No Germs

22  Jan . 2012 - Photographer Ton Koene is in Hong Kong, and I hope he does not mind that I took one of his pictures for my blog. I used to work Ton in MSF, and I admire how has been able to carve out a successful career as a photographer for himself. His book with pictures from Afghanistan is a "must have". It is also very interesting to see how Ton portrays Hong Kong. From his pictures and comments (eg. on Facebook) he seems fascinated by the 'City of Buzz", but he also captures the somewhat awkward and "clean" side of Hong Kong very well. He already posted some beautiful pictures of the concrete jungle and of some of Hog Kong's most eccentric creatures , but I also love this picture, as it so well captures the paranoia for ... well... practically everything 'unclean'. Thanks Ton Koene - and please visit his website www.tonkoene.nl for more eye candy.

Legionnaires' Disease

3 Jan. 2012 - Hong Kong's brand-new government headquarters compound is contaminated with a bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease, officials have confirmed. Health officials conducted an investigation after a minister was hospitalised with the potentially fatal disease last month. Traces of the bacteria were found to be up to 14 times above acceptable levels. Authorities are now disinfecting the buildings. Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection has been collecting water samples from various sites in the new Central Government Offices after Education Secretary Michael Suen was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease last month. Samples collected from various toilets - including those at the office of Chief Executive Donald Tsang - tested positive for Legionella pneumophila, said a a government statement. Other trouble spots include water taps inside the kitchens of a canteen and the Dining Hall in the Legislative Council Complex. Wong Kwok-hing, a pro-Beijing unionist legislator, has described the news as a "scandal". He says government offices and the legislature should return to their original locations if the situation gets worse, reported local public broadcaster RTHK. However Dr Thomas Tsang, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, said there was no need for officials to stay away from the new building. The HK$5.5bn site ($708m; £455m) was officially opened last August by Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang. Back then, most of the site was still undergoing engineering work.  Former legislator and physician Lo Wing-lok blamed a rushed move into the new compound for the presence of the deadly bug

Fur

9 March 2011 - With many thanks to the Big White Guy in the City of Buzz, I blog about fur today. Local newspapers reports that Hong Kong is the fur hub of the world, handling 70 per cent of globe's raw furs and 80 per cent of its processed furs. Unsurprisingly, mainland China is the biggest market. It seems odd that furs come through a city which is so hot and humid much of the year, but there it is.The article made no mention of the ethics of the fur trade, but that's not to say there haven't been protests against fur in the Big Lychee. Ethics regarding animals are quite different in the motherland and changing minds isn't easy, especially when it's so cold in northern China, and certainly when increasing numbers of wealthy mainlanders are eager to display their status.Hong Kongers have no reason to wear fur; it rarely gets much colder in the winter than 5C, and trying to prevent mold damage would be a never-ending battle. For those who want the real thing regardless, recycled furs may be the ticket: they don't involve the cruelty often perpetrated by the fur industry, and they don't involve the use of petroleum products and toxic chemicals in the manufacture of fake fur.Once fur traders figure that out, you can be certain that Hong Kong will capture the world market for recycled furs as well.

Sopranos in Hong Kong

21 Jan 2011 - A copied this pice for the blogger BigWhiteGuy in Hong Kong. Never piss off a Hong Kong triad member, because they can hold a grudge. One might recall the 2009 murder of a triad member outside the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel. It turns out that was precipitated by a bar fight involving dozens of triads in 2006, in which the Red Pole smashed a whiskey bottle over the head of a rival gangster, causing loss of face and leaving him with a scar running down the right side of his face and throat (a literal loss of face, I would say). That's when the plotting began, culminating in the attack three years later, which saw the victim hit by a car and then hacked with knives.And the reason for the bar fight? Because one triad shouted at a bar girl. Rude behavior led to someone getting whacked. If it weren't Chinese it could have been an episode of The Sopranos.

