Source:
https://scmp.com/article/26998/comedown-francis-after-night-tiles

Comedown for Francis after night on the tiles

DETAILS emerged yesterday of furtive happenings at the Legco building.

A gentleman was seen clambering on to the roof of the building in the early evening. But this was no light-footed cat burglar.

It was well-built radio reporter Francis Moriarty of Metro News.

He had discovered that there was a hi-tech telephone line on the roof of the building which could be used to send his recordings direct to his studio in Hunghom.

He sat up there, engrossed in relaying Legco members' profound burblings and droolings to the waiting world, and eventually decided to descend. That's when he discovered he had been locked out on the roof.

There was no way down, and he could not communicate with anyone inside the building to open the roof access door.

By this time it was 8 pm. It was getting dark and office workers had left the building. Starting to panic, Francis phoned his colleagues at Metro News and explained his predicament, asking them to contact Government Information Services.

''We had a good laugh and started a fund to bribe the fire service to leave him up there,'' one of his tender-hearted sympathetic colleagues told us.

Eventually Francis managed to attract the attention of a passer-by, who alerted a security guard, who rescued him.

Well Francis, you always said you wanted to get right on top of Hongkong politics.

Undie cover SEVERAL readers called to ask about the advertisement this week in which a Hongkong company was offering 300,000 pairs of knickers and panties, plus a supply of rechargeable torches.

Yes, it is an odd combination of products.

Maybe they are for people in parts of Asia (like the Philippines) where the frequency of blackouts means that you often need to get dressed in the dark.

Throwaway line GOOD news for everyone who hates journalists. Park'N Shop is importing Tesco's ''Green Choice'' toilet paper. This stuff is 100 per cent made up of old newspapers.

At last you can show reporters how you really feel about their work.

One buyer of this product in Wo On Lane yesterday pointed out that there was a note printed on the package: ''Tesco Green Choice products contain no unnecessary ingredients.'' ''That means they cut out the editorials and gossip columns before they make the toilet paper,'' he said.

Second secs THE events of the Hongkong Professional Secretaries Week are proceeding apace at Cityplaza in Taikoo Shing.

But what a shame the presentations are all on twee, prim subjects: flower arranging, organising banquets, gift wrapping and so on.

What about the important issues such as combatting sexual harassment and sex discrimination? The only talk vaguely helpful in this area is one tonight at 6 pm called Human Relationships: Hidden Messages.

It is shocking what employers get away with in Hongkong. We recall seeing an ad recently saying: ''Wanted: Female Accountant. Send Recent Photograph.'' Outrageous.

Past imperfect LAMMA has finally been linked to the real world. Hongkong Bank has opened a money-wall machine on the low-tech rural island favoured by artistic souls.

The machine, under construction for months, has now started dispensing 24-hour money, we heard from writer and spender Ron Gluckman.

''There was a gala opening which featured no champagne, no Cristal Li, no press coverage and no Lamma dogs lifting their legs,'' said Ron proudly.

The predicted sudden increase in money supply is expected to blast the time-locked islet 20 years further into the modern age.

This would take it up to the mid-1930s.

Broad church THE Adam's Pride naked men brochure also arrived at the household of Karin Arsan of Exceltrade Development, Landmark.

''In our family of four - husband, wife, son aged 18 and daughter aged 15 - only my 15-year-old daughter received this solicitation,'' she said.

''I can see why the men of our family were left out of the list, but am I, as an ADULT female, considered beyond this product? Perhaps they knew they could not compete with my wild Turkish husband?'' Karin wondered where the mailing list came from. ''The only lists my daughter's name are on are Esprit, American Express and the church registry,'' she said.

Personally, we never trust organisations full of men in long dresses.