So naturally, upon arrival, we needed to get some money out so we could, well, do anything. The bank machine (from the Bank of China) set the minimum amount of HK$500 (a little less than CDN$100). Imagine my surprise when, on the $500 bill, there reads:

BANK OF CHINA

Promises to pay to the bearer

on demand at its office in Hong Kong

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
HONG KONG DOLLARS

By order of the Board of Directors

I wasn’t even sure if this was real money, or some kooky promisory note! (Turns out, it’s real…)

But imagine my FURTHER surprise when I look at the goofy set of $20 bills. Under most countries, the paper currency is issued only by the central bank, e.g. the United States Mint, the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, and so forth. But here in Hong Kong, it seems just about anyone can do it. So far, I’ve got five different $20 from three different banks: Bank of China, HSBC, and Standard Chartered Bank.

This place is messed, man…