NEEDING to prepare an extensive itinerary in China for some business partners who were arriving in town, a Frenchman of our acquaintance went to the CAAC office in Central to obtain an airline timetable - a task he thought he could accomplish with the minimum of fuss.
But that's not taking into account the workings of CAAC, one of the many dinosaurs of mainland central planning.
As he voiced his request, the girl at the counter diverted his attention towards a notice at the far end of the room.
For there etched in stone (actually it was Formica, which is the modern equivalent) was the edict: ''Timetables only available on the first working day of the month.'' And since many of the staff appeared to be sitting idly by their desks, our informant wryly observed that it would be a problem finding out when that would be. Ouch!
