BAD news for tourists. Not only do they have to stump up $150 departure tax and $20 security surcharge on air tickets, but now they have to deal with the Phantom Backpacker.
We were told about him by Dick Shriver, a Hongkong-based consultant accountant who travels a lot.
The Phantom Backpacker, a young Englishman about 6 ft tall, approached him with a sad story in the departure hall at Kai Tak. He did not have enough money to pay the departure tax, he lamented.
Soft-hearted Dick gave him the cash, and the grateful young man made off, his eyes full of gratitude.
On impulse, Dick decided to follow him. The backpacker ran up to a second tourist and did the same act. Then a third. Then a fourth. Then a fifth. Dick intervened after more than half a dozen victims, and the villain ran off.
However, Dick has been back to Kai Tak several times, and seen the Phantom Backpacker doing the same trick. He clearly lives in Hongkong and does this as a job.