Myth Busters: Li's Field, and 15 Hong Kong Rumors Exposed
From scurrilous gossip to all-too-true facts, we investigate the city’s dirtiest little secrets.
Li-Man, Defender of Hong Kong
The Rumor: Li Ka-shing is able to employ a force field that deflects typhoons from hitting Hong Kong on important business days.
The Verdict: Maybe. When the Hong Kong Observatory declares a Typhoon Eight or above, the city shuts down, causing billions in lost business revenue. As the property’s foremost tycoon, Li Ka-shing obviously doesn’t want that—a fact which has given rise to the legend that Li is able either to physically deflect typhoons from striking Hong Kong, or that he is able to pressure the HKO into not raising the signal on business days. The HKO says it’s because of differences in temperatures between the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean—but we know which explanation we WANT to believe.
Ten Thousand Nights
The Rumor: Cheung Nak Holdings tycoon Cecil Chao has slept with over 10,000 women.
The Verdict: Maybe. This rumor was perpetuated by none other than the 79-year-old Chao himself. If he started his sexual career at 16, that works out to about 158 women per year, or three per week. We’d never doubt his enthusiasm, but it doesn't seem to leave much time to build a property empire.
Hong Kong Mutant Ninja Turtle
The Rumor: The completion of the Convention Center directly caused the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.