Your quote "roblem is with China, there are so many service staff,".

I totally agree this is a problem anywhere including in HK. When I first gave red envelopes to the guards of the building I live in, I could have sworn that there seemed to be new, different staff showing up to guilt trip me to give red envelopes. Usually the building had just 2 regular staff but in that building I ended giving envelopes to 5 additional staff.  I surmise the management group allowed their staff to rotate among their building properties for maximum red envelopes gain.    So you are right, always keep extras for those unplanned gifts to 'new' people.



Also with regards to the $10 bill, there was a for a time the $10 bill (the old green one) was retired from circulation as it was thought by govt that the then new $10 coin was adequate for HK financial transactions.  But I think because so many people complained that they were forced to give the next cheapest paper bill, the $20 note, as red envelope money, the govt brought back the $10 bill (the purple, plastic one).  So don't always assume the govt doesