Rickshaw-era set to die of old age in Hong Kong
By Paul Majendie
HONG KONG (Reuter) - The rickshaw, relic of an imperial
past, will survive Hong Kong's handover to China but may be
lucky to last three years to the millennium.
For the rickshaw ``boys'' are venerable 80-year-olds,
tartget of a health warning in guide books -- stick to a trip
around the block in case they keel over.
Drawing deeply on his cigarette as he touts for business
outside the Star Ferry terminal, 80-year-old Chan Yip said: ``I
wll keep going as long as I can.
``I've been doing this for 50 years. I have to keep fit but
I still smoke and also drink beer.''
He singled out American and Japanese tourists as his
favorite customers for the ride condemned by critics as a
degrading social embarrassment but still treasured in tourist
photo albums around the world.
Bartering skills are much needed to get a bargain from these
grizzled veterans and Chan was quick to break off from talking
when he spotted a photographer wielding his lenses.
``This country is getting more like America every day,''
grumbled Florida photographer Gary Bouchard as he buried deep in
his pockets to give Chan all his spare change.
The ``Rough Guide to Hong Kong'' advises tourists to keep
the trips short for the sake of the venerable rickshaw pullers.
``Try to get them to take you any further than around the
block and whatever you pay them, you could end up on
manslaughter charges as most of them don't look fit enough to
blow their noses,'' it said.
Hong Kong once had a vast fleet of rickshaws that numbered
8,000 as late as the end of World War II.
Britain's colonial authorities, who hand Hong Kong back to
China at the end of the month, have not issued any new rickshaw
licenses since 1975. Now the trade is gradually dying out.
``There is no move to stamp it out. It is going to die a
natural death. When they retire that is the end,'' said a Hong
Kong Tourist Association official.
``There are seven licensees left who pay 50 Hong Kong
dollars ($7) a year. Their charges for tourists are purely
negotiable. It is elastic depending on your bartering powers,''
the official added.
The rickshaw, from the Japanese jin-riki-sha which means
``Man's strength cart,'' has had a colorful history since U.S.
19th-century missionary Jonathon Goble first designed one for
his wife.
Local Hong Kong records show its many uses -- in 1917, 60 of
the colony's 1,750 registered rickshaws were used by brothels.
At the height of the Vietnam War, troops on ``Rest and
Recreation'' leave in Hong Kong would race each other to the
``Suzie Wong'' bars of Wanchai and -- much to the amusement of
the owners -- even swap places with the Chinese pullers.
^REUTER@ |
