British consulate won't be joining in Hong Kong Scots' toast to referendum

As Scots living in Hong Kong mark this week's referendum on independence for Scotland with a dram of whisky or two, staff of the British consulate will not be joining in on the toast.

The Canny Man, a Scottish bar in Wan Chai, says it is fully booked for Friday morning, when it will open early for customers eager to keep track of the vote back home while tucking into a traditional breakfast.

Despite the growing interest in the referendum, the British mission has ruled out adding any Scottish-themed nights to its social calendar.

In a curt response to a Post inquiry last week, Joyce Chow, the consulate's deputy head of press and public affairs, said the British government's representatives in Hong Kong would not be holding any events surrounding the vote.

British civil servants had earlier been told that from August 22, they were not to "undertake any activity that could call into question their political impartiality".

They were also "to ensure that public resources are not used for party political purposes" and must decline invitations to public events where they might be asked to comment on future government policy, according to a government memo.

With no restrictions on potential customers outside of the diplomatic corps, the Wan Chai whisky bar says more than 50 seats are already booked for Friday morning. "We're planning on opening the bar up for the results. If we sell a lot of scotch, that'll be great for us," general manager Charlie Wong said. "But we're not going to dye any drinks blue or anything."