Nepalese journalist puts Hong Kong bouncer days behind him and returns to beloved profession
JB Pun Magar took on jobs in bars and on construction sites when he first arrived in the city to join his wife, but finally got back into journalism
Investigative journalist JB Pun Magar’s life was turned upside down when he decided to move to Hong Kong from his home country Nepal to join his wife.
“Everyone knows I’m a journalist in Nepal. I am well educated and have a high social status and salary there,” Pun Magar, 44, said.
But when he came to Hong Kong in 2009, the only way to make a living was to work in the city’s most popular nightlife hot spot, Lan Kwai Fong, as a bouncer. From 11pm to 4am every day, Pun Magar made sure the customers would not cause trouble after a few shots of vodka. When necessary, he would have to throw drunk people out of the bar, so that the party could carry on.
“I didn’t like the job at all,” Pun Magar said. “Journalism is my expertise.”
Pun Magar was a reporter at Nepali-language magazine Himal Khabarpatrika and contributor to English-language newspaper Nepali Times.