracle he didn't stray earlier!
Anyway there has been much debate in the press as to whether he did stray and, if so, whether Posh would forgive him. It seems she has and to me it's no suprise. When they first got together she was the rich, famous and successful half of the pair and he was on the way up. Now the roles have been reversed. She can't even give records away let alone sell them, while his on and off-field earnings and profile have gone through the roof. She loves the spotlight and the attention, and if she want's to remain in either then she has to stay with him regardless of his little indiscretions, though this episode spotted by Fumier must, if true, have made her think twice!
A highly unscientific survey of some random blokes here at work has concluded that, given what a pain in the neck she is, and what a moron he is, it's a miracle he didn't stray earlier!
Anyway there has been much debate in the press as to whether he did stray and, if so, whether Posh would forgive him. It seems she has and to me it's no suprise. When they first got together she was the rich, famous and successful half of the pair and he was on the way up. Now the roles have been reversed. She can't even give records away let alone sell them, while his on and off-field earnings and profile have gone through the roof. She loves the spotlight and the attention, and if she want's to remain in either then she has to stay with him regardless of his little indiscretions, though this episode spotted by Fumier must, if true, have made her think twice!
DEMOCRACY
A vastly over-commented subject I know, but it did occur to me that the current furore in Taiwan, involving mass protests and riots following the recent election there, and the ludicrous claims that the shooting of the president was staged, is only going to make Beijing even less likely to allow any change to the current system here in Hong Kong.
And frankly, if there was a chance the scenes from Taiwan would be repeated here then I'm on Beijing's side. People shouldn't have democracy until they are able to accept the possibility of losing an election as well as winning it.
A vastly over-commented subject I know, but it did occur to me that the current furore in Taiwan, involving mass protests and riots following the recent election there, and the ludicrous claims that the shooting of the president was staged, is only going to make Beijing even less likely to allow any change to the current system here in Hong Kong.
And frankly, if there was a chance the scenes from Taiwan would be repeated here then I'm on Beijing's side. People shouldn't have democracy until they are able to accept the possibility of losing an election as well as winning it.
INDONESIA ADVISES AGAINST TRAVEL TO THE U.K.
Saw this snippet in a side-column in the Sunday SCMP but I can't find it on the web to link to. Apparently the Indonesian government has recommended to Indonesian nationals they should avoid travel to the UK because of terrorist fears.
My first reaction was to laugh
My second was to think, "cheeky bastards"
My third was to think, "hang on, many of these boys are active terrorists sympathisers (if not active terrorists) and are recommending to nationals to avoid the UK, so what do they know about what is going to happen there that I don't?"
Just a thought...
Saw this snippet in a side-column in the Sunday SCMP but I can't find it on the web to link to. Apparently the Indonesian government has recommended to Indonesian nationals they should avoid travel to the UK because of terrorist fears.
My first reaction was to laugh
My second was to think, "cheeky bastards"
My third was to think, "hang on, many of these boys are active terrorists sympathisers (if not active terrorists) and are recommending to nationals to avoid the UK, so what do they know about what is going to happen there that I don't?"
Just a thought...
IF STOCK AND PROPERTY MARKETS AREN'T RISKY ENOUGH FOR YOU...
Gambler gets his life back with single spin
A man who risked everything he owned on a single spin of the roulette wheel has left Las Vegas victorious.
Ashley Revell, 32, from Kent, sold all of his possessions to raise cash for the one-off bet.
He raised about £80,000 from car boot sales and auctions before heading for Vegas to put the lot on red.
When the ball finally settled on red 7 he punched the air with delight at the Plaza Hotel and Casino. The result means he pockets around £135,000 rather than returning home empty-handed.
He said: "That was just the most amazing experience I have ever had in my life. The first thing I am going to do is buy some new clothes, some sunglasses, obviously!
"It was just wicked, I mean it was just...I can't describe my feelings going through that. It has just been a complete sort of rollercoaster ride. First it's on, then it's off.
"I just wanted to get the bet over with, and know either way. Obviously, I was feeling lucky, but I just didn't know.
