Hong Kong

First class health care facilities offered to all comers at moderate fees give Hong Kong residents one of the highest life expectancies in the world. This statistic, however, is in jeopardy from the omnipresent and choking pollution. An independent survey concluded that sucking Hong Kong’s air-spotted-pollution is equivalent to smoking 8 cigarettes a day. The government responded by enacting a policy to limit smoking in bars and restaurants starting in 2007.

Lowering the pollution remains tricky because the largest pollutants are Mainland factories (often owned by Hong Kong’s tycoons that highly influence the government) and coal mines (definitely owned by PRC companies who don’t give a crap what the Hong Kong government says).

When health does become a major problem (i.e. leads to a devastating economic collapse like when SARS struck in early 2003), the Hong Kong government has shown the ability to take action. Cleaner streets and more inspections of food and hygiene are more prevalent then pre-SARS days.

In general, Hong Kong is quite safe and not plagued by thieves and hucksters that prey on tourists in other Asian cities. Like most cities, Hong Kong has its share of petty crime so don’t act stupid by flaunting cash. While domestic violence crimes are on the rise, a product of Hong Konger’s insane work hours, indiscriminate and violent crimes are rare.

A few recent muggings on remote hiking trails caused a big stir simply for the randomness of the crimes. At night, women can, and often do, move about the city without accompaniment. Even if a woman tore off her shirt and strutted topless, most Hong Kongers would simply shield their eyes from embarrassment.
Hong Kong’s triads (i.e. mafia), more infamous then dangerous, operate in a 1930s Al Capone manner: ‘we won’t bother you unless you do something that warrants bothering’.

So unless you plan to open a bar or karaoke joint in a triad controlled area, your business generally remains your business.

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