Took a trip to the border to stock up on shirts and get some made to measure for my sons upcoming wedding.
Walking around as usual, taking in the wonderfull local language skills.
" DVD, copy watch, hello mister copy bag, hey mister massagee, need suit, armani. gucci very good price, " and on and on and on.
Imagine my suprise looking down on the artrium -- lovely new red banners proclaiming " be tough on copy goods, no hiding or selling the fake goods, tell the authority about fakes " and other such diverse good citizen advice.
Don't you just love the fragmented government system over there. One department puts up the banners but thats there only job. No one has told the enforcers so of course its business as usual and long may it be so if not for just the entertainment value.
OH FYI - Saw a couple of Africans pulled up by the China customs with a huge bag of copy watches. I bit Irish I thought as isn't it a better deal to get them IN CHINA and not bring them in ????? The customs guy looked very confused. No wonder !
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20-07-2007, 10:09 PM #1
Lo Hu - Service as usual
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21-07-2007, 08:02 AM #2
Maybe the Africans were returning watches that didn't work as promised? You expect certain things from a Rolex and one is that it works. They obviously can't be buying fake watches because those big, red banners prohibit such nonsense.
Doesn't China sort of remind you of a medieval country? The King (or, in this case, central government) proclaims and everyone says, "Yes, your majesty. Brilliant, your majesty" and then ignores whatever was procliamed. Unless, of course, the King or one of his senior representatives happens to be standing there. Then all sort of changes are made to make it appear as if you have been following the policy all along. Then, as soon as the guy leaves, it's back to business as usual. That's why, outside of the Beijing area, it will be tough to crack down on pollution, fakes, unwanted industry, slavery, etc.... It isn't necessarily in the best interests of the locals.
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22-07-2007, 12:23 AM #3
Boris - do you read Chinese? We saw red banners today, but couldn't read 'em, maybe that's what they were...
China's topsy-turvy efforts make me nervous, I worry one day they'll decide to make a statement by acting against some unsuspecting tourist making their 33rd trip to Shenzhen or whatever... I mean I've bought a few copied items here and there, but lately I've stuck to paintings and massages, I just don't want to take my chances since supposedly this time leaders want to show the world they actually intend to curb certain globally unsupported activities, and I guess I don't know enough to be able to tell which public statements are likely to result in any action, if ever.
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22-07-2007, 12:39 AM #4
The banners are in Chinese and English.
I rarely see any activity from China customs on the HK return leg. Expect they leave it to HK side to stop it - export is export after all !!
The inward China customs are very random but like to search only " their own " + Africans, Indian / Pakistani and I think Philapina have issues as well. Never ever seen an Anglo Saxon pulled up.
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22-07-2007, 07:37 AM #5
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22-07-2007, 02:01 PM #6
Its true and I do the same as you. A terrible admission but something you have to be aware of going through the border 3 or 4 times a week.
To be honest its not just the " usual suspects ", the Japanese, I am seeing this year, are in the slow lane.
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22-07-2007, 06:56 PM #7
Yes, if you cross the border 3 or 4 times a week, every second counts. Especially coming home. Can't say I have noticed the Japanese, but I also don't think I could pick out a Japanese guy in a crowd unless he was waving his passport. The others are easier to spot and avoid.
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25-07-2007, 12:35 AM #8
the best line is behind the mainlanders going back to china, they get their passports chopped very fast.
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25-07-2007, 12:57 PM #9
Originally Posted by Boris:
