I HAVE been in transit through Hong Kong to China more than 10 times, but it was not until the morning of November 1, that I had my first bad experience of this place.
It was 8.10am and I went into a 7-Eleven store, in Kowloon, in order to buy toothpaste.
At the counter, I left my briefcase on the ground right in front of my feet so I could pay for the tooth-paste.
I noticed a foreign, dark-complexioned youth, who was well-dressed and who pretended not to know English. There was a young woman in her early 20s standing on my other side and another foreign-looking youth at the door.
Apart from them and the cashier the store was empty.
It was not until I bent down to pick up my briefcase that I realised it had disappeared along with these three young people.