Q Is Hong Kong a rip-off city?
Unfortunately, in any metropolis, there are unscrupulous merchants and street scammers who are out to make a quick buck. Please don't forget this behaviour is not proprietary to this category. We also have them in the higher echelons of businesses, such as Enron and WorldCom.
The story of the couple from China who were scammed by a camera shop may be credible, but for them to hand over money to a stranger in the street for some profiteering on what was not theirs - one begs to ask the question: Where is this couple's integrity? Haven't we heard or taught our children, if you find something that is not yours, you should turn it over to the authorities?
Perhaps a lesson of greed should be taught first.
I hate to see any Hong Kong bashing that is not justified. Hong Kong has many good aspects and I am afraid we are all so lost and absorbed by the dull economy that it is too easy to bash Hong Kong.
Let's take some pride in the city that feeds us and be empowered by the positive facets of Hong Kong and move on!