Queuing Business

Do you know that in Hong Kong, queuing has become a lucrative business? The demand for queuing has sparked the existence of a syndicate that allegedly sells slots for people to be among the first in line.

I mentioned the term queuing sporadically in some of my past posts: first to get that iPhone 3G, ATM queues, queuing for a delicious meal at a favorite restaurant, queuing at Ngong Ping 360 or queuing for Olympic tickets and/or souvenirs.

The nature of Hong Kong's law abiding and disciplined society that "you should follow the last person in the queue" from waiting in the bus stop to following the last person lining towards the supermarket cashier has earned praises. Those who try to cut in line (some Mainland visitors are notorious of this, I was told) receive nasty looks but are safe from any physical harassments.

The business works when a member will go out of his comfort zone by trying to be the first in line. How they do it is quite vague to me as everyone can take their place only if they are early enough to be in the location. One case of this business happens in Yau Ma Tei offices of the Immigration Department, according to SCMP. Once they are in place and lines get longer long before the opening hours, they start peddling their slots between HK$60-120. Those who are in a hurry and need to finish their transaction earlier are prompted to part with their money.

Touting is an offense and a more convenient alternative is to go online and make appointment, but still many would prefer to queue. Maybe among the reasons are the lack of knowledge in going online or the strange philosophy that even after you make that phone or Internet booking you eventually have to go to the location so why not go directly there.

A similar business also works on booking of sports facilities where it is extremely difficult to make bookings for facilities of popular sports. For example, I have been trying to play badminton with friends before. Booking a facility is allowed a month before a desired date. But they told me that it was very hard to make online booking because slots get filled immediately even at the very minute the booking opens. SCMP also reports the same syndicate that operates very efficient hands that are capable of making bookings that beat the competition. As with any skill, this comes at a cost that few frustrated people are willing to pay.

What's next? A five dollar charge to give up seats in Hongkong Tramway or MTR, where passengers expect to be perpetually standing during rush hour rides? A five dollar rate for people who queue at HSBC during short weekday lunch breaks?

Michelin Guide for Hong Kong and Macau Dining

Hong Kong has 15,000 restaurants to choose from. You can see them from the streets, on obscure and popular malls and on high buildings and hotels. It is deceiving to find out which one is good though you can get some hints:

1. People are willing to queue in front of some restaurants' doorsteps to wait for their turn as they try to memorize that magic number they wish will be called pretty soon.

2. On an adjacent shop, waitresses scream outdoors to invite hungry yet clueless people who have yet to make up their mind. Outside looking in, I see empty chairs and tables.

I am sure you can guess which one is good, and which one to avoid. But it doesn't guarantee that the one with queuing patrons is good (maybe just one of a kind in the neighborhood) and the one with hard-sell waitresses is bad (maybe just unreasonably priced but has good food nonetheless).

Enter Michelin, the ultimate guide to gastronomy in Hong Kong. Top eateries in Hong Kong (and Macau) will be outlined in this international culinary map, long famous for its impeccable lineup of top notch restaurants in Europe and America before stretching its arms into Asia where its first edition featured restaurants in Japan was a bestseller.

There will be 12 Michelin inspectors who will examine a pre-selected 1,200 of the 15,000 restaurants. This number will be further pared down to 250-300 which will appear in the guide.

Michelin guides give one star for "a very good restaurant in its category," two for "excellent cooking worth a detour" and the top three stars for "exceptional cuisine worth a special journey."

According to AFP:

Three stars is a guarantee that wealthy diners will queue up for a table, while the loss of even one star can spell financial or emotional ruin.

If your restaurant is in, you could be the talk of the town. If you're restaurant isn't included, you are in for tougher competition to win patrons apart from sporting a torn pride. Of course, you can continue to promote your restaurant by pasting a large photo of you and a popular celebrity outside your shop.

China Gold Medallists in Hong Kong

China won the overall medal tally in the recently-concluded Beijing Olympics. Ranking should be based on who wins the most gold medals, silver medals and bronze medals. A gold medal is more valuable than two or ten silver medals. I don't know if it's just a trick but NBCOlympics.com always presents the tally according to the total number of medals won. As an American website I think NBCOlympics.com tries to show that there is still a way to display USA on the top of rankings.

Just less than a week since the Olympics has finished, China's gold medallist are on their way to Hong Kong for a goodwill tour. Some of them could be tired and wanted rest, but I think it's also an exciting time for them to see their comrades in Hong Kong cheering for them especially that Hong Kong failed to win any medal in Beijing.

I learned they will stay in Intercontinental and will visit Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park. Tomorrow they will stage demonstrations of diving, badminton, table tennis and gymnastics. In the evening they will take part in a variety show at Hong Kong Stadium.

A good way to showcase China's world beaters and hopefully it will inspire Hong Kong which will host the East Asian Games next year.

Useless HSBC Promotions

Yesterday I received a regular communication letter from HSBC. It contains my statement balance but as always, it comes with a neatly folded glossy paper outlining its current promotions on offer. This time, it's from Maxim's which says "Maxim's gourmet offers exclusively for you" with a photo of a woman holding knife and fork smiling while preparing to devour a variety of mooncakes and lobster.

Unfolding the paper with a size equivalent to two A4 sheets, I can see a few Maxim's menus ranging from Chiuchow to Cantonese cuisines for several people. With a price of HK$1,260 for six persons, it is not enough to convince me that it is affordable enough considering that the original price is HK$2,100. By displaying the original price, Hong Kong shops, not just this special HSBC offer, attempt to persuade customers that the huge discount between it and the offer price is too good to miss.

If other people in Hong Kong are fond of collecting coupons, loyalty stamps or cutting off newspaper offers, I find these HSBC promotions useless. I seldom eat at shops with stratospheric rates even if as an HSBC card holder I get the chance of cutting down on meal costs.

If ever I signed up for paper bill and HSBC automatically sends me these offer catalogs, that's entirely my fault. But the problem really is that this communication was sent to me purely to send the offer; the statement shows that I HAVE NO OUTSTANDING BILL TO PAY. So why does HSBC bother to send me this letter at all? Is it because it is better than paying someone to hand over these offers personally?

I am sick of these false pretenses that HSBC cares about the environment that it has a unique "green" credit card that manifests this commitment. It spends millions of dollars to show everyone that it cares. But what seems to be a smack of hypocrisy is that HSBC continues to print these glossy promotion papers, cutting trees directly or indirectly in the process, and force feeds them to unsuspecting customers via postal mail.

