Asian Correspondent: Living in Hong Kong

Bye pirates, hello Northeast Passage

47 — Friday September 3, 2010, 08:46:26am +08:00

Climate change may have delivered a solution to the risk faced by ships and crew passing through the waters of Gulf of Aden. A cargo ship bearing Hong Kong flag carrying 41,000 tons of iron ore will become part of maritime history as it sails from Norway to China through Russia's arctic passage instead of the pirate-infested Somalian waters.

Although Nordic Barents is not the first ship to pass through the Arctic wasteland, it becomes the first foreign-registered vessel allowed by Russia to make a voyage between two non-Russian ports. The ship's owner aims to prove that the route would become a viable alternative to the longer southern route from Europe to Asia. Nordic Barents is scheduled to leave the small Norwegian port of Kirkenes and head towards the Chinese port of Dalian. If the trip proves successful, the route enters one more step in competing against the Suez Canal sea route.

The first ship to do so was Russian-owned Baltica, which transported 70,000 tons of gas condensate from Murmansk, Russia to Ningbo, China only last week. The successful voyage marks a successful commercial conquest over the famed Northeast Passage. At the most dangerous stretch of the journey – the Vilkitsky Strait – sailors onboard the Baltica threw flowers into the water in memory of all the men who have died in pursuit of a quicker trade route in the past. For centuries, explorers and cargo shop owners have been looking for that elusive northern route between Europe and Asia.

In 1553, Sir Hugh Willoughby was commissioned by the Company of Merchant Adventurers to New Lands to explore the trade path. However, his expedition hit a major snag as his ship got stuck in ice resulting in the crew freezing to death. Dutch adventurer William Barents also suffered a similar fate in 1597. He, at least, had the Barents Sea named in his honor.

With receding ice levels and a warmer climate, present-day navigators could achieve what historic explorers couldn't. Shorter trips -- Baltica's voyage of 13,000 kilometers is certainly much shorter than the 22,000-kilometer journey through the Suez Canal -- which also means fuel savings and a reduced carbon footprint.

But not not every ship can pass through this frigid zone. Bulk carriers need to be ice-strengthened, and apply necessary precaution to protect sensitive equipment on board. Russian ice-breakers need to escort them in case of breakdown or the crew falling sick amid extreme weather conditions. Also, this path is only available for a few weeks a year at the moment. As climate change further alters the ecological landscape, the Northeast Passage may be available for longer stretches of time. Until that happens, Russia needs a bit more convincing by ship owners that crossing its northern territories not only saves fuel and cuts travel time. Ship owners need to be assured that goods transported using this alternate route can safely arrive at its destination.

Should the Northeast Passage become a viable alternative to the Suez and Cape of Good Hope, pirates terrorizing Gulf of Aden can expect fewer potential victims.

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Obstacle course at Wan Chai pedestrian overpass

47 — Thursday September 2, 2010, 09:03:21am +08:00

Hong Kong is a crowded place. And within its habitable confines, people make the most out of any space available. Pedestrian walkways, for example, fit well for folks who distribute promotional materials: a steady stream of people, all-weather facilities and, most importantly, it's free. Businesses need only pay for the printed material and employ a group who have flair at stretching their arms and extending a piece of paper to a passers by.

Anyone who happens to stay in Hong Kong longer than a typical tourist will observe this. That's because he or she must have gone to the Immigration Tower to apply for a visa of some kind. When getting off from Wan Chai MTR station, the 100-meter pedestrian overpass is the best route to take. Yet during rush hours, a torrent of humanity walking in opposing directions at five miles an hour can be a stressful walk especially for a newcomer. On one direction people coming from the subway station emerge from the escalator and rush towards the government office towers or Central Plaza, Hong Kong's third tallest skyscraper. On the other side are people emerging from bus stops heading towards the more densely populated heartland of Wan Chai.

While there is no congestion (read: people stopping from their brisk walking), the presence of these leaflet-handing personnel has become an obstacle to overcome. Noticing that very few people tend to accept their offer, leaflet distributors have become more creative. Some of them chase a potential target: a Caucasian man who may be setting up a new virtual office or a visibly confused newcomer. Some wear elaborate costumes that look attractive to kids but look crazy to grown ups. Others are simply carefree and only worry that their piles of paper will be disposed - even if it means nearby trash bins are filled with the same pieces of paper they were dying to hand out.

Not all of these "obstacles" are considered a nuisance that should be ignored. A team of middle-aged ladies handing out free issues of daily tabloids is a magnet for pedestrians hungry for news and information. But such a scenario creates another roadblock for people. I am not sure if there is a law that prohibits free use of government property at the expense of the comfort of pedestrians. While I think it's obvious in Hong Kong that one can't organize a rally or perform a public performance without permission from a government agency, so it's strange that such practice is so easily tolerated. Otherwise, staff from the nearby Wan Chai police station would be there in no time to remove the "obstacles".

Public safety and comfort is the first priority of any government. But in this case, it seems that only a few benefit by deploying underpaid staff who harrass pedestrians at Wan Chai and other areas in the city, handing out items that inevitably fill up the garbage bins.

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Twitter's 140 character limit to blame for Jackie Chan gaffe?

47 — Tuesday August 31, 2010, 08:41:03am +08:00

While the Filipino people got a morale booster when action star Jackie Chan posted a message on his social media account condoling the nation, locals from his native Hong Kong were quick to accuse him of disrespect to victims of the hostage tragedy on August 23 that claimed eight lives.

Somehow it's a case of lost in translation. Mr Chan's Twitter account may be genuine, but it's not him doing the tweets all the time. "The content in my Twitter account was posted by my American assistant on my behalf, but after interpretation the posts did not entirely capture what I truly meant to say," said the actor.

Without mentioning the 140 character Twitter limit, it seems obvious that Mr Chan's thoughts couldn't be interpreted properly by many people, especially that it wasn't him who made the update. The controversial tweet read,

"this kind of things always happen around the world. It happened to hk's people, the whole hk is talking about it. Its really sad."

It is indeed open to interpretation. At one end it seems that Mr Chan downplays the incident because "this kind of things always happen around the world". Or maybe shrugging his shoulders asking no wonder it's the talk of the town because the "it happened to hk's people". On the other end it seems like Mr Chan was genuinely sad for his fellow Hong Kong citizens.

May I have a word with that assistant-cum-Twitter-correspondent? If that assistant posted that controversial tweet on behalf of Jackie Chan, the latter apologized to Hong Kong people apparently on behalf of the assistant who made the blunder. Mr Chan has figured in a number of incidents that received frowns from the locals. Disrupting a concert (apparently attributed to his singing aspirations), and releasing a statement about the Chinese people enjoying too much freedom are among them.

"What happened to the Hong Kong tourists in the Philippines was a terrible and heartbreaking tragedy. I am 100 percent Chinese and I'm from Hong Kong. I feel grief and pain for the Hong Kong citizens who lost their lives during this unfortunate incident," said Chan in a statement. To ease possible confusion, his statement was released in both English and Chinese.

Jackie Chan might be losing his appeal to fellow Hong Kong people, but he still commands a legion of supporters elsewhere. On the other side of South China Sea, Jackie Chan's statements were welcomed warmly. In Manila, even a celebrity columnist (along with other Filipino celebrities) called him a hero: "Just like in his blockbuster movies, Jackie comes to the rescue when everything is falling apart. He’s definitely our kind of hero."

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Red alert: MTR becoming pickpockets haven

47 — Saturday August 28, 2010, 12:18:23am +08:00

There is one more risk passengers have to deal with when they are within the premises of Hong Kong's subway system: pickpockets. While there is no area that's absolutely free from these culprits, the cases taking place in the MTR has been growing almost 60 percent in the first half of 2010, compared with the same period last year. The train company seems unfazed with the growth as it insists the MTR remains as one of the safest urban rail networks in the world.

If we translate these perecentages into numbers, that's 76 pickpocket incidents from January to June of 2009 to 121 cases in the same period this year. Considering that the railway network carries 3.7 million passengers on a given weekday, pickpocket cases is almost negligible and therefore this blog post may not be worth reading. Yet, the issue needs to be shared to everyone due to a simple reason. As more communities are built around MTR stations -- an important consideration when choosing home -- more people prefer to take the train. The likelihood of crowding becomes more prevalent and job opportunities for pickpockets gets better. Also, a large portion of the 29.5 million tourists that visit Hong Kong each year take the MTR around the city. Many of them may be too naive and fall into the theft trap.

The next time we board the crowded train we could be the next victim. Also, not all cases are reported and some people prefer to mind their own business instead of tipping authorities of a crime taking place even if the MTR hands awards to responsible passengers who helped prevent crime.

