Novel traffic solution gets the mind racing

Here's an entirely plausible suggestion for our esteemed politicians so desperately searching for innovative solutions to Hong Kong's traffic problems and pollution.

Last week Guangzhou authorities sent some workers home so that the streets would be less congested when a national inspection team from Beijing arrived in town.

A colleague visiting the city got talking to a cab driver who had earlier been told not to work for a couple of days to keep street traffic light.

Theoretically, in these times of economic austerity, this would be somewhat of a setback to a humble wage-earner.

But not our man.

He spent his involuntary holiday productively and profitably in a time-honoured fashion - betting on the ponies - and he cleaned up.