This post by Phil reminded me that Mrs M is due to get her new Hong Kong ID card soon. Everyone in Hong Kong has an ID card. You cannot function in this city without one. You need it to deal with the Government for everything from tax to booking squash courts. You need it to open bank accounts or obtain credit cards. You use it in conjunction with your passport at the airport.

I'm not sure what the new chip on the card does. If they linked it in with the Octopus card they would be onto something. The Octopus card is an electronic stored value card. No need to carry around change. It has spread far and wide in HK - you can pay for everything from the train to McDonalds with it. It is fully integrated with all forms of public transport except taxis. It is a great application of technology. Shame they haven't made the link between the new ID cards and the Octopus.

One thing about the ID cards. It is another proof that while HK pretends to be a free-wheeling capitalist mecca, it still retains plenty of Big Brother overtones. No one complains but it is slightly disturbing being known as a number by the Government. Just another part of the paternalist attitude that has existed here for a long time.