Expat's Guide To Wan Chai (Nightlife)!

Visitors to Hong Kong may not have any experience in how to protect themselves in some of our more interesting nightlife areas. In light of the recent news about the alleged murders in Wanchai, we are providing this to you as a service, so you will know how to protect yourself. Warning: The following post/article contains adult material and is an informational post/article for those who are above 21. Read only if you are above 21. Otherwise, please leave this site immediately! Disclaimer: This post/article isn't specifically talking about prostitutes (also referred to as hookers). But mainly, this post/article tries to warn people who pick up partners for a night in what is commonly known as 'One Night Stand'. So make your own judgments/decisions, and check out the legality of your actions in the place/country (and local laws concerning such actions). The author takes no responsibility, whatsoever, of conditions, temptations, outcome, etc. The author doesn't assume that you are a person that directly or indirectly indulges in some; or all of the acts mentioned herein. This is simply an informational guide, which is all it is. If you are not interested in reading this post/article, please leave this site immediately. This post/article is inspired by recent events. Although about Wan Chai, Hong Kong, the following applies to almost any other place/country. Whether you are married or not, whether you live in Hong Kong, or not, here are some important suggestions (in no particular order of importance - everything written below is equally important): 1) Never use your real name in Wan Chai or any such place (I guess you should have figured that out). 2 a.) Never use your regular mobile (cell) phone. 2 b.) Try to have a cheap spare phone (without cameras, gadgets, etc.) and buy one of those anonymous SIM cards (a [random] phone number with stored value - usually costs HK$50). More important stuff... 3 a.) Never carry your credit cards around when you think you will end up in Wan Chai and / or Lan Kwai Fong (or similar places anywhere in the world. From here on, I won't mention other places, but keep that in mind as you read this).

3 b.) Carry enough cash you will need (for the night), but not too much. 3 c.) Open a simple savings account with ATM card facility (like the ones from Hong Kong bank that don't give you interest, but you don't care as you only deposit a couple of thousand - in case of emergencies). 4 a.) Apart from required cash, your ID card (required in Hong Kong), and the simple savings account ATM card, don't carry anything else with you. Not even business cards. If you can control your budget, it would be a good idea if you avoid carrying your secret/spare ATM card as well. 4 b.) If you are a tourist, I suggest you don't carry your passport with you (even though you are probably required to carry it with you in Hong Kong). At the most, you will be questioned and (usually) receive a warning (that is what I heard). 5 a.) If possible, and if you can afford, I suggest you rent a small discrete apartment/place somewhere. You can find a temporary/permanent one that will cost you less than your onenight budget in Wan Chai (in not so posh areas of Hong Kong [or your home country, as this guide is good for any place, anywhere]). That is, if you are one of those people who regularly end up in such places due to business commitments (yep, an odd [almost] mandatory culture in some parts of Asia) or whatever. 5 b.) Use the address of that apartment for your secret bank account (mentioned above), secret phone bills, etc. If possible, also use that address for your HK ID card and driving license, etc. 5 c.) If you have a car, don't drive (as you may drink, and drunken driving is a crime in most countries) and do not carry your driving license in your wallet. 6 a.) Once you have picked up a bird, don't go to the place she suggests (Never. A big NO!). If it is convenient, go to your secret apartment. If it is not, or if you do not have one, make sure you know about legal and hourly places before you even think of enjoying with your bird (there are many around Wan Chai, though a bit costly). 6 b.) Once in the room (or your secret apartment), hide your ID card (and your secret ATM card - if you have one) in a secret place before you start playing with your bird (and make sure she doesn't see what you are doing). 6 c.) If you can't find a secret place in the room/apartment, or if you are worried she might start looking around, try putting your ID card (and your secret ATM card) in your socks and place the folded socks in the shoes (I hope one-nighters/hookers are not reading

