Sweden's top diplomat in Hong Kong insults bar staff

[phrodan]

^^^ Phrodan....Just curious...how long did you live in Hong Kong?

Between the mainland and HK, nine years.

Great! For me...Between BKK & HK 83-85. HK full on late 85-98.

I miss the place somewhat these days, mainly that everything "worked".

Met a guy once who moved to HK & after he spent a month he freaked

out cause of HK being HK and returned home...he worked for HSBC.

I must admit HK could be "trying" at times but overall it was a great

place. These days though....nah....OK to visit but to reside....that's

a different story.

Thanks for the imput...always nice to have anothers take on a place

I once lived. Cheers!

I love it but you have to learn how to love it. That takes far longer than a month, your pal missed out.

[sunshine51]

^^^Phrodan...I'll get a PM to you shortly...better to keep this thread OT

than to digress about a location.

[Asiantravel]

He has my sympathyies -- to some extent. I lived in HK for a number of years and it is one of the most crowded places on Earth. I believe that at one point Monkok District was the most crowded place, but I don't know if it still is. It is also a very noisy city and the noise level in restaurants can reach decibel levels that are considered dangerous for your hearing.

For people coming from less hectic and quieter places, the cost pushing, shoving and noise can get to a person.

I remember a western lady in one of the more fashionable areas one day who just lost the plot and started swinging her purse wildly and yelling. She had to be put in a mental ward. Things like that happened on more than one occasion.

I don't know if any of that played into his situation, but it can be a rather intimidating city at times.

I agree. A few of the comments on this thread are from people who have never stepped foot into Hong Kong in their entire lives, but believe that they are so all-knowing and all-wise, they are qualified to comment.

When I don't know what I'm talking about, I say nothing. A unique concept for many.

I had dinner last night with a friend who's recently returned to working in HK. The daily war stories were both hilarious and typical over a good meal and decent beer. When you live it, when you are there, it's not funny.

The friction level in HK has gone through the roof in recent years, as if it wasn't bad enough before. It's at the point that if you find an all too rare oasis of calm, you wouldn't dare even tell your best pal about it. You hold it even more precious that your first born.

The city can be one continuous stream of niggles, followed by out-and-out ignorance. The arrival of the mainland Chinese has raised the rudeness level dramatically. The HK'ers detest them. They also detest the influx of refugees that have taken to having impromptu demonstrations at busy passenger junctions. There's a lot to hate in HK - but also a lot to love too, if you give the island a chance.

So, what happened here? the guy has had a long and stressful day - he's arranged to take a party for a meal - and I'm prepared to lay short-odds that the FCC wasn't crowded when he arrived - a detail so far missing.

In my scenario, it will have taken the staff ten seconds to pull the tables together to accommodate twelve. But no -

"Sorry, the rules say no."

"There's no one else here."

"Don't care, read the rules."

"We'll be gone before it gets busy."

"Don't care, we have rules."

Boom.

I know for a fact that there will be people reading this that know the island and nodding. And you'll note that the manager didn't say he couldn't accommodate twelve, or that the restaurant was too busy. He was too busy plotting a new set of rules.

" the guy has had a long and stressful day "

Stressful? You are talking about one of the most cushy jobs on earth

[smotherb]

Did I read a 19 year old diplomat......?????

Totally understands stuff at 19.........

Come on Swedes............get your act together eh.............

A 19 year veteran, dear transam, does not make him not 19 years old.

[smotherb]

He has my sympathyies -- to some extent. I lived in HK for a number of years and it is one of the most crowded places on Earth. I believe that at one point Monkok District was the most crowded place, but I don't know if it still is. It is also a very noisy city and the noise level in restaurants can reach decibel levels that are considered dangerous for your hearing.

For people coming from less hectic and quieter places, the cost pushing, shoving and noise can get to a person.

I remember a western lady in one of the more fashionable areas one day who just lost the plot and started swinging her purse wildly and yelling. She had to be put in a mental ward. Things like that happened on more than one occasion.

I don't know if any of that played into his situation, but it can be a rather intimidating city at times.

I agree. A few of the comments on this thread are from people who have never stepped foot into Hong Kong in their entire lives, but believe that they are so all-knowing and all-wise, they are qualified to comment.

When I don't know what I'm talking about, I say nothing. A unique concept for many.

I had dinner last night with a friend who's recently returned to working in HK. The daily war stories were both hilarious and typical over a good meal and decent beer. When you live it, when you are there, it's not funny.

The friction level in HK has gone through the roof in recent years, as if it wasn't bad enough before. It's at the point that if you find an all too rare oasis of calm, you wouldn't dare even tell your best pal about it. You hold it even more precious that your first born.

The city can be one continuous stream of niggles, followed by out-and-out ignorance. The arrival of the mainland Chinese has raised the rudeness level dramatically. The HK'ers detest them. They also detest the influx of refugees that have taken to having impromptu demonstrations at busy passenger junctions. There's a lot to hate in HK - but also a lot to love too, if you give the island a chance.

So, what happened here? the guy has had a long and stressful day - he's arranged to take a party for a meal - and I'm prepared to lay short-odds that the FCC wasn't crowded when he arrived - a detail so far missing.

In my scenario, it will have taken the staff ten seconds to pull the tables together to accommodate twelve. But no -

"Sorry, the rules say no."

"There's no one else here."

"Don't care, read the rules."

"We'll be gone before it gets busy."

"Don't care, we have rules."

Boom.

I know for a fact that there will be people reading this that know the island and nodding. And you'll note that the manager didn't say he couldn't accommodate twelve, or that the restaurant was too busy. He was too busy plotting a new set of rules.

What you are explaining is not the temperament of Hong Kong, it is the inability to be flexible in management. Too many rules and too many constraints equal too many hassles. The result of plastic snobbery and the superficially elite.

[ggt]

A 19 yr. seasoned diplomat has probably had his share of perks during his years of service...too bad he has lost his way and his club privileges...maybe he is more suited to become a Thai fishing boat captain...