Man in Disguise

8 Nov 2010 - A young Chinese man, who boarded an Air Canada flight in Hong Kong elaborately disguised as an elderly white male, is seeking refugee status in Canada. Border officials were stunned and called it an "unbelievable case of concealment". The man boarded the flight in Hong Kong wearing a remarkable silicone mask to make him look like an elderly man, which obviously worked. The man boarded the flight as an elderly Caucasian who appeared to have youthful looking hands. During the flight he went to the washroom and re-appeared as a young Asian male in his early 20s. Reports said the man had a bag with him with the silicon head, a brown leather cap, glasses and a think brown cardigan. Some passengers and cabin crew thought the man had swapped seats during the flight. The reports did not say if his Passport name revealed the name Bond or Houdini (the cartoon is from the SCMP).

SARS Thriller

17 Oct 2010 - Last week Hollywood Director Steven Soderbergh re-created flashbacks of the SARS era in the territory, while filing for his new blockbuster movie Contagion. The action thriller about the spread of a deadly virus starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Marion Cotillard is among the handful production that have been allowed to film in Hong Kong's International Airport's no-go zones. One scene filmed at the airport featured Paltrow and Coutillard playing WHO experts. Earlier last week, both ladies were seen at Aberdeen's Tai Pak Floating Restaurant, which was transformed into a casino set. Other scenes were filmed in To Kwa Wan, Mong Kok and Shek O. Around 300 people were hired for a scene in a To Kwa wan factory doubling as the home of "patient zero". The 300 amateur actors played an army of medical staff who turned up to sterilize the apartment.

Welcome to Hong Kong

6 Oct 2010 - A lot has been said after the "Bus Auntie" incident - tour guide Li Hau-chun caught on video scolding her mainland tourist group for not shopping enough. But the story does not end there. Last week Taiwanese tourists visited a pharmacy in Tsim Sha Tsui, where they pay for a jar of ointment with a HKD 100 note. When the staff returns HKD 32, they wonder whether they have been conned. The group visits several other pharmacies and discover that the ointment is sold for around HKD 25. Two days later, they return to the pharmacy and ask for a refund. The staff refuses and throws items at them. One of the tourists films the whole saga on video and uploads it to YouTube. It is another bad example of the greedy mentality of Hong Kong folks. The video causes an outrage in Taiwan.

Wharf T&T

5 Oct 2010 - I am trying to close my accounts and utilities, which led to the following discussion with Wharff T&T hotline Customer Services Officer (remember that word) after one month of trying to end my telephone contract:
Me: I like to terminate the contract for my landline telephone number bla-bla-bla
Wharff T&T: One moment please ........
(long silence)
Wharff T&T: That number is already canceled, sir.
Me: I see. But I am using it right now ... it is still functioning ....!??
Wharff T&T: Our records show it is closed, sir.
Me: ... eh .... OK, so how much is the final payment?
Wharff T&T: We will send you the bill by the end of the month.
Me: Unfortunately I will leave 15 OCT to Europe, as communicated one month ago.
Wharff T&T: I see. Can you return from Europe to Hong Kong to collect the bill?
Me: Excuse me, you want me to fly from Europe Hong Kong to make the final payment?
Wharff T&T: Yes please.
Me: Will Wharff T&T pay for my ticket?
Wharff T&T (dead serious): That is not in our company policy, sir.
Me: Then I am afraid it is not not possible for me to return to Hong Kong
Wharff T&T: You will have to make the final payment, sir.
Me: I understand, so how can I do that?
Wharff T&T: Please call our hotline for advice. Good bye! (click & gone)
Me: %^%#$$)&^#!O*__*&*&(**%^%%$#$
I feel I am in a slapstick movie ...........

What a Way to Go ...

17 Sep 2010 - Most us aim to have some control over lives, but we rarely can control our death. People die in all kind of extreme circumstances, but the recent death of a Hong Kong cleaner is probably one of the most unfortunate examples in quite some die. The poor man was doing his duties and cleaning the halls of one of Hong Kong's high rise building, but slips when throwing garbage into the refuse chute and tumbles 19 floors down. He is seriously injured, but - as autopsy later shows - survives. However, he looses consciousness and gets buried in the trash. Hidden in the trash, he is loaded onto a rubbish truck and taken to a refuse transfer station, where his body is not noticed. Instead, he is dumped on a landfill site, where he is later found after his employer alarms the police.

