Death of a Dream

This story is a sad one. Have you ever created something? Something wonderful, that brought enjoyment and pleasure into the lives of others? It’s a great feeling. However, to then have to just stand and watch your creation banned, the means to create it restricted, for no other reason than ignorance and short sightedness. Oh, how that is a difficult time.

Mid Autumn Festival

With the Chinese living foolishly for so long under the lunar calendar, there always seems to be a reason to celebrate. What better excuse than a new moon during September? Let’s get out the lanterns, bake up some moon-cakes, and head outside to view the moon and celebrate this age old tradition. We’ll stay up late, take the next day off work, and party like it’s 699.

You Can’t Do THAT In China!

The fine line between Hong Kong and China is often a blurry one for many to comprehend, so allow me to take a moment to clarify a few things:

1) Hong Kong is its own little sovereign area, to a certain extent. It’s officially known as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

2) Hong Kong is a region in the People’s Republic of China.

3) Most Chinese nationals cannot come into Hong Kong without a special visa or permit.

4) Everyone else in the world CAN come into Hong Kong without any special visa or entry permit; however, these people most likely cannot, then, enter the People’s Republic of China without additional authorization and paperwork. This includes me.

5) If you are an American, you can get into Hong Kong for 90 days on a standard tourist entry. It’ll cost HK$780 to get a single or double entry visa to go North from Hong Kong into China.

6) For the time being, Hong Kong is under its own set of laws, currency, and government. I say for the time being, because who knows what the future holds for this odd region of the world. My predictions, Hong Kong will remain unchanged by China for quite some time in order to continue to encourage the financial sector and investment in Hong Kong, which then filters into China. If China acts to tighten its hold on Hong Kong, investors will take flight and China will be worse off because of it.

This sixth point is my main point of emphasis here, as it has huge implications for citizens of Hong Kong. Most importantly, as China takes a continued laissez-faire approach to the region, citizens are still able to exercise many of the same basic rights that we hold dear in the Western world. Today we experienced some of this here at school, as hundreds of students took to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Atrium to protest the severe lack of on-campus housing available to first year Hong Kong residents.

In Need of a Caption

Wandering around Mong Kok the other day, Libby and I came across this billboard. What’s it for? Not sure. What’s it say? This also remains unknown. But it provides a great chance for some funny caption writing. Post your ideas below, and I will post the ad’s translation in a couple weeks

Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace: The New Foo

As part of my HKUST campus affiliations I have been able to gain access to the forthcoming Foo Fighters album, “Echos, Silence, Patience and Grace,” and before I get into the meat of the album, let me say this: if you’ve enjoyed any of the Foo Fighters music leading up to this release, you will need to procure ESP&G.

Political Satire from China: Recalling “Made in the U.S.A.”

In the current week’s HK Magazine, this funny little comic appeared. Titled “U.S. Recalls Thousands of Bombs,” it’s sure to amuse. Enjoy!