Comments on: Who Stole from Whom?

By: dda

dda — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:24:12 +0000

Paul H. — whether he knew his History or had slept through the classes is irrelevant. As I said, I am not a big fan of the ChiComs, but they’re the current landlords, and HK is their land.

By: Paul H.

Paul H. — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 16:12:38 +0000

You’re assuming the guy knew his Hong Kong history but made the remark anyway. Probably all he knew (or cared to know) was that HK had been formerly British territory and the Chinese made them give it back (because the UK couldn’t afford to fight a war to retain it).

By: dda

dda — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 13:07:33 +0000

dda,

You said, “That’s pretty thorough”–which he correctly understood as mockery.

Whatever the guy said wasn’t meant to be taken literally.

You should have understood his vitriolic reply as meaning, “Fuck off!”.

Actually, he meant it literally. He wasn’t aggressive to me, even started a conversation with me — I wasn’t very forthcoming, though. He even greeted me the next time he saw me, while waiting for the shuttle bus — we happen to live in the same apartment block.
Moreover, the tone he used when outing this remark wasn’t vitriolic at all, rather his tone implied that I, as an fellow white, English-speaking dude, would of course agree with him…

By: lirelou

lirelou — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:12:47 +0000

Colonialism is merely a stage of history in a particular bit of planet earth. Whether it is or was positive or negative (ergo, should be condemned or lauded) depends upon its effects and legacy on said territory. Whatever the originally mercenary goal of British policy in taking and holding Hong Kong, British rule did benefit Hong Kong. Its Chinese residents did enjoy a higher living standard than their mainland counterparts, and even managed to adopt the politically radical theory that the governed should be allowed some say in their affairs. Hong Kong was only “British” in name and political structure. Out in the street, and on its surrounding waters, it was always Chinese, if not always China.

By: SomeguyinKorea

SomeguyinKorea — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:17:49 +0000

…vitriolic may be a bit strong of an adjective. His reply was a quip.

By: SomeguyinKorea

SomeguyinKorea — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:13:17 +0000

dda,

You said, “That’s pretty thorough”–which he correctly understood as mockery.

Whatever the guy said wasn’t meant to be taken literally.

You should have understood his vitriolic reply as meaning, “Fuck off!”.

By: Gillian

Gillian — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:40:27 +0000

Oh, that is priceless! I do believe I have met a few of his family menbers here in Korea!

By: dda

dda — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:13:08 +0000

None of the above. Rather, a white dude decked out in short pants, slippers, a T-Shirt, an attitude that would tend to imply he owns the place — not anymore pal — and an unmistakable accent. One in a million like him, or so it seems. This is HK, not bloody Brixton.

By: aaronm

aaronm — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:45:55 +0000

What’s an ‘obviously British’ person look like? Abdul the kebab shop owner from Birmingham, a taxi driver called Ravi from Leicester, or a drunken Glaswegian like Rab C. Nesbitt?

By: terrible dan

terrible dan — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:11:07 +0000

Let’s not jump to conclusions. Maybe it was Argentinean tape…