"Really all I am going to do now is chill out, my family are here, my friends are here, so just spend some time with them.
"The main thing I have learned from all this it wasn't really about the money, it's easy for me to say now I have won of course, but it is important my family and my friends were there to back me up; and if they weren't there I wouldn't have risked everything."
He said before the big gamble it was the "purest bet you can do". He added: "I'm not married and I haven't got kids. It's almost like my last chance to go mad. It is just a matter of me saying 'red' or 'black' and that will change the future."
Gambler gets his life back with single spin
A man who risked everything he owned on a single spin of the roulette wheel has left Las Vegas victorious.
Ashley Revell, 32, from Kent, sold all of his possessions to raise cash for the one-off bet.
He raised about £80,000 from car boot sales and auctions before heading for Vegas to put the lot on red.
When the ball finally settled on red 7 he punched the air with delight at the Plaza Hotel and Casino. The result means he pockets around £135,000 rather than returning home empty-handed.
He said: "That was just the most amazing experience I have ever had in my life. The first thing I am going to do is buy some new clothes, some sunglasses, obviously!
"It was just wicked, I mean it was just...I can't describe my feelings going through that. It has just been a complete sort of rollercoaster ride. First it's on, then it's off.
"I just wanted to get the bet over with, and know either way. Obviously, I was feeling lucky, but I just didn't know.
"Really all I am going to do now is chill out, my family are here, my friends are here, so just spend some time with them.
"The main thing I have learned from all this it wasn't really about the money, it's easy for me to say now I have won of course, but it is important my family and my friends were there to back me up; and if they weren't there I wouldn't have risked everything."
He said before the big gamble it was the "purest bet you can do". He added: "I'm not married and I haven't got kids. It's almost like my last chance to go mad. It is just a matter of me saying 'red' or 'black' and that will change the future."
Thursday, April 08, 2004
EASTER WEEKEND
And so a 4 day weekend approaches. Not much planned sadly. I'm currently supposed to be in South Africa on a 2 week holiday but it was cancelled because a colleague resigned, so it was too late to organise any trips in Asia, and the weather at present doesn't lend itself to lying around on a junk in the sun with a cold beer in my hand.
So 4 days just pottering about at home are looming. It sounds dull but on the plus side - it certainly beats being here!
Have fun all.
And so a 4 day weekend approaches. Not much planned sadly. I'm currently supposed to be in South Africa on a 2 week holiday but it was cancelled because a colleague resigned, so it was too late to organise any trips in Asia, and the weather at present doesn't lend itself to lying around on a junk in the sun with a cold beer in my hand.
So 4 days just pottering about at home are looming. It sounds dull but on the plus side - it certainly beats being here!
Have fun all.
EXTREME MEDICINE
From the SCMP...
"An elderly man remains in a critical condition after attempting to castrate himself to cure his cold, the Chongqing Commercial News reports. The former butcher and kung fu enthusiast had read in a martial arts novel that the procedure could help cure the disease. He was found unconscious in a room in his daughters house with a bloody fruit knife at his side."
Thank god we had some Panandol Cold and Flu at home over last weekend when I had a cold!
From the SCMP...
"An elderly man remains in a critical condition after attempting to castrate himself to cure his cold, the Chongqing Commercial News reports. The former butcher and kung fu enthusiast had read in a martial arts novel that the procedure could help cure the disease. He was found unconscious in a room in his daughters house with a bloody fruit knife at his side."
Thank god we had some Panandol Cold and Flu at home over last weekend when I had a cold!
BRING BACK HARBOUR FEST
Attila asked the question yesterday evening, "The 7's was fun. What's the next big event in Hong Kong?" - sadly the answer has to be - "The 7's"
Thanks to all the moaners and whingers last year who thought that the money used to get Harbour Fest up and running would be better spent on things like traffic lights, or the perennial favouite - baby incubators, and all the sniping directed at the American Chamber of Commerce it seems Harbour Fest is destined to be a one-off event.
