According to Chinese tradition, the 7th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar is the month when all hell breaks loose, literally. The gates of underworld are opened so that its residents can come back up. And the 14th day (15th in the rest of China) of the 7th month in the lunar calendar, i.e., today, is the day that most of these ghosts have decided to scare the shit out of you. As this is clearly a matter of life and death, we consider it necessary to provide you with ten survival tips:
Witnessing a live Kung Fu demonstration is a rare treat. Witnessing a live Kung Fu demonstration on the MTR is practically unheard of – or at least it was until this fearsome warrior hit the platform. Who ever said public transport had to be boring. (more…)
It’s an all-too-common gripe: “Lan Kwai ain’t what it used to be.” Well, starting this September, jaded schmucks and whiny assholes alike can join hands in what’s now a legitimate cause for concern: A two-year closure of Hong Kong’s premier bar district.
We all have that rich friend that we expect to pay for things simply because he or she has more money than we do. Sometimes they do and all is good in the world. But sometimes they don’t pony up, and that’s when life stops being fun and starts getting real! In this scenario, China is the wealthy friend, and the lowly Konger, here represented by tour guide “Ah Zhen”, is the poor friend. In the clip below, her 5 minute rant accurately sums up the angst of this once great colony that now has to kow-tow (see what I did here?) to their suddenly wealthy hill-billy neighbors.
Societal norms in Hong Kong are all-too-often characterised as a fusion of Eastern and Western influences. Delve a little deeper though, and you’ll quickly learn that, despite its cosmopolitan reputation, social behaviour in the former colony remains firmly divided along ethnic lines. None of this of course is news to you locals out there. But for those of you still new to the city, here’s a selection of key differences (and the one similarity) you ought to be aware of. Oh, and local girls have hairy beavers, but we’re guessing you knew that already, you suddenly-interested, yellow-fever tainted gweilo. Here’ goes: (more…)
Under a new plan hatched by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), pseudo-investors will be sent out to financial firms in an effort to ensure that common people don’t get their life savings taken by crappy investments. Chief among these imposters will be senior citizens, pregnant housewives, and young people. Easy pickings, typically, particularly when looked at through the prism of the well-documented gullibility of Hong Kong’s hard working people.
Beginning in January of 2011, the HKMA has mandated that banks allow first-time investors and those over the age of 65 a two-day period in which to think about the investment they’ve just gotten into. Lenders will be looked at in regard to the selling of unlisted securities, futures products and structured deposits but not listed stocks, futures and warrants. Further, lenders will be required to ascertain the age, education level and previous investment experience of their prey clients before determining which investments and strategies are best, especially with those most vulnerable.
Naturally, the financial sector is outraged, and for good reason. We can see their point- who are they going to screw now that the government is actually watching what they do? It may become much more difficult! (more…)