Rush hour may be the favorite time for pickpockets to operate. And why not, when everyone is busy ensuring they fit into the crowded carriage instead of paying attention to the welfare of others. For women, this is an additional challenge as cases of indecent assault is also one of the leading petty crimes happening inside the train.

The warning is simple: be safe or be sorry even at one of the safest public transport systems in the world.

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iPhone's humidity issues

47 — Thursday August 26, 2010, 11:34:39pm +08:00

Hong Kong people love Apple products of all shapes and sizes. In Hong Kong, the iPhone dominates the smartphone market with a 78 percent market share, according to a March report by AdMob, which serves advertisements to mobile websites and applications around the world.

When a new product is launched, the whole social media world spits the new buzzword once in every millisecond. Say for example iPhone. It got so much publicity that Apple would have done fine even if it did not advertise the product. But as much as local people adore iPhone, the feeling isn't exactly mutual as Apple's prized posession is apparently sensitive to humid surroundings.

Behind the sleek new features such as 5 megapixel camera, improved screen resolution and FaceTime video calling, a feature more essential to phone operation was never included in the latest release. Hong Kong's humid conditions pose a threat to the smooth operation of these gadgets. On many occasions, humidity in the city exceeds 95%, bringing sweaty a experience not only to humans but also to electronic devices like that beloved iPhone. Worse, Apple appears to have detected the problem and does not accept any warranty coverage for similar damages. Normally, if your phone is damaged by liquid, it is not covered by AppleCare Protection Plan, Apple's warranty coverage. That sounds justified if you're careless and dropped your phone into the pool or it got soaked in the rain while still in your pocket.

But what about if it were damaged by liquid due to the humidity of the surroundings? Unfortunately, that also belongs to the same category of damage and will therefore not be covered by the warranty service. Different districts in Hong Kong experience varying degrees of humidity but it doesn't mean there is a location safe enough to prevent the problem.

Shall we wait for iPhone 5 or a later upgrade of iPhone 4 to get assurance that humidity is no longer an iPhone issue?

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Blue skies affirm Hong Kong's decreasing pollution levels

47 — Wednesday August 25, 2010, 07:39:12pm +08:00

At this time last year, whether it's rainy or not, the skies appear the same: dull grey white with the same humid feeling. This year, the clouds parted, smog somehow eased and to everyone's pleasant surprise, clear blue skies became a permanent fixture for days without rain since last month. In fact, not one of the 11 air monitoring stations recorded high pollution at any time in July.

Environmentalists attribute it to winds blowing from the south, where pollution is minimal at most, and to frequent heavy rains during this year's summer months. 70 percent of the time, the readings recorded a low 0-25 level. As a result, air quality in Hong Kong was at an 11-year high. These readings are a welcome change from the depressing trend of poor air quality highlighted by a series of record-shattering air pollution levels in March that prompted the government to issue warnings to locals to stay indoors. In July last year, a pollution index of 50 or higher was recorded 12 percent of the time.

There's also a reason to be pleasantly happy about recent roadside pollution readings. In June, very high air pollution index of between 101 and 200 was recorded 7 percent of the time. But last month, there was no such reading ever recorded.

We must enjoy the improving pollution levels while it lasts. As I see it, the results were due to natural causes instead of Hong Kong's efforts bearing fruit. What about during winter season when there's no typhoon blowing the dirty air away? Or when wind blows from the north? We'll find out.

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Manila hostage crisis aftermath: reasons and repercussions

47 — Tuesday August 24, 2010, 08:12:27am +08:00

At the height of controversy surrounding police brutality allegedly involving a police officer torturing a suspected robber, the seeming incompetence of the police has come to light once more, this time to the international community and earning sharp criticism from folks here in Hong Kong. The Philippine National Police's reputation may be tarnished, but at a time when the PNP was given the chance to shine before the international community, its name sunk even deeper.

No wonder local Hong Kong people were quick to criticize the Philippine police force as they quickly trooped to social media sites in solidarity and expressed sympathy to those who perished and were traumatized by the incident. They see how the Hong Kong Police act on situations like this and come out as heroes. They may not be perfect but they get the job done most of the time.

Last night thousands of households were glued to their television sets like us, anxiously waiting for developments in a hostage crisis that went awfully wrong. As I write this blog this morning, I am sure people are heading towards their daily supply of tabloids to get a clearer understanding of what took place in Manila. Maybe questions remain after reading the news stories. Why a police officer no longer in service got hold of the high-powered firearm? Why it took the police so long to address the drama? Is the media coverage of the hostage taking partly to blame?

Filipinos ask how could an award-winning police officer end up as the bad guy? The hostage taker, Mr Rolando Mendoza, was honored in 1986 but dismissed a few years ago over alleged involvement in drug-related crimes and extortion, police said. He took the hostages in an effort to win his job back and have his name cleared. Was he a sacrificial lamb persecuted so someone else could get away free?

Maybe it's in the peace-loving patience and easygoing nature of Filipinos that saw the police wait 12 hours before making a move. If it were in China or the United States, the hostage taker would have been killed much sooner. At times Mr Mendoza looked out of the front door of the bus, putting himself at a vantage point perfect for snipers to pull the trigger. And who knows, if the driver did not escape and screamed "everybody is dead!", the hostage drama would have stayed in stalemate.

The new regime of President Noynoy Aquino presented new hope for the Filipino people as he was inaugurated barely two months ago in Quirino Grandstand. Alas, that venue would also become the scene of a bloody end to a failed rescue operation of foreign tourists. According to SCMP, Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang tried to call Mr Aquino but failed to get through. "I hope the Philippines government can give me a full account of what happened," he said. Mr Tsang was close to tears when he spoke in a press conference as he expressed his disappointment over the outcome. The Aquino government issued a statement, but Hong Kong people probably need more answers.

The hostage drama took place in Manila, where supposedly the best equipped and properly trained special forces are ready for deployment. If it happened in a fourth class municipality in the middle of a province in Mindanao, there's a bit of an excuse. Such a messy outcome led to some Filipinos to question the integrity and capability of the police force by asking if the real meaning of SWAT is Sorry Wala Akong Training (Sorry I Don't Have Training). And with the arrest of congressman Ronald Singson in Hong Kong for possession of cocaine in recent weeks, Filipinos (at least in social media circles) offered Singson as the pawn: "Dear Hong Kong. You can take it out on Ronald Singson. Be our guest. Regards, The Philippines."

Hong Kong is a lucrative source of affluent outbound travelers. But the Philippines can no longer expect visitors from the former British colony after a travel ban was issued last night. Such move results in travel agencies taking Boracay, Cebu or Puerto Galera special offers off display. But there could be other repercussions. Filipino domestic helpers may expect a change in how their Hong Kong employers treat them. Filipino tourists visiting Hong Kong could spend more time talking to immigration officers. Let's find out.

No PR job can restore the severely tarnished name of the Philippine National Police in the eyes of Hong Kong people. Too bad there are members of the police force who "serve and protect" the Philippines the right way diligently, yet helplessly find themselves getting dragged into this mess.

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Tourism nightmare for Hong Kong and the Philippines

47 — Monday August 23, 2010, 07:01:00pm +08:00

This time of the year, Hong Kong locals wrap up their summer holidays as families with school children prepare for the coming school year. A popular summer pastime is to travel overseas to take a dip at the beach, have an educational trip or simply to escape the city's concrete jungle. Knowing that the coming weeks, a change in lifestyle is about to unfold, everyone wants to make the most of remaining vacation time.

Many families travel to Europe and America for exhilirating landscapes and educational adventures, some prefer to explore the hidden gems of mainland China while immersing further in its culture. Others take short haul flights to Southeast Asia for Thailand or Indonesia's beaches, Cambodia's historic sites, Malaysia's challenging trails, Vietnamese allure or Taiwan's food. Still, others are drawn to the Philippines as cheaper deals and wonderful tales and tasty souvenirs from the house maids at home are enough to persuade the family to tour the country. After all, it's less than two hours away from Hong Kong.

Manila as a capital city contains some of the most important historic sites in the country such as Intramuros, Luneta Park or the National Museum. But I guess many Hong Kong tourists would love to swim into the waters of El Nido, Cebu or Boracay, visit the World Heritage Site of Banawe Rice Terraces or wildlife in Mindanao than be stuck in Manila's crowded and confusing streets, polluted air (as if Hong Kong was a bit cleaner) and notoriety for petty crimes. But since Manila offers more international flights than elsewhere, tourists have to contend with this "stopover" option.

