Saying “good bye”
I am a ridiculous creature. Thursday (yesterday) I had my appointment to be photographed and finger printed for my Permanent Residency Hong Kong Identity card. I received my first HK ID Card in August 1996. But with my new PR status I’m entitled to a new card and a "smart" one at that.
Despite the lines, the 1 – 2 hour process went remarkably fast. The HK government is incredibly efficient and well-organized. First, I handed in my appointment paper and was given a numbered ticket and application form in return. I sat down to complete the form and with a few minutes an officer called my number by flashing it on a giant TV screen with a corresponding desk number.
I walked to the desk number. The person behind the desk took a digital scan of my thumbs, digital picture of my face (which I even got to approve… "Picture, okay?" he asked. "Yes, thanks," I replied) and finally scanned the few pages of documentation.
The next part was the longest – waiting for an Immigration Officer to check all the final details. Upon reaching that line I saw there were 60+ people waiting in front of me. The roughly five officers managed to process one person every one minute and fifteen seconds. In just over an hour I was called to another desk.
I sat down in front of the final Immigration Officer’s desk, handing him my paperwork and current HK ID Card. My existing card had been with me almost ten years, sitting faithfully in my wallet the entire time. Despite going through four passports, travelling all over Asia, a few times to Europe and several times per year to Canada and the US, I’d only had one HK ID Card. While I have lots of photos and physical memoirs of my ten year adventure while based in HK, it was really my HK ID Card that sat as the nucleus symbol of that adventure – a resident of Hong Kong, with premission to work. Therefore, I was not expecting what happened next.
The Officer meticulously checked my documents, HK ID Card and passport three times. Then, he took one of the documents, paper clipped it to my HK ID Card, and slipped the two of them into a drawer.
"See ya…" my card said to me.
"No wait," I thought in a panicked state, "I haven’t said ‘good bye!’ "
"Too late," it replied, "I’m gone now."
"That’s impossible… I should be allowed to keep you… PLEASE, come back!"
"What’s with it with you gweilos?" the card mocked. "You’re always collecting STUFF! I’m just a silly piece of plastic."
"No, no you’re much more than that," I pleaded.
"My friend," it said consolelingly, "You are not your HK ID Card, and if you really think you are, you’ll be much happier and more impressed with my replacement."
Suddenly the Immigration Officer finished and handed me a piece of paper substituting as a HK ID Card until the new one is ready. "Please come back on June 17 to pick-up your new card," he explained. I thanked him.
I realized my old card was gone for good. I lifted myself out of my chair, collected my bag and umbrella and said my final farewell. I sheepishly laughed at the ridiculousness of my attachment to a piece of plastic and as I walked away heard it say, "Good bye, Charles. Thanks for the good times and good luck with the next ten years."
So I ask people, "what are you attached to?"