Sure some of it was a fiasco (the queue for beer at the Stones concert was ridiculous), and maybe there was a little bit of pocket-lining going on, but at least we had a few bands come to Hong Kong and perform who otherwise wouldn't have come, and there was something to talk about and, for a few of us, enjoy. I'm sure if it was repeated, a lot of lessons would have been learnt and things would be done differently. There would be less for the whingers to gripe about.
Making it a regular event would also generate interest from visitors. It could have become another tourist attraction for Hong Kong, bringing tourists and their dollars to the place, generating income and jobs, and so tax revenues and ultimately all those baby incubators everyone worries about on a sustainable and repeatable basis instead of a one-off expenditure.
But no. Everyone had to take the short-term view and have a pot-shot at the government even though they were only trying to help. This small-minded attitude makes me long sometimes for a good Chinese crackdown to shut these gits up and let everyone else get on with whatever they're doing without every Tom, Dick and Harry sticking their nose in. As i said a few days ago - democracy is vastly overrated. What is needed is continuity, and a bit of long-term planning and strategic thinking without interfernce from people who have no idea what they're talking about goes a long way.
So to all the moaners out there - if you didn't want to go all you had to do was not buy a ticket. All the sniping has done is mean that the rest of us who actually thought it was a great idea, enjoyed a couple of good concerts and a few nights out, and would love to see it repeated are going to be disappointed.
Thanks arseholes.
Attila asked the question yesterday evening, "The 7's was fun. What's the next big event in Hong Kong?" - sadly the answer has to be - "The 7's"
Thanks to all the moaners and whingers last year who thought that the money used to get Harbour Fest up and running would be better spent on things like traffic lights, or the perennial favouite - baby incubators, and all the sniping directed at the American Chamber of Commerce it seems Harbour Fest is destined to be a one-off event.
Sure some of it was a fiasco (the queue for beer at the Stones concert was ridiculous), and maybe there was a little bit of pocket-lining going on, but at least we had a few bands come to Hong Kong and perform who otherwise wouldn't have come, and there was something to talk about and, for a few of us, enjoy. I'm sure if it was repeated, a lot of lessons would have been learnt and things would be done differently. There would be less for the whingers to gripe about.
Making it a regular event would also generate interest from visitors. It could have become another tourist attraction for Hong Kong, bringing tourists and their dollars to the place, generating income and jobs, and so tax revenues and ultimately all those baby incubators everyone worries about on a sustainable and repeatable basis instead of a one-off expenditure.
But no. Everyone had to take the short-term view and have a pot-shot at the government even though they were only trying to help. This small-minded attitude makes me long sometimes for a good Chinese crackdown to shut these gits up and let everyone else get on with whatever they're doing without every Tom, Dick and Harry sticking their nose in. As i said a few days ago - democracy is vastly overrated. What is needed is continuity, and a bit of long-term planning and strategic thinking without interfernce from people who have no idea what they're talking about goes a long way.
So to all the moaners out there - if you didn't want to go all you had to do was not buy a ticket. All the sniping has done is mean that the rest of us who actually thought it was a great idea, enjoyed a couple of good concerts and a few nights out, and would love to see it repeated are going to be disappointed.
Thanks arseholes.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
FINALLY - SOME REAL NEWS
Howard poised to take charge at Leicester
Leicester Tigers are finally getting round to appointing a replacement for Dean Richards. About time too, though to be honest we've had a good run of results since he left so it's great to see that stand-in coach John Wells is also going to be involved.
I hope they can put Tigers back at the top of the tree.
Howard poised to take charge at Leicester
Leicester Tigers are finally getting round to appointing a replacement for Dean Richards. About time too, though to be honest we've had a good run of results since he left so it's great to see that stand-in coach John Wells is also going to be involved.
I hope they can put Tigers back at the top of the tree.
MUD ISLAND
Yet another reason to never go back to Mud Island...
Poison gas attack plot foiled
The headline says it all. The only practical way to my company's office in Canary Wharf is by tube... don't think I'll be rushing back somehow.
Yet another reason to never go back to Mud Island...
Poison gas attack plot foiled
The headline says it all. The only practical way to my company's office in Canary Wharf is by tube... don't think I'll be rushing back somehow.
