'For many months in Hong Kong I had no idea of what the job actually entailed, but I did learn quickly that moving files around and avoiding decision-making was the norm'
Nice old HK. Hope to see the sequel. By the way, I was walking around Junk Bay last month. The result of reclamation is a nice suburb called Tseung Kwan O.
Reminds me of an old Lily Wong cartoon by Larry Feign, where this British Hong Kong government civil servant runs the Department of Procrastination and Obfuscation!
An amusing story and typical of those times. Funnily enough, I think it's still possible to find those moments though the opportunities are now few and far between. Perhaps the humour, and subjects of that humour, are now different. Incidentally, I came out as a a civil engineer in 1992, though with a private company, to be seconded to China Light & Power (as it was called back then.
I think it's difficult to compare different periods of history. For instance, you can't compare now when we have smartphones and so are in constant contact, with a time when there were only landlines. I remember a story about my dad being stuck overnight in Kowloon during a typhoon as the ferries were stopped, and he had to call my mum to say he was stranded. Of course, he was in a bar so I'm sure found a way to keep busy until the Star Ferry resumed!
Nice old HK. Hope to see the sequel. By the way, I was walking around Junk Bay last month. The result of reclamation is a nice suburb called Tseung Kwan O.
Thanks! Yeah I know Tseung Kwan O - convenient with the MTR and nice harbor views.
I was wrong to stay mostly Yau Ma Tei or Wan Chai during my trips. TKO is the place! Will prepare short post (after Taipei walks’ review).
Resonated with me. A moving file is a happy file as we used to say !
Reminds me of an old Lily Wong cartoon by Larry Feign, where this British Hong Kong government civil servant runs the Department of Procrastination and Obfuscation!
An amusing story and typical of those times. Funnily enough, I think it's still possible to find those moments though the opportunities are now few and far between. Perhaps the humour, and subjects of that humour, are now different. Incidentally, I came out as a a civil engineer in 1992, though with a private company, to be seconded to China Light & Power (as it was called back then.
I think it's difficult to compare different periods of history. For instance, you can't compare now when we have smartphones and so are in constant contact, with a time when there were only landlines. I remember a story about my dad being stuck overnight in Kowloon during a typhoon as the ferries were stopped, and he had to call my mum to say he was stranded. Of course, he was in a bar so I'm sure found a way to keep busy until the Star Ferry resumed!
You're right of course Simon, different times. Sounds like dad found a good place to be stranded, lifeboat in a storm for sure !