Every day HK – wrapping up

Every day HK will be wrapping up and there will be no future postings. I have moved to London and will be starting a new blog related to my new location shortly.

I’d like to wish much success to the athletes from Hong Kong who will be competing in the Beijing Olympics this summer. My research in amateur sports has left me very impressed with the dedication of our local athletes who have to overcome many obstacles (many of them bureaucratic) to make it to the world stage. Good luck to all of you.

Thanks to those of you who have read and commented on this blog. I hope to meet both of you one day

Susan

economics, airplanes, and seinfeld

I was watching an old Seinfeld episode last week and it made me think of what is wrong with the new economy. It was the famous ‘airport episode’ which revolves around Jerry and Elaine trying to get on a flight but the only seats available are one in first class and the other in economy. While Elaine gets shoe-horned into her middle seat hell, is harassed by the trolley-pushiing battle axe, and is forced  to climb over a big obnoxious guy to get to the toilet, Jerry is drinking champagne, enjoying his extra leg-room, and putting on his courtesy slippers.

While watching it, my daughter, (a seasoned economy class traveler who dreams of flying first class), looked at me and said “is that what first class looks like?” And I thought: well, no actually it doesn’t look like that. First class these days is much, much better. You not only get champange, you have a chef. You don’t just have a bigger seat, you have a fully, turned-down bed. And skip the slippers, in first class you have full pyjamas. And of course that’s just the beginning. Many other nice touches — too many to mention here.

But the interesting thing here, is that while first class has improved by elegant leaps and bounds, economy class looks pretty much the same as it did in the episode, filmed over ten years ago. Except of course, for the 5×7 TV screens jammed in the seat backs, which, in my case, are either busted, or impossible to view because the guy in front of me is reclined so far into my lap I could give him a facial.

This small realisation brings me to a recent report in The South China Morning Post that the Employers’ Federation of Hong Kong has recommended that pay rises should generally be capped at 2.5 per cent next year in view of dimmer economic prospects. Well once I got over the fact there even is an “Employers’ Federation”, I began thinking about the fact that, when the economy went south, employees all took their salary cuts. And now when the economy has been rebounding with vigour, employees are still being asked to tighten their belts.

Well, for those of us in the back of the plane, that means that someone is profiting from the economic recovery but it is not those of us who get paid salaries. And while the Employers get together and decide to keep salaries low so that profits can remain high, expenses like rent are increasing at a rate of 20%, 30% or even 50% over the last two years. And while, yes, a bonus can help offset the rising cost of living, it does little for a person’s confidence in his or her ability to maintain their way of life in the coming year. And it doesn’t help that salaries for those in the top executive levels are reaching new heights.

I’m no economist but the math on this is not working for me. Who do I need to talk to around here to get an upgrade?

Olympics on HK TV – the good news and the bad

One of the happiest moments in my life in HK was the day I finally cut the cord, or cable I should say, with Wharf. After years of the crappiest service every known in a civilized city, I finally made the switch to NOW TV last year and called cable to come collect their box and the fifty feet of cable snaking up and down the walls of my flat. It was liberating.

So it was not a happy day for me to open the paper and read that it is Cable — the company that excels at packaging major sporting events in ways to bleed fans dry — that has procurred the rights to air the 2008 Olympics.

Wow. Isn’t it great that HK is part of China ! – and even hosting an Olympic event!  but we still have to pay to watch it?! I mean, isn’t there any perks to this one country two system deal?

But then on the other hand -  it’ll be the first time I’ve been able to watch the Olympics in Hong Kong in years, so the good news is – it will actually be on TV.

I agree with the basis for the protests by TVB and ATV which claim this arrangement goes against  the Olympic spirit. But then again, did they even bid for the rights? They certainly couldn’t have cared less during the last Olympics.

I hope something comes from their protests. In the meantime, I’m reacquainting myself with the cable telephone hotline…maybe I can finally figure out how to get through to a real person before the Olympics start.

HK in the downturn, a nicer place to live

Remember the good ol’ days? We didn’t have much money, but hell, we were happy. In those years, post SARS (OK, not that long ago), when the economy was just trying to find its feet, we were all humbled by the experience of living through dangerous times, but flush with the promise of better times possibly ahead.

We lived simply, not sure if our jobs were secure, but we enjoyed things more. A day at the beach, a hike in the park. And we could afford things too, like a family meal, a bouquet of flowers, or, I don’t know: even, school fees and rent.

Store clerks were still surly (I wouldn’t have it any other way) but more willing to provide service. Restaurants remembered their regulars, even by name, and even offered complimentary drinks after dinner to show their appreciation for your patronage. If something wasn’t right with a service or product you were buying, a genuine effort was made to ensure your satisfaction. In those times, your business was important.

