I want to open a store in Hong Kong.

This is a political crisis because of people like miller carbon plain and simple. Otherwise it would just be a health crisis.

I would offer you a lesson in statistics, but statistically I think that is a low value proposition.

Fortunately I learned how to wear a respirator so I find my N95 shop respirators leave my nose and throat dust free.  If I am working with anything nastier, the N100 painting respirator comes out. It's essentially  a gas mask with particulate filter.

N95 by the way does not filter virus either. The situation really is like I said, trying to stop a mosquito with a chain link fence. That a mask works at all is based on the idea the virus is never just out there by itself, but is hitching a ride on a droplet. The problem with that being droplets go down to vapor, goes down to molecules.  

Anyone who has worked in a shop as I have, worn respirators as I have, will know perfectly well how your nose and throat gets plenty of dust. This is with filters many orders of magnitude better than the masks we are being forced to wear.  

In areas where Malaria is common or travelling to areas with Malaris is, it is over the counter.  Just don't take the fish tank stuff ....

How does one acquire hydrochloroquine "just in case"? Isn't it prescription medication? Is it sold on street corners by shady people who supply shady buyers?

Maybe the mask you wear does not protect you.

bluemoodriver25 posts11-22-2020 5:35pmGlupson - as long as you know a mask does not protect the wearer at all. It might help protect others from your coughs and sneezes. It is REALLY important that you understand the difference.

Some people trust the bureau of propaganda and public enlightenment that has become the news media, and obviously some do not trust them at all now. History has proven that a propaganda trap is often found after it's too late, only after the entrapment is the reality revealed.

If nuclear bomb is code for every possible virus outbreak from Asia (a high percentage of the global population) - heck yeah, all the world is in and out of HK every day. It's not just the biggest Buddha statue in the world on Lantau Is. The airport is seriously no joke!

I loved both times I was in Hong Kong, and it was true what I had been told. Almost any direction you look there's someone walking towards you, and another walking away. Just so many in such a small area, even more crowded it seemed than New York and London (yes, I have been).

There are entire buildings full of stores, Hifi bulidings, laptop buildings, furniture and the list goes on. It kind of reminded me of the Mercedes Benz museum in Stuttgart, Germany. One takes the elevator to the top and work your way down, and as I'm a complete and utter geek, this was so much fun. Buyer beware, possibly the dodgiest place on Earth for cunning rip off mechants I have been. It's not like Africans selling designer hand bags in Paris, this is super clever, and slippery.

Property there is VERY very expensive, to purchase similar sized apartment to an average American home will cost a small fortune. Did I mention expensive property values? I seem to recall the most billionaires are in HK than any other city, now overtaken by NYC I think. From what I saw, that's no surprise. The wealthy Chinese do prefer quality from overseas.
Muscling in on a well established market, you do know it's not been under British management for quite some years, PRC rule now.

Take a long vacation there first, do your homework, it may be perfect for you. Be cautious, would be my suggestion.

Glupson - as long as you know a mask does not protect the wearer at all. It might help protect others from your coughs and sneezes. It is REALLY important that you understand the difference. 

@cd318 +5 Amen

"Masks are worse than useless."

Wise words from the one who had it to those who have not had it yet.

Almighty they are not, useless they are not, either.

Now we learned that having trouble breathing and being positive for SARS-CoV2 means a person does not have symptoms. It is just made-up BS. Even when you feel you are breathing under water. Wow, just wow.

The long-term effects of COVID-19 on cognition are apparently way underappreciated.

Which brings up another question. How does one acquire hydrochloroquine "just in case"? Isn't it prescription medication? Is it sold on street corners by shady people who supply shady buyers?

Masks are worse than useless. Reminder guys, I work in health care.

That ranks right up there with "Fuses, cables, isolation devices and other tweaks don’t make a difference. Remember guys, I’m an E.E."

Somehow I prefer to believe CBC Canada over the Tekton lover.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/marketplace-masks-test-1.5795481

This started out with a doubtful business venture post and MC goes all out on masks.  I suggest you no longer refer to  yourself as “in healthcare”.  You who admit to giving yourself pneumonia with your CPAP.  I don’t recall anyone saying the masks are total barriers against the virus especially when airborne.  Political.  Right. I suppose the surge in hospitalizations is all political too.  A hoax. How hard is it to wear a damn mask?  If it saves only a few thousand lives before the vaccine comes to the rescue, isn’t that well worth it?  Yea. You are “in healthcare”.  If I were your employer and I saw that post, I would fire you.

Here in UK deaths by any cause within 28 days of a positive Covid test is a “Covid death”. So, smoke for 70 years, drink like a fish, eat pies, get a positive Covid test, and then crash your hang-glider into a cliff and that is a Covid death.  Even then, in October, Covid was only number 13 in causes of death. Flu was number 7.  Take out serious co-morbidities (the underlying causes of death) and the total number of Britons under the age of 45 who have died so far of Covid is 41.  Sadly, suicide (which was already at number 1 for cause of death for under 45s) has only increased.  I’m not going conspiracy theory, but there is an Abeline Paradox happening here. 

I would get to know the lay of the land(Import logistics etc). Pick your market niche. You have competitors. A local to Asia or x patriot can be very helpful.
If you are going to sell American HiFi the key is knowing where to get it and who is holding.
Good Luck and bring plenty of green backs. 

Masks are worse than useless. Reminder guys, I work in health care. The masks we are all being told to wear are procedure masks. They are intended only to stop spittle and droplets from talking infecting patients and medical equipment. They say right on the box they do not filter viruses or other contaminants. The vast majority of the air you breathe in or out goes right around the sides. They do not filter anything AT ALL!  

The next step up from a procedure mask is N95. These are intended to filter but in order to do this they must be carefully fitted. They come around with a test hood and if you can smell the odor its not filtering and you cannot wear N95. This happened to a couple of us here. Its pretty common.  

Even if you do get a tight seal every breath exhales moisture that clogs it and so the N95 is good for only a few hours.  

N95 by the way does not filter virus either. The situation really is like I said, trying to stop a mosquito with a chain link fence. That a mask works at all is based on the idea the virus is never just out there by itself, but is hitching a ride on a droplet. The problem with that being droplets go down to vapor, goes down to molecules.  

Anyone who has worked in a shop as I have, worn respirators as I have, will know perfectly well how your nose and throat gets plenty of dust. This is with filters many orders of magnitude better than the masks we are being forced to wear.  

It would be one thing if they worked. It would be another if we were told the truth and allowed to choose for ourselves. Instead we are all being forced to do something proven to have no medical efficacy whatsoever.  

This is not a health crisis. This is a political crisis.

I really didn’t want to chime in but everyone must deal in fact. The virus is everywhere and spreads through micro- droplets where masks can help to an extent to reduce viral load within 6 feet before it falls to the ground BUT the virus is also likely to be aerosol air borne for up to 6 meters which is much more dangerous and masks don’t really help there particularly the kind being worn.
A mask helps if it’s an N95 and worn properly tight cupped fit but most people gain a false sense of security when wearing a bandana or scarf that is vented out the sides and then they don’t also properly distance themselves especially from the susceptible at/risk and wash their hands regularly.
I certainly wear one, an N95 when I’m out and about. Exercise regularly, keep your immune system in check, take vitamin D3, 5-10k IU a day along with vitamin K2 mk7 and magnesium. This is NOT political.

It is also my understanding that masks will not filter out the smaller droplets that viruses travel through the air on. These smaller droplets linger in the air longer and can be inhaled through most masks.

Another purpose is to filter the larger droplets that infected people exhale, sneeze or cough out and to limit the distance that droplets initially travel.

So masks have definite value, IMHO, and should be worn properly (i.e. hands off) but should not be considered strong protection against the virus.

I’m not a medical professional. This is what I’ve learned from TV, so take it for what it’s worth.

It's really truly a scary thing when people who are presumably educated believe in this conspiracy nonsense. Here is a good read on that subject:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/20/opinion/sunday/global-cabal-conspiracy-theories.html

Every day since Oct. 28th, save for 3 days, Covid cases are pass 1,000/day in Washington State. Back when MC was in for his ailment, it was a different story as anyone with half a brain can deduce. 

It's not fake news that hospitals in the Mid West are past capacity. Some are running out of hospital staff. Again, not fake news. 

Average mask efficacy is 67%. Period. It prevents droplets from you traveling out to others. How hard is that to wrap your cultish heads around? I'll take those odds any day of the week. It's no inconvenience to wear one. I'm not surrendering one iota of my "freedom". It's common sense. Why is it the fools had to go and make it a political thing?

All this BS about touching your face mask is a red herring. Things would be so much easier if ya'll just seek out and find your own Jonestown and get it all over with, leaving the rest of us to lead a normal life.

All the best,
Nonoise

Masks are a joke. Anyone dim enough to buy into that, maybe you can explain to me why it is that if a scarf or procedure mask is all you need to be safe from a virus then why the haz mat suits and BSL4 labs negative pressure environments are necessary? Because real scientists know the reality: trying to stop a virus with a mask is like trying to stop a mosquito with a chain link fence. 

Forget theory, how about fact? I myself was recently in hospital with pneumonia. Which I gave myself from stupidly neglecting my CPAP machine. No COVID contact whatsoever. Which I told the docs. Which they tested me anyway. In spite of ZERO COVID symptoms - no fever, no body aches, no cough, no taste or smell or any of the other BS symptoms they made up to make everyone scared of the slightest little thing.  

Test comes back negative. OF COURSE! Because I don't have COVID! No, they say, we need to test again! Seriously! Not making this up! So they test again and this time Sorry bad news you have covid, and proceed to basically tell me I am gonna die, sorry. So sorry. Actually happened. Not making this up. 

So they move me to the covid isolation wing. Where my nurse says feel free to use the call button there's plenty of us we have 26 rooms to cover only 6 of which are in use. Did you get that? 75% empty. Not even 1/4 capacity! This is the great covid crisis?!?!  

Who all by the way knows Elon Musk had himself tested 4 times in the same day? Who knows the results? Anyone? Beuller? 2 came back positive, 2 negative. Just like me. Totally random. I never did have ANY covid symptoms, my chest x-ray showed only pneumonia, because that's what it was.  

That's just one small story in this global conspiracy that is being perpetrated on everyone today. The truth is out there. They make it hard to find. Some snowflake, although a better term is the older useful idiot, will complain and the mods will be only too happy to remove this post. Funny thing though. They can remove the words. But they cannot remove the truth. No one can. Truth gives but one choice: accept- or deny.

For real, what are the truths about dangers of wearing masks?

glupson, the problem with masks is that people are always touching them. A common way to contract a virus is to touch an object (door handle, display merchandise, railing, etc.) that has the virus on it then touch your face. The virus is then moved into your eyes, your nose or your mouth where it gets into cells and you have an infection. If you watch people wearing masks they touch them and their faces a lot. If you wear a mask, keep your hands off it.

Sad to know that conspiracy mongers will be with us for the long haul.

"Millercarbon is correct about the global situation..."

In this matter of global situation, not quite.

"In case you haven’t noticed governments all over the world are using the flu as an excuse..."

These days, you barely hear about the Flu.

Guys....Millercarbon is correct about the global situation yet you have nothing better to do other than talk trash..... Wake up, sheep. 

'You'll own nothing soon.
And you'll be happy.'

That is for What are you streaming tonight thread, not this one.

For real, what are the truths about dangers of wearing masks? More or less all of us have been doing it for months and now we get a teaser that it is not good for us. Details, please, so we can make informed and rational decisions.

@three_easy_payments

What are these great truths? Come on, you can say it. It's ok, you won't get shot down in flames, you're among friends now.

What was that you said? Something about the World Economic Forum at Davos and the coming of 'The Great Reset?'

There, there, don't worry. It will all be ok soon. As the slogan goes,

'You'll own nothing soon.
And you'll be happy.'


Interlude over.

And now back discussing the merits or non merits of starting a new audio retail business in downtown Hong Kong...

https://youtu.be/pF_kXE-HXSQ

"This was obviously a troll post..."

I give it a credit for being more innovative than kenjit's speaker posts or any of the cable vs. fuse vs. blind testing spaghettis.

This was obviously a troll post but thankfully it provided MC a platform for espousing the truths of the world and life...it's all so nourishing.  What an amazing place Agon has become.  Value-added extraordinaire.

after op conquers hong kong, there is china japan and korea waiting for him next

think they just got the internet there and learned about something called high end hifi... like last week?

+1 Glubson

Me thinks we are being trolled!

To the OP: I think you might do better in downtown Portland Oregon.  Hey
you could get customers all smacked, cracked, smoked up.  It's all legal!
Just think of all sheeeit you could sell to a stoned, whacked and delusional clientele. 

Why are you asking a bunch of geeky audiophiles international commerce questions in a hotbed part of the world during a pandemic? Did you win the lottery ? 

Hello, well, the idea is interesting. Only there the competition is high, if you sell equipment for recording studios, maybe something will come out. They have just begun to understand this and appreciate the quality. Well, in any case, you will need to register a company for example  see here. Hire a local director, they will help you with tax reports. If you are legally going to work, I think you can carry out your plan.

"What about the dangers of mask wearing?"

Really, what about them?

"...after Covid has bid us farewell, I wonder what’s coming next?"

Long-term COVID effects.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02598-6

There is no reasoning with certain individuals levels of ignorance.

Now that @clearthinker has poured a bucket of cold realism upon the entire scheme perhaps a little more digression can be allowed.

@paulf3rd,

"My sympathies to anyone who has lost a loved one during this but there is ZERO doubt in my mind that ALL sides have turned this into as much, or more, of a political issue than a medical issue. And we are NOT being provided with any reliable, statistically validated information regarding the DIFFERENTIAL impact(s)."


Exactly. Why is the information not being put out? Just how many flu deaths are being attributed to Covid? And why? What about the dangers of mask wearing? Etc.

Covid is deadly, to a tiny minority no doubt, but then so was the flu which was largely ignored for so long whilst it was busy killing in far greater numbers for so long?

Kind of smacks of oppportunism, doesn’t it? Rumours abound of political shenanigans and awarding of medical contracts at the very highest levels. Political and financial games being played for the highest of stakes

Then there’s the wilful attempted destruction of leading western economies...

Fascinating times, after Covid has bid us farewell, I wonder what’s coming next?

Hi RW.  I'm and accountant and business adviser.
My gut is this is a hare-brained idea.  At the very least you need to do some research first.  Start with:

1.  I know HK pretty well although haven't visited for a few years now.
When I was last there there were quite a number of high end audio retailers in the malls.  Perhaps you should google them and find out who they are are what they are doing.

2.  It's probable most of the US manufacturers you are thinking of representing already have licensed retailers in HK in which case they won't work with you.  You should research this for the lines you are interested in handling.

3.   You will need a load of capital to start this.  You need to rent a shop.  HK is about the most costly retail area in the world.  Then fit it out.  Then buy in all the dem and display pieces you need.  Then hire staff.  All this before you have made a cent.  I'm guessing you will need US1million at rock-bottom.  You need to add it all up before jumping.

"... so I’m able to get proper meds in spite of the docs."

Expertise speaks.

"...but most of the patients I observed with COVID had MULTIPLE health issues..."

"Most" is another way of saying "not all" or "some".

Once interested parties get past mortality rates, get immersed into long-term effects. Good luck everyone.

Looks like the OP got scared away.

@dill 

The OP joined AudiogoN today.

thus my reply below... guys falling prey to troll pranks yet again 

..........................................................................................................

'it is easy peasy... so many rich folk there wanting hifi gear, with no good places to buy any

please let us know how it goes'

For perhaps the first time I can substantially agree with MC.

Does ANYONE think to compare "normal" non accident death rates, maybe by age or other risk group factors, to "current" death rates?

Until very recently I worked as a medical facility professional, and not ignore COVID, but most of the patients I observed with COVID had MULTIPLE health issues to contend with that were likely significant factors. On a personal level, being over 60, my confirmed "infection" resulted in minimal symptoms. My mid 80s father also had limited impact. 

My sympathies to anyone who has lost a loved one during this but there is ZERO doubt in my mind that ALL sides have turned this into as much, or more, of a political issue than a medical issue. And we are NOT being provided with any reliable, statistically validated information regarding the DIFFERENTIAL impact(s).

Here are some links to on youtube that an Italian guy toured HK used hifi market I saw on another hifi forum. The last link is HK Audio show.

https://youtu.be/4uWQCnQsNgw

https://youtu.be/ytEzNW_8PYA

https://youtu.be/AufxZokNuTk

https://youtu.be/QIwraPJOO3s

I wouldn't go there because China plans to take over Hong Kong in the next 4 years

Mr Millercarbon has obviously has not had it yet

He wrote that he had multi-focal pneumonia. They gave him Remdesivir and he also took Hydroxychloroquine that he had purchased in advance.

It sounded like a very uncomfortable experience.

Here are some of his comments from the Moab thread:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/tekton-design-moab-2?highlight=Moab

09-26-2020 8:17pm
So they put me on expensive, risky, iffy remdesivir, and they will do an even more experimental transfusion. But a known cheap effective safe drug? That’s not our protocol. Morons.
Fortunately millercarbon is no moron, and bought HCQ months ago, just in case. Wife brought it in, and so I’m able to get proper meds in spite of the docs.

10-17-2020 11:48am
Its not dead, but I almost was. Nine days in hospital, multi-focal pneumonia bad enough they nearly had me on a vent.

10-17-2020 6:34pm
I was at one point on 10 liters 02, which is a lot of oxygen, and even at that out of breath and feeling like I was about 10 feet underwater. That’s just lying there. Just to roll over, adjust blankets, was an effort it took a while to recover from. How close I was to being on a vent, I don’t want to know. Too close for comfort.

Millercarbon... So 55 million cases and 1.34 million deaths worldwide from covid 19 is an "excuse" for governments to use emergency powers to protect humans from killing each other by spreading the virus. Wow, that's quite a take on reality you have.

For whatever it worth we have sold a number of power line / ground filters for HiFi applications in H.K. - it appears to be a market there.  Do talk to some experienced local business people there first, though - interesting times are ahead for H.K....

Mr Millercarbon has obviously has not had it yet. I can personally attest, as this physically robust guy still struggles with the after effects 8 months later of what one of my doctors called “a whole-body injury” that Covid 19 is not something to underestimate. There is no Deep State trying to take away your freedom. Be smart and responsible towards others.

That said, Hong Kong has an insane amount of wealth in it. But, one no longer has rights there, it is a huge risk moving there without good political connections, and I wouldn’t think of it unless you are moving home.

How about Singapore instead? Great place, lots of money. If only I could go to Newton Hawker Center for some delicious cheap food...