NAME: Nick Passing-Through. OR: The expatriate waiter. NATIONALITY: Almost exclusively British. AGE: Under 30. BRIEF HISTORY: Long, long after unemployed Brits first headed this way in search of jobs (you know, the blokes James Clavell wrote about), a pioneering chap called Nick Pony-Tail came, saw and served his wealthy predecessors in Lan Kwai Fong restaurants. He did so for enough cash to be able to go out after work to bars and parties, and generally have a good time before setting up in business as a concert promoter. These days, the after-work late nights in Wan Chai attract Nick Passing-Through and his girlfriend, Ally Adidas, who is also working here. They don't spend as much as Mr Pony-Tail used to, though, because they're only here for a short time. STRENGTHS: Unlike one of his contemporaries, the desperately dodgy Nick Shifty, Nick Passing-Through knows exactly what he wants out of life: enough money to get back to Thailand, or off to Cambodia for a renewed bout of sunshine and soft drugs. Whereas Mr Shifty pretends to be all things to all potential investors, Mr Passing-Through simply gets on with his job, is relatively polite to customers and never, ever works as a broker on a commission basis. WEAKNESSES: It doesn't always work out that way. What seems like only days after you bid a cheery farewell to your favourite waiter at a Pacific Place bistro, you nip into a Lan Kwai Fong bar to find him there, asking what you'd like to drink, and explaining that the money hadn't lasted quite as long as he'd hoped it would. NATURAL HABITAT: Flats in Western, possibly Lamma, late-night bars in Wan Chai, the occasional rave. NO NICK PASSING-THROUGH IS COMPLETE WITHOUT: An Essex accent. FANS SAY: 'How refreshing to find someone in Hong Kong who isn't just interested in making money.' CRITICS SAY: 'Is he paying tax?' THEY SAY: 'I can't stand Hong Kong but it's the only place to find any work these days. Once I get this week's pay I'm off. Would rather be in Goa anyway. Gissa fag.' LEAST LIKELY TO SAY: 'Sorry, we don't have the mussels today.' MOST LIKELY TO SAY: 'Sorry, they don't have the mussels today.' TRADEMARKS: Laidback attitude, lots of silver jewellery, bad skin, terrible hairstyle and a fabric hippy rucksack from Khao San Road in Bangkok. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH: Visiting European chefs.
