Hong Kong Current Events
Comments on Hong Kong events in the news recently.
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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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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Marching for Democracy or Not!
Yesterday, July 1, was the 9th anniversary of the British hand-over of Hong Kong to the Chinese government. It was marked by two very different celebrations.
Date: July 2nd, 2006 |
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Hong Kong’s Very Own World Cup - Shopping
The Hong Kong Tourism Board announced a two month Shopping Festival in an attempt to lure tourists who are not caught up in World Cup fever.
There has never been any doubt that Hong Kong people are World Class shoppers. I guess that now they will have some competition from tourists lured here by the opportunity to spend HK$300.00 in order to be eligible to win one of 113 prizes totally worth about HK$2.7 million.
Happy Shoppers Celebrating Maxing Out their Credit Cards!
Date: June 12th, 2006 |
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Protesting the Tiananmen Square Crack-down
June fourth marks the 17 year anniversary of Chinese troops violently ending the democratic demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. Hong Kong’s Victoria Park is the only place on Chinese soil where candles are lit every year in memory of the hundreds that were killed that night.
Victoria Park, June 4, 2006
The organizers estimated that 44,000 people attended the event. The police put the figure at 19,000. Donald Tsang, Hong Kong’s CEO was out of town but put out a statement basically suggesting that the whole matter be put in …
Date: June 5th, 2006 |
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Lights Out in Hong Kong
Tonight’s the night for Hong Kong’s lights Out” campaign to focus attention on the deteriorating air quality in Hong Kong.
Not everyone is participating, though. Chief Executive Donald Tsang has opted out because he says it “could give adverse publicity to Hong Kong…” This means the Symphony of Lights will go on as usual at 8:00 PM.
Those participating will turn their lights out for three minutes at 8:00 PM in order to draw attention to the pollution issue in Hong Kong. I’m not sure that just stepping outside and taking a deep breath won’t do the job but activists will be …
Date: August 7th, 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 - 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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Dragon Boat Races
My ongoing comparison of Hong and Singapore will have to wait.
Yesterday Hong Kong celebrated the Tuen Ng Festival, which commemorates the death of a popular Chinese national hero, Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mi Lo River over 2,000 years ago to protest against corrupt rulers. Legend has it that as townspeople attempted to rescue him, they beat drums to scare fish away and threw dumplings into the sea to keep the fish from eating Qu Yuan’s body.
Dragon Boat races are a major part of the festival. Participants train for months. Sitting two abreast, with a steersman at the back and a drummer at the front, the paddlers race to reach the finishing line, urged on by the pounding drum.
Date: May 31st, 2006 |
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