Why Americans might not enjoy the warmest of welcomes when going through customs in Hong Kong.
From the American Citizen Services July 2006 newsletter:
The U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong reports that recently there have been several arrests of U.S. citizens who attempted to enter or transit Hong Kong with prohibited items, including stun guns, brass knuckles and knives purchased in mainland China as souvenirs.
Travelers are liable to prosecution and possible detention if they bring into/out of Hong Kong any firearm or ammunition. Unless otherwise exempted by laws, possession of an “imitation firearm” is also an offence. “Arms” means any firearm, air rifle/air gun/air pistol from which any shot, bullet or missile can be discharged with a muzzle energy greater than two joules, electric stunning device, gun/pistol or other propelling/releasing instrument from or by which a projectile containing any gas or chemical could be discharged, weapon for the discharge of any noxious liquid/gas/powder, and harpoon or spear gun. Paintball guns are included in this category.
Travelers are also liable to prosecution if they bring into/out of Hong Kong any “weapon” which includes Chinese-style throwing dart, gravity knife, gravity-operated steel baton, knuckleduster, Chinese-style fighting iron, spring-loaded steel baton, any knife the blade of which is exposed by a spring or other mechanical/electric device, and any bladed/pointed weapon.
So, was there like an international redneck convention in China last month, or what?
{ 7 comments }
Sperwer 07.07.06 at 3:42 pm
I think it was Orwell who best described the “rednecks”, as you call them:
“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”
Rose Byrd 07.07.06 at 11:00 pm
Personally, I slept the least safe in my bed as a child when “rough men ready in the night” were fox hunting and “coon” hunting through our backyard! In later years, in another state in the good ol’ U.S. of A., the father of one the friends of my teenage daughter was struck dead in the parking lot of his suburban neighborhood supermarket by a “stray” bullet from a group of young “rough men” target practicing in nearby woods. My daughter reported that every popping sound had her friend in hysterics for many months afterwards, sleeping not so safe-feeling in her bed.
Cat 07.08.06 at 9:02 am
Why should the citizens of Hong Kong feel safer with U.S citizens entering the city carrying brass knuckles and stun guns?
However, Sperwer, you seem to think I meant the term ‘redneck’ as an insult, which could not be further from the truth. I count myself among their number, though not a big fan of international weaponry.
Sperwer 07.08.06 at 11:37 am
Sorry, I didn’t know “redneck” and “bubba” were terms of respect and endearment.
Rose Byrd 07.08.06 at 11:57 pm
Sperwer, where I come from, Bubba is very much a term of endearment, with “redneck” only being a term of endearment when a family member or close friend comes back from the beach (or hunting?) with a sunburn. However, due to my accent, and my work requiring me to speak to people from all over the world, I am often silently classed as redneck, even though the listener often audibly exclaims, “You sure are educated to sound so country!” And I’m not even packing heat! So put yourself in the place of a customs official in Hong Kong airport at the time of N.Korean missile threats who finds lethal knives, brass knuckles, stun guns on the personages of certain male American citizens. See where Cat could POSSIBLY be coming from? And where I come from, country gentleman maintain a courteous tone in disagreeing with a lady and rednecks do not, okay?
Cat 07.09.06 at 11:51 am
Thanks. No need to defend my honor. Where I come from Bubba is a term of endearment, too. And, Jeff Foxworthy has made a living off of defining a whole population, himself included, as redneck. Though admittedly if someone whose neck was not also red called me that, I might take offense. See further information here, notably this mention of my home state:
Rose Byrd 07.11.06 at 10:53 pm
Yes, and I come from a place where all children, male and female, are taught safe and accurate use of firearms by the age of twelve. We were also taught “Only pickup a gun if you intend to shoot, and only shoot if you intend to kill.” In other words, there really was such a thing as superficial, and therefore dangerous, arming of oneself. Sorry, Cat, didn’t mean to impugn your independent spirit. Just wishing to make a point of “Honor under arms.”
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