Hong Kong Government
Sometimes the government does something that cries out for comment. You’ll find that here.
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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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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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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Music Riots In the Park
A group of musicians and their fans engaged in a scuffle Sunday with Leisure and Cultural Services Officers, responding to noise complaints and trying to shut down their performance in Tuen Mun Park.
Was this a group of young, hip, funky musicians and their rowdy, beer-soaked fans? No. These musicians are well into senior status as are their fans and they play and dance to Chinese Folk Music.
Date: May 17th, 2006 |
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Does an Expat Package Indicate Racism?
Calling a law that requires employers to justify what they are offering to overseas employees an “anti-racism” law has me confused. Anything that benefits one race over another is by definition racist. The proposed law would not allow an employer to offer generous benefits such as housing, education, etc. unless they can prove that such expertise is not available locally. It is obviously aimed at U.S. and European and perhaps Japanese, companies that want to bring in their own people and have traditionally offered them certain benefits to make the overseas posting attractive.
It appears to me that the assumption behind …
Date: May 11th, 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 Pollution
As a follow-up to yesterday’s posting, I noticed in today’s South China Morning Post that much of Hong Kong’s polution is blown down the Pearl River Delta from Foshan.
Foshan is the home of hundreds of ceramic, cement and furniture factories spewing stuff into the atmosphere. There is little enforcement of the already weak air-quality laws.
Foshan Ceramics Factory
Date: June 9th, 2006 |
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Hong Kong Destroys Its Heritage
I wish I could say I was surprised when the Antiquities Advisory Board, in a closed door meeting, voted to demolish the colonial-era, Bauhaus style Central Market. Instead, in an act of supreme foolishness, they recommended that detailed photos of it be taken for display in the future.
Even though the architects on the board disagreed, one of them actually walking out on the meeting. The board decided it wasn’t even genuine Bauhaus and that there were other buildings in Hong Kong in this style, some of them even more attractive and having more architectural merit: this in spite of 80% of interviewed architects desiring to retain the building in some form.
The fact that the site will fetch in the neighborhood of HK$5.8 billion at auction, I’m sure had nothing to do with the decision. Developers could be heard licking their chops from miles away.
Date: May 21st, 2006 |
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Does an Expat Package Indicate Racism? (Part Two)
Continued from yesterday:
I wanted to take an extra day to think some more about the implications of what the government is trying to do with its so-called “anti-racism bill. It certainly isn’t to wipe out racism as anyone with dark skin who has tried to rent a flat will attest. Nor does the government seem interested in alleviating the prejudice and racism, the 225,000 domestic helpers face every day. Instead it is focusing on the few hundreds of expats who have benefits that differ from those given to local hires.
My wife and I are U. S. citizens and permanent residents. Both of us, when we were employed, have always worked here on local terms. Quite frankly, this gave us an advantage over expats who needed an “expat package.” As anyone in Human Resources will tell you, the “expat package” is going the way of the dodo bird whether the government passes the bill in question or not. It’s just bad business to over-pay expats. One company I am associated with has reduced its Hong Kong expat staff from over 30 to one, in the last 20 years
Date: May 15th, 2006 |
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Another Reason to Love Living in Hong Kong
Without going into the excruciatingly painful details, this morning, a sunny Saturday, I found myself needing to get my ATM cards re-issued, get my American Express Card re-issued, get a replacement drivers license and a replacement ID card and accomplish all this before a Monday evening departure on a month-long trip to the U.S.
After a restless night during which I convinced myself that I was going to have to postpone my departure at considerable cost, I left my flat around 9:30 AM to try to accomplish what I thought was impossible. By 1:30 PM, I was sitting in my favorite bar having lunch and relating to my friends how I had indeed accomplished the impossible.
Date: April 1st, 2006 |
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