Police Catch Up With Me

HIDDEN IN HONG KONG are some amazing examples of intercultural mixes.

Last night I dined with a large roomful of senior police officers -- guest of honor at their annual dinner. Nine years after Hong Kong stopped being a British colony, the police force is almost entirely Chinese. Yet so many traditions from the other side of the world are still in place.

I was bagpiped into the room following a man wearing tartan. The evening's official name was Mess Night. The bagpiper had to ritualistically drink a slug of Scotch. He was paid a fee in the shape of a bottle of whisky.