Hong Kong Personal Information
Stuff about me, Ed Hahn. Who I am colors everything I write. This is not an impersonal blog.
Food Is All in Hong Kong
I recently attended the Hong Kong Food Expo at the Convention Center.
My wife, Pam, and I intended to go on Sunday afternoon, thinking it would be a pleasant way of killing a rainy PM, snacking our way around the hundreds of exhibitor booths.
WRONG! The crush to get anywhere near the entrance was such that we decided to hit the nearby Pacific Coffee outlet and have a light lunch.
The next day, which was the last day of the Expo, I decided to see what all the excitement was about. I figured since it was Monday and the last day the crowds would have diminshed considerably.
Date: August 23rd, 2006 |
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Good News and Bad News
Depending on how you look at it, both items could be good news.
In the same spirit that moves Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, the Liu family of Hong Kong announced that they are not going to sell the family 3 hectare garden in Kowloon to a developer as was originally planned but instead will set it up in a trust so that it can be made available to all.
This is good news for all the people of Hong Kong who are concerned at the continued development of both sides of the harbor. There must be some balance between development and …
Date: July 13th, 2006 |
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Shopping and Pollution in Hong Kong
At the risk of sounding less than humble, I noticed in today’s South China Morning Post that there has been verification of what I wrote in two of my recent postings.
One headline stated, “Hong Kong the world champion at sport of shopping.” The article went on to point out that an ACNielson study found Hong Kong had the highest concentration of “recreational shoppers,” those who shop for entertainment rather than necessities. The percentage is an astounding 93%, tied with Indonesia for highest in Asia. The regional average was 84% compared with 68% in the U.S. As I said in my recent posting Hong Kong people would run away with a Shopping World Cup.
As a member of the 7% minority I am at a loss to understand why this is true. Perhaps some of you readers have an idea or two. Maybe people just want to get indoors and away from the air pollution.
Date: June 16th, 2006 |
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Hong Kong Versus Singapore - Shopping and Eating.
Number three in a continuing series.
Shopping
Hong Kong has a reputation as a shopper’s paradise. I’m not so sure that is still true. The Designer outlets in Hong Kong are as expensive as they are anywhere else I’ve been. The electronics and camera stores offer no real bargains and, especially in Tsim Sha Tsui, are likely to try and rip you off. I buy my electronics at “Fortress” or “Broadway,” two local chains. I buy my camera equipment in the U.S. or on-line.
Date: June 4th, 2006 |
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Hong Kong Versus Singapore - Dead Heat
Five days ago I announced that I was Off to Singapore and promised to draw some comparisons on my return.
Among Westerners who have been in Hong Kong for a while, there’s a phrase used to put down those who live in Singapore, “Singapore is Asia for beginners.” I’ve also heard it referred to as, “Asia Lite.”
The Merlion, A Symbol of Singapore
As with any generalization, there is a certain amount of truth to what people say. However, Singapore need never feel like a second city to Hong …
Date: May 31st, 2006 |
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Back in Hong Kong: Missed the Chaos
Hong Kong was visited by a typhoon, Prapiroon, which threw the air traffic situation into total chaos. Hundreds of flights were cancelled or diverted. Thousands of people spent the night at the airport.
The Hong Kong Observatory hoisted a number 3 signal instead of a number 8. Their criteria had to do with the wind force at Victoria Harbor. So even though the winds did not reach 100 KMH there they were over 200 KMH at the airport. Times have changed since the current system was installed in 1917. Boats are not the major concern, anymore. In true bureaucratic fashion the Observatory said they acted just as they were supposed to without acknowledging that following the rules to the letter put people’s lives in danger and helped create a mess at Chek Lap Kok Airport.
Date: August 6th, 2006 |
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Pollution, Rent and Salaries in Hong Kong
In Sunday’s South China Morning Post I was not surprised to read that Western expatriates were asking for a premium to move to Hong Kong. This was particularly true if they were already based in Singapore.
Two reasons were given: pollution and high rents. Now that the SARS crisis has faded into a distant memory and the 1997 property price collapse is ancient history; rents, especially at the top end, are rising faster than a North Korean rocket. That is not even taking commercial and retail shop rents into account which are also moving up very fast.
Date: June 25th, 2006 |
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Hong Kong Versus Singapore - Summary
This is the last entry in the series.
Up to now it’s pretty much been a tie between the two cities. I haven’t said anything about economics because I’ve been retired for a few years. However, Hong Kong does appear to have an edge for businesses, especially manufacturing because of it being so near China. I know of a number of companies that have moved to Singapore because it is cheaper to do business and to live in Singapore than in Hong Kong. I’ve never followed up, though, to see if it’s true.
One area in which Singapore has a clear advantage is air pollution. The South China Morning Post, just today, quoted a study done by three Hong Kong Universities and a local think-tank that pegged the direct cost of pollution in Hong Kong at HK$2 Billion (US$260 Million) and 1600 lives a year. They estimate HK$19 Billion in indirect costs. To quote the late U.S. Senator Everett Dirkson, “A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you’re talking real money.”
Pollution over Victoria Harbor
Date: June 9th, 2006 |
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Hong Kong Versus Singapore - Coming and Going
Two days ago I started to compare Hong Kong and Singapore, and then I got distracted by the Dragon Boat races so I want to continue what I started.
Airports
For years I believed that Changi Airport in Singapore was the best airport in the world. Now that Hong Kong has Chek Lap Kok, Singapore has some competition.
Date: June 2nd, 2006 |
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Off to Singapore
There was a time when Hong Kong saw Singapore as its main competitor for S.E. Asian Commercial superiority. It now seems to be Shanghai that the Hong Kong boosters are most worried about.
I spent a lot of time in Singapore from 1993 -1996. I’ve only been back two or three times in the last ten years. I will be spending a long week-end in the Lion City and I’m curious as to what has changed and how it compares with Hong Kong today.
Date: May 25th, 2006 |
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