The World of Suzie Wong

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……..Well it’s more than 10 years since China reclaimed Hong Kong. I recall, prior to the hand-over, that many in the drinking classes were a bit worried about what might become of the Wanchai strip.

To some that part of Lockhart Road was just a trench filled with girlie bars. Where Filipinas danced around poles and were quite willing to leave with a customer provided he compensate the bar. A fee that was considerably more than a flight to the Philippines.

And then there were a couple of seriously expensive clubs where the cost of a round of drinks could have got you to the Philippines.

There was a couple of pubs and a few discos. It was a pale shadow of what was available in places like Bangkok and Manila. But it was, and still is, steeped in history and tradition

Arsenal Street, at the very end of the strip is a clue. Admiralty, the district next to Wanchai, is an even bigger clue. At the height of Empire this is where the British Navy was berthed. And what is the first thing an able seaman wants when he hits land after a long voyage? That’s right, a glass of beer and a fuck!

Even now the Navies of friendly countries still disembark at Fenwick Pier for a spot of R&R when they are passing.

But were the fears well founded? How has it changed under Chinese rule?

Well I think it’s fair to say that Richard Mason, the author of The world of Suzie Wong certainly wouldn’t recognise it. Indeed some people that frequented the area as little as ten years ago would notice considerable change, and I’m happy to say that it is mostly for the better.

The pole dancing bars are still there and they are still expensive but there’s a number of new bars such as The Bridge and the re-invented Old China Hand that cheerfully turn a blind eye to professional ladies working the bar. After all they attract the guys.

Neptune Disco is still going strong but Crossroads, The Makati and Pussycat have been replaced by The New Makati, and Fenwicks ‘The Dock’. In Fenwicks you can often find girls from South America as well as south east Asia.

If you prefer not to go into smokey, beery clubs and pubs it’s really quite easy just to pick someone up on the street.

There are, of course, other pubs that have large screen TVs for those that want to watch the big match and venues to fulfill our other needs. Big Ernie’s Diner do good burgers, twenty-four hour breakfasts are at The Flying Pan, Ebaneezers for kebabs and The Curry Pot is self explanatory.

Here is a brief rundown of the key haunts. There are, of course, plenty more:

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1. Beverly Hotel - rooms by the hour
2. Big Ernie’s Diner - burgers etc
3. Bridge, The - beer and wimmin
4. Bulldog’s - beer and TV
5. Carnegies - beer and wimmin
6. Curry Pot One - beer and wimmin
7. Delaneys - beer and TV
8. Ebaneezers - kebabs
9. Fenwicks - beer and wimmin
10. Flying Pan - 24 hour breakfasts
11. Joe Bananas - beer and wimmin
12. Ming Court Hotel - rooms by the hour
13. Neptune - beer and wimmin
14. New Makati - beer and wimmin
15. Old China Hand - beer and wimmin
16. Swindlers - beer
17. Typhoon - beer
18. Villa Victoria - rooms by the hour

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This post originally appeared on Seymour Totti’s Foreign Policy

It dawned on me late on Friday night while I was sucking back a beer in a place called Fenwicks in Hong Kong.

There is a lot of neon in Hong Kong but one of the first you see is the sign that says “Welcome to Hong Kong: Asia’s World City”. So you think to yourself; “Well what the fuck is that supposed to mean?” But within a few seconds you’ve dismissed it as just advertising twaddle and moved on.

I came to Hong Kong for the annual Rugby Sevens. Yes it is a sporting event but it is more than just a sporting event it’s a stadium party. But more on that later.

I was standing in this place called Fenwicks, a large and noisy disco that was packed to the rafters. In front of me was a dark-eyed girl, I could see her mouth was moving but I couldn’t hear a word because of the loud music. Not that it mattered, I already knew what she wanted. (more…)

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