Lyndhurst Terrace

14 Sep 2010 - Lyndhurst Terrace in Hong Kong's Central district is one of the most buzzing streets in the Big Lychee. But little is known about the history of the street. It's name is a good example of the history and the culture of the city. The English name reflects the history of the colonial power, as John Lyndhurst was an assistant magistrate in the 19th century. More interesting is the Chinese name, which loosely translates as "Arrange Flowers street". Lyndhurst Terrace used to be lined with upscale brothels and flower shops made good business with men buying a bouquet for their love for the night. Sometimes it is a pity that the English street names do not truely reflect the city's past. And one wonders how long Hong Kong will hold on to some of the colonial street names?

Gai Daan Tsai

12 Sep 2010 - People come from all over the world to enjoy Hong Kong's food delights. Although everything from Lebanese to Dutch is available, the Cantonese kitchen is of course a major attraction. Sadly, Hong Kong's street food stalls are slowly but steadily disappearing. One of the city's street food treat is the gai daan tsai, a golden cake of miniature eggs-shaped balls attached to each other like a piece of oversized bubble wrap. The origins of the gai daan tsai are not clear. Some say the post-war generation created the cake to make up for their eggless diet, but others say street hawkers bought damaged eggs on the cheap to work them into a batter, resulting in the golden color. These Hong Kong waffles look easy to make, but attempts in the home kitchen often turn out to be a disappointment. So better support the street stalls and buy from the experts.

Voting Diplomats

29 Aug 2010 - There is an ongoing debate in Hong Kong about universal suffrage for the Hong Kong people. So I was surprised to read in HK Magazine that some diplomats in the territory can vote. Among the seven million people in Hong Kong, only 226,000 people are eligible to vote for the functional constituencies in the Legislative Council (Legco). So it is astonishing that Cable TV discovered that some foreign delegates stationed in Hong Kong actually are eligible to vote too, because they are members of the chamber of commerce in Hong Kong. They can vote for the legislator representing the commerce sector. It means that even the de facto Taiwan representatives, not immediately China's best friends, can vote, while millions of Hong Kong residents can not. How absurd is that?

Madame Tussauds

29 Aug 2010 - I have never been to the Madame Tussauds Museum on The Hong Kong Peak. I remember seeing the waxed figures for the first time in London many years ago, and they looked somewhat scary - almost ghost-like. Also, most wax figures did not really look like the original, because there was no light in their eyes and no soul in their guts. Madame Tussauds Hong Kong Manager Kitty Tang explained in an interview how her staff walks around every morning from 8 am to 10 am to ensure the wax figures look perfect. The hair needs to be tidied and they need to zip up the male figure's pants as visitors are very curious to see if some special body parts are wax as well. Shirts need to be replaced because they get covered with lipstick. People also shake hands with the figures, so a set of spare hands is available because the hands get dirty. The most popular figures in Hong Kong are Jackie Chan and Andy Lau. Unzipped and covered in lipstick.  

Prayer Phone

28 Aug 2010 - It is Ramadan, and Pakistan is flooded. But business in Hong Kong's Chunking Mansions is booming. One of the best-selling items is a prayer phone for Muslims. The phone - made in China - is equipped with Urdu software and comes with a 'mini sound box' to broadcast the call to prayer. Salesman Tony says the Chinese can copy everything ("even Ferraris") and explains that he sold 25,000 copies if the prayer phone last month alone (that is no typing error!). The phone is made to order for the Pakistani market. The "China phones" have unrecognizable brand names such as S-names or Asmara, but are in high demand in the developing world. Prof. Gordon Matthews from CUHK estimates that about 20% of all mobile phones in circulation in Africa has passed through the Chungkong Mansions complex. That is pretty impressive for the stuffy labyrinth.

823

24 Aug 2010 - Today's rains over Hong Kong were highly symbolic, as the heavens are crying over the useless death of eight Hong Kong citizens in the hijacking of a tourist bus in Manilla. Frankly put, it is a terrible day. An overwhelming sentiment that things could have been handled very differently and that precious lives could have been saved remains. Some people have commented that events like the bus siege happen every day all over the world and that we should learn to live with it. They may be right, but I find their approach unsatisfactory and somewhat offensive. It is understandable that anger, disbelief and frustration fly high in Hong Kong, but I am just as shocked that some Hong Kong citizens have sacked their Philippino domestic workers in anger of the hostage situation. The Chinese and Hong Kong Government should put pressure on the Philippines Government to investigate how the crisis was handled. Hong Kong people should come to terms with the reality that the world is a dangerous place, and that shit happens. However, we should not just "get on with it", but pay respect to the victims of this terrible crisis.