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
THE BASIC LAW
Surprise surprise. China has decided that is has the final say in Hong Kongs political development and so effectively has a power of veto over any move to universal suffrage.
Given that China brutally and effectively suppresses any dissent or talk of democracy, I don't really think anyone could have expected any other outcome. They can't let democracy get a foothold here as it is bound to lead to discontent on the mainland.
Unfortunately for Beijing they do not control the Hong Kong population, and have no power to lock up dissenters or leaders of oppostion we do still have freedom of extpression and assembly here... for the moment. All this "internpretation" is likely to do is lead to further protests over the coming months, and this years July 1 protest march will probably outdo last years turnout of 500,000.
And as for democracy? Personally, I have to admit I'm not that bothered. At the risk of expounding a slightly contrarian view I'm not entirely sure universal suffrage is such a great idea anyway.
I've never understood why people assume every moron should be able to vote. The debacle in Florida in the last presidential elections in the States proves my point. If people are too stupid to be able to put a mark next to the correct name or make a hole in the right part of the ballot paper then frankly I don't think they should have a say in who leads the country. How can they be expected to make a rational and informed choice about a leader in light of the candidates proposed fiscal policies, budgets, taxes, domestic and foreign policies etc etc when they can't understand a piece of paper with a list of names on it?
I'm afraid the freedoms I mentioned earlier are way more important to me than universal suffrage. I'll be on the street (or more lilkely a plane) when they start to "interpret" those but the democracy thing doesn't get me going I'm afraid.
Surprise surprise. China has decided that is has the final say in Hong Kongs political development and so effectively has a power of veto over any move to universal suffrage.
Given that China brutally and effectively suppresses any dissent or talk of democracy, I don't really think anyone could have expected any other outcome. They can't let democracy get a foothold here as it is bound to lead to discontent on the mainland.
Unfortunately for Beijing they do not control the Hong Kong population, and have no power to lock up dissenters or leaders of oppostion we do still have freedom of extpression and assembly here... for the moment. All this "internpretation" is likely to do is lead to further protests over the coming months, and this years July 1 protest march will probably outdo last years turnout of 500,000.
And as for democracy? Personally, I have to admit I'm not that bothered. At the risk of expounding a slightly contrarian view I'm not entirely sure universal suffrage is such a great idea anyway.
I've never understood why people assume every moron should be able to vote. The debacle in Florida in the last presidential elections in the States proves my point. If people are too stupid to be able to put a mark next to the correct name or make a hole in the right part of the ballot paper then frankly I don't think they should have a say in who leads the country. How can they be expected to make a rational and informed choice about a leader in light of the candidates proposed fiscal policies, budgets, taxes, domestic and foreign policies etc etc when they can't understand a piece of paper with a list of names on it?
I'm afraid the freedoms I mentioned earlier are way more important to me than universal suffrage. I'll be on the street (or more lilkely a plane) when they start to "interpret" those but the democracy thing doesn't get me going I'm afraid.
Friday, April 02, 2004
TAX - IT'S ALL A MATTER OF INTERPRETATION
It's that time of the year again, when the average Hong Kong salaryman has to cough up part II of their annual tax payments. Across the city expats and locals alike are scribbling out large cheques, smudging their signatures with tears at the thouht that the payments are going to support the cringeworthy Tung Chee-Hwa and his grubby little cabal of pro-Beijing legisaltors and land development billionaires who are desperately trying to ensure their side of the bread remains buttered during the current "debate" on democracy.
But perhaps there's a way out of the payment, and a way to strike a blow that will be heard, unlike the efforts of the penniless students.
In keeping with the current trend to "reinterpret" perfectly clear English phrases such as "subsequent to the year 2007" to mean "never" and "such amendments must be made with the endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Legco and the consent of the chief executive, and they shall be reported to the NPC Standing Committee for approval." to mean "you'll never get approval and you'll never have democracy so give up now before we send the tanks in", if we all stood together and reinterpreted "your payment of $xxx is due by x April. Late payment will incur an automatic fine" to mean "no need to pay" then that would hit the HK and Beijing Governments in the only place they really hurt - the wallet!