While HSBC requests me to just refrain from printing transaction advice when I use its ATMs to save paper, it is extravagant when it uses paper to print these useless promotions.

So HSBC please consider removing these promotions from my next letter because:

1. I don't need them
2. I didn't ask for them
3. It wastes paper that could be used in a more productive way
4. It costs you more to mail heavier letters instead of that plain paper bill

I said it before, but I needed to repeat it. I admire HSBC on other areas but this sustainability decoy is a spot that it needs to fix.

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme

There are a few ways to live in Hong Kong. I think the following are still applicable:

1. Get a job in Hong Kong. Getting a job in Hong Kong requires you a working visa. Once a working visa is issued, you can stay in Hong Kong for as long as your working visa allows.

2. Get a wife/husband in Hong Kong. Marrying someone from Hong Kong entitles someone to acquire a dependent visa. Good thing about this is that dependent visa holders don't need working visas to work in Hong Kong.

3. Be a son or daughter of a Hong Kong resident below the age of 18.

4. Be a mother or father of a Hong Kong resident at age 60 or above.

As all the above items require either family association or career-related action to make the move, people who have no family ties with any Hong Kong permanent or non-permanent resident or found their jobs too common for locals to fill in, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) could be an option.

QMAS is a points-system immigration system in place in Hong Kong. Just like when you apply to migrate to Australia, points will be awarded based on education, age and language proficiency, among others.

Basic requirements are the following:

1. Age is within 18-50. So most readers of this blog who wish to apply is definitely in.

2. Financial capability. While no exact amount was mentioned on its website, applicants must have the ability to support themselves without asking for help from the government. I wrote a quick guide on how much does it cost to live in Hong Kong late 2006 and might give you an idea if you are indeed able to support yourself without even if you don't get a job in the first few weeks.

3. Good public standing. As always, nobody wants criminals, offenders, sex maniacs, overstaying tourists, thieves and other undesirable citizens to live in Hong Kong. Applicants should have clean public record in HK or elsewhere. That is why Q for QMAS stands for Quality and not Quantity.

4. Education background. The more educated you are, the more desirable you become in the eyes of Hong Kong. But don't be fooled by fake education websites in your effort to get multiple doctorate degrees.

5. Language proficiency. English and Chinese reading and writing skills are most desired. If you know both English and Chinese, you're the best. If you know only Chinese and English with another one such as Japanese or Spanish, you are good to go.

I think this program didn't attract much applicants simply because of its low quota and the public perception that it is difficult to achieve the requirements. However, it is always a good idea to try it out. Have a read on its guidelines to see whether you are qualified or have a high chance of getting it approved.

Lang Lang, a prolific pianist from China is among the first successful applicants of this scheme. Recently, it was announced that Rebecca Tang Wei of the movie Lust, Caution also got in. Other popular celebrities to take part of this program are Barry Beck of NHL, Yundi Li, another Chinese pianist, Li Ning (which supplies sports apparel during the Beijing Olympics) and Zhang Ziyi. These announcements are newsworthy because they are popular but hopefully this won't intimidate other applicants and get to think that they have inferior qualifications.

Hong Kong Diploma Mill

Hong Kong is a competitive city.

Parents wait in line for hours to get a possible appointment on their desired schools for their children. Luxury high-rise flats often have European identities such as Les Saisons, Manhattan Hill, Sheffield Villas to exemplify luxury living and attract buyers. Competitiveness is also obvious at work, where further studies can be a way to promotion and pay rise.

The last example puts many ambitious yet gullible fellows to fall behind a ring of fraudsters whose business is to generate a virtual diploma mill for people in need of online degrees. So if you are an architect who want to be a doctor in a flash, this is one way to make it happen, without actually replacing your pen with a scalpel before obtaining a degree as a medical practitioner.

As an SCMP story puts it, the trend of getting mythical degrees online seems to be a newly discovered modus operandi operating within the confines of the Web. Back in the Philippines, I have always heard of a place called Recto where diplomas are made to order even if I live hundreds of miles South of that place.

The steps are easy and straightforward.

Step 1. Select your desired school.
Step 2. Select your desired course.
Step 3. Select your desired year of graduation.

Name of school officials and their designations plus signatures are well taken cared of. After an hour or less, your spanking new diploma is ready for bragging. Who would question your abilities when they see such diploma and you also know how to handle the talking?

And so the question goes, why take the long way if you can do it the other way? I know this is not only the meaning of a diploma mill back in my country.

It also refers to schools, legally operating, licensed and charging exorbitant fees, whose students flunk on nationwide accreditation exams consistently. It is said that these schools run diploma mills because the knowledge acquired by their students is almost the same as those who pass by Recto and have their diplomas ordered and ready for lamination.

In Hong Kong, people who pay thousands of United States dollars for these diploma mills (and end up getting nothing) are even more gullible. The advantage of convenience sometimes outweighs the suspicion that a website is made up and not an official institution. What if you see www.hkuspace.blogspot.com or hkust.wordpress.com and offer courses purported to be from HKU SPACE and HKUST? Or what about those listed at TDC Directory that offer distance learning education? Are we assured that they are legitimate?

As long as there are people who can get fooled, these fakes will always be there.

Airport Chaos and Madrid Plane Accident

Passengers flying out of Hong Kong during the recent typhoon visit have been very impatient over how they are being handled by the airport and airline companies. It is very understandable for people to be frustrated as they make their way to long, confusing queues instead of making a successful trip. Some airlines fail or refuse to offer concessions like hotel accommodations or meal allowances and promptly make passengers convert the airport to a big makeshift open air hotel. Thanks to Hong Kong airport's award-winning tradition, I imagine that this could be much worse if the unfortunate event happened elsewhere.

Who wouldn't be mad if you're among the passengers of one of the 598 flights canceled during the 2pm - 2am time frame between 22 and 23 August 2008. Lack of chairs, crying children, lost baggage, perpetually long lines and lost passengers could be a common sight for me if I were there.

However, before people can get more ballistic, let's just think about the more unfortunate happening in Madrid where more than 150 passengers of a Spanair flight perished as their airplane crashed shortly after take off on a fine day last Wednesday.

While I won't wish for a typhoon to come and cancel my flight, I couldn't be more thankful for one too, if that's the only way to avert an ill-fated journey same as that Spanair flight last Wednesday. My thoughts are with the families of victims and survivors.

