National Day!
I had been to Shenzhen with friends today. We had nice lunch, but very unfortunate we had someone sat behind our table with his leg placing on top of his chair. Gosh! What a manner in a restaurant!
I found such a big bottle of coke in Walmart (2 Liter), which only costs HKD4.90, about USD0.60. Anyway, I wouldn’t buy anything eat or drink in Mainland these days due to all the food problems. I don’t want to die yet. 
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I know what you meant about etiquette and manners among some Chinese people. I was eating in a local noodle shop with my sister in Sang Po Kong last night, and we were sharing a small table with other people who talked quite loud.
We are more sensitive about etiquette mainly because we were educated in the West. To me, those people who have bad manners in Hong Kong and China are the victims of the educational and economical systems. The systems have failed them; many people have not been able to drift upward socioeconomically. But there is no excuse for those people who are well educated yet have poor manners.
You once wrote that the Chinese people, at this moment in history, have only the hardware but not the software. The fact that the software (etiquette) is still far behind the hardware (money and materials) is part of the “sudden wealth” syndrome. Some very wealthy Chinese still exhibited very poor manners. Many people say that China will catch up with the West in 10 years. It is only half-true. While it will take about 10 more years to catch up with the infrastructure, it will take a few more decades to build up civility.
Sorry that I’ve rambled on this topic too much; my jet lag is driving me crazy. My manners will be better next time.
Hi TT,
Welcome back to H.K. I guess it depends on where you eat in H.K. I totally agreed with you about the manner of some people in China.
You are welcome to say anything here, and hope that you are over your jet lag soon.
Stay tune!
Joyce,
Your statement regarding the Chinese people, at this moment in history, having only the hardware but not the software - - - is quite telling.
Yet, lack of etiquette exists in all cultures. Americans, by and large - - - invent their culture as they go along, and most Americans are arrogant enough to think that they live in the greatest nation on the planet. The result is that when some of them travel overseas, they expect the rest of the world to be just like America. And they are shocked when it is not.
The photo that you took for this entry occurs at least 1000 times daily throughout America. Bad manners know no geographical or cultural boundaries. And the ever accelerating pace of modern life certainly does not help. I find it both sad, and inexcusable.
TT,
You ramble on a topic too much? You surely possess a fine sense of humour. I enjoy your ramblings. I wish some of our people in government here in the United States would read your ramblings. They could learn from you, as I do.
I differ from your opinion that it will take a few more decades for China to build up civility. As the West continues to spiral downward, and the East continues to rise - - - I foresee the WWAOC (Worldwide Average Of Civility) Index stabilizing in about 12 to 14 more years. Then, the only people who will be truly civil are the British, and those who have had benefit of a British education.
Now I will cease rambling.
Clement,
Thank you for your detail comment. I do believe what you said. Manner is no difference in boundary, it’s very much related to personal issue.