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August 28, 2007
Smashing

"Records smashed" reports The Standard, a newspaper who not co-incidentally largely relies on the level of the Hang Seng for its own financial health. The Hang Seng has managed to go from 19000 back up to 23000 in the space of a week, largely thanks to news that China is to allow the hordes of mainlanders (previously despised, now welcomed with open arms) and their wallets to spend as freely on Hong Kong shares as they do on their own. The only problem is a small one...the Tianjin authorities haven't quite got the paper work sorted out yet. This troubling detail means the Hong Kong market has managed to go up in anticipation of the hordes rather than because of them. And no-one has yet asked an obvious question: why is it that the Bank of China branch in Tianjin is the only one on the mainland that gets to run the "Hong Kong stock direct train" scheme? Do the shareholders of ICBC or Bank of Communications really mind that BoC got this supposed golden goose?

Don't look for any of this to make any sense.

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 [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 14:02
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August 21, 2007
Good times

Certain parts of the Hong Kong economy are expecting a boost this week, courtesy of the US military:

Wan Chai rolled out the red carpet yesterday as bar owners eyed a bonanza of up to HK$78 million from the 5,000 visiting sailors aboard the USS Nimitz.
The nuclear-powered supercarrier, one of the largest warships in the world, steamed into Hong Kong yesterday, and ship officers said crew members were expected to each spend between US$800 and US$2,000 (HK$6,240 to HK$15,600) during their four-day stay.

However, the crew has been advised to strictly adhere to the 11pm curfew and the fact that the legal drinking age for American sailors is now 21.

Let's see...a bunch of 19 year old sailors who aren't allowed to drink...it's going to be a busy week down in East Central.

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 [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 12:18
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August 20, 2007
Mental Health in HK

It's been a while but contrary to rumours this site still works...

Please check out and help pass around the word on a new HK site: HK mental health support:

This is a group for mental health patients, their family and friends in Hong Kong. We are guided to self-help approach, and aim to bring peer support for our group members. You can vent your anger here, discuss your frustrations, and share how you cope with such disease.

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 [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 14:24
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