Everyone has a bad day, and it seems today was it for a dozen or so Hong Kong tourists, previously mistaken as Koreans. A dismissed police officer armed with an automatic rifle seized a bus loaded with 25 passengers. The lone hostage taker demanded his old job back and that's precisely the reason he is taking these terrified passengers for a ride like it was a scene in a movie. The suspect, Rolando Mendoza, was relieved from his post as chief of the Mobile Patrol Unit in 2008 for his alleged involvement in drug-related crimes and extortion, and was demanding to be reinstated, police said. He might have appealed his case but progress had been slow. Now, possibly sensing that the only way to get his case heard was to stage a bold approach, drag innocent civilians into the mess and draw international media attention.

As of last check, a little over a dozen of the 20 Hong Kongers remained in the hands of the hostage taker. While walking the streets of Causeway Bay this afternoon, I noticed that giant TV screens broadcast the news as people gathered around. The more curious fellows start monitoring the events, I think the more likely Hong Kong locals would scratch Manila as a potential tourist destination. Last year, three million tourists visited the Philippines. In comparison, Hong Kong received 29.5 million. This is a stark contradiction as the Philippines as a much bigger territory has a wider variety of attractions. However, its limited number of international airports and the government's hesitation to adopt an open skies policy has denied opportunities for both local economy and foreign tourists.

Aggravating the situation is this sad development. I wouldn't be surprised if Hong Kong will issue travel warnings the same as it did at the height of Bangkok tensions in May. It would then be easier to justify NOT to visit the Philippines just because of this incident, even if it may be considered an isolated incident. Or is it? Historically, foreign and local tourists were kidnapped for ransom and at least one died while in captivity.

While mainland Chinese tourists get ripped off by unscrupulous tourist guides (or at least folks who pretend to be one) in Hong Kong, it's the city's tourists who suffered an even worse fate this time. As safe a city as Hong Kong can be, a few Filipino tourists visiting here also experienced threats to their lives when they were among the victims of an acid attack in Mong Kok a few months back.

We can only hope that everyone will go out unscathed in this sorry situation. The trauma could remain for years but at least life will hopefully be preserved.

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Killing a tree in Hong Kong could be a crime

47 — Monday August 23, 2010, 06:12:03pm +08:00

I have formally left Hong Kong island for the first time since arriving in the city and now moved my family to Tseung Kwan O, in Sai Kung district. A portion of the outdoor view is a hill filled with trees. I guess as crowded Hong Kong may be, the tree population easily outnumbers human beings here. Despite that, cutting a tree down can lead to legal action by the government. And if the offender belongs to any government agency, no less than the city's Ombudsman will hunt responsible parties down to bring justice. A recent case of the negligent felling of a pine tree near a school was the topic of contention as Civic Party legislator Tanya Chan lodged a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Not all trees cut down are subject to the same litigation process, but with such cases escalating to formal complaints rather than a casual settlement, a tree is indeed a valuable commodity in Hong Kong. That is why proper guidance needs to be enforced when pruning trees for the safety of double decker buses, trees that need to be cut down during typhoons or trees deemed as a threat to public safety. Sometime last year, a female teenager standing near the roadside was crushed to death when the tree behind her suddenly collapsed.

More than just environmental protection, a Hong Kong law called the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance helps preserve trees as part of a vicinity or object defined as having historical or archaeological interest. According to the Ordinance, any one without permits granted by the Secretary for Home Affairs, is not allowed to excavate, carry on building or other works, plant or fell trees or deposit earth or refuse on or in any proposed monuments or monuments; or demolish, remove, obstruct, deface or interfere with any proposed monuments or monuments.

Therefore, long after I am gone from this building, the trees I can see from my window will still be here for a long time.

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Robert Mugabe's Hong Kong shopping spree

47 — Sunday August 22, 2010, 05:26:12pm +08:00

With the exception of gossip papers that plaster its pages with any popular personalities walking their dogs or buying grocery, it's not everyday that we see political figures on a shopping spree appear on news pages. Not necessarily headlines, but still unusual for such apparently mundane content. Maybe not, if the VIP is Robert Mugabe, the leader of Zimbabwe, a country beset with perennial problem of famine, inadequate health care and nearly worthless currency.

He is hated by many for preference for lavish parties over helping poor countrymen. As a result, for example, he is banned from traveling to Europe. (Such ruling does not apply to Vatican City, so Mr Mugabe was able to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral.) But certainly there are those who value him as a political friend and valuable business partner. Maybe that's why he can freely raid Hong Kong's malls, buy a flat in Tai Po and send his daughter Bona to City University of Hong Kong.

His 86-year old frame outhustle his contemporaries as evidenced by a recent visit to Harbour City shoe shops and an upscale tailor in Tsim Sha Tsui. Appearing relaxed and flanked by Hong Kong police force's VIP protection unit, Mr Mugabe exchanged smiles with locals who recognize who he is. Prior to his shopping visit, he met China's top leaders Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping in Beijing and attended events dedicated to Zimbabwe Day at Shanghai's World Expo. Looks like he isn't too tired to squeeze his time in a humid Hong Kong summer eh?

Mr Mugabe is the recipient of domestic and international criticisms. His critics accuse him of ruining his country's economy, violent repression and a poor role model for the African continent. Western economies have frozen deals with Zimbabwe as among the sanctions against Mr Mugabe. Yet the poor majority were affected the most, while Mr Mugabe was free to strike deals with other economies such as China. At least during his stay in the city, Mr Mugabe remained well-behaved, unlike his wife Grace, who was the center of controversy when she received immunity from prosecution after assaulting a British photographer.

For now, the travel ban imposed by the United States and Europe doesn't seem to affect Mr Robert Mugabe's luxury requirements as Hong Kong continues to cater to his needs.

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MTR still offers fast, but not the most relaxing, trip

47 — Thursday August 19, 2010, 09:15:05am +08:00

If you're looking for a comfortable ride after a long day on the road, taking the MTR may not be the best solution for you. That's because it may be harder to find a seat, let alone a vacant one. The rail company is starting to make way for more standing room and more space for passengers with baby strollers, wheelchairs and luggage. One can argue that passenger comfort has become compromised in favor of better capacity, which likely leads to better income performance. But the move also ushers in more efficiency in operation, especially during rush hours when passengers may need to take the next trains when the current train on the platform is already filled to the brim.

The first set of passengers to feel this impact are those traveling on Island Line, the subway line that traverses Hong Kong island. Since July 28 MTR began replacing seats with wall-mounted supports for standing passengers. Riders taking the Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong and Tseung Kwan O lines will be refitted next. Not mentioned yet was Tung Chung and West Rail lines which I think typically carry passengers traveling longer distances. I don't mind the move especially if my destination is only a few stations away.

During rush hour everyday, train passengers at the MTR play the "Trip to Jerusalem" game as the door opens. They try to occupy the closest seat available, often without regard for those who deserve the seats. They bring their kids whom, governed by child care laws and ethics, adults should not be competing against. Even with an elderly in cane nearby some passengers pretend to be busy with their smart phones or PSPs, pretend reading the newspaper, or pretend to fall asleep so as not to notice the needy person. Indirectly, the change in interior layout is for you people. I guess that with fewer seats, people become more out of place if they sit down, rather than stand up. (Of course, the pregnant, the elderly, the disabled and those carry babies shouldn't feel the same.)

But don't feel too bad, the MTR is not removing seats on all carriages. Those waiting at the extreme ends of the platform will not see those changes. Most passengers tend to board on middle carriages, because of their close proximity from the turnstiles. The removal of seats in favor of more standing room makes sense to fit these passengers well into the carriages. However, as new routes such as West Island Line and Sha Tin Central Link begin operations, more seats would have to go.

The Island Line train seating layout were designed 30 years ago at the time when MTR began its operations. Now more and more passengers coming from Kowloon and New Territories cross the harbour and take the MTR for work in the island. Monthly average cross-harbour commuters is now at 28.23 million, up almost five percent from a year ago. In an effort to increase the capacity of its trains, the MTR has to think of different ways. Unfortunately for some passengers, one of the ways is to remove seats. Maybe later, extending the platforms (requires a big project undertaking), adding carriages (logistical issue that may end up MTR passing the cost to passengers) or increasing frequency (even at short intervals, passengers still need to wait two or three trains to pass before squeezing themselves in).

I guess standing up in an fast, airconditioned train is still much better than having a relaxing seat in a taxi, a double decker bus or even a limousine only to be gobbled up by a monstrous traffic.

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It pays more to ride a comfortable tram

47 — Saturday August 14, 2010, 10:41:11am +08:00

One of Hong Kong's oldest means of transportation is currently the cheapest. Plying the Hong Kong island route from Kennedy Town in the west to Shaukeiwan in the east, the Hongkong Tramways is cheaper than Star Ferry, its fellow pioneer and witness to the city's transformation over several decades. Now, its relatively new owner, Veolia Transport, plans to raise the flat-rate HK$2 (0.25 US$) by 25 percent, the first in 12 years. The new HK$2.50 fare is aimed at helping the company transform its carriages into more efficient and more comfortable means of transportation.

