The 29th Episode : Back alleys in Hong Kong
[July, 1988 Hong Kong]
During this trip, I was often called out both in Singapore and Hong Kong. “Hi, don’t you want a fake watch?” in Japanese. They said “fake watch” honestly. Didn’t matter because the buyers know it well. They recognised I was a Japanese though I was similar to Chinese. How many times I was called out!?!? I said "No" in English in the beginning but some times later I answered in Cantonese “m-yiu” means No. They were surprised and looked wondering mmm? this guy wasn’t a Japanese!? That was my fun to see their surprised faces.
I was not interested in such products at all, even now, but my younger generation wanted to buy one. When we were walking in Mong Kok a guy called out. They of course didn’t have a shop and spread about A4 sized paper when I asked what he had. There attached some photos. My younger generation pointed out his favourite one, then the guy called somebody with a mobile phone as big as a transceiver. He said “OK I will bring it back soon but it's not a good place here. Come with me.” We followed him. He took us to a dark back alleys behind a cinema like building. Wait here, he said and ran to disappear.
I wouldn’t followed to such a place if only with my younger generation, but I could because a local person was with us, though I had of course anxiety. We were made wait for 5, 10… minutes. He came back finally with a watch holding in his hand. It was a fake of famous brand “R” watch. He passed it saying check if you accept or not. During my younger generation was checking he didn’t look at us. He turned back and looked around, perhaps checking if police officers were or not. My younger generation accepted it and said OK. As soon as approx. US$21 was paid him he dashed away quickly into the darkness. As if I was watching a trading scene of a gang film.
If police officers found the scene of the money trade, we would be caught red-handed. They run a great risk. Because buyers exist. Even if we could get such fake products of famous brand in foreign countries, everything would be confiscated at the customs in Japan now. Therefore such trade have been decreased, they say, but still done. When the regulation is more strict, they find out another loophole.
It’s the very rat race.