Well those days are gone. Businesses that I frequent regularly, barely take notice of me. If I make a small complaint about something, they look at me blankly. They don’t care if I never come back, they are busy busy busy. cha-ching!

Landlords are raising rents by 60% or more. They dont’ care if you have to move. There are prospective tenants with bulging housing allowances waiting to pounce. (I understand that there is a supply-demand thing going on here, but its a vicious cycle: too many employers are willing to pay housing allowances that meet the escalating rent levels. It’s a landlord’s market. And while this is going on at the top end of the scale it is putting downward pressure on housing all the way down the line.)

The ESF has raised school fees, and has even asked for September fees to be paid in June. They don’t care if you can’t afford it. There are children lined up waiting for the chance to get in.

The manager at the Pizza Express that ‘lost’ my daughter’s birthday party reservation didn’t care that 10 girls had no place to go for their promised pizzas. He really couldn’t care less. He was booked up. Why would he care?
So I’ll admit it and you can verbally abuse me all you want. I liked Hong Kong better when it was scrapping itself back up (I’m talking a recovering economy here, not an economic crisis). Without the cushion of endless supplies of cash and customers, nothing could be taken for granted. With a little less cash flying around, we all had a little more value.

Take the pandas shopping….take them shopping

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has sent out an exciting press release recently entitled “Cross-Sector Support for 2007 HK Shopping Festival on 10th Anniversary of HKSAR“. I mean, wow! they sure know how to sell themselves, don’t they?

Well believe it or not… I managed to read through the many paragraphs describing exciting offers with the MTR, special dining offers …. themed activites… Karen Mok.. blah blah blah…. a special shopping guide…. more shopping… until I hit upon this curious little piece of information:

“Joining the HKTB to conjure up a citywide festive ambience will be Ocean Park Hong Kong, which will arrange its two panda mascots – Le Le and Ying Ying – to perform at shopping centres in major tourism districts on specific dates.“

Sorry, What? Are they seriously suggesting that they will be bringing the pandas to the mall? to perform? I’ve been to Ocean Park several times and I’ve only seen them sit and sleep and, if i’m lucky: chew.

So I can only think that the press release is misleading and what they mean is, a couple of guys in panda suits will be dancing around. I mean, what else can it mean? They will put the pandas in little cages in the middle of the mall?

Anyway you look at it, it’s pretty sad. Sorry James Tien, you’ll have to do better than that.

Jockey Club show their hand

We all knew it was in the cards. Two years ago, when the HKJC announced their plans to spend $800 million to host the Olympic equestrian events on the neighbouring site to the Sha Tin racecourse, we all predicted the day that the HKJC would find a way to keep the land. Last week, they showed their hand, announcing the need to lease the 44,000 square meters to use as stables for the Sha Tin Racecourse for at least another 7-10 years.

According to a friend who is well connected in JC circles, the club have had their eye on that piece of land for some time. The Olympics provided the ideal opportunity to take it over and even make it look like the JC was doing Hong Kong a great service.  Bring an Olympic event to Hong Kong! How Wonderful! (Applause).

Simonworld did an excellent job dissecting this deal back in 2005, which I highly recommend reading. You can find it here.

Never mind that Hong Kong’s finest athletes, who may only have this one opportunity to qualify and compete in an Olympic event, were kicked out of the only training facility equipped to train at an elite level.

Never mind that they were removed so that Hong Kong can host one of the least attended and least covered events in the Olympic program.

Never mind that Hong Kong people can’t even buy tickets to attend this event.

And how are they to be rewarded? Apparently a redevelopment of the Sports Institute (minus the 44,000 square meters) is being proposed. I haven’t yet seen the plan so cannot comment on it.

However, I found it interesting that the only sport in which Hong Kong has won an Olympic gold medal, has been left with no permanent training facilities. Again.

While the Jockey Club gets 44,000 square meters of space to house their horses, Hong Kong windsurfers are left high and dry.

According to the government, the various sporting associations supported the request from the Jockey Club. Yeah, I’d like to have been a fly on the wall in that meeting. Agree and get this….disagree and get nothing.

Yes, the Jockey Club have done what they do best, appear to be giving when in fact they are taking. They have been using this balance of give and take for years to pressure the government and the public to accept their agendas. They have perfected the art of “passive agressive” policy.

Why doesn’t the Hong Kong government have, as is the case in many other countries, a sports lottery to raise money for sports facilities and athlete training? Perhaps, it may erode the revenues of the Mark 6 lottery. Which of course is run by the JC.

Government officials claim it is because they don’t want to encourage the public to gamble. HELLO! Gamble! in Hong Kong?! And besides, the JC give so much to sport, don’t they?

The JC take on a lot of charity and social responsibility, which in any other country would be the responsibility of the government. In return, they are given many favours. In many areas, like the care of the elderly and financial support to children with disadvantages, they are doing a superb job.