Storm Signal 9 Precaution

In case you don't know that after the storm signal number 8 comes the signal number 9. (I can't figure out why there is such a big leap from 3 to 8 -- ask the HK Observatory), here are some precautionary measures for a safe stay in Hong Kong while a typhoon is within its area of responsibility.

1. Do not go outside. If you are reasonably protected, stay where you are and keep well away from all windows. Close all interior doors and make sure children are confined to the least exposed part of your home. On no account should you touch electric cables that have been blown loose.

2. Since seas are very rough, you are advised to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports.

3. Flights at Hong Kong International Airport may be affected by the weather. Please contact your airline for the latest flight information before departing for the airport.

Whether you're a local, a tourist or an accidental traveler (brought because of flight diversions), these tips will prove to be helpful.

7 Observations from Hong Kong TV Olympic Coverage

I have been sidelined with flu the past two days and with Signal number 8 hoisted this morning (upgraded to typhoon signal number 9 by 1:40pm), I was pretty much at home the whole but two of the past 72 hours.

To my delight, the coverage of the Olympics is still shown live. Although I can't glue myself on the TV set for long (doctor's advice was to stay in bed and sleep and not watch television), I occasionally watch games especially volleyball, boxing and taekwondo. There are three local channels that offer great amount of Olympic coverage plus China's CCTV although only one of them is in English language. I can't help but make the following observations while flicking through these channels.

1. The local Chinese channels of TVB and ATV show identical events most of the time so it doesn't help to have additional channel at all.

2. While English channel of TVB feature two Caucasian commentators at a time, Chinese channels are a crowd of singers, actors and news anchors, which to me make up a raucous group.

3. It is not bad to have singers and pretty faces acting as sports correspondents. But some of them acted like cheerleaders more than commentators. They cheer when Chinese teams win and also cheer when opponents lose. Some of them don't deserve to be in the seat. One of them (a woman at Chinese ATV) has a pretty bad voice covering the event. But what can I do if this is how they define entertainment or there is a lack of talent that will fill in those vacancies?

4. Extensive coverage was devoted to events where China has athletes currently playing. It's not bad at all or I prefer watch Team Philippines get some coverage as it will be its third Olympics in a row with no medals to show but full of excuses to make up for its mediocre sports program.

5. These local TV stations have their way of leaving the audience hanging at the height of climactic events. One of which is the exciting ballgame between China and Spain in men's basketball. With 7 seconds remaining and the clock struck 6:30pm, the news broadcast came in promptly.

6. It is not easy to be a host in an Olympic games as grand as this one. But for crying out loud, can't they do some research before they embark into this noble job? Some broadcasters don't even have enough background of the events they are covering. They call it out when it's in, they call the wrong country and seemed unable to guess the right one based on the three letter abbreviation.

7. A few Hong Kong TV personalities who went to Beijing appeared shocked or intimidated by the prominent figures they were trying to interview. For example, one Chinese fellow who interviewed Dwyane Wade after the United States defeated Australia in men's basketball quarterfinals blurted a few words in his questions, leaving Wade to guess what he actually meant. Another woman who can't believe she is beside Michael Phelps for interview was also mumbling. I could do worse than they do, but that puts me behind the camera and them in front; it's their job!

Anyway, overall I am happy that three Hong Kong channels offered extensive coverage of the events of Beijing Olympics. Definitely it didn't made my days of confinement at home a boring one. Most of all it's free!

13 Excuses to Use for Philippines' Failure to Win Olympic Medals

I just missed a featured story at Al Jazeera on why the Philippines, with about 90 million people, finds it hard to win a medal in the Olympics. Every time a Filipino bet loses, may it be in boxing or taekwondo, officials unleash a flurry of excuses. And so I was inspired to write this list of Olympic failure reasons. Some of them are legitimate and some are inexcusable.

1. Lack of good quality sports equipment. "We lost because we don't have good quality equipment". When she was about to make a splash at Water Cube, Christel Simms' swimsuit ripped near the buttocks, so she could not swim well and in the process she lost her heats. While other countries are very serious about what to wear

2. Unfair judging. "I am dumbfounded because it was a clear hit yet our bet did not get a score for that!" Moments after taekwondo bet Tshomlee Go lost his match against Ryan Carneli of Australia, Robert Aventajado expressed dismay over the judging. "We disagree with the outcome, but we have to accept it," the Philippine Taekwondo Association president said. He should take note that he is a taekwondo official and not a game judge so he better accept the decision. Troubled Afghanistan even won a medal in taekwondo so I say all these officials do is almost all talk and no action.

3. Lack of exposure. "We lost because we lack experience and exposure our opponents have." Officials will always use this alibi when they found out that opponents have great experience in previous events. It boils down to the lack of funding and half-hearted commitment.

4. Complacency. "We are looking at possible semifinal encounter against [Name of popular athlete]. This comes after our bet will overcome [Name of lesser known athlete] who seems to have lack of credentials." By the time the draw for Harry Tanamor's event was determined, officials were focused on fancied fighters in his category and seemed to note that Manyo Plange of Ghana can easily be beaten. Plange went down to the light-flyweight division after an unsuccessful campaign as a flyweight in last years world championship in Chicago. American Luis Yanes, China's Zou Shiming, Thailand’s Amnat Ruenrong and Tajikistan’s Sherali Dostiev were in already in sight even if Tanamor has yet to hurdle the African champion. What was missing is an effective scouting. And too much for sour graping.

5. Injuries. "[Name of Filipino athlete] suffered ankle problem during the encounter". We feel sorry for Liu Xiang for pulling out of the hurdles event because of the recurring injury. But at least he's a champion. Our athletes may have potentials on winning medals, but players from

6. Food poisoning. "We did not tell you this but our athletes have suffered from food poisoning which affected their performance in the Games." For a place whose food is different from what is eaten at home, this alibi might just work.

7. Lack of scouting. "We didn't realize our opponent was this good." Just like what happened to Harry Tanamor in boxing, there seems to have a lack of scouting of Africa's Manyo Plange. I think the reason Philippine boxing officials were often talking about favored boxers in Tanamor's division is because they can say nothing about Plange as there was no scouting report for the African boxer.

8. Lack of training. "We didn't have enough time to train because of blah blah blah." China's athletes train their athletes even before they reach their teen years. The commitment to excellence is there. No wonder they are winning more events than anyone in the world. In the Philippines, trainings probably won't begin in about a year before a major sporting event.