As reported at South China Morning Post, Veolia Transport intends to upgrade some of its "rail and traction systems, more comfortable cabins and on-board broadcasting". As if the constant drilling and fine-tuning by mostly South Asian workers on rail tracks isn't enough, further action must be undertaken to keep trams running. Unlike buses that let passenger transfer to a reliever when breaking down, a problematic tram halts everyone behind it, causing major traffic congestion in the tracks. The inconvenience it poses outweighs the benefits of paying the cheap fare. If the fare hike means we will avoid such incidents, I think the 25 percent fare increase is still worth it.

Other commuters think that at such minimal rates, not a great deal of comfort is the reason they ride the trams. They take the tram because it brings them from point A to point B, regardless of whether they sit down, stand up or cling into its stairs. Regardless if it's noisy, hot or lack the comfort offered by more expensive travel options.

In the Philippines, fare hikes are often associated with gas prices and a barometer, if not scapegoat, for increasing price of commodities. This may not necessarily be the case in Hong Kong, whose transport companies also have to think of disgruntled workers, maintaining safety or simply improving the travel experience. Speaking of travel experience, some passengers are willing to pay the extra 50 cents, if only an air conditioner is installed. But beware, now's the summer season so it's a natural response from passengers who have to endure sweltering heat and crowded coaches. During winter the very same set of passengers might renege on their commitment, unless Hongkong Tramways agree to install heaters even if Hong Kong only experience mild winters.

I am not sure what "on-board broadcasting" means as an additional feature. Does it mean motormen will be empowered to announce "next station, Admiralty" or "Paging Po Po Ah Ling at the upper deck, your grand kids are waiting downstairs"? Or does it mean the infamous RoadShow TV broadcasts will also be invading the already cramped decks in their effort to corner more captive audience.

In addition to air conditioning systems, less noisy tracks or more comfortable seats, improvements need to be made with or without the fare hike. For example, route maps inside the trams helps newcomers or tourists understand where to alight.

Eighteen percent of its 233,000 daily riders are the elderly and youngsters who are offered concession fares. If fares are increased such concessions may be adjusted too. A person familiar with the situation said Veolia wanted to implement fare hikes not only because it has large-scale improvement plans but also tram patronage has slipped over the last decade. If that's the case, riding the tram in the past must be a struggle, considering coaches these days are still very crowded. If expenses exceed income and the business becomes unsustainable, these trams might end up as historical features in museums. We want to be part history, not just staring at it in textbooks and photos, don't we?

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Dragonair and Philippine Airlines: labor woes

47 — Monday August 9, 2010, 03:09:50pm +08:00

Early last week, my wife and I returned to Hong Kong from a 10-day visit to the Philippines. We narrowly escaped inconveniences natural and man-made; cancelled flights due to typhoon and labor dispute almost cost our short vacation. Just after arriving in Davao, we learned that the next flight was diverted to another airport due to poor visibility. Shortly after, pilots of Philippine Airlines left their posts in haste. It resulted to stranding of passengers and prompting cancellation of domestic and international flights, including the route we fly.

While aboard the plane, I read Malaya Business Insight with news headline "Labor clouds PAL future". The article highlighted Philippine Airlines as an overstaffed company that averaged 192 employees per aircraft when others only have between 100 to 120. I looked around and I indeed saw quite a number of flight attendants assisting passengers recline their seats or handing out blankets. But at the same time, I realized I was boarding Boeing 747-400 which accommodates much more than the A320 Cebu Pacific flights I often fly. Therefore more staff is needed to attend to passengers.

As Philippine Airlines struggle to survive these years, it's not surprising to learn cabin attendants receive salaries lower than the mandated minimum wage law. No wonder that its pilots easily gets poached by foreign airlines. The pay must be in multiples of existing salary that even with PAL's legal threat associated with a large sum of money these pilots may have no problem of raising it.

However, the labor dispute is not limited to cash-strapped and blacklisted Philippine Airlines. Dragonair, a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific has its own set of disputes with its employees, who allege that improving profits do not translate corresponding benefits for staff. Increased profit margins results from full capacity flights. Such situations results to last minute requests for extra shifts and extended working hours for flight attendants. Out of frustration, disgruntled staff crafted a slogan "Dragon Air, Never Fair" as they rallied at the airport calling for better working conditions.

On one angle, I thought that those extra hours put in by airline staff contributed to better profits; therefore they ought to receive some sort of reward for keeping up the good work. On the other side of the fence, airlines could argue that by signing their working contracts, employees are bound to receive the agreed remuneration regardless when the company is in pretty good shape or on a brink of bankruptcy.

"We are just asking for basic human rights. Cabin crew - they are working more than 10 hours a day. They don't even have 10 minutes for meals or to go to the toilet. We are requesting more manpower from the company and a backup roster," said Winnie Poon, chairwoman of the Dragon Airlines Flight Attendants Association.

Unlike budget airlines who skip doing basic services such as distributing newspaper and blankets, five Dragonair staff provide full services to 200 passengers such as serving meals and sell duty free items even for short trips like the 30-minute route between Hong Kong and Guangzhou. For longer flights, flight attendants even suffer urinary tract infections because they prioritize passengers over themselves in using the toilets. Such plight of flight attendants could make their jobs unappealing to aspiring stewards and stewardesses. But not all think it's all that bad.

During an interview by ABS-CBN, a Philippine Airline cabin attendant who received a little over 8,000 pesos monthly salary said being a flight attendant at the country's (and Asia's) first airline is something to be proud of, nothwithstanding the paltry benefits and job insecurity. She may not share the same sentiment with colleagues, but at least Philippine Airlines would be thankful that it still has loyal, if not underpaid, employees.

...

Reversing trend for cross-border weddings

47 — Friday August 6, 2010, 08:57:22am +08:00

In the not so distant past, the growing trend of Hong Kong men coming to the mainland China to find their brides or Hong Kong women going to the mainland to marry was relatively unheard of. Recently, that trend was reversed as more local women marry mainland men and fewer Hong Kong men marry mainland women. Data released by government statistics showed 2,599 women from the city married mainland men in 2009. This figure is slightly higher than the 2,409 in 2008 and 2,490 in 2007. Local men who married mainland women reached 13,751 last year, lower than those recorded in 2007 (15,978), 2008 (14,206) and a 24 percent decrease compared to 2006 data (18,182).

Such a trend is open to a lot of intepretation. Is it easier for Hong Kong men to find partners in the city? Are Hong Kong women less picky now than before? Are mainland women becoming more scarce as the impact of China's one-child policy is taking effect? Or is it because there is a growing gender disparity in Hong Kong?

Last year, there were 3.3 million men and 3.7 million women in Hong Kong, or 889 men for every 1,000 women. (Of course, only a small portion of these figures belong to the marrying population). The gap has grown from 956 to 1000 in 2001 and 912 to 1000 in 2006.

Those who believe in the importance of marriage can rejoice - the number of marriages in 2009 was 51,175 a record number that is an eight percent improvement from 47,000 in 2008.

...

Octopus Card admits making money selling personal data to third parties

47 — Thursday August 5, 2010, 08:18:14am +08:00

After weeks of denial, the issuer of Octopus cards in Hong Kong admitted it made HK$44 million in the past half decade by selling data from its card holders to third party partners. Prudence Chan, chief executive of Octopus Holdings, which owns Octopus Cards, has issued a "sincere apology" to affected cardholders. But who would ever believe such sincerity if the act itself is not an unintended mistake but a deliberate effort to make money. I guess the management behind the Octopus Cards is aware of protecting privacy issues in the lines of email unsubscribes and even before Facebook got heavily criticized for revising its privacy policies.

Chan admits that the data of 1.97 million customers were sold to six partners of the rewards schemes namely Octopus Rewards. As a result, each affected cardholder had been contacted for promotions an average of 1.7 times. This is in stark contrast from her earlier claims that her company never sold card holder data. From the moment her statements contradicted, Ms Chan already lost public trust, notably the holders of Octopus cards such as MTR travelers.

Maybe this is what we get from a company that controls basically every transaction we do involving smart cards every single day. Not even a privacy ordinance that punishes offenders is powerful enough to deter similar acts. Heck, if the maximum fine is HK$10,000 and six months imprisonment, many would still be tempted to violate the law in exchange for millions. As counterpart offenders, "merchant partners" are willing to pay for such information if it only means they will be able to target customers even more closely.

It's unfair that while we pay to take an MTR ride, Octopus Cards shares our personal information to its so called partners for a fee without us benefiting from the deal. As a result, we may receive junk mail in our email inbox, get a random call from a try-hard telemarketer or our mailboxes filled with messages that offer irrelevant promotions. Should the MTR, as parent company of Octopus Cards, subsidize our trips to compensate this compromised personal information? Maybe that would not be enough, as many passengers would prefer to pay the full amount if it meant better security of personal data.

