It was all scratching of heads at the CEO Summit during the Apec Forum in Shanghai last week, as leaders nodded and smiled and admitted they had no idea how to answer any questions. Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa addressed guests on Thursday and told them how the SAR needed to restructure in the face of globalisation and rapid developments in information technology. After Mr Tung had wrapped up the short speech he said he would take only one question. Unfortunately for the Chief Executive, he managed to get a question that left him - and many other listeners - wondering if they had missed something. The interrogator asked Mr Tung to explain the multi-national barter system between Hong Kong and China. Mr Tung said he didn't understand. The question was asked again. Mr Tung couldn't figure out what was being asked so he turned to the Chair. The Chair asked; 'Did you say multi-national order?' 'No, it's barter. B-A-R-T-E-R,' spelled the questioner. And everybody remained confused. 'I wish I hadn't taken any questions,' said the Chief Executive. D-I-T-T-O, Mr Tung. Flying high: Ocean Park's Halloween Bash coming up on the horizon promises to be an uplifting experience. The print ad campaign features a cartoon witch on a broomstick flying high-as-a-kite through the night sky. Seated behind her are four casually dressed teenagers enjoying the ride. The lead youth has a rather large marijuana leaf emblazoned on the front of his T-shirt. This could go some way to explaining why he appears totally unperturbed about flying over Hong Kong on a broomstick with three mates and a witch. Every woman's dream: Asia's first 'Hip Hotel' may have gone a little too far in its bid to revolutionise the hospitality industry not to mention to reduce staff costs. The contemporary-designed Gallery Evason opened last year in Singapore's trendy Robertson Quay area. The hotel - managed by Six Senses Hotels and Resorts - is said by some critics to look more like a warehouse than a hotel on first impressions. The design is 'refreshing' and 'cool' in both interior design and service concept, a Press release says. The most startling feature and one sure to have visitors flocking to the hotel is the 'women-only floor staffed entirely by female guests'. So after a jam-packed day of meetings, female guests get to deliver their own room service, patrol the corridors until the early hours and run the vacuum around the room before giving it a quick dust over for the next guest. Every hard-working business-woman's dream hotel and truly innovative. War effort: Simple Keynesian economics have come into play at the Marriott in Islamabad. If demand exceeds supply, whack up the price and get them paying through the nose. A popular watering hole and now in the midst of all the action, many of the international Press Corp have made the Marriott their war-bunker from which to report on events in Afghanistan. The hotel's roof has now become the place to report from, as can be seen from various television reports. And it appears the hotel's management was not backwards in coming forwards when this unexpected windfall - a United States led invasion of Afghanistan - attracted hundreds of media representatives to the region. We are told the hotel is doing its bit for the war effort by bumping up its room rates. Rates have shot up from a pre-September 11 US$80 per day to US$275 per day at close of play on Friday. Many reporters are looking for cheaper alternatives but there aren't that many places to go. Besides, what other hotel might provide flak-jackets at US$20 an hour for a round on the resort's golf course? Graphic: whee22gbz
