2015-07-14    The sad story of Hong Kong's jade

Even though my home is near HK's Jade Street and Jade Market, in my ignorance I used to think that HK's jade came from China.

Then I read "China's Silent Army", a disturbing book about the economic exploitation of mainly poorer countries by mainland businesses.

The book explains how most of the world's remaining jade is located at the town of Hpakant in Myanmar (Burma), and the production of jade is controlled by ruthless mainland companies in partnership with a corrupt government.

Now when I see jade for sale in HK shops, I can't help thinking about the thousands of workers living and dying in atrocious conditions in Kpakant.