I had the opportunity to go to China with a friend and business partner of mine. We attended 2 trade shows: one electronics show in Hong Kong and a very large multi-product show in China. I have an interest in a lighting company and we went to source engineering and manufacturing for a new product we are developing. Also went for pleasure - couldn't pass it up.
My primary business is excavation but it doesn't hurt to be diversified.
China as a country and civilization is quite a sight to see. The best way I can describe it is 1st world jammed right up against 3rd world. Large modern glass sky scrapers are built in the middle of small towns with old masonry 1 story buildings. The streets in the cities are a madhouse. People, bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds, trucks, buses, donkeys - pretty much if you can ride it or use it to pull a wagon you see it. They had these strange 3 wheel tractor/garden tiller looking devices that had a seat and handle bars that they used to pull wagons around with - it was quite a sight and I wish I had pictures of them.
The city in China we stayed at was Guangzhou, which is about an hour train ride from Hong Kong. Traveling in HK and China can be difficult. Fortunately we have contacts in HK that speak very good English and were basically our tour guides. Made the trip alot less intimidating. When you cross the border from HK to China you have the normal customs check but they also scan your body temp. If you have a high temp. then you are not leaving/entering on account of SARS and the bird flu. There is a place you stand and a thermal camera scans your body. Kinda intimidating at first but you get used to it. Even one of the hotels we stayed in had a thermal camera.
Hong Kong is a special government district that has its own government but still controlled by China since Great Britian gave it back years ago. HK residents can go to China fairly easily but Chinese residents cannot easily go to HK. If you are a HK resident then you can obtain a visa to visit other countries. The Chinese on the other hand cannot usually obtain a visa to leave China. One fellow I met named Peter (most HK and Chinese business men all have english first names) who owns a plastics injection molding facility (makes things like rebar safety caps) has been trying to get a visa from the Chinese gov't to go to the US but can't get one. We plan on visiting Peter's factory this trip.
The Hong Kong - Chinese governmental arrangement is very strange and I don't fully understand it all.
I think I will go rent that documentary this evening.
Cory
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