Cigna, a health insurance company and one if Octopus Cards partners, admits to possessing the personal data of 46,000 Octopus Card holders but its CEO Edward Kopp insisted that his company was provided with such data and did not buy it.

I am sure there are cardholders who don't mind receiving offers from merchant partners, but the fact that data was exchanged between two parties without the consent of real owners already constitutes committing a crime.

...

Why Hong Kong education standards are higher than Ivy League

47 — Tuesday August 3, 2010, 09:38:10am +08:00

Hong Kong produces winners in math and science competitions, and that may be an indicator of its high standards of education.

Or is it?

For starters, Hong Kong universities places high priority on Chinese skills for admissions. That bodes well for locals who comprise at least 95 percent of the population. But for members of the minority communities, such language requirements may be too much to bear. Children of minority families don't lack effort and try their best in exams but many are rejected and are therefore forced to find schools overseas such as those in the Ivy League where they successfully get admitted.

Take the case of Faiza Alvi, born in Pakistan and raised in Hong Kong. While at secondary school, her university applications were rejected by every university in Hong Kong because her Chinese skill was below standard. But without such requirements, she was able to pass the admissions at Columbia University in New York. Faiza's siblings suffered the same outcome in trying to secure a university placement in Hong Kong. Following her lead, Faiza's sister is now studying for her degree in the United States. Unfortunately, her brother couldn't even get an admission to any secondary school and had to receive informal training from their father at home.

I guess not all minority applicants get rejected, though I feel that as long as the same Chinese requirement is imposed on everyone, chances are slim even for minority students who can speak Cantonese fluently.

While discrimination may be too strong a word to describe these addmission policies in Hong Kong, changes are needed if the aim is to integrate students from diverse cultural backgrounds and be one with Asia's world city claims. The problem is that there are not even a sufficient number of slots available for more qualified (read: Chinese capable) applicants to enter Hong Kong's universities.

No wonder international study agencies have their hands full of inquiries from parents of Form Five pupils right before the announcement of Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination results next month.

A growing number of Hong Kong parents are willing and capable of sending children to study at overseas universities, where annual fees range from HK$200,000 (US$27,500) and above. The number of enquiries by parents seeking advice on studying abroad is up 20 percent, according to South China Morning Post. The problem experienced by Faiza Alvi and other minorities were highlighted but maybe the greater problem is the disparity between supply and demand. Do Chinese univerisities impose the Chinese skill requirement as a means of shortening those that can qualify from a much bigger crowd? I am not sure. But one thing is for sure: students and parents can always look at overseas alternatives to address anxiety and a brighter future.

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Diplomatic immunity comes in handy to foreign envoys in Hong Kong

47 — Monday August 2, 2010, 07:00:02am +08:00

Ever remember the case of Grace Mugabe, the wife of Zimbabwe leader Rubert Mugabe, embracing the headlines last year for assaulting a photographer? Fortunately for her as wife of a president, she was saved from prosecution, thanks to the diplomatic immunity she and other people of the same stature possess.

Besides that high profile case, there are lesser offenses made by foreign envoys in Hong Kong. It can be as simple as failure or refusal to pay parking tickets. Nonetheless they are still offenses that would warrant punishments if perpetrators were "low profile" citizens.

Out of the city's 59 consulates, 29 of them have errant envoys taking advantage of immunity accorded to them by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. However, the number of offenses committed has decreased over the years; in 2005, 28 parking tickets were waived, last year only nine.

Hungary, Russia, Israel, Bangladesh and Greece are the consulates having the most number of offenses -- most of which involved parking tickets recorded.

Other offenses include a diplomat from the United States failing to display a valid lisense, an official from Vietnamese consulate who figured in a traffic violation and, of course Grace Mugabe's assault.

In Hong Kong, there are around 1,800 consular staff and family members entitled to the same privileges as those mentioned offenders. I doubt most of them are likely to abuse these privileges but it pays to stay away from those who easily get themselves into trouble. Before we question Vienna Convention's existence, our hope is that foreign governments appoint sensible people to these posts instead of putting those with one-track mind in exile, disguised as ambassadors or consulate officials.

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Why some Hong Kong residents lack manners: Reason #23

47 — Wednesday July 28, 2010, 01:46:10pm +08:00

"Like mother like daughter, like father like son."

This is a quote I heard while growing up. Not necessarily refering to a genetic link, children adopt traits from parents because they look up to them as role models. And whatever parents tell or allow them to do, children think it's correct. Wrong.

Just look at how some parents and children behave when they enter the MTR trains. These parents seem oblivious to the fact that they need to educate their kids on how to be polite and considerate young citizens as they start to blend with society. They are the parents who encourage their kids -- taking advantage of their playful nature -- to rush inside the train and occupy multiple seats for themselves and their parents, effectively blocking other adults including the elderly and disabled.

They are the parents who tolerate children eating, drinking and behaving as if the train seats is the cozy sofa back home. That leaves us passengers shocked, but like many others we simply ignore these day-to-day observations, making these families think what they're doing is fine.

When these kids grow up, they could become impolite, inconsiderate members of the society, influenced by their childhood exposure. And they don't only bother their immediate family members. Their self-centered behavior could possibly annoy us. They could speak loudly on the phone, refuse to open the mall doors for us if our hands can't do so, or destroy public property.

These parents aren't doing their children a favor; years later, their kids realize the mistake. Not that I would expect children to dump their parents to an elderly home as a form of reprisal. What goes around, comes around. Bad parenting may eventually haunt bad parents later.

As a result of our indifference, our society isn't as ideal as we dreamed it to be.

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HK: Politically sensitive car plate gets no auction bids

47 — Tuesday July 27, 2010, 01:17:22pm +08:00

The superstitious nature of Hong Kong can be translated in different ways, such as buildings devoid of 4th or 14th floor labels or the serving of noodles during New Year's Day. But some of these beliefs are blended with commercialism, such as the belief that house on Number 8 street will fetch much greater yield than its equally-prestigous neighbors.

In the case of car plates, in Hong Kong it's similar to bidding for government auctioned sites for development. A vehicle with 888 plate would definitely fetch thousands, if not millions. Those running out of available plates attractive enough to associate any event - auspicious or not - continue to be creative. For example, 71 means July 1 (Hong Kong's turnover from Britain to China), 512 (Sichuan Earthquake) or 8964 (Tiananmen Square "events" on June 4, 1989). At a recent car number plates auction at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, some plates with significant meanings were on offer. As the auctioneer chat starts,

"We have plate 8964, a bright shining plate fresh from .. Bidding starts at HK$125,000 ($16,000). $125,000 will you give me $125,000"

Apparently, nobody is willing to spend that amount for a plate that might be barred from entering north of the border. As a result, the plate was removed from the government auction. The outcome isn't surprising as the car plate combination represents politically sensitive theme.

In the past it has been proven that cars with auspicious plates don't necessarily supercede the brain quality of drivers. As I said in the past, these numbers don't mean much to me.

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Sai Wan development a government eye-opener

47 — Saturday July 24, 2010, 08:13:54am +08:00

Hong Kong postcards often feature popular landmarks and attractions always mentioned in guidebooks. But such sites only occupy a small portion of Hong Kong. Perhaps the reason why everyone would describe the urban areas as crowded is because dwellings, infrastructure and people are concentrated in one quarter of the territory's total land area.

Beaches, rock formations, hiking trails, thick forests and wetlands represent the off-the-beaten-path of Hong Kong, most of which are protected areas by the government. Yet, there are zoning loopholes that allow rich and influential people to purchase tracts of land and get a piece of paradise that no private villa in Phuket or Bali can compare to. The latest spotlight features energy tycoon Simon Lo, who wished to build a beachside home in a Sai Wan village, located near Sai Kung East Country Park and a portion of the ultra-long MacLehose Trail.

The piece of land was bought by Lo, chairman of Mongolia Energy Corporation, at a cost of less than HK$16 million (US$2.06m). A contractor was hired to convert the site into a private retreat that will consist of artificial ponds, a tennis court and a lodge. The remoteness of the location did not escape the wrath of conservationists and other concerned groups who launched protests. The same group of people are also active in monitoring the activities of Urban Renewal Authority in its effort to convert heritage sites into commercial interests.

Sai Wan village is not covered by the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance which prohibits the excavation and other works without government permit. A spokeswoman for the Antiquities and Monuments Office said the Sai Wan site was included in an alert system for private developments but the government had not received any development application that would have triggered such an alert.

The construction has since been halted since last Wednesday. But Lo hinted that the development may only be suspended and not scrapped.

