THE HONG KONG EXPAT TO HIS LOVE

(With apologies to Christopher Marlowe)

Come bide with me, and be my bride,

And we’ll roam Hong Kong side by side;

That concrete jungle, asphalt field

May all of its detritus yield.

And we will sit upon Blake Pier

And breathe the noxious atmosphere

Which MTR beneath exhumes,

While diesel taxis spew their fumes.

Where over all great Mammon reigns,

And we must clearly go to pains

To spend and spend ridiculously

On goods consumed conspicuously.

Where judgement passed shall not be budged

By judges who may not be judged;

And wealth and dirt accumulate,

And passers-by expectorate.

Assisted by dear Elsie E,

With lance a-tilt quixotically,

If you would truly understand,

Come dwell with me and take my hand.

And read of police brutality,

Of CAPO and I.C.A.C,

Of boat people and refugees,

And visiting inept M.Ps.

Where buses crash and rentals soar,

And filth piles up upon the shore.

If you would thus corruption prove,

Come live with me, and be my love.

Hong Kong, October 1979

It was my misfortune to be living in Hong Kong throughout the period during which the underground system between HK Island and Kowloon was being built.  The Elsie E referred to was a very militant member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council who could spot an issue at 1000 paces and never hesitated to take up her cudgel.  The CAPO and ICAC refer to committees established to investigate police corruption.