this post, ha ha). Or, if you are a regular night hunter, I would suggest you get tailor-made shoes with fake heels (a small compartment in the heels, etc., where you can place these cards). 6 d.) Place your spare phone/SIM and your wallet where she can see it (but only after you have made sure about your other stuff see 6 c.). Though, count your money (if possible, in front of her) before you place it there. 6 e.) Apart from your cheap spare phone (or the spare SIM in your phone), and necessary money in the wallet, there will be nothing else for her to check/find (that is, if you have been reading the above carefully). 6 f.) It is not a good idea to record phone numbers of friends, family, or business in your spare SIM card (as well as in memory of your spare phone - if you have a spare phone, that is). And erase/clear/delete log lists of numbers you dialed (or received calls) and/or text messages before you go with that bird to 'the place'. 7 a.) Don't get too drunk. 7 b.) Carry your own condoms. 7 c.) Don't let her trap you into talking about your friends, family, business, etc. Avoid all such conversations even if she looks kind, nice, and good. All of them have a purpose in whatever they ask. They are professional, and trust me, you are not (not until you have had enough experience, that is). 8 a.) Try to check out what kind of phone she is carrying. If she is carrying a phone with a camera, just drop the idea of having fun with her. 8 b.) If she is carrying a rather big handbag/purse, try to find out if she has a small digital camera in it. 8 c.) You should check the above things in the bar/joint with her and before you commit and pick her up. 8 d.) There are ways to get her to show you her phone. Give her your secret/spare SIM number and ask her to call you in front of you. Even though she says she will do it later, insist upon it. That way you will see what kind of phone (with or without camera), she is carrying. 8 e.) Suggest you want to dance with her, and grab her handbag/purse (feel it around for small cameras, etc.) and give it to her for safekeeping while telling her that you do not want someone to grab/take it away while she dances with you.

8 f.) Again, all these things should be done before you pick/commit, and in the bar/joint. And if you see a camera phone, or a digital camera, etc., really drop the idea of going out with her. 9 a.) After all, make your own decisions, go by instincts, and have bonking fun all night long. 9 b.) If possible, avoid going to sleep, and leave her as soon as you are satisfied. 9 c.) Ask her to go first, or ask her to wait outside the room/apartment (kick up an excuse that you want to pee, whatever), and collect your ID (and ATM card) from the secret location. Finally, step out without worrying about anything; safe and sure in the knowledge that your escapade will remain only with you and you will never be used, blackmailed, or worse, murdered! And yes, remember to thank me when you step out after a great night with your bird. Summary: Contrary to your initial observations/beliefs, one-nighters/hookers are very smart and professional. All of them. They aren't all alone by themselves. They have a gang or someone behind them. They receive all kind of odd training you cannot even imagine. Which is why the repeated warnings above, about not carrying anything personal with you. Believe it or not, every time after sex, and after the man (you) has gone to sleep, these professionals try to check you out (very stealthily and silently). Ten out of ten will do it. There are no exceptions at all. Some of the common things they do: 1) Use your phone to text their own phone (that will give them your phone number - caller display [If you have turned the caller display off, they will turn it on, and after they have finished texting themselves, they will turn it off again]). 2) They know the functions of all phones (think training, above), and will delete/erase the text (and dialed entry) they sent themselves (from your phone). So you don't know that it happened. 3) Mark your HK ID card number (or your passport number, if you were careless enough to carry it). 4) Mark your credit card numbers. 5) Take a photo of you and her naked (exceptional cases) while you are sleeping. 6) Record your business card details, etc.

And they will have sent all the above via text or phone email (photo) to someone/somewhere else before you wake up. And they will have deleted all records from their phone, etc. So, in short, you can never be too careful and think of all of the above before you venture out. If you don't have such need to play around (that is, not forced due to business and entertainment of visitors, etc.), I suggest you just have some drinks, flirt, grope, and go home/hotel (alone). Really, not worth risking your security, stability, or life for a couple of hours of fun. Note: 1) Think whatever you want about me and/or this guide (I am sure I will receive spam, hate, criticism, etc.), but frankly, I don't care. 2) While I am talking mainly about Wan Chai, the above is good for any place in the world. 3) If you are a regular night-hunter, read this post/article again and ask yourself how many times you have been careless (regarding what has been said above). And yes, feel free to add/ask in comments to this post. I will try my best to reply ASAP (flying out day after tomorrow, will update/upload soon). Cheers!
Posted by Ron at 07:47 PM in Opinion | Permalink

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Comments
Geee... that sounds pretty hardcore... with so much to fear for, I think I'd rather pass... It's like taking a chance at walking into a lion's den.
Posted by: Blimmy | Sunday, October 28, 2007 at 10:28 PM

Yep, Blimmy, it sure is dangerous. What with their plight, failing economies in their home country, etc., they aren't doing it for fun. They are doing it for benefits (insert a wink here). And while most of them are looking for a good boyfriend (or a future husband), the first time round they definitely have to do

what they must (or are forced to) do. Perhaps, because they aren't the ones calling the shots (out of despair, or whatever). The boyfriend/husband idea comes after two or three meetings (with the same bird). But by that time, the damage is done. Isn't it? Cheers!
Posted by: Ron | Sunday, October 28, 2007 at 11:34 PM

