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Victim of racist behaviour

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Early last Friday afternoon on my way to a meeting, I was standing on an MTR train reading a book.

To my disgust, someone next to me spat at me and said: '**** gweilo'. I turned around and was taken aback to find an angry young local man mouthing more abuse and again he spat but this time at my face. I asked for assistance from some of my fellow passengers, but received none.

I cannot afford to get drawn into a brawl and had to walk out of the train a few moments later.

This loutish and racist behaviour was totally unprovoked, no doubt fuelled by pent-up resentment and the potency of new emotions from his forthcoming release from his 'oppressive colonialists'.

To be fair, it was also the first of such trouble I have had in the territory for over 12 years.

Spitting at gweilos is neither an endearing or recommended habit between people of different origins who wish to build future relationships. Maybe my travelling companion did not really want one.

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