9. Fearless forecasts. "Oh, it seems that my fearless forecast didn't work this time around." Before the Beijing Olympics started, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez had a wishful thinking, er, fearless forecast. "The preparation is completed and based on what I see, we can win medals in taekwondo and boxing," said Ramirez. “And either gold or silver in wushu." It's not bad to dream but we must face the reality.

10. Unfortunate draw. "We didn't expect our athlete to progress because we didn't have the luck of the draw". This is a very shallow reason officials are capable of using. Athletes win medals because they are skilled and are superior against their opponents and not because they are lucky. If the Philippines still loses on "lucky draws" as what was perceived in Harry Tanamor's boxing pairings, how much more shall we fare against worthier opponents early in the competititon?

11. Timezone and weather. "We had a hard time acclimatizing to the weather and our bodies were adjusting to the timezone." This will be used for countries that are from the Philippines and has significant difference in timezone and climate.

12. Lack of interest for the sport. "We couldn't find enough interest for this sports as Filipinos are happier to be involved in basketball (where we had no chance in winning medals in the past two Asian Games) or billiards (which is not an official Olympic sports)." There are two theories behind this: a) there is not enough interest as claimed and b) there is not enough information drive and strategic planning to generate interest in the sport.

13. Lack of funding. "If we had enough funding for training, equipment and exposure, we could have probably won the gold medal." This excuse is often the poorly performing athletes and officials are putting the blame on. I wonder if the flag bearer, Manny Pacquiao, made it to Beijing on his own funds. Otherwise, I think it's not a matter of lack of funding, rather a lack of priority on appropriating such small sports budget.

Indonesia has won medals in badminton and weightlifting, Thailand in weightlifting, boxing and taekwondo, Malaysia in badminton, Vietnam in weightlifting and Singapore in table tennis. Philippines? No medals since 1996. Enough bragging about the 2005 overall championship in SEA Games, we are only up to that level.

While cyclists need equipment, non-essential travelers join the junket in Beijing. Leopoldo Serrantes, our bronze medal winner in 1988 Olympics isn't treated like a hero anymore.

Enough of these excuses. The Filipino people are in need of sports inspirations and so far, the people who are in charge of developing sports in the Philippines have disappointed the country again.

OFW Extortion at WorldWide House

I hear about the news that a certain percentage of money sent to the Philippines is being taxed through a supposed documentary tax. This has been claimed by the remittance banks and Western Union. They had been instructed by Manila to place a Documentary Stamp Tax of 0.15 per cent on every US$200 remitted to the Philippines since May.

If this were true, then it's being inconsistent with an earlier plan by the government to minimize cost of money transfer by abolishing cable charges. Cable charges refer to the amount that serve as processing fee to enable transfer from a Hong Kong remittance center to a Philippine bank.

Usually, this amount ranges between 15 to 25 Hong Kong dollars per transaction. I noticed before that some shops try to mislead by offering no remittance charges, but the exchange rate is awfully low that it doesn't favor the money sender at all.

After families receive the money, they are also taxed because most commodities back in the Philippines have Value Added Tax, which is similar to the GST in other countries.

If this were untrue (which I highly doubt) and the banks are just putting extra hidden charge, then it's the greed and selfishness that reign. The recent pay hike for domestic helpers in Hong Kong does not cover basically this extra cost.

Nevertheless, I am not saying OFWs should be exempt of any form of taxes but only exempt from further form of taxes. Before OFWs leave the Philippines, assorted fees must be paid to different agencies. When OFWs return for a short vacation, an application for exemption of travel tax (what we call OEC or Overseas Employment Certificate) also costs us HK$25. It's cheaper than the previous HK$32 but still, it's questionable why the government will deploy people to collect this charge if the only purpose is to exempt us from paying travel tax imposed to tourists. Government: pay Php 1620 (HK$280) or pay HK$25. OK, we have no choice.

If the government is serious about taking care of its overseas workers these fees, which may be unavoidable during tough times back home, should be explained before implemented and not explain only when discovered. OFWs play a role in maintaining economic stability in the Philippines, whether it is executed best when we pay tax or not, we need a proper justification of these costs. Does it mean that if we have this documentary tax in place, the government service will improve?

To MTR, Please Mind The Platform Screen Doors

I don't know why it takes more than three years to install platform screen doors on all of the eight remaining MTR stations. Platform screen doors are additional protective barriers that keep passengers away from the tracks and avoid accidents. The screen doors open only when train doors are open during a station stop.

With these screen doors, passengers are ensured that they don't fall accidentally on the tracks or foolishly attempt to commit suicide.

Should we wait for the next person to die because no adequate protection is in place? It's fortunate for Hong Kong people to be served by the MTR, with its modern army of spacious, air-conditioned trains while its counterparts are aging and obviously show signs of wear and tear. But more importantly is the ability of the MTR to ensure safety of its riding public.

It was reported that the MTR seems to disregard passenger safety, despite its slogan claiming to serve the public. Three passengers were rescued after falling onto rail tracks at Kwai Hing and Kwai Fong stations during June and July.

Evidence of ATV - TVB Rivalry

I am enjoying the Olympics with schedules really favoring us in the Far East as Hong Kong is at the same time zone as China. In the office, there is a big LCD television monitor everyone can drop by for a break at work.

And seven minutes away, I have my outdated CRT screen that provide continuity of the Olympic action. With three channels I can switch to from time to time, I have barely time to watch any cable channel save for BBC News.

However, when I watch local Chinese channels ATV and TVB they show the same events! If one channel shows tennis, the other also show the same match. Same for swimming, gymnastics or badminton. Worse, it would be the same for Pearl, TVB's English channel.

Maybe they were indirectly challenging each other on proving which channel gets more viewers. The view is the same, only commentaries vary.

Hong Kong Population in 2008

According to government agency Census & Statistics Department, the population of Hong Kong in mid-2008 reached 6,985,200 in mid-2008 or up 0.9% (59,300) compared to same period last year.

As I would expect, it's not the number of babies born to Hong Kong locals comprise bulk of these additions. 75,200 babies were born to HK residents as well as visitors who decide to deliver their babies here. However, there are also 41,100 deaths since last year and the net number of people (emigrating from and immigrating to Hong Kong) resulted to an inflow 25,200 residents.

If you imagine the numbers, it pales in comparison to the number of visitors who come in and go out of Hong Kong on a daily basis.