While the chances of being ripped off are somewhere like 1000:1 it is always best to be aware so you don't turn out to be the one. As Ron said, most of these girls are working for pimps and gangs that shuffle them around between HK, China, Japan and other places. A lot work for themselves, but it is a very hard life for any girl in that business. But it is the money and the chance of finding a real husband that keeps a lot of the girls in the game. A lot of married guys play with hookers for various reasons. So if one of these girls gets your cell number and calls you at the wrong time (checking to see if you want her services, remember her, or know where she left her panties) it can be a real hard thing to explain to the wife or girlfriend standing next to you. Or worse if the wife/girlfriend is the one to answer the phone. One piece of advice I can offer is to set a price before you take her home. Also if there is anything in particular you want her to do for/to you then it is best to talk that out with her too before bringing her back to your love nest. Nothing is worse than an evening of really bad sex with a girl who wants to charge you 2 to 3 times the going rate since she spotted you as a rich tourist. Also, don't get so drunk that you end up with a girl who only looks good through the dirtiest of beer goggles. Oh, and this last bit is really, really important. As hard & cold as these girls may seem, they are still human. Treat them that way and you will find that you have a whole heck of a lot less chance of being ripped off. (Except for price. That one can only be solved by experience.)
Posted by: Wan Chai Joe | Monday, October 29, 2007 at 12:56 PM

wow these stakes are too high... i think id rather find a real date or something. more fun, better practice, and if they rip you off, you know where they live :)
Posted by: Some One | Monday, October 29, 2007 at 02:43 PM

Yep, Wan Chai Joe, the chances of being ripped off aren't high. But hey, you always gotta be careful.

About the price tag regarding Wan Chai bar girls, that kinda tends to be a seasonal sort of thing. Generally, Eastern Europeans think they are precious and demand more. Whereas Southeast Asians fluctuate. I would also like to point out that while prostitution is legal in Hong Kong (to a certain extent) there are strict rules. For example, in Cantonese, the term, "Yat Lau Yat Fung," is the legal kind of prostitution. The translation of the term YLYF into English is, "One House, One Phoenix." This is supposed to mean that the woman has decided to be a prostitute (for whatever reason) and she alone controls her business etc., from her apartment. And no, technically, two women cannot share an apartment and do that. I think this strange rule is supposed to ensure that no one else (pimp, gang, etc.) is controlling or forcing the woman into prostitution. I am not sure, but picking up hookers in Wan Chai would be illegal (if money changes hands, etc., that is). Again, according to Hong Kong Immigration laws, tourists from any country are not allowed to work, do business, or engage in any gainful employment without the permission of the Immigration Director. So, for example, if a Southeast Asian (or even Eastern European, etc.), is in Hong Kong on a tourist visa, she cannot be a prostitute and charge anyone, etc. Now suppose the Southeast Asian woman is already employed as a domestic worker, and suppose she uses her spare time (weekend off) to earn more as a prostitute or what have you, she is actually breaching the terms of her original employment (as a domestic worker). And therefore, it is a crime, etc. (on more than one count). However, the tourists (mentioned above) and some (not all) domestic workers, do get involved in such trade. And I don't think it is a secret in Hong Kong. Immigration as well as the police should be well aware about all this. And they do try their best to stop it (constant raids, immigration checks, etc.). But again, the flow is so constant, that there is little they can do to eradicate the practice all together.

Also, since the "deal" would be private/secret, it would be difficult for the police to prove that money did change hands. And consensual sex between adults is perfectly legal in Hong Kong. So you get the point. While Eastern Europeans usually demand something in the range of two thousand to two thousand five hundred (they have been known to settle for one thousand five hundred), Southeast Asians start from one thousand five hundred and are known to settle for five hundred! But again, seasonal and depends upon the time of night/morning, etc. And you are right, in case anyone is going for the above, the "deal" and the benefits/services should be discussed upfront (before commitment, etc.). However, I would again like to reiterate that no matter what, whether a One Night Stand girlfriend or what have you, most (if not all) are professionals and do check the guy and his stuff (after the guy has gone to sleep). Different purposes, intentions, or whatever. But that always happens. For example, your "girlfriend" might want to check your real name, age, and based on your bankcards a rough imagination of your wealth for her to decide whether you are her (suitable) future boyfriend/husband (prospect). Or, just checking for a one-time deal (like the alleged robbery mentioned in the aforementioned link at the top of this post). Or, who knows, even selling your personal information, credit card numbers, etc., to some syndicate. Which is why I wrote this guide (and I do agree that this guide does border on excessive paranoia). But hey, I have been living in Asia Pacific for past 25 years (including Philippines - earlier), and so, I think I have seen almost every trick under the sky. Some One, Very smart idea. And yes, you are right. At least you can go find them and say, "Hey!" Cheers!