Category: Life in Hong Kong
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Sun Gai Gweilo on Gweilos’ choice of cars: You seldom see “old bangers” on the roads in Hong Kong. Even the delivery vans are in good nick. But have a walk around the car park at a mini rugby event and you’ll find Saabs, Volkswagons, Audis, Rovers, old BMWs and other Eurotrash. Then take a…
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On the vexed question of whether this might be a “Golden Pig” year, there’s more nonsense from the SCMP: LUNAR NEW YEARDoomsayers warn that rush to have ‘piglets’ will backfire LILLIAN YANG Mainland couples have gone hog wild about having children in what is considered a lucky lunar year according to traditional Chinese beliefs. But…
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I was watching the news on Cable TV last night, and they had a strange story about a woman who had gone shopping for fish maw in China but been sold a rabbit’s ear instead. They even had a rabbit ear expert confirming that it was indeed a rabbit ear – by putting a pencil…
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According to Saturday’s SCMP (subscription required), shops are now reluctant to accept small change because the banks charge them so much for depositing coins. If you try to pay with 10 cent or 20 cent coins they will not be happy. A South China Morning Post reporter who tried to pay for a HK$2.50 steamed…
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From the SCMP: The government proposes spending nearly HK$200 million to upgrade computer systems at public libraries to meet growing demand. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department plans a trial in six libraries of a new identification tag system to replace bar codes. A paper to be discussed by legislators on Friday says it would…
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Just before Christmas, the SCMP’s Post Magazine had an article moaning about how long it takes for many top US & UK TV shows to make their way on to our local channels. Which is true, but all things considered I think we should be grateful for what we get. English is an official language…
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Mannings are currently advertising "25% off everything*", but if this were true their shops would be overrun with bargain-hunters. The reality is that this offer is so limited as to be meaningless. Firstly they have a long list of brands and product types that are excluded. Then they say that it does not apply to…
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This made me laugh: “Knocking down somebody’s home is not a simple matter, although we use professional social workers to help.” – Tsang Cheung-chuen, Assistant Director of Buildings I wonder how they help? Maybe they keep a large sledgehammer in the office for just such an occasion, or perhaps they are trained to use wrecking balls…
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The BBC had a story last week about the Beijing authorities efforts to improve the quality of English (Beijing stamps out poor English) and a follow-up with some examples sent in by readers (Signs in ‘Chinglish’). This is indeed a rich vein of comedy, but one that is fraught with difficulties. So I try to…
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I was slightly surprised to see that France is going to ban smoking in public places (including bars and restaurants). About 15 years ago they introduced a law which was supposed to make it mandatory to have a no-smoking area in all bars and restaurants, but my experience was that this was largely ignored (at least in…
Ordinary Gweilo 