But in the case of the future of Hong Kong sports, maybe it’s time to consider whether they are giving as much as they are getting.

hk marathon: solution for pollution concerns

Today’s South China Morning Post ran a prominent article on the health concerns of running in this Sunday’s annual Standard Chartered Marathon

A prominent health expert has warned athletes that they “run at their peril” and cited the case of the 53-year-old runner that died last year as a case in point.

However, I have a suggestion: why don’t the organisers change the race date to coincide with the Chinese New Year holiday? If you were in HK last Sunday, you probably were awestruck, as I was, with the crystal clear skies that revealed islands previously cloaked by smog. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the holiday closings of factories across the border result in the cleanest air days of the year.

Perhaps the marathon could become part of Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year tradition?

morning news: wet markets part of HK heritage

I have to give credit where it’s due: The South China Morning Post put the issue of the impending death of the market on Peel Street in Soho, where it belongs: as the headline story on the front page of Sunday’s paper. They even backed it up with a companion piece on the failure of the ‘updated’ wet market in Stanley and how the re-development there has been a complete failure. Well done.

I am so disheartened that the market in Soho will soon fall victim to redevelopment. Visit the market anytime during the day and you will find a vibrant, busy neighbourhood full of colour and life. It not only provides a much needed place to buy fresh produce, meat, poultry and fish, as well as gourmet ingredients and fresh cult flowers, it also provides tourists with an “authentic” Hong Kong experience. Tourists love the market – it is one of the few original features in our city which is becoming crowded with mass-franchised shopping and “re-created” historical sites.

In my opinion, the market is part of Hong Kong heritage and it’s survival deserves to be preserved with the same passion as was given to the Star Ferry clocktower.

But let’s not make the same mistake twice. Don’t wait until the market is being swept away to show the government how much you care. Let’s speak up now while there is still hope.

My one criticism (today) of the SCMP is that they didn’t include an “action list” of how the public can make their voices heard. I would like to have seen a list of names, emails or phone numbers of those we can contact.

I hope the media will continue to champion the cause of saving the market. I, for one, am planning to figure out how I can make a difference.

HK Life: dogs behaving badly

The Peak Lookout deserves a big thank you from all the dog owners who, thanks to the management there, can enjoy a civilised lunch or breakfast in the company of their canine. But some dog owners are taking advantage of the restaurant’s largesse by forcing diners to tolerate the behavior of their poorly-trained dogs.

We hiked up The Peak on Sunday and enjoyed a leisurely lunch on The Lookout’s back patio. I was thrilled we could bring our dog in with us to the “dog section”. However, I soon wished we had tied her up outside so we could sit further away from the cacophony of dog barking and whining that we had to listen from the other dogs, throughout the meal. It was anarchy.

If the dog barking wasn’t bad enough, one dog had urinated under one of the tables. My advice to the restaurant would be to advise owners that if their dogs didn’t behave, they would be asked to remove the dog.

But I guess once you do that, you open the floodgate to other restrictions. “Sorry ma’am, your baby is too noisy — can you please leave it outside?”

But really, having a restaurant that allows dogs is a great thing in a city that is, for the most part, completely dog un-friendly. But even in The Peak piazza area, dogs were barking, and running around out of control. If this keeps up, it won’t be long before dogs won’t be allowed in there either.

As my husband often says “all good things in Hong Kong eventually come to an end” and I’m afraid that if this continues, it will spoil it for those of us with well-behaved dogs.

I’m not talking Lassies here, but dogs in public should at least be under control and not be nuisance to others.

morning news: asleep at the wheel

This morning I was saddened to read about a car crash resulting in the death of the young driver as well as his passengers – his wife and 3 month old son. According to the article, the car was speeding along Tuen Mun Highway, when it “lost control” and crashed.

I have come to the conclusion, after reading many such stories over the years, that “losing control of the vehicle” must be the cause of the majority of Hong Kong’s fatal car accidents. But I would replace “lost control” with “fallen asleep”.

Falling asleep at the wheel is a common occurence in Hong Kong judging by my experiences in taxi cabs and even, most recently in a minibus (traveling at 70km/h no less). Of course, proving my theory is impossible — few witness would ever be able to confirm it and the driver, if he survived, is hardly going to admit it. But how else can you explain a double decker bus mounting the curb and smashing into a store front as happened last year? Or the wreckages you sometimes witness of vehicles smashed into barricades placed on straight, non-treacherous roads?

In the case of this young family, we will never know why the driver lost control of his car. But I do think more should be done to prevent professional drivers from causing similiar tragedies.

There should be some type of regulation controlling the length of taxi and bus drivers’  shifts, for example.

If you don’t believe me, then next time you are in a cab late in the afternoon or really early in the morning (the “drowsy driver” time – end of shifts) keep an eye on your driver in the rear-view mirror.

Even dropping off for a few seconds can result in tragedy.