Cape D'Aguilar

22 Aug 2010 - Cape D'Aguilar (or Hok Tsui) is not in South Africa or Chile, but in Hong Kong. It is the name of a tip at the southeast of Hong Kong island.  There is not much going on except for sea, rocks and some sea-birds, but it is the location of the first lighthouse of the territory. It watches over the entrance of Victoria Harbor and the waters facing the South China Sea. The existing structure is a white, round stone tower of about 10 meters high. The tower base, the arched doorway and the circular staircase are of fine masonry, and it is a declared monument of Hong Kong. The lighthouse became superfluous with the operation of Waglan island lighthouse in 1896 (!), However, the Cape D\Aguilar lighthouse was re-lit in 1975, and is now under the management of the Marine Department.

Discovery Rules

22 Aug 2010 - Do you remember the movie The Truman Show with Jim Carey, when an insurance salesman discovers that his life is actually staged in a TV show? Well, a similar environment exists in Hong Kong's Discovery Bay. The area bills itself for its luxury and relaxed way of living, but big brother is always watching. The Discovery Bay Management has recently sent a CD containing a PDF file with 56 pages of rules, by-laws and restrictions to its residents. The rules cover everything from the flats' interiors, decoration and contracting work to the keeping of animals, the bay's Tai Pak Beach and outdoor activities, which seem to be generally not encouraged. Camping, fishing, flying kites, barbecuing and lighting of fires - it is all banned in public areas and on the beach. Skating and skateboarding are strictly prohibited, while cycling is discouraged. Such killjoy policies would make the warden of any prison camp proud. 

Arts Hub

22 Aug 2010 - New designs for the Hong Kong's West Kowloon arts hub were introduced last Friday, and this time its all open spaces, green trees and influences of Chinese culture. Another common threat is that the sea views are preserved and that we will not be confronted with a wall of concrete on the waterfront. Three world-famous architects (Norman Foster, Rem Koolhaas and HK native Rocco Yim) launched their views for this part of future Hong Kong. In the coming three months the public will be invited to comment on the designs. The Government said the three designs are not in competition and that it is very well possible that the final design will combine elements of all three architects. I am a bit worried about that statement (and I wonder what the architects think of it) as coherence may get lost and we may end up with a patchwork of styles and ideas.

Terminus

18 Aug 2010 - A few months ago Hong Kong people marched the streets in protest against the high-speed railway  link between Hong Kong and Guangzhou. The Government pushed through and the preparations for the new link have started on the west Kowloon waterfront. In an attempt to appease the public some artists' impressions of the new terminus have been published, and it seems very attractive indeed. The plan calls for roads that seperate the terminus from the waterfront, like Austin Road, to be put underground. The biggest attraction is an arch for pedestrians that offers fantastic view over Victoria Harbor and the (to be built) cultural district. I am a bit cynical about all the greeneries and all those trees though, because these artists' impressions are usually far-off from the real thing. No matter what, it will still take years before we will be able to walk the arch, as the construction of the high speed terminal will only go up for public tender later this year.

Milk-Tea Champ

18 Aug 2010 - Hong Kong's Law Dak was officially crowned as the world's best cha chaan teng (traditional milk tea) maker. He beat rivals from as far as Canada and Australia to earn his new title. The new champion said he was very excited. He mentioned that he shed some tears after reaching the finals, and that his win was a dream coming true. However, he did not burst down in tears again after being crowned the number one. Maybe he will shed some tears in the coming days, because it appears that job-offers are flowing in. Hopefully he will be able to make some money with his well-earned title. Law Dak says he wants to promote Hong Kong style milk-tea, because nowadays speed is more important than quality. He believes people should take a moment to enjoy his traditional tea, as life in Hong Kong is far too rushed. Maybe we should all introduce our daily milk-tea moment?