Of course we won't, because when it comes down to it we're all looking after no.1 and if we did refuse to pay then we would at best have our visas revoked and be thrown out of the country and back to our homelands and their lovely 40%+ tax rates, and at worst spend a bit of time in one of Hong Kongs, or even Beijings, correctional institutes, but it's a fine thought.
If only I had principles.
It's that time of the year again, when the average Hong Kong salaryman has to cough up part II of their annual tax payments. Across the city expats and locals alike are scribbling out large cheques, smudging their signatures with tears at the thouht that the payments are going to support the cringeworthy Tung Chee-Hwa and his grubby little cabal of pro-Beijing legisaltors and land development billionaires who are desperately trying to ensure their side of the bread remains buttered during the current "debate" on democracy.
But perhaps there's a way out of the payment, and a way to strike a blow that will be heard, unlike the efforts of the penniless students.
In keeping with the current trend to "reinterpret" perfectly clear English phrases such as "subsequent to the year 2007" to mean "never" and "such amendments must be made with the endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Legco and the consent of the chief executive, and they shall be reported to the NPC Standing Committee for approval." to mean "you'll never get approval and you'll never have democracy so give up now before we send the tanks in", if we all stood together and reinterpreted "your payment of $xxx is due by x April. Late payment will incur an automatic fine" to mean "no need to pay" then that would hit the HK and Beijing Governments in the only place they really hurt - the wallet!
Of course we won't, because when it comes down to it we're all looking after no.1 and if we did refuse to pay then we would at best have our visas revoked and be thrown out of the country and back to our homelands and their lovely 40%+ tax rates, and at worst spend a bit of time in one of Hong Kongs, or even Beijings, correctional institutes, but it's a fine thought.
If only I had principles.
MEGAPHONES (and a bit of civil disturbance)
Last night there was the Hong Kong equivalent of a riot. This consisted of about 20 students, protesting at Beijings decision to poke their noses into the Basic Law again, who broke through a police barrier and stood below Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa's office and demanding to talk to him. They then sat down and linked arms, refusing to move.
In Hong Kong this counts as civil disturbance of the highest order, although at least here it is tolerated unlike some chinese-led countries I can think of.
Anyway before the bulk of them did disperse (no doubt to do their homework - this is HK after all and so is one of the few places in the world where students would break up an anti-government protest to study and get some sleep) they were apparently chanting slogans through their megaphones and generally being a bit of a pain.
Clearly both sides are planning for more of the same today. As I came in this morning I walked past the government building and saw several police vans and policemen, looking as menacing as being 5 foot 4 and wearing flourescent green anoraks will allow, and then just down Battery Path walked past a straggle of students, who, having had a good 8 hours sober sleep after finishing their essays, were making their way up the hill for a brief restart to their protests before they all go to lectures, carrying their megaphones and a good warming bowl of congee each.
This got me thinking.
Megaphones. Where do they get them?
Student protests the world over are invariably led by a pimply youth in ill-fitting clothing armed with a megaphone, and yet in all my life I have never ever seen any shop or warehouse anywhere in the world, offering to sell, hire, lease or even give away megaphones. So where do they all come from? Is there some student owned sweatshop somewhere that is churning these things out in secret and distributing them amongst the worlds spotty adolescents so they can make their tremulous little voices heard? we should be told!
Last night there was the Hong Kong equivalent of a riot. This consisted of about 20 students, protesting at Beijings decision to poke their noses into the Basic Law again, who broke through a police barrier and stood below Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa's office and demanding to talk to him. They then sat down and linked arms, refusing to move.
In Hong Kong this counts as civil disturbance of the highest order, although at least here it is tolerated unlike some chinese-led countries I can think of.
Anyway before the bulk of them did disperse (no doubt to do their homework - this is HK after all and so is one of the few places in the world where students would break up an anti-government protest to study and get some sleep) they were apparently chanting slogans through their megaphones and generally being a bit of a pain.
