[K5pbem] Some more HK thoughts

[David at antolovich.com]

While working on Johnnie's intro story a thought occured to me.

With China in uproar, there will be a lot of refugee pressure from the rest of 
China to get to HK.  Think how much worse China is in game then now, and yet 
we still have literal container loads of Chinese sneaking into the USA today.  
Of course some die along the way - lack of air, tempature, etc...  Yuch.  But 
that just underscores what riskes they will take to do so.

edit: Mike was saying the HK border is pretty tight, but that there are a lot 
of boat people and perhaps water born smuggling. 

It is also not uncommon for a husband to have to work somewhere other than 
where his family lives.  Odd, but true.  Now that I think of it some more, it 
happened to my brother in law for few years, and my father in law on and off 
as well.  In general, this migration is mostly okay so long as each person has 
a job at the destination, and does not take local benefits or resources 
(visiting family somewhere else for a month or so is fine and common). 

  As I understand it, you get a number in China much like our SSN, but it has 
an obvious tag to a region as well (A ex-PI/bounty hunter once told me our 
SSNs have birth state encoded in some manner, and that was one of the first 
things he looked for when finding someone).  In any event, this number 
determines some bit of what benefits or restrictions you get or have.
  For example if it says Sechuan, you can now have two kids - even if you go 
to some place outside of Sechuan.  Your retirement benefits (what little you 
get) are also tied to this too, and yeah some regions are better than others.  
  Afaik, the number is changable, but it takes mucho work and time.  But once 
you do have that then you can be considered a native of that region at least 
technically.

  Why technically?  Because not a small portion of the Chinese are pretty 
umm... well racist is too strong a word, but internal snobbery might be 
better.  Example one of the my wifes co-workers is from Beijing and considers 
those Chinese not from Beijing as a bit less and herself, and herself as a bit 
more soley because of her accent.  Her Manadrin is spoken with the Beijing 
acent as is proper! (and so on - sheez)
  We have run into this a time or two over here and there both.  My wife says 
there is some of the same in all the major cities.  I have of course seen it 
as not big deal as a well for the majority of folks.  Although, if you do not 
speak the regional dialect, I would bet it is worse. 

--

Game wise I can see a moderate psych lim (regional snob) maybe, from this as 
being not uncommon for those that wish it - some emigrees might even have it 
too (isn't that a kick to think about, fleeing somewhere else, and still being 
a snob for back home!).  Could effect some orgins as well.  Also nice stuff 
for background color for stories.

Anyway, I thought I would pitch it it out there.