"We will commence discussions with the related departments and organisations in the hope of finding a solution that is acceptable to various parties," he said, without saying what he would do with the site. Peter Li, a spokesman of an alliance of nine green groups described Lo's statement as totally insincere.

"No matter what he does now, Lo has to right his wrongs first. To show his sincerity, he had better restore the government site from which he removed vegetation and trashed with the diggers," Li said.

Local residents are unhappy about the suspension of works. "If nobody bought the land, it would be a wasteland with rubbish and mosquitoes. Very dirty," said Lai Kwan, Sai Wan village head.

Residents believe that Lo's developments in the area will improve a difficult situation they are experiencing. There is no road to Sai Wan, which keeps tourists away from visiting shops and restaurants, and there is no immediate hospital care aging locals. Villagers may think that Lo's arrival brings roads. But Lo may not need a road to get to his beach house; near the construction site is a landing pad for his helicopter.

At the moment, there is a status quo on this matter. This should also offer a reminder to the government to carefully review its existing laws and ordinances for the sake of conservation without forgetting the welfare of constituents. Who knows, the Sai Wan issue may only be one of the many examples of nature and wildelife habitat at risk due to encroachment of folks who have money and power.

...

Indonesian domestic helpers endure challenges even before landing HK jobs

47 — Thursday July 22, 2010, 11:07:16am +08:00

They appear in the news often in a bad situation: serving milk tainted with bleach or getting beaten for a minor offense. But even before they arrive in Hong Kong, Indonesian domestic helpers already endure prison-like environment back home while they they train for jobs awaiting them in Hong Kong.

Indonesian helpers are sometimes picked because they are less likely to complain for fewer days off, lower pay or extra burden at work. But one advantage Indonesian helpers enjoy against Filipinas is their ability to speak fluent Cantonese, a welcome news for locals who prefer to communicate in their own dialect.

Yet before they become fluent speakers, these aspiring helpers undergo tough training experience. They are locked away from the outside world more comparable to convict doing time than that of a contestant of reality-TV show "Big Brother". Groups promoting the welfare of these women claim that many of the participants attempt to escape from these facilities around Jakarta amid unsanitary conditions and alleged physical and sexual abuse. If you take away the "learning Cantonese" in the equation, the picture doesn't look too different from those practicing human trafficking.

On the other side of the story, Indonesian government officials and employment agencies are aware of the confinement but justified that such arrangement is in place for the sake of the women's interests. Perhaps we can argue that to learn Cantonese or household chores, the disconnection with family and confinement with fellow learners is a necessity? Many of these women come from remote villages who seek better life in the city, and coupled with lack of education, are easily persuaded to undergo training under such harsh conditions. Surely, with no family support nearby, such detention is almost the only way to go.

However, the current practice of rewarding middlemen and "talent scouts" that bring domestic helper applicants may also have a hand on the current prison-like arrangements. A finder's fee of HK$6,000 is paid to middlemen and a portion of that is paid to prospective helper. But when an applicant takes the money and escapes the training facility, the recruitment agency loses money. Therefore, locking the doors and keeping passports or phones are their adopted preventive measures. While this may provide justification, there is no way these helpers should be treated like slaves, underfed, and subjected to tasks despite poor health.

Otherwise, recruitment agencies violate the United Nations' basic definition of human-trafficking: the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.

Indonesian labor department has been shutting down employment agencies who violate the law. But the problem is that just a month after licenses are revoked, the same people behind the offending agency opens a new placement agency, and continue the nefarious activities.

Indonesian domestic helpers provide good service to Hong Kong employers, but are also subject to numerous cases of exploitation by irresponsible bosses. In the middle of last year, they started to outnumber Filipina domestic helpers. While this sounds good as more opportunities are available for them, one might as well imagine the increasing number of exploited women shipped to the city through inhumane conditions. The fact they their numbers soar, more labor disputes and complaints could pile up lacking attention from consulate and government agencies.

The vicious cycle continues even after domestic helpers leave "rigorous training" and fly to Hong Kong to start work. Some employers refuse to grant them days off, even if Hong Kong's labor laws provide such right. Others are underpaid and underfed. And after their working contracts expire -- or cut short by early termination by employers, they are obliged to return to their employment agencies in Indonesia, according to relevant Indonesian labor laws.

It's a sad story from our Indonesian friends who leave families behind (pretty much the same as Filipinas) to attempt to secure better life, only to be abused and exploited by heartless individuals disguised as employment agencies, government officials and employers.

...

Hong Kong: Low pay for convenience store workers

47 — Monday July 19, 2010, 05:42:19pm +08:00

Ever wondered why beer at "Club 7-Eleven" is cheaper than in those cozy bars?

Apart from lower overhead operation costs, 7-Eleven pays its slaves -- err workers -- the lowest hourly rate. In fact, if you compare 7-Eleven with other similar shops, it has the worst payscale. A 7-Eleven employee in Yuen Long is paid HK$20 ($3) an hour while a Circle K pays a dollar an hour more, according to a survey of 110 outlets by People's Alliance for Minimum Wage in May and June.

7-Eleven is the worst payer, with an average of HK$23.4 per hour, followed closely by Circle K and Wellcome which pays HK$23.9.

As Hong Kong introduced its first-ever minimum wage law a few days ago, there has been intense debate about what should be the minimum pay for the city's workers. Legislator Tommy Cheung received criticisms for suggesting HK$20 wage rate, including a HK$20 banknote from a man wearing a pig mask. No rate has been fixed so far, but a resolution is believed to be around HK$24 (US$3) -- much less than those mandated in other similar economies -- US$7.25 in USA, US$9 in Britain, US$9 in New Zealand -- a shame for a rich territory ranked among the top in terms of GDP ($30,863 in 2008), number of billionaires and most Rolls Royces per capita.

Curiously, a regional director of Dairy Farm, which owns 7-Eleven and Wellcome, sits as a member of the Provisional Minimum Wage Commission - the body that will recommend to the government the city's first statutory minimum wage. Another member of the commission is Dr Michael Chan, chairman of food chain Cafe de Coral, who said his company would have to issue profit warnings if the minimum wage was set at HK$33 an hour. I wonder why the government appointed these folks who may have conflicts of interests while serving the agency?

And we're not just talking of convenience store staff. Minimum wage is also a conscientious topic among members of the other industries such as construction, property management and security services where staff are paid between HK$6,000 (US$771) and HK$7,000 (US$900) per month and work extended hours. A group representing disabled workers oppose a measure under the bill that allows employers to pay less to disabled staff. And rightly so, because employers are likely to abuse this provision.

While we don't classify them together with retail shop employees in terms of work nature, domestic helpers mostly from Indonesia and the Philippines are even exempt from the minimum wage discussion. Officials argue that it's difficult to calculate work hours given the round-the-clock nature of their jobs but also noted that helpers are granted free food, housing, health insurance and an air fare at the end of their contracts.

Nevertheless, the adoption of minimum wage law is a bold and rare move from capitalist economy of Hong Kong. It's far from perfect but hopefully over time, it serves the purpose it originally intended.

...

Welcome to HK... Now open your pockets and buy!

47 — Sunday July 18, 2010, 04:18:59pm +08:00

After that customary welcome messages in different language and seemingly genuine smiles from some tourist guides as they introduce themselves to unsuspecting visitors, the reality sets in for tourists on what the city could be all about.

Hong Kong has been visited by 29.5 million visitors in 2009, more than four times its population. While many tourists arrive and tour around independently, a large portion still relies on organized tours, notably from mainland China. Despite sometimes questionable behavior in public -- cutting in the queue, sitting in prohibited areas or smoking manners -- mainland Chinese visitors are now coveted by shops mainly because of their financial clout. They have come to the right place indeed, for Hong Kong is known as the shopping destination of choice.

The emergence of higher purchasing power by the mainland Chinese tourists has become subject of abuse by unscrupulous tourist guides who literally take Hong Kong's moniker as a priority to-do rather than show these strangers the vibrant and diverse nature of the city. These tourist guides may have fooled a few but definitely not all. And one of them got out of the way to document such experience for everyone to witness.

Recently, a video circulated about a tour guide nicknamed Ah Zhen insulting her clients inside a tourist bus for not spending enough. She told members of a tour group that "it's OK to be poor at home" but not in Hong Kong. The video didn't only surface on video portals on the Web, but also found its way to more than a dozen television channels such as in Guizhou, Liaoning and Guangdong. Think about a better way to discourage the largest market in the world from coming to Hong Kong!

The guide in the video clip further let out her rant, "It's you who owe me here, not me owing you. I provided you with food and accommodation but you people will not give."

If you don't repay the debt in this life you will have to repay it in your next life." She adds: "It's OK to be poor at home, but you can't act like this when you are outside. Don't tell me you don't need [the jewellery], I say you don't need to eat either. Tonight I will lock all hotel room doors, because you don't need accommodation."

