Afaranwide

NEWSLETTER 33: Dec. 14, 2019

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Win or Lose, It's Democracy

The British general election yesterday kept us glued to the TV coverage at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Hong Kong, from 6.30 a.m. till lunchtime. What a privilege, win or lose, to be able to cast my postal vote as an expat and watch a system unfold in which the people truly have a voice. I’ve always used my vote, and am bewildered by anyone who can’t be bothered. Yes, it’s devastating when your preferred party loses, but living outside of a democracy for the past 12 years has made me appreciate even more how precious my vote is. Let’s pause for a few seconds and really think what democracy means. – SB

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12 Posts for Christmas

The end of the year is traditionally a time for looking back over the past 12 months. We’ll be doing this by refreshing and updating some of our favourite and most popular posts from 2019. Our 12 Posts for Christmas will appear daily over the festive season, starting next Friday. We’ll include a couple of new items too – including one on Christmas Day that should help anyone who’s having a miserable time feel a bit better!

Less-Obvious Price of Unrest

Hong Kong has been affected in many ways by the unrest. Some effects are dramatic and obvious – injuries suffered, widespread damage to property, and the impact on the tourism and retail sectors. Some are less apparent. One of many major events cancelled or postponed was the Hong Kong Open golf tournament, which was first held 60 years ago. This has been rescheduled for January from its original November slot. However, it will not now be sanctioned by the European Tour as the new dates clash with another of its tournaments. And it has lost the prestige of being the opening event in the 2020 Race to Dubai. Major winners Henrik Stenson, Patrick Reed and Francesco Molinari, who were due to compete on the original dates, are not now expected to attend. And with no European Tour points at stake, other big names are likely to stay away too. In the grand scheme of things, a golf tournament is insignificant. But it’s an example of the less conspicuous ways in which Hong Kong’s global status and standing are being eroded. READ MORE

What a Waste!

Where to begin when talking about food waste in hotels and restaurants? All-you-can-eat buffets, ridiculous hotel breakfasts, few small snack dishes on menus… Though I love a hotel brunch a few times a year, all I can see is the waste being dumped while others go hungry. Hotel chains are confronting the issue, according to Skift Asia Weekly. Well done, but how depressing those steps are. Decades ago the supermarkets in my hometown were grappling with getting unsold food to the homeless, and this is still proving a challenge. Some hotels are placing smaller plates at buffet stations, which my mum did with my meals when I was a dieting teenager. It’s human behaviour that has to change, so don’t hold your breath. – SB

Masterpiece Museum

We’ve just published a post about the revamped Hong Kong Museum of Art. You may remember we had a sneak preview of this a few weeks ago, though we were able to visit only a couple of floors. Now the museum is open to the public, so we went back to see it in all its glory. READ MORE, and check out the ORIGINAL POST.

...and Still on the Subject of Art

I remember years ago there was surprise when it was revealed – I think by the great travel broadcaster Alan Whicker – that more Rolls-Royces were sold in Hong Kong than anywhere else. It was one of the earliest signs of the emergence of Asia as an economic power. These days you don’t see many Rollers on the roads, though there’s a bright pink one that stands out, and the Peninsula Hotel has 15 Phantoms. This week I went along to an art event at a Rolls-Royce showroom. It was an odd affair. There were a couple of cars on show, including an orange Ghost, and a giant Spirit of Ecstasy statue. Visitors were invited to paint a smaller plastic version of the famous bonnet, or hood, decoration, and there was talk of collaborating with local artists. I came away shaking my head as I reflected on the strange forms corporate social responsibility can take. – CS

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