For the first time in 18 months I’m back on Hong Kong soil. It marks the end of the longest period I’ve gone without at least visiting the big lychee - when the Dim Sum on a Cathay Pacific flight tastes good, you know you’ve been away too long.
In my absence I missed several large protests, SARS* and most importantly - McDonalds’ Hello Kitty promotion No. #340975.
*And with it my chance to experience that most-rare of Hong Kong phenomena - the empty elevator. I am informed by an uncle who has since left the metropolis that all you had to do was cough conspicuously and people would kindly vacate the vessel with astounding gusto.
I also managed to arrive on the day of the Legco Elections. The entirity of my election coverage has thus far been provided by Hemlock’s diary keeping and as a result my knowledge of the candidates was sufficient to discern what on earth the South China Morning Post was getting at in its write up of the pre-polls poll. Whilst almost the entire population heads off to the polls (a zesty 85% turnout is forecasted for only the vaguest semblence of electoral power putting me in mind of the massive queues for even the poorest snoopy memorabilia deals offered by local companies) I am left tending to ankles that have been forced into disturbingly acute angles by economy seats.
In all fairness, Cathay’s economy seats seem larger than anyone else’s. Unfortunately I’ve recently attained the 6’3” milestone-height that leaves me predisposed to extreme discomfort in just about any transportation seating. A small price to pay for being just above eye-poking height for the umbrella phalanxes that are mustered each time it rains here.
Rather interestingly in the SCMP poll although a fair few were put off by the Democratic candidate sex scandal, some 7% of those polled said it made them more likely to vote Democrat. Clearly the city supports a burgeoning population of sex-service enthusiasts who, upon finding common ground with the candidate, have plumped to vote for the unfortunate fellow.
Anyhow, more to come once I find a stable net source, or manage to go more than 2 minutes without attracting that ‘beep’ telling me that someone has started the 15 minute timer. When such time has elapsed you are obliged to relinquish your terminal here.
Come in number 19 - your time is up!
Later
John
Posted by John Swaine at September 19, 2004 09:27 AM