Shopping Blog: Citygate Outlets Mall in Tung Chung

If you're a tourist on the hunt for sale items this summer, you would probably be asking if there is a mall that houses these outlet malls. When friends visit Hong Kong and ask for outlet shops, I think they know better than I am.

There is an outlet for Nike and Adidas in Kwun Tong, Esprit in Sheraton in Tsim Sha Tsui, etc. I am speechless about this because ever since I came to HK, I have never been a bargain hunter, which in the process would like to find out where the outlet shops are. If I go to those places, I would be disappointed to find out they're no longer there.

Outlet shops refer to special stores of certain brands that offer marked down price for all items on sale. For example, Samsonite has a shop in Central, but if you like to get a cheaper line of brand-new luggage, you may want to try its shop in The Peak. Items sold at outlet shops differ from those at main shops, which display new arrivals and recently released designs.

If you just arrived in Hong Kong and your purpose of coming is only shopping for discounts, you don't have to look further. You can find a mall that has them all! At Citygate Outlets in Tung Chung you would be able to find brands like Armani Exchange, Calvin Klein Jeans, Nautica, Esprit, Vivienne Tam, Polo Ralph Lauren, Bauhaus, Benetton and many more design fashion brands. Discounts rates are up to 90%. No kidding.

If you're looking for that Samsonite shop but thinks The Peak is too far or too crowded, there is also one in Citygate Outlets along with outlets shops for City Chain (watches), Mabelle, Clarks (shoes), Rockport and Body Shop.

Since Citygate Outlets is in Tung Chung, which is near Hong Kong airport, staying close would be ideal. After a quick check in at the airport hotel, one can take the short bus ride to the outlet shop. You can take the S1 route by Citybus which stops by Regal Airport Hotel. The destination terminal of this bus will be Tung Chung MTR where Citygate Outlets is just adjacent to the subway terminal.

Another way to get there is to take the MTR and get off at Tung Chung station's exit B.

If you think you deserve more than just shopping, Hong Kong Disneyland and Ngong Ping 360 is just around the corner. In fact, Ngong Ping cable car terminal is just within the area of Tung Chung MTR station and the S1 bus terminal. So you don't have to go to Kowloon and Hong Kong to experience rides, shopping and dining if you're in Tung Chung.

This video will help you familiarize the surroundings of Citygate Outlets Mall.



Citygate
20 Tat Tung Rd
Tung Chung, Hong Kong


View Larger Map

Blogger Arrests

I don't know how should I feel about the increasing trend that more bloggers are now arrested worldwide for a variety of "crimes". I don't know if it's solely because of the offensive contents they write, other offenses unrelated to their blogging jobs or something else but for those documented arrests, the main reason for their arrests are:

1. Exposing corruption and other malpractices:
2. Violation of cultural norms (pornography, inflammatory comments, criticizing religion, etc)
3. Instigating social unrest through protests

As quoted in TechCrunch:

Most of those arrests are in countries with oppressive regimes, such as Egypt, China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. But bloggers have been arrested in Canada, France, Greece, and even the U.S. (with Josh Wolf being one of the most famous incidents¡Xhe spent the better part of a year in jail for refusing to turn over journalistic video footage to a grand jury).

I am not too worried about this myself, not because I live in Hong Kong which somehow safeguards the rights of bloggers, but because I post personal experiences which never (maybe seldom is more appropriate) attack other people or institutions. But of course I can be liable to something I am not aware of. And police can handcuff me.

My Ngong Ping 360 Trip

Last Sunday, I took the trip to Tung Chung with my girlfriend to ride Ngong Ping 360. This is a cable car ride which takes about 30 minutes and spans from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping village and provides short cut to the Big Buddha / Po Lin Monastery. In the past, going to the Big Buddha (also known as Tian Tan Buddha) will require a bus ride from Tung Chung or Mui Wo Pier. The Big Buddha is an awesome sight to see, so imposing that even if you are in a considerable distance, you can still see this giant structure, the world's largest bronze Buddha statue at 34 meters tall and weighs 250 tons.

I mentioned a few times in this blog about the well publicized problems of Ngong Ping 360 where cables have snapped, tourists have been stranded in the middle of their rides that a PR company must have a big task in its hands.

We got to Tung Chung at 2:30pm. The climate was humid and the sky is filled with strato-cumulus clouds. The queue was considerably long, like the long lines I see in The Peak on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. But because we were holding complimentary tickets, we were led to another line which brought us to the redemption counter; it must have taken us 20 minutes to reach there if we didn't have those tickets on hand.

After claiming the ticket, two 10 dollar gift coupon and attraction guides, we spent another 10 minutes to finally get the ride. Most of the passengers were mainland tourists while there are also several Caucasians whom I think are also watching the Olympic equestrian events in Shatin.

Then when it was our turn to take the ride, it was a pleasant experience after the long wait (those at the back should have felt worse). Each cable car can accommodate up to 17 passengers although typically only 9 or 10 people are allowed in. The cable seats are facing each other so you can't help but glance/befriend/stare the other passengers during the trip. We were seated with our backs in front so it wasn't a pleasant experience looking out of the window twisting our necks a further 90 degrees. (Is this part of the 360 experience at Ngong Ping 360?) I guess you just have to wait for the next ride if you want to sit on one side.

A great view of Tung Chung Bay, the airport island (yes, Hong Kong's airport is a man-made island, reclaimed from the sea) and greeneries around Lantau island. We were hanging about 250 feet above the ground at some point and we can see hikers making their journeys and enjoying the sights at the same time. There are two angle stations which allow the cable to take a different angle towards the destination. The first is at the airport island and the other is at Nei Lak Shan where some passengers can get off and go hiking within Lantau island.

It's an amazing ride although it's kind of scary if you remember the news of the snapping cables and malfunctioning pulleys.

When we reached Ngong Ping after the 25-minute ride, it was mid afternoon and we got some udon for lunch at one of the restaurants in the village. The village is actually just a collection of shops selling food and souvenirs. I was not surprised to see a 7-Eleven shop; almost everywhere in Hong Kong you'll find this one.

Our ride doesn't include theatre viewing so we were content on exploring The Big Buddha and nearby Po Lin Monastery, frequented by Buddhists and tourists from everywhere. I think there are still areas that need to be improved especially from Ngong Ping village to the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery.

Overall it was a nice experience, the only drawback I saw was the long queue and the seating arrangement which made me a little dizzy (I won't consider this one if I was on the right seats).

