Pollution, it seems, is a dirty word in Hong Kong. Certainly, pilots flying into the SAR want to do anything else but utter it.
A friend was returning from Manila on Tuesday afternoon - right in the middle of the filth outbreak that was clouding the skyline that day.
The pilot decided to take the tactful approach when it came to revealing to passengers what the views of Hong Kong would be like.
They would not be so good, he said. 'There is a lot of . . . [big pause] air coming down from China.' 'Air'? Is that what you call the lethal cocktail of gases we've been breathing this week? Our spies in Central inform us that a fascinating banner has been hung up on the Supreme Court building.
It celebrates the year of the older person - but hints at some dark secrets among our more mature folk.
At the bottom of the banner, stated in large letters is the legend: 'Arranged by the Organising Committee for the Elderly Commossion.' Perhaps the last word here is really a reference to the 'commotion' some older folk are expected to cause during the festivities.