Nine years on, Hong Kong finally has it

 Hong Kong As It Is  3 Responses »
Jul 132010
 

Nine years ago, Yin Man-on, aged 67, worked 14 hours a day for HK$7 (not even US$1) an hour at a public toilet. He also lived in the toilet. His boss was a contractor working for the government, who allowed Yin to leave the toilet only for two one-hour meal breaks. The boss threatened to fire him if he was caught leaving the toilet outside of these two break times.

This case, when exposed in the media, had sparked the minimum wage movement in Hong Kong, but until today, there is no legislation in Hong Kong yet on minimum wage, though a minimum wage bill is set to be passed this summer. The pro-business government did not want a minimum wage law until very recent years. It launched a voluntary “wage protection movement” in 2006 but received a lukewarm response. Consequently it turned to a minimum wage bill for all occupations.

What will be Hong Kong’s minimum wage then? The unions want HK$33 (US$4.2) an hour but this is very unlikely given the strong opposition and the influence of the business sector, which seems to accept a level not higher than HK$24 (US$3).

You must have come across a 7-Eleven convenience store in Hong Kong, The workers there earn an average of HK$23.4 (US$3) an hour, with the lowest paid workers earning HK$20 (US$2.6) an hour, according to a recent survey. Another convenience store chain Circle K and supermarket chain Welcome offer their staff $23.9 (US$3.1) an hour. How can you possibly “live” with that paltry wage in a city as expensive as Hong Kong?

Securities guards and cleaners are also among the city’s lowest paid workers.

 Posted by Anna at 10:25 pm

Vietnamese food and market tour

 Where to Eat/Drink, Where to Visit  1 Response »
Jul 102010
 

I do not usually go to expensive restaurants for food. So this restaurant I recommend belongs to the neighborhood restaurant category, which means the food tastes good but is not expensive.It is a Vietnamese restaurant located in North Point. I like to order its noodle set. For HK$36, you have a Hong Kong style milk tea, a big bowl of Vietnamese noodle, and some steam rolls or spring rolls. If it is afternoon tea time (from 2:30pm to 6pm), the price is even cheaper.

I’ve also tried its Vietnamese style fried noodle. Not bad, but a little too greasy for me.

Most important, it has an English menu.

The North Point open market is right next door. So after the food, a good activity to do is visit the market where you can find vegetables, fresh fruits, flowers, clothes, bags, etc.How to get to the restaurant

North Point MTR station, exit B1. When you step out of the exit, it is King’s Road. Cross road to the other side of the King’s Road. Walk one block towards the Causeway Bay direction, and turn right at Tong Shui Road. The restaurant (Favourite Vietnamese Restaurant, “越中意”in Chinese）is right there. Tong Shui Road is also where the tram turns in for North Point stop.

Address:  Favorite Vietnamese Restaurant, No. 24 shop, Kiu Kwan Mansion, 395 King’s Road (the restaurant is entered at Tong Shui Road); Phone: 2561-3863

 Posted by Anna at 3:49 pm

Ferry to/from HK airport

 HK-Shenzhen Transport, HK-Zhuhai Transport, Transport  6 Responses »
Jul 062010
 

If you come to Hong Kong via Hong Kong International Airport and are en route to Pearl River Delta cities, or vice versa, do consider using the SkyPier at the airport.

The pier, soft-opened in December 2009, is a cross-bounder ferry terminal situated at the eastern tip of the airport island. The airport’s Automated People Mover system has extended to the pier, resulting in only 4-minute travel time to Terminal 1. There are 20 airline check-in desks and five security screening channels inside the ferry terminal.

The SkyPier has ferry going to/from Shenzhen’s Shekou (40 minutes), Shenzhen Airport (45 minutes), Dongguan (Humen)(1 hr 20 minutes), Zhongshan (1 hr 10 minutes), Zhuhai (50 minutes) and Macau (50 minutes).

For ferry schedule and more information, check out here.

 Posted by Anna at 4:53 pm

Dragon Boat Carnival at Hong Kong Harbor

 Where to Visit  1 Response »
Jun 292010
 

The Hong Kong authorities are making a splash with three big events to promote tourism, starting with Dragon Boat Carnival this summer.

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival will take place on July 23 to 25 at the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront. The waterfront will be transformed into a large-scale carnival, featuring dragon boat races, food stalls and music performances. Over 130 local and international teams will compete in the races.

For details, check out Hong Kong Tourism Board’s website

Next is the Hong Kong Tennis Classic from January 5 to 8 in Victoria Park, followed by the Hong Kong Women’s Golf Open from late April to early May at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fan Ling.

A total of HK$18 million has been earmarked for organizing these events.

 Posted by Anna at 4:43 pm  Tagged with: ,

Master of Chinese Painting and Hong Kong

 Where to Visit  No Responses »
Jun 282010
 
Rain or Shine, by Wu Guozhong, donation to Hong Kong Museum of Art

Rain or Shine, by Wu Guozhong, donation to Hong Kong Museum of Art

Wu Guanzhong, master of modern Chinese painting, has died at the age of 91. He has close connection to Hong Kong. Just hours before his death on 25 June in Beijing, he donated his last paintings to the Hong Kong Museum of Art, which coincidentally is running the artist’s exhibition “Lofty Integrity: Donation of Works by Wu Guanzhong”.

This was the fourth time Master Wu had donated his works to Hong Kong Museum of Art. He made donation in 1995, 2002 and 2009 respectively.Wu is recognized as one of the greatest masters of Chinese painting, and although his works have fetched record prices in the arts market in recent years, Wu wanted to donate the best of his paintings to “his people” and “his country”.

Wu’s four most recent and final works – At Rest, Illusion, Awakening and Nest - were created in the spring of this year before his admission to hospital and are now permanently preserved in Hong Kong. They will go on display on 23 July.

The current exhibition, which will run until August 29, includes 51 paintings by Master Wu, most of which donation of works by Wu, and some collections of the Museum.

So if you are visiting Hong Kong, do not miss Master Wu’s exhibition. Hong Kong is really the best place to appreciate Master Wu’s works given the many works donated by the artist to the city.

 Posted by Anna at 12:02 pm
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