However, I still recommend taking the cable car ride at Ngong Ping 360 as one of the things to do before you leave Hong Kong, whether you are a tourist or a long time resident.

By the way, thank you Ginny for the tickets!

Fr Robert Reyes

Yesterday, I met Fr Robert Reyes, popularly known in the Philippines as the Running Priest who runs to bring attention to the issues that he is passionate about, such as the cancellation of the debts of poor countries.

I just arrived in Central from Ngong Ping 360 trip with my girlfriend and proceeded to the upper podium at ifc where we meet friends as we wind up a typical Sunday. He is currently serving as a missionary worker in Hong Kong.

Upon our arrival, he was with the Mindanao Alliance group, a Philippine regional organization composed of Hong Kong workers who hail from the island of Mindanao, seeking our support in his signature campaign to urge dialogue between military and Moro rebels who are involved in a gunbattle in the province of Cotabato. As a priest who is branded by many as an activist, I think it's never wrong to be such, if you are fighting for the truth. In some occasions, he chides even bishops when he thinks they are wrong.

As of writing, Russia is pounding the cities of Georgia, a Central Asian republic due to a territorial conflict involving a breakaway republic. A few timezones away, a Russian and a Georgian athlete stood hugging in a podium during a Beijing Olympic medal ceremony. The sport they played? Shooting.

He has been teaching English to university students in China since early 2006 but he also spend time in Hong Kong where he celebrates Masses and interacts with many Filipinos. In China, masses are celebrated only on government-approved churches. He gets along well with us, often playfully teasing me with my gf. He is also aware that for many Filipinas in Hong Kong whose husbands are left behind in the Philippines, it's a sad reality that many of them have gone home only to find out their partners cheat on them. The strong grip of his handshake manifests his sincerity and integrity.

No wonder he has won an army of supporters.

Hong Kong Equestrian Olympics Highlights

As the equestrian events of Beijing Olympics is currently underway in Hong Kong, there are a few highlights that provide color and interest within Hong Kong community.

A boring game?
Last night I talked about a boring show in ESPN Star Sports. In the case of equestrian events, is it a boring event? It was observed that there were people in the audience were falling asleep or appeared bored while watching the horses in their artistic and graceful presentations. Or maybe because they were too excited to watch the game and queued before midnight (you know, that first to queue popularity phenomenon) and did not sleep. So when they finally got to their seats and equestrian participants are out to perform, they can't keep themselves awake. Just like Mr Bean on a long drive to Cannes in Mr Bean's Holiday.

Finders, scalpers
I think if there are tickets, there will be scalpers. And the Olympic events did not only provide opportunity to locals and foreigners the chance to watch live events without going to Beijing or turning on the television, it was also a chance for some people to queue as early as their physical capabilities would allow, get the tickets and sell them like you'd die if you don't have these tickets, and make big profits. So when we see people queuing before ticket booths, perhaps not all of them are very excited to watch the event or afraid they would miss out the tickets. Some of them are their to make business.

Political?
The Christina Chan saga reappeared in Hong Kong equestrian events as she tried to get the attention of everyone by flashing the flag of Tibet concealed in another country's flag during the event. While she wasn't arrested, she was removed from the venue along with a companion. I have seen Olympic logo (five rings) morph into handcuffs and wheels of a battle tank in an attempt to show that Beijing doesn't deserve to host the Games, which is widely understood as the symbol of world unity. Chan is not the only soul making her case at this Olympics. An expatriate in Hong Kong actually climbed Tsing Ma bridge to stage his protest. This has caused alarm that even some politicians were barred from entering the Games venue. Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker ''Long hair'' Leung Kwok-hung was ejected from the Olympic equestrian venue after mounting an anti-China protest.

ESPN Star Sports' Boring Show: Game

I subscribed to a few channels with NOW TV since 2005. Among them are BBC News, National Geographic Channel, ESPN and Star Sports. One of the purposes of getting the last two is to get a glimpse of live NBA Games and hope the Phoenix Suns get featured in games aired on Fridays and Saturdays.

During the NBA offseason which happens between June and October, I seldom watch these channels as I get hooked to Star World, BBC and National Geographic. However, I occasionally check for any interesting shows to watch on ESPN and Star Sports. To my dismay, Star Sports has slowly evolved from a sports channel into something else. Somehow, enthusiasts of online video games have successfully penetrated the supposed sports domain of Star Sports. Maybe Now TV has introduced an army of channels dedicated to sports (read: more football coverage) that producers have a hard time looking for quality shows that don't conflict with other channel. More probably, the lure of commercialism that drove ESPN Star Sports to partner with Electronic Arts in an effort to promote its online games by bringing in the show called "Game".

Interactively presented by popular STAR Sports female presenter Drinie Aguilar, a Filipina based in Singapore, the 30-minute program showcases the latest trends in gaming on a weekly basis. "Game" offers its audience the latest news, extensive reviews, event reports from around the world and previews of the hottest upcoming titles.

While EA is happy to promote its products through reviews and sponsorship, I see little reason it should be included in Star Sports, a channel I am paying to watch baseball, football, billiards and basketball games and not these video games which I don't consider as sport at all. The other show called Soccer Cities, which features cities where football is highly associated and appears like a travel show, is more credible because even if I don't see games played live or delayed, it is related to a sport.

But for that program called Game, I am not happy about it. Star Sports is a sports channel and not a game channel. Star Sports, please spare me from this boring stuff.

Photo credit: Gone-Walkabout

Christina Chan Strikes Again

A Hong Kong University student who figured prominently during the Olympic torch relay last May is now back with a vengeance during the official equestrian events held in Shatin this morning.

Christina Chan Hau-man, (just curious if she is this one?) who is a Philosophy major at HKU, was holding a Tibetan flag concealed under a Canadian flag at the dressage event. Event officials removed her, clad in bright orange tops, a major color found in the Tibetan flag.

She was asked to leave, but refused to do so, and was later removed from the arena with another protester.

What I like about Hong Kong is that even if you have previous brush with the law, you are still entitled to rights of a common citizen in the city, even if you're likely to be a repeat offender. Which is what Christina became.

"She was sort of disturbing other spectators around her, which is against the house rules," equestrian event spokesman Mark Pinkstone said.