Clearly both sides are planning for more of the same today. As I came in this morning I walked past the government building and saw several police vans and policemen, looking as menacing as being 5 foot 4 and wearing flourescent green anoraks will allow, and then just down Battery Path walked past a straggle of students, who, having had a good 8 hours sober sleep after finishing their essays, were making their way up the hill for a brief restart to their protests before they all go to lectures, carrying their megaphones and a good warming bowl of congee each.
This got me thinking.
Megaphones. Where do they get them?
Student protests the world over are invariably led by a pimply youth in ill-fitting clothing armed with a megaphone, and yet in all my life I have never ever seen any shop or warehouse anywhere in the world, offering to sell, hire, lease or even give away megaphones. So where do they all come from? Is there some student owned sweatshop somewhere that is churning these things out in secret and distributing them amongst the worlds spotty adolescents so they can make their tremulous little voices heard? we should be told!
Thursday, April 01, 2004
APATHY - PART 2
Have decided it's the weather! I left the UK precisely to avoid the sort of weather we are now having. I used to hibernate in the UK during the winter cos it was so effing miserable, and only weekend ski trips and 6 nations rugby kept me going.
Roll on summer and a good bit of heat and sunshine I say. Lots of the expats and locals here moan about how hot it is in the summer but I love it. And even though it rains a lot it just like having a warm shower - not like that miserable english rain that just makes you slowly get colder and colder. I'll chirp up when either the sun comes out or the mercury hits 30 degrees, in the meantime expect doom and gloom.
Have decided it's the weather! I left the UK precisely to avoid the sort of weather we are now having. I used to hibernate in the UK during the winter cos it was so effing miserable, and only weekend ski trips and 6 nations rugby kept me going.
Roll on summer and a good bit of heat and sunshine I say. Lots of the expats and locals here moan about how hot it is in the summer but I love it. And even though it rains a lot it just like having a warm shower - not like that miserable english rain that just makes you slowly get colder and colder. I'll chirp up when either the sun comes out or the mercury hits 30 degrees, in the meantime expect doom and gloom.
KILLINGS IN FALLUJA
This has roused me from my apathy. While I am deeply suspicious of the real reasons for the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and very cycnical about the whole thing being just a way to guarantee a friendly major oil-producer for the States, I also don't think anyone deserves to be killed, cut into small pieces, burnt and then hung from a bridge - especially if they are merely trying to deliver food as appears to have been the case.
It is also quite sickening to see anyone rejoice at this.
So I actually admire the U.S restraint that has been shown. From the coverage on CNN it seems the whole town was involved so it must have been sorely tempting for the Americans to simply block off the roads and massacre every one of the little bastards, preferably with blunt, rusty machetes to save bullets and ensure plenty of pain. In fact the more I see it on CNN the more I am sure if I was in charge I would have given in to such temptation.
Sadly though it does show that the U.S. may have got itself into a bit of a hole. If they clamp down and meet fire with fire, a la Israel, then they will just escalate things (as the Israelis have shown), If they leave (either before or after a new governement is up and running) these people will claim victory and no doubt attempt to take over the country again, if they stay they will be subject to more of these attacks.
Not sure there is an answer to the problem.
This has roused me from my apathy. While I am deeply suspicious of the real reasons for the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and very cycnical about the whole thing being just a way to guarantee a friendly major oil-producer for the States, I also don't think anyone deserves to be killed, cut into small pieces, burnt and then hung from a bridge - especially if they are merely trying to deliver food as appears to have been the case.
It is also quite sickening to see anyone rejoice at this.
So I actually admire the U.S restraint that has been shown. From the coverage on CNN it seems the whole town was involved so it must have been sorely tempting for the Americans to simply block off the roads and massacre every one of the little bastards, preferably with blunt, rusty machetes to save bullets and ensure plenty of pain. In fact the more I see it on CNN the more I am sure if I was in charge I would have given in to such temptation.
Sadly though it does show that the U.S. may have got itself into a bit of a hole. If they clamp down and meet fire with fire, a la Israel, then they will just escalate things (as the Israelis have shown), If they leave (either before or after a new governement is up and running) these people will claim victory and no doubt attempt to take over the country again, if they stay they will be subject to more of these attacks.
Not sure there is an answer to the problem.