HONG KONG — We survived near rigor mortis on a 12-hour Cathay Pacific cattle-class economy flight from Frankfurt to the ex-Crown Colony a.k.a. SAR Hong Kong.

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Mike Choi, my watch supplier, took us on a culinary tour at the Golden Shanghai Cusine at Citygate Outlet. I have been to the fabled three-story Peking Duck house in Beijing... but Peking duck is even better at Shanghai, best in Hong Kong. We also had Zhenjiang Xia Ruo, Steamed Xiaolongbao, fired Shanghai Niangao, zha yushi bao, and Chinese Pu-Er tea to wash down the lauriat.

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Mike says that Chinese eat everything that flies... except an airplane, and everything with four legs... except the table.

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Chinese action star Ms. Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers, etc.) will try a romantic role in “Sophie.” I wouldn’t want to be in her leading man’s shoes when they shoot a lover’s quarrel scene.

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Shoeshine stands won’t be allowed back at the sidewalks when the Queen’s Theatre redevelopment is finished. Bootblacks out, only bootlickers.

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The main story was the Dalai Lama’s Taiwan visit to bless the Morakot victims, and Beijing’s customary objection. The pro-independence opposition Democratic Progressive Party laid a trap for Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou… to allow the visit and upset the warming of relations with Beijing that the 15-month-old government carefully cultivates; or to disallow it and earn the ire of voters in the aftermath of Morakot.

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But Beijing’s reaction was relatively mild compared to previous episodes. Its spokesman said: “The Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure. Under the pretext of religion, he has all along been engaged in separatist activities.”

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South China Morning Post editorial wrote that Beijing appreciated Mr. Ma’s dilemma and accused the DPP opposition, and not the government, of stirring trouble.

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Mr. Ma had discouraged a previously planned visit of the Dalai Lama, saying the time was not opportune, a sensitivity appreciated by Beijing. Cross-Straits relations are conducted like a carefully orchestrated Chinese opera.

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Official figures for years 2000 and 2008 show trade between China and Taiwan grow nearly tenfold from $10.4 billion to $98.2 billion and Taiwanese investments to China from $2.6 billion to $9.9 billion.

Feedback: jaz@mb.com.ph