HONG KONG VERSUS THE SINGAPORE LA LA FACTOR.
For decades, Singapore has been competing with Hong Kong for tourism. It’s also waged a highly successful campaign to attract big Hong Kong business, it is the proven city of choice for big music and sporting events- and through a government that’s friendly to foreign investment, the Lion City is winning this Tale Of Two Cities.
Singapore hosts its own Formula 1, it has a far more vibrant nightlife than Hong Kong, it’s an expat’s dream city, plus it is the regional International news and media centre. The regional headquarters of CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC etc are all based in Singapore.
And so, when a visiting photo-journalist from one of these broadcasters tells me that it’s been a “slow day for getting a decent photograph with real bite”, how much of what is sent around the world can you believe?
Many times, it’s about not letting the truth get in the way of a good story- “good” stories about “police brutality”, “triads joining forces with the police”, and snippets from those who can provide some good soundbites painting a picture of Armageddon and “the next Tiananmen Square”.
WHAT? TRIADS IN MONGKOK? NO KIDDING???
Anyone who has lived in Hong Kong for even two months knows that Mongkok is “triad area” as is Shanghai Street, Temple Street, Jordan Road, Tsimshatsui, and let’s not even get into the triad influence in the New Territories.
So, suddenly, some of these protesters are mortified that they’re confronted by triads looking after their territory just as they do whenever any of us take overseas visitors and go down to Mongkok’s famously infamous night market to buy knock-off watches, vinyl records, designer brand rejects etc?
OCCUPY CENTRAL BECOMES A “HAPPY PLACE”?
When a bloke dressed like Pharrell Williams who’s dressed as a Royal Canadian Mountie shows up to, one guesses, make things come to a Happy Ending, you just know things have skipped a beat.
What’s next? Elvis impersonators? Michael Jackson Moonwalking down to Government House?
“FOREIGNERS” JOIN OCCUPY CENTRAL SUPPORTERS? WHY NOW?
Why does these group pictured above not look quite right? Who ARE these people? Study the expressions on the faces of those in the front. Look at those behind them. Have they wandered in after a night out in the Wanch?
Are they protesting or partying on, dudes?
When SoHo and Chungking Mansions join the “Umbrella Revolution”, one has to ask, What next? Kebabs For Peace? The Mary Poppins Revolution?
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