Fantasy Vs. Reality

And now, a brief exposition on fantasy vs. reality in Hong Kong:

Fantasy: a government public service ad, in which a minibus driver turns in his seat to give passengers a friendly lecture about buckling up before he drives off. He's a good citizen who not only wants to save his charges a potential $5,000 fine, he wants to save their lives.

Captain Awesome is the most genial minibus driver in all of Hong Kong. Men admire him. Women are attracted to him. Kids want to grow up to be him.

Reality: no one buckles up. When the driver spots a police roadblock, he bellows that everyone had better clip in their seat belts, and fast. From behind I hear a flutter of clicks. The woman across the aisle doesn't know where the seat belt is; when I point to it she pulls it up from her hip and across her chest like a shoulder harness. She has about two seconds before door opens, so I lift the buckle from the seat and help her clip in. The inspecting officer pokes his head in for a quick glance and moves on.

No one thanks the driver.

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