OK, Here's one more.......

More than 150 years ago, Jardines Company relocated from Canton to Hong Kong (the company is still in operation here today). Because of piracy on the high seas, Jardines maintained a gun and military unit on the shore here acros from their company headquarters. When the head of the company arrived or departed by ship, Jardines would fire a ceremonial round to salute him.

This annoyed the senior British Naval officer who ordered the practice stopped. When Jardines refused and kept saluting they were hauled before the magistrate who then, as punishment, ordered them to fire the gun EVERY day precisely at noon. Rather than consider it punishment, Jardines saw it as an opportunity to create a new tradition and that practice continues today--and has uninnerrupted except for the Japanese occupation during World War II.

Today, precisely at noon, a Jardines employee in full dress uniform arrives, rings a brass bell twice, fires the gun, and then rings the bell two more times. The punishment having been taken, and the mid-August noonday task completed, what else is there to do but retire back across the street (now the Excelssor Hotel) and have a tea and light lunch. How uncommonly civil!!!!!

I'm at the Hong Kong airport now--got here early and was pleasantly surprised to find I could make a flight four hours earlier than originally scheduled. This is good because I was on a tight transfer schedule in LA and this will probably not get me home any earlier but will insure I make my flights.

Later......