Lai See | This is one place where you don't mention the Diaoyus
From time to time we are invited to diplomatic cocktail parties, usually to celebrate national day or the sovereign's birthday. These are usually polite convivial occasions which include diplomats, government officials, prominent nationals, and a sprinkling of local business people and minor tycoons. While generally agreeable, they don't stand out as must-go-to events.
However, there is one of these functions coming up shortly, which may be more interesting than your average diplomatic party. This is being hosted by the consul-general of Japan, Yuji Kumamaru, to celebrate the birthday of his majesty the Emperor of Japan.
It is normal at these functions for the Hong Kong government to send a senior minister or even the chief executive to attend, as Donald Tsang Yam-kuen did several years ago. Given the recent tensions between Japan and the mainland over the Diaoyu Islands or the Senkakus as Japan calls them, we thought it would be interesting to see how the Hong Kong government intends to play this. Our chief executive CY Leung appears to have sidestepped this one, and Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah has drawn the short straw to make the customary government speech.
This usually starts with general pleasantries, a joke even, followed by polite praise of a recent achievement by the country in question, discussion of trade and warm words for future relations, and a toast. Will Tsang mention the island word? We couldn't help wondering if it would be considered an ''unpatriotic act'' to turn up to this. Will attendance be interpreted as support for the Japanese position? So far we are unaware of official "guidance" on this. Either way the function is likely to attract a higher level of interest than most diplomatic functions
It is not often we get to meet royalty in our line of work, not even a minor royal. So you can imagine the thrill when we received an invitation from luxury real estate agents Engel & Völkers, that held out the possibility of such a meeting. But sadly, rather like those mail order advertisements that offer a special discount to the first 10 applicants, the "exclusive" interview is only being offered to "early media responses and requests". It's rather like order now while stocks last. Anyway the royal in question is no less a personage than Princess Bettina Wittgenstein, who is head of Global Corporate Communications for Engel & Völkers. The reason she is gracing our shores, we are told, is to illuminate "a celebration ceremony to paint the store front red as a symbol of the global real estate group's shift towards Asia …"
Not to be missed.