THE private sector is being quick to follow the Government's localisation policy, that remarkable magic which turns Westerners into Hong Kong Chinese if they can use chopsticks without poking themselves in the eye.
First to jump on the bandwagon is Hill and Knowlton, a public relations company, which yesterday announced: ''Hill and Knowlton Asia localises Hong Kong Office.'' And here are the two executives who have been promoted as part of the localisation drive: No, we haven't printed the wrong photographs. The company's ''localisation strategy'' really does involve the promotion of Shirley Dirkin and Denise Maguire to managing director and deputy managing director, respectively.
To be fair, Ms Dirkin is described as ''half Chinese and half English'', is a Cantonese-speaker and was born here. But she cannot read or write Chinese characters. Ms Maguire has been here for four years.
The Hong Kong Tourist Association's current slogan is ''Stay an extra day.'' Perhaps they should add ''. . . and you'll be considered a local''.
Zero option YESTERDAY was the first business day in Brazil with their new currency - the country's fifth since 1980. It is the same as the last one, but with three zeroes knocked off the end in an attempt to control inflation.
The Hong Kong Government has said many times it can do nothing to control inflation. Has it seriously considered knocking a zero or two off the Hong Kong dollar? Outnumbered IT'S a good job Heliservices is the only firm that rents out helicopters in Hong Kong, because GTE Directories has got its listing wrong in the brand new Yellow Pages.