View on the water front

March/25/1998

SS Lau

This lighter went to Hong Kong for a week a few days ago. This was my first visit since September 1996. My impression of HK some nine moths after the
"hand-over" is as follows: Hong Kong is politically apparently stable, and economically obviously depressed. For the first time in my memory that I was able to walk on the streets without being pushed, and able to be seated in a restaurant without having to wait. The housing market appears to be in a rather sad shape. On the other hand, I saw a "push-cart" merchant using his personal cell phone which is about 1/3 to 1/4 the size of the usual cell phones used here. Even the Star-tec phones appear to be big compared to those I saw in HK. HK still has the best selections of cameras and watches on display everywhere. The flat-panel TVs are really outstanding and hi-tech. I have not seen anything like that anywhere else in the world. Of course, my sphere of travel is rather limited globally.

The stock market seems to pick up some after the election of Zhu Rongji. "Iron-face" Zhu may be able to reduce or stop corruption in China, at least at a level that does not enjoy the most solid backing. This alone would be a difficult task; and there are good reasons to believe that Zhu could accomplish that.

We should remember back in the 40s when Chiang Jr. was assigned by his father to investigate the smuggling operation in Shanghai. Chiang Jr.traced the problem to " Big-ear" Tu of Shanghai; but the power behind " Big-ear" was really Chiang Jr's step mother. Well, that ended the clean-up investigation. In this connection, Zhu may face a similar situation in his clean-up operation in China.

If Hong Kong is left alone, which is apparently what Zhu intends to do, then HK would be reasonably free and enterprising without too much corruption for as long as this policy lasts.

The lighters I met in HK this time are all well and in relatively high spirit. In my way of thinking, HK has become an affordable place to visit and it is fun to see the lighters in HK.

I am very grateful for the kindness and the hospitality extended to me by our classmates in HK.