It must be the best part of 20 years since I was last in Hong Kong, but as you cross the Harbour from Kowloon to Central Hong Kong you are greeted by that familiar sight ........
But since the British relinquished the lease over Hong Kong back to the Chinese, there was always the wonder how Hong Kong would be transformed. I don't claim to be an academic nor wise and knowledgeable about Hong Kong and Chinese history, but like most I have been able to read the history books. Equally I don't claim to be an adept orator on Chinese / Hong Kong political affairs but what struck me more than anything was the wealth and opulence exhibited on the streets of Hong Kong.
There is a lot of debate currently abound how many Hong Kongers reject the notion of greater and greater interference by China's state Council. But considering that Hong Kong has been considered a special administrative region of China since 1997 it appears to be thriving. Everywhere you look there are designer shops cheek by jowl, and the busy streets adorned with super cars whether they be Ferrari or Lamborghini ..... In fact central Hong Kong appears to be wall to wall designer shops and malls.....
Even the Apple store was thronging ...... it seems that Hong Kongers are as much as in love with Apple products as the rest of the world are .......
To say that it has one of the freest economies in the world and low taxation it was a damn sight more expensive than when I was last there, and £6 for a pint was not the communist price I was expecting ....
I did notice a building across the road from the Apple Store that
was marked ...... General Post Office
But since the British relinquished the lease over Hong Kong back to the Chinese, there was always the wonder how Hong Kong would be transformed. I don't claim to be an academic nor wise and knowledgeable about Hong Kong and Chinese history, but like most I have been able to read the history books. Equally I don't claim to be an adept orator on Chinese / Hong Kong political affairs but what struck me more than anything was the wealth and opulence exhibited on the streets of Hong Kong.
There is a lot of debate currently abound how many Hong Kongers reject the notion of greater and greater interference by China's state Council. But considering that Hong Kong has been considered a special administrative region of China since 1997 it appears to be thriving. Everywhere you look there are designer shops cheek by jowl, and the busy streets adorned with super cars whether they be Ferrari or Lamborghini ..... In fact central Hong Kong appears to be wall to wall designer shops and malls.....
Even the Apple store was thronging ...... it seems that Hong Kongers are as much as in love with Apple products as the rest of the world are .......
To say that it has one of the freest economies in the world and low taxation it was a damn sight more expensive than when I was last there, and £6 for a pint was not the communist price I was expecting ....
I did notice a building across the road from the Apple Store that
was marked ...... General Post Office
I did get to wondering if there is another building somewhere in Hong Kong
marked ...... Very Specific Post Office ....
marked ...... Very Specific Post Office ....
And so here I was walking around Hong Kong, thinking this is so not what I was expecting under 'Chinese Rule', and no wonder the controlling elite want to get a bigger slice of the cake ....
But as a casual outside observer,
if there is a China Crisis,
I couldn't see it,
Last time I saw a China Crisis
was at Nottingham Rock City
in the 1980's