"We don't do this for charity. Let me be responsible for charity. I donated 10,500 yuan [HK$12,027] for Sichuan earthquke victims." She also points out shops that offer high-quality goods before asking "Why did you bother to come to Hong Kong?" and lamented that the group was nothing compared to another group, which spent HK$137,000 together.

"For a group of 24 people you only just spent HK$13,000. How can you just walk out of the shop like that?"

If that's not bad enough, a mainland tourist even died of heart attack in May after an argument with an unlicensed guide who refused to let him leave a jewelry shop. Last month, four mainland tourists had to buy their one-way ticket home after refusing to pay 2,000 yuan as a penalty for skipping a tour's shopping itinerary.

The video created outrage on the web, often laced with threats. One poster commented, "The mainland has good tourist spots all over, why not just not go to Hong Kong". Yes indeed, why bother going to Hong Kong only to be reviled by tourist guides for being thrifty when there are kinder souls waiting to entertain you inside the border?

Obviously, this is not what our tourism officials would like to preach when inviting tourists to visit Hong Kong.

With full of multilingual guide books, maps, and indirect guides in the form of sales ladies, MTR staff or bus drivers, tourists don't necessarily need to be pampered by tourist guides zealous about how much you spend rather than how much you enjoy. But maybe in the case of mainland tourists it's a bit different; association with tourist guides is necessary. In fairness to dedicated guides, it's unfair to ignore their services. Elderly travelers, tourists who need translators and other special requirements depend on guides for a worthy visit. It's only those few unscrupulous ones that tarnish the reputation of the travel industry.

Too bad, authorities have to resort on espionage to capture these offending guides. Undercover agents will pose as tourists will start checking these bad behaviors. I imagine that must be a boring job, but needs to be done.

...

One year on: Hong Kong fails to enforce smoking ban

47 — Thursday July 15, 2010, 11:53:47am +08:00

Hong Kong just marked a one-year milestone in its implementation of the expanded smoking ban. This expansion outlawed smoking in enclosed public venues such as bars. While it provided brief relief to non-smokers who frequent these watering holes, the old habit of smoking indoors made a strong resurgence, thanks to the relatively loose guidelines on the implementation of the ban.

Instead of pushing the owners to enforce the law, the smoking ban penalizes only the smokers a fixed HK$1,500 ($193) for any violation. This effectively clears owners or managers from any responsibility in reminding offenders and ensuring the health and well-being of other patrons. In Britain, the smoking ban makes bar owners directly responsible for smokers' actions by putting their licences at risk if smokers are found repeatedly flouting the ban on their premises. Their counterparts in New Zealand face a fine of up to NZ$4,000 ($2,885). In Queensland, Australia, restaurant owners must stop offering food and service if a customer fails to comply with the smoking ban.

The success of the ban hinges on the performance of 99 tobacco control officers and supplement forces to police the entire city. Some of these officers had balked at the idea of expanding their jurisdiction to public transport interchanges, on top of bars, mahjong houses, private clubs, massage parlours, saunas and nightclubs. With only these enforcers patrolling the territory, smokers have plenty of room to puff cigarettes as they wish. Other agencies are also empowered but there seems to be a lack enthusiasm to do this extra work. For instance, out of 2,200 officers of Leisure and Cultural Services (LCSD), only two prosecutions were made since they were given power to implement smoking ban last September.

One might suspect that this law was made just to show everyone that Hong Kong cares about the health through enforcing a legislated smoking ban. The law's apparent hands-off policy may be a deliberate attempt to protect the interests of businesses instead of looking at the welfare of non-smokers. So if a customer asks bar staff if it is okay to smoke indoors, they may be eventually allowed, since staff will not be accountable in any way. Otherwise, employees become subject to possible reprisals from clients.

The atmosphere outdoors does not provide much of a relief either. As smokers are pushed out of their previous nooks and have to converge in the sidewalk or surround cigarette bins at the corner, the air is definitely more lethal than before. We often complain of China's factories as the number one culprit, but I guess we pay little attention on matters that are closer to us -- idling engines, smoke inhalation and other forms of pollution generated by Hong Kong people.

Tobacco Control Office head Dr Ronald Lam Man-kin said in an earlier interview that tax earnings and prosecutions were not their main focus in stepping up anti-tobacco efforts. "We just want to motivate more smokers to quit, for the benefit of themselves and others."

Sorry Dr Lam, I think I see more smokers congregating in every allowable space in the streets, building basements and that's not a sign smokers are quitting. And I don't think that these efforts your office is initiating are working. Apart from those poor tobacco control officers who are helpless in enforcing the law, all I see are feel-good TV commercials and glossy posters. In my opinion, that's not gonna work.

Unless the loophole described above gets corrected, it's better off scrapping this smoking ban, and focus taxpayers' money elsewhere.

...

Hong Kong retailers may pocket plastic bag levy

47 — Tuesday July 13, 2010, 08:46:01am +08:00

As Hong Kong moves towards the second phase of the shopping bag levy, the government is now thinking of expanding the plan to cover small retailers. But unlike in phase one where supermarkets, convenience stores and beauty care shops are required to hand over the levy to the government, smaller retailers like news stand vendors can now keep the money and be spared from keeping records of sales of shopping bags, according to Secretary of Environment Edward Yau in time for the first anniversary of the shopping bag scheme.

The first phase covers about 3,000 supermarkets like ParknShop, Wellcome and Jusco as well as beauty specialty shops like Watsons and Mannings. The scheme asks these shops to charge HK$0.50 (US$0.06) for each plastic bag and turns over the money to the government. In addition to the added tasks put on their shoulders, these shops also need to keep records on the procurement and distribution of plastic bags for filing with the Environmental Protection Department.

After the introduction of the 50 cent levy, the number of plastic bags distributed by shops was reduced by 90 per cent. That sounds promising indeed and in line with government measures to reduce the use of plastic bags and prolong the life span of landfills. But the move also spurred the use of so-called "biodegradable" plastic bags, used more extensively to avoid paying the levy.

Since the levy is not a means to make the government money, it should be a non-issue to adopt the new proposal allowing small retailers to charge customers for bags they distribute. After all, the government may not be subsidizing the procurement of these bags.

...

Hong Kong nursing employment red tape

47 — Monday July 12, 2010, 09:58:41am +08:00

It seems that the best bet for an overseas nurse aiming to get a job in Hong Kong is to take up a nursing course in the city. That's a conclusion we can draw if we look at the experience of a few highlighted applicants coming from Canada and Australia, as featured in the South China Morning Post.

Foreign applicants need to pass written and practical exams before obtaining a license to practice. This requirement applies even to those with professional nursing experience overseas. While this seems sensible as a cautious way to screen applicants, there are policies that only discourage applicants from pursuing a nursing career in Hong Kong.

Rachel Chan, an applicant from Canada mulling a move to Hong Kong was asked by the Nursing Council to fill in 141 hours of "theoretical deficiency" but when she asked what courses were needed to make up for the shortfall the council couldn't recommend which course to take, applying a hands-off policy on a subject it is presumably responsible for.

Rachel's friend Lam Tsz-ting already got her nursing license in Australia last year. But she was not allowed to take the exam simply because the name on her certificate appears as Tsz-ting Lam. Given the dire need for more nurses to serve the shortage and minimize blunders, the perceived red tape and incompetency of the nursing authority is only going to make things worse. Out of 29,110 registered nurses in Hong Kong, only 6 percent obtained their qualifications outside of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's solution for shortage of nurses could hinge on overseas trained nurses, willing and capable to do the job. Sadly, the process of admitting foreign talent is more complicated, if not more confusing, than other countries in need of foreign nurses.

The Hospital Authority, which has 20,000 nurses, is losing about 800 a year to the private sector and overseas. It aims to recruit at least 1,200 nurses in the coming financial year but expects 1,100 posts to be filled, according to South China Morning Post. As more local nursing students graduate in the next few years, the deficit in talent is expected to ease. But until that time comes, the urgency to hire foreign nurses should be a priority. And by easing on admission rules, local nursing workforce numbers gets a major boost. Otherwise, the public has to deal with the common excuse local nurses will use as reason for medical blunders.

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Lan Kwai Fong's 'Club 7-Eleven' threatens neighborhood business

47 — Sunday July 11, 2010, 09:13:21am +08:00

After news that 7-Eleven, a household name in Hong Kong 24-hour convenience shopping, is set to open a new outlet in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong's most popular hang out, bar owners now ask whether it is just a mere convenience store or a liquor bar. A second 7-Eleven outlet is set to open next to Al's Diner and opposite Bar George and Stormies. An existing shop is at D'Aguilar Street across the neighborhood.

