Sounds of things to come

FEW people would have spent time in Hong Kong without attending a party where the police raided after complaints about noise. This happened a short time ago at a Robinson Road party, when two officers announced their presence by turning down the music.

No one took a blind - or should it be deaf - bit of notice and the sound was soon cranked up again. However, one of the officers had his hat knocked off. It then disappeared. Appeals from civic-minded guests for its return were ignored. The officers returned with eight colleagues and proceeded to search the flat for the headwear, with little success.

Exasperated, one guest turned to a policeman and suggested he take his gun from his holster, fire off a couple of rounds to get everyone's attention, and hold the weapon to someone's head to ensure the hat's prompt return.

With a smile the officer replied: 'No, that's for after 1997.'