It is not only local brokers who are complaining about the stock exchange's extended trading hours moves. Across the border investors are upset it has interfered with an important mainland tradition - the afternoon nap or wujiao as it is called in Putonghua.
The bourse now opens for trading 30 minutes earlier at 9.30am while the generous two hours for lunch has been cut by 30 minutes leading to an eventual one hour next year.
While local brokers mutter about the change eating into their lunch, another concern has emerged from mainlanders investing in the market here. White Collar recently overheard two middle-aged mainland travellers on a tram discussing where to eat and where to buy the best abalone in Hong Kong.
Mainlander A: 'Investing in Hong Kong is great. There are so many listed companies and so many initial public offerings. I like my broker in Hong Kong. He gives me great tips and handles my trades really quickly.'
Mainlander B: 'My broker is good too - and he also knows where to eat. Every time I come to Hong Kong, I ask him to take me to some good places to eat. Although I pay the bill, I don't mind paying for good food. What's important is to enjoy good food and wine now. After all those Western movies that predict 2012 may be the end of the world, we have to enjoy life before that happens.'
A: 'True. The New Zealand and Japan earthquakes look just like those movies. Let's go and eat, though I don't think our brokers can join us this time as my broker said his lunch break is shorter now.'
B: 'Really? What are the trading hours in Hong Kong, I don't really know. I just call my broker on his mobile phone and the deal is done.'