7-Eleven provides convenience to folks who embark on a late-night hunt for chips, pain relievers and softdrinks at a time when supermarkets and dispensaries have called it a day. But in the case of those in Lan Kwai Fong the outlets offer a different kind of benefit. While chips, pain relievers and soft drinks sold at 7-Eleven are more expensive than ParknShop and Wellcome supermarkets, the shop guarantees much cheaper bottles and cans of liquor compared to established bars in Lan Kwai Fong. And why not, 7-Eleven operates with minimal number of staff and supported by an efficient logistical support. On the other hand, bars like Bar George and Stormies have to spend a fortune investing on interior decorations, hiring live bands and a platoon of bartenders, waitresses, cooks and cleaning crew. Adding insult to injury is the volatile leasing rates in the city where it is not uncommon for landlords to ask bar owners double or triple the rent they are previously paying.

With 7-Eleven just around the corner, youthful party-goers can drop by for a cold bottle of beer. It would be much more expensive if they do it in the bars nearby, if ever they get their orders at all, by virtue of underage drinking law. 7-Eleven may not be a direct competitor for these bars -- customers drinking in the shop may be liable of violating the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance if the shop does not have liquor license fot he premises -- but that offers very little advantage. Occupying a wider space in the pavement while listening to the upbeat music and enjoying the company of friends seems perfect to many, knowing that they can enjoy as much as those who are in the bars without digging their pockets deeper.

It's not a wonder we hear bar owners complain about this emerging trend. They exert a lot of effort, spend plenty of money, only to be outmaneouvered by some unsuspecting competitor. But who can be blamed? Landlords who allow anyone who has the highest bid for shops? 7-Eleven for being too lenient in serving products to underage patrons? Or is it just the way life goes. If newspapers and magazine circulation numbers dwindle because people flock to the World Wide Web to look for news and information, the very same dilemma could be in the minds of bar owners on how they continue to operate a sustainable business, with our without the presence of that pesky 7-Eleven outlet in the neighborhood. Sometimes changes and adjustments need to happen. Hongkong Post expanded its role from just delivering mails to electronic posting, bill payment, remittance and other logistics services. But maybe there is little room to innovate bars and clubs.

In the end, it's the market that dictates the proliferation of Lan Kwai Fong from an exclusive bars and dining enclave to a free market Hong Kong is famous for. While I see that the presence of 7-Eleven is detrimental to the businesses of bars in Lan Kwai Fong, it is unfair to remove their shops just to accommodate the interests of bar owners -- unless 7-Eleven transforms these shops into exclusively selling liquor. But if bars are keen on removing the convenience outlet from Lan Kwai Fong, they better hire staff to gather evidence that laws have been violated: consumption of liquor in the shop, or handing out liquor products to young teens.

Did I just mention today is 7-Eleven Day, 2010?

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MTR fare dodgers get lessons at the turnstiles

47 — Thursday July 8, 2010, 09:29:00am +08:00

The MTR is probably the most efficient and among the cheapest ways of traveling in Hong Kong. But those impressive descriptions are not enough to make all passengers pay for the wonderful service. This is especially true in Lo Wu station, where some passengers fit enough for high jump competitions leap above station turnstiles to avoid paying the full fare. Lo Wu is located next to the southern mainland city of Shenzhen.

These fare dodgers buy the cheapest single journey tickets to get through the turnstiles. After arriving in Lo Wu, they think it’s practical to jump over the station turnstiles. Maybe because they realize they can’t get out using the wrong (cheapest) tickets they got. But the ulterior motive of avoiding fare payment is already hatched even before that so-called mistake in buying the cheapest tickets was made.

The MTR may have earned billions in profits from millions of passengers it serves on a daily basis, but it couldn’t stand this uncivilized way of utilizing the public transport. It has formed a 29-man team composed of retired law enforcers to tackle these fare dodgers and to deter others from emulating the bad examples.

As a result, the number of fare evasion cases in the first four months of the year has dropped from 8,442 to 1,905 (77 percent). The benefits are obvious: it discourages dodging fares which most people are happy to pay and provide means of livelihood to certain folks who wish to prove that they can still implement by-laws despite their recent retirement.

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Changing addresses of Hong Kong shops and businesses

47 — Tuesday July 6, 2010, 09:17:23am +08:00

The revolving door of Hong Kong's business locations can be confusing to the public. When it was advertised that Esprit outlet was at the basement of Sheraton hotel as indicated in a brochure, a friend and I took time looking for the hotel address. When we finally found it, we were promptly told that the shop moved across the street. When I was trying to find where Pepperoni's restaurant on the web, the address points to a location that is not the Pepperoni's shop anymore.

Perhaps many other people share the same experience, referring to an old directory only to find out that the business have moved. Maybe Google Maps' updates of its database is not as fast as the turnover of businesses in Hong Kong. Abandoned web directories churning out irrelevant results need to be shut down. The Urban Renewal Authority's abrupt transformation of old heritage buildings into modern dwellings and shops for the privileged isn't helping either.

In its nth reincarnation in the city, Hard Rock Cafe has emerged in a new yet familiar watering hole of Hong Kong island. From now until it decides to move elsewhere, Hard Rock Cafe can be found at the basement of the LKF Tower, displacing The Cavern and the Hong Kong Brew House. Its p revious location in Canton Road, its home for 14 years, was taken over by H & M. Property owners are only too happy to raise the lease rates and discover prospects outbidding each other for the space. Insiders said that the landlord wishes to double the rent for Hong Kong Brew House and triple that of The Cavern. As long as there are takers, the sky's the limit.

Hard Rock Cafe will start its operations shortly after September, when the leases of The Cavern and Hong Kong Brew House expire. The latter is expected to reopen in Hollywood Road, deep in Hong Kong's Midlevels dining district. Rising rent levels are taking a bite at businesses in the area. Popular Scandinavian restaurant FINDS (Finland Iceland Norway Denmark Sweden) is expected to relocate from Lan Kwai Fong to the first floor of Luxe Manor in Tsim Sha Tsui.

It a common sight to see a new barber shop taking over a vacated space in my neighborhood, or Pure Fitness finally taking over that Fairmont House basement, vacant for more than a year. In some ways these moves help businesses like real estate agents and relocation companies, while keeping the construction and interior design firms busy.

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Being considerate on the engine idling ban

47 — Monday July 5, 2010, 08:01:10am +08:00

One way to deal with Hong Kong's air pollution problems is to implement a law which makes it an offense to leave a vehicle idling for more than three minutes. Research showed that motor vehicles are a major contributor to worsening air quality in the city. According to Clean The Air, a local charity group revealed that idling vehicles pose risks not only to the environment but also to health of passengers and deteriorate engine conditions. With 567,705 vehicles and only 2,009 kilometers of road network, Hong Kong has the highest road traffic density in the world - 275 vehicles per kilometer if all are on the road. The idling law therefore appears to be a sensible approach.

But opponents of the law didn't have to hold banners and shout loudly to proponents to explain their case, thanks to the searing summer heat and a couple of case studies. Two cases involving bus drivers revealed the problems of the law when implemented strictly. As the Secretary for the Environment told the public the government is open to allowing more exemptions under the proposed law: a minibus driver died after turning off his engine in obedience of the law. The next day a Kowloon Motor Bus driver suffered possible heatstroke.

Most buses in Hong Kong are equipped with airconditioning units to combat the humid conditions during summer, but there are still about 100 KMB buses without them, earning the dubious moniker as "hot dog buses", plying the city streets at mid-30s temperatures. For drivers assigned to drive them, great physical strength is required before these buses are phased out in 2012. It is not unusual for Hong Kong's summer temperatures to reach 36 degrees Centigrade.

The law stipulates that only the first few minibuses or taxis in the queue are exempted from shutting down their engines, in preparation for passenger boarding. Violation would mean a fine of HK$320. In the case of the 81-year-old minibus driver, he followed the law and paid the price. Such incidens prompted the Public Light Bus General Association, a group representing minibus operators, to urge authorities to exempt all buses in the queue from turning off their engines. Maybe this is good, but only during summer where unbearable heat can be life threatening.

Bus drivers need to be exempted from this idling law because they are on the road all the time and following the rule could be detrimental to their health. Also, they bring in passengers who find it troubling to be in a hot furnace, otherwise called a minibus. Why not target private vehicles whose occupants occasionally doze off on the streets with air-conditioning units on full blast? They far outnumber the poor bus drivers and most of them don't stay on the road as long as the bus drivers do.

As lawmakers spend time in their cozy offices drawing the roadmap of the law, the ones in the field feel the absurdity and unfairness. We all aim to breath cleaner air in Hong Kong.

Draconian rules don't apply; let's meet halfway.

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