Critique means to comment on something either postively or negatively to provide the reader with a different insight on the issue.
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 …
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To no one’s surprise, it was just announced that 2000 or over 12% of English Language teachers have failed their certification tests. They have had 3 years to prepare and are allowed to take the test multiple times but now the final deadline is approaching and many of those teaching English will either have to leave or teach something else.
The problem isn’t so much reading and writing as it is listening and speaking. I have previously written about the decline in English Language skills in Hong Kong in an article on comprehension and in another posting on the difficulty of making oneself understood. These problems arise even in situations where the person is in a position where English Language skills are required.
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