Hong Kong's economy is back on track. Sorry, better make that back on TraHK. That's the Government's clever little name for Hong Kong's newest investment product. It was designed to offload some of the shares bought in last year's spending spree - the one that stopped the speculators and sparked the moves to rein them in. Last night was the big launch. Very impressive it was too, with the glitterati of Hong Kong's financial world mingling over drinks and nibblies at the Convention Centre as Financial Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen talked up the fund. The new ads in moody black and white lend an arty, European feel. Curious then, that the background music was an evocative Canto-pop melody Ripple, by one-time heart throb Danny Chan. Speculators whose hopes were drowned in that particular money pool would probably agree with the lyrics. They go something like this: Life is as quiet as a calm pool of pond water, It is because of you. It is all because of you, that life has lost it's thrill. Lai See found the music selection daring, given the fate of the artist. Danny Chan died of a drug overdose in the early 90s. But hey, it's not like Hong Kong people are superstitious or anything. We're used to reading reports from money watchers of all stripes. But Chinaonline.com still managed to surprise us. Their slick and extensive Web site is loaded with the usual sorts of market analysis . . . and one that's not so usual. Regularly updated black market analysis. Under the headline 'USD Flat Against RMB On Shanghai's Black Market' is this: 'The exchange rate for the US dollar stabilised against the renminbi this week, in what currency traders called 'calm and thin trading' on Shanghai's currency black markets. 'The continued weakening of the Japanese yen dampened trading, the money changers said. Money changers said they expect the US dollar to strengthen very soon.' Lai See has come across illegal money changers before, but we had no idea they could be so knowledgable and articulate. We thought they just hung around train stations saying 'pssst'. If yours is a joyless existence, take note and take heart. We've just received notice that you can now purchase the opportunity to 'unload your worries and set yourself free'. But to achieve this, you must first abandon your urban lifestyle and join a colony of like-minded individuals who are prepared to embrace 'nature at its best'. At first, Lai See envisaged loads of hairy, crystal-draped types humming in the lotus position. But as we dug deeper into the promotional leaflet, it appeared there was more to it. It made it sound as though a new cult was being formed right here in Hong Kong. We scanned the literature for the identity of the leader. It was none other than Li Ka-shing. It seems Cheung Kong's new joint venture is more than just a bunch of hotel rooms and serviced apartments near Yuen Long. Harbour Plaza Resort City will provide inhabitants with a concrete answer to the age-old question 'How do you live a life filled with fun all year round?'. Fun-hungry Lai See scanned the 'facts and profile' section to find out what made 'Hong Kong's newest attraction' such a roller coaster of excitement. Hard to tell, really. It's just a bunch of flats and hotel rooms with some gyms and eateries thrown in. Still, Harbour Plaza's PR team seems pretty fired up about it. No less than seven exclamation marks follow the slogan that proclaims: 'GREAT STAY, GREAT FOOD, GREAT FUN'. You wouldn't catch Lai See throwing punctuation about with that sort of gay abandon. We'd have to be writing about something REALLY exciting. Something like the soon-to-be-launched 'Cult of Lai See'. This will be located on a beach, have a $10 million joining fee, admit only perfect bodily specimens, and feature mandatory tequila nights and optional clothing. !!!!!!!