To me, the effect of the unfolding of Tibetan flag in an Olympic event is to shame China more than asking for Tibet's independence from Chinese control. Faced with issues about pollution in Beijing and the Chinese stance on censoring Internet access during the Games, this activity is the last thing Chinese authorities would like to happen. Christina is lucky to be in Hong Kong. If she were in China, who knows what fate she'd end up with.

Morning Fitness at Quarry Bay Park

I sometimes spend my Saturday mornings at Quarry Bay Park which is not far from my flat and a good place to do exercise. A big banner outside the gates was on display: No Dogs Allowed. Fine, we want to get out of the park physically fit among the throngs of elderly men and women jogging, stretching and doing their routine tai chi steps. Not limping with dog bite.

But in one of the pillars inside was a sign that's reads similar to the following: This park is patrolled by dogs. Yikes.

***

This is the time I am waiting for. The Olympics is already underway and I can't wait to watch the games on television. Since Beijing is in the same timezone as Hong Kong (and other Chinese cities) I don't have to be awake during sleeping times or disrupt working hours. As of blogging time, equestrian event of individual eventing (dressage) are in progress with Lucinda Fredericks, Clayton Fredericks of Australia and Gina Miles of the United States leading the way.

Wellcome's Expiry Product Hunt

I don't know what would be Beijing's weather today. In Hong Kong, it has been raining since last night and I wonder how last-minute training for athletes (and horses, in Hong Kong's equestrian events) took place.

I have a question, if Beijing didn't have a problem of securing venue and ensuring safety of horses, would it still give Hong Kong this once-in-a-whenever chance of hosting an Olympics? Or is it just that Beijing loves Hong Kong very much?

Looking back in 2001 when Beijing won the bid against Toronto, Paris, Istanbul and Osaka, it must have been dead set on staging it on an auspicious date and time as the Chinese have this fond affection for the number which resembles infinity in 90 degrees deflection. Of course that means good luck.

So to the organizers of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Qingdao and Hong Kong Olympic events, good luck.

***

Last night I went for a short shopping at Wellcome because I am trying to avoid doing it on Fridays. Almost everytime I am there, I hear those in-store promotion broadcasts. Once, it was too loud that I had to fill up a suggestion form asking the management to tone it down after I had communication problems with the sales ladies.

One of the broadcasts appeals to consumers that in case they find any expired item, once they report it to shopkeepers they will receive "a free gift". While this seems to be a normal promotion, I think it's also one scapegoat by Wellcome to lean on when someone finally discovers an expired product.

"Hey! Your SPAM luncheon meat expired two days ago" one angry consumer may confront a shop staff.

The staff would reply, "This is your lucky day, madam! You have just won for yourself a free gift for being vigilant and keeping the shop free from expired products".

"But all fifteen of these SPAM cans on display have expired, do I get 15 gifts?"
"No ma'am, a gift per product only. If in doubt, I can play that promotion recording for you".

"Nevermind, I will report this to Consumer Council".

On Wellcome's side, some larger shops have very few staff who attend to the turnover of new stocks, attend as cashiers, change product labels and other utility jobs. I don't blame the staff for some mishaps because I have always seen that most if not all Wellcome shopkeepers are diligent at work and is helpful despite of language problems I often encounter.

What's next, a fake product hunt?

Face to Face Encounter with Kammuri

I decided to stay at home the whole day. It wasn't a difficult decision after I tried to go to office in vain. I had a deadline to meet and I thought something I needed was left in the office. My work place is now just about 250 meters away from home.

So I went outside in an effort to see whether I can sneak in and go back home to work. But the effort was futile. At around 9am, gusts of wind made it nearly impossible for me to walk on my own; I had to hide in between narrow spaces between buildings occasionally to avoid the rampaging wind. A Filipina who also live in my building was asked by her employer to buy newspaper at a nearby Wellcome shop, but when there was none available there, she headed towards my direction -- to a 7-Eleven shop about 75 meters from home. Before she reached there, she was almost swept by the wind. Thank goodness she was able to hold on to a street signpost. Otherwise, she would have rolled to the ground.

Somehow I managed to reach 7-Eleven and accomplished something -- pay my Now Broadband TV and Netvigator bills. That's the time I decided to abandon my original plan and head back home.

For others who don't know what to do in a Typhoon Signal Number 8 warning, better stay indoors.

Personal Thoughts on 3rd Anniversary of "Living in Hong Kong"

This post is my 691st since I started my blog in August 2005. It's almost three years since I started this one out and so far, I had a great time doing so.

I met new friends both offline (met in person) and offline (still to meet in person). There's Sam from Malaysia whom I met a few times, Indyana, the Israeli guy who raised my name in huge cardboard in the middle of the Sogo crowd and recently, Wallace, a Hong Kong student studying in Minnesota.

Every now and then I receive e-mails, Facebook additions or MSN messenger messages from readers who let me know they read my blog. I felt sorry for those whose e-mails may have been "ignored", sorry I didn't ignore you. I just happen to forget replying to your messages.

There have been some interesting data I gather from my blog visitors. Someone in Australia types in "Elmer's life in Hong Kong" in Google almost every morning before I make my post update (two hours behind in timezone). Another one in the Philippines accesses my site through Delicious.com while many others reach my site through local blogs, notably Laowai, Ordinary Gweilo and Hong Kong Blog Review, which classifies this humble piece of work as Top Blog:

You don't have to be Catholic, affiliated with the Filipino community in Hong Kong, or in the computer field to be interested in Elmer's blog. This blogger writes in short, crisp, and concise sentences; his blog is interesting and enjoyable to read. It is refreshing to read things pertaining to Hong Kong in English from other than the usual Westerners' perspectives.

Thank you for the links guys.

You don't have to visit this page to read my blogs. If you want to receive regular e-mails for every blog post I make Subscribe to Living In Hong Kong by Email.

Most of the time, I ask new acquaintances what type of Hong Kong blogs should I post. I just want to keep you updated of my life in Hong Kong and at the same time inform you what's going on without diving deep into controversy (at least I try not to).

So if you have anything in mind for me to write, just let me know. I keep your suggestions in mind even if I find it hard to write about certain topics.

Thank you all for finding time to read my blog entries.

Maraming salamat.

***


"Mummy" defeats "Knight" in Hong Kong. What?

I learned from my colleague Calvin that "The Mummy" isn't a good movie and we are all advised to "stay away" from it. At the same time, parts of the Batman movie have been filmed in Hong Kong and I have thought that Hong Kong patrons ought to watch the movie to take pride of the city's contribution to Batman: The Dark Knight's record breaking performance in the box office.

Hong Kong Athletes to Beijing Olympics

Hong Kong will be sending 35 athletes to the Beijing Olympics. Actually a few of them don't have to fly to Beijing since the event (equestrian) they will be joining will be held in Hong Kong.

Among the relatively popular players in the HK delegation are Wang Chen (badminton), Wong Kam Po (Cycling), Ko Lai Chak (Table Tennis) and Li Ching (Table Tennis). Ko and Li won silver medal in Athens Olympics in 2004.

In comparison, the Philippines sends 15 athletes in taekwondo, boxing, swimming, diving, weightlifting, archery and shooting.

I wish to find enough time to watch events as the Olympics is one favorite event I'd like to watch.

Buying Hybrid Cars Over Gas Guzzlers

Many might say it's ironic but I think the idea of bringing in environment-friendly hybrid cars in Hong Kong was spurred by the soaring gas prices.

Sales of cars whose engines 3,500cc or larger have dropped while those with 1,000cc or less (just curious what type of cars are these) have improved, according to an organization of automobile sellers in Hong Kong.

I guess many car owners are more conscious about the cost of gas everytime they drive their cars on the road more than the feeling of being a contributor to Hong Kong's pollution. Whether my guess is right or wrong, the sales trend should bring a smile to the faces of environment advocates who have detailed things a typical Hong Kong resident will be able to help minimize pollution effects.

A government scheme that offers tax incentives of up to 50,000 Hong Kong dollars to people who buy from a list of environmentally- friendly petrol-powered and hybrid cars has also helped boost sales.

For owners of gas guzzler cars who think it's not worth doing to maintain these type of vehicles, selling may be the only option even if it means losing money in the process.

PCCW 1081 Directories

Last night I met my friend Niranmanee from Thailand for the first time in five years. The occasion called for the opportunity to make use of PCCW's Directory Assistance number 1081 after I got the wrong number of Intercontinental Hotel where she was staying.

And since it's one of a kind in Hong Kong I noticed for a business that uses voice recognition technology, I think it's worth mentioning this one.

If you happen to forget the number of a business establishment or shop name, you can dial English directory at 1081. Initially, there will be no customer service officer who will ask for the business name because a machine will try to recognize it. Just clearly mention the name of the shop. In a short while, the number will be given. However, if the business name pronunciation is unrecognized or if it doesn't exist, a customer support rep will be on hand to talk to you.

This should help locals and many newcomers to Hong Kong who understandably are unfamiliar with Hong Kong's businesses, services and shops.

Just remember the number: 1081

Bus Schedules and Features

I was told by a friend in Singapore during my May trip there that bus don't operate regularly and if you rely on it as means of transport, you could reach your destinations late because they don't stop by at bus stops on regular intervals.

Good thing Hong Kong buses operate more regularly so I can say it's reliable. But it's far from perfect. Last night I waited for about 20 minutes in front of Jardine's House before the first M722 bus showed up.

On bus stops, schedule of buses leaving a terminal are often, if not always, visible. It is usually marked with minute intervals on given hours for weekday and weekend dispatches. But I don't think this adds much help because if I am 10 stops away from the terminal I may not know how long for the bus to travel before it reaches my bus stop. Most of the time, the interval -- measured between 5 and 12 minutes -- is enough.

When I took bus 5B this morning from Central on my way to Wan Chai's 298 Computer Centre, I noticed that the double decker Citybus is testing its passenger notifying system that displays the location of the next stop. This should be helpful to visitors or unfamiliar tourists who don't know where they are and where to alight. Actually some KMB buses already do so but for older models, this is not yet in place. It will be good if the route list itself will be posted insider the bus. Anyway, kudos to Citybus for the idea of placing the name of the next stop on a panel near the front. This will help passengers miss their intended destinations. Each Bus route should be treated like the MTR -- bus stops be familiar to passengers especially those who use them to go to work or school.

Hong Kong Women Outnumber Men by 350,000+

If you are in Central on Sundays you won't wonder why I have the title in place. The disparity between male and female population in Hong Kong seems to get bigger. The latest government statistics showed that there were only 904 men for every 1,000 women in the city.

Hong Kong population last year stood at 3,287,400 men and 3,638,500. That difference is more than 350,000. This is in contrast with China's overwhelming male population.

The age-group that has greatest disparity is at 35 to 39, with the ratio of only 733 males for every 1,000 females. If you are a single Hong Kong man in this category looking for a wife you can feel assured while if you are in the opposite sex, it becomes uneasy. However, I think it is silly to dwell in that kind of thinking as men in Hong Kong of such age bracket often marry women that don't belong in that group. Many even cross the border up north to find their brides, which partly caused the number of unmarried women in Hong Kong to rise. The number of Hong Kong men marrying women from mainland China increased from 15,776 in 1986 to 21,888 in 2007, according to the report. By comparison just 4,315 Hong Kong women married men from China last year.

When we talk about this we often think of marriage and the unavoidable topic of whether many women don't have equal chances of finding special someone.

More than romantic links between men and women, there is definitely social, economic and political impact influenced by the study.

For example, the number of women queuing for washrooms in Hong Kong can be awfully long as I observed, so the government can construct more facilities for the female gender.

Hong Kong's Favorite Brands

In a survey commissioned by the Hong Kong Design Centre, Ocean Park, Broadway and I.T stood above their peers as favorite brands in the city.

This indicates that brands need not be associated with expensive products or services to gain top foothold in the minds of consumers.

In my opinion, Ocean Park is the hands down favorite because first it is one of the most established in Hong Kong and awareness is high among Hong Kong people who may have spent their most memorable days as kids on one of Ocean Park's numerous rides. Second, it is able to withstand the test of time (other Ocean Park, emerging competition) without shedding its character and maintaining its good reputation over the years.

Broadway is an electronic shop chain which competes with Fortress. I.T is in fashion business with shops spread across malls in Hong Kong.

City University's researchers interviewed 2,520 Hong Kong residents, aged 15 to 70, in May. Fifty-two per cent were female, 41 per cent had a monthly income of between HK$10,000 and HK$20,000 and 43 per cent earned less than HK$10,000.

Brand building protagonists, listen. The top qualities of a brand, as respondents rated them, are: quality, price and brand image. Quality could be associated with durability and reliability. Price simply goes with affordability and value for money while brand image may mean that the company has been able to maintain good standing through exceptional customer support, community involvement and ability to shy away from bad public relations.