Would Beijing prefer the tycoons or the people marching in the streets?
More nonsense from the chief executive's election. Ming Pao yesterday ran a story saying that supporters of chief executive hopeful Henry Tang Ying-yen were said to be inviting developers who had nominated him to sign a petition telling Beijing that they would not accept Leung Chun-ying as chief executive. The newspaper reports that it was said that the move was initiated by Sing Tao News Corp chairman Charles Ho Tsu-kwok, and that Li Ka-shing, Peter Woo Kwong-ching and Robert Ng Chee Siong were among the developers who did not want Leung to become the city's leader.
If true, it's an interesting indication of who they think rules Hong Kong, and how desperate they are to have their own man in position. Leung's main disadvantage for them is that they don't own him. Will this lead to scenes of angry tycoons marching in the streets? Our central government may feel it can live with that more easily than half a million protesters demonstrating their displeasure at having an unpopular Tang foisted on them as chief executive.
Solution to overweight passengers
We've had a response to our piece recently suggesting airlines charge on the basis of a passenger's total weight, that is body weight and luggage. The idea was that passengers above a certain combined weight pay a premium while lighter passengers get a discount, because of the impact on the amount of fuel required.
Our reader complains that airlines appear to have unlimited computing power to track practically everything about frequent flyers, except when they travel with little or no luggage. But as soon as our luggage is overweight - we're zapped. Given that airlines are getting so picky about charging for all kinds of extras, they might like to bear this in mind.
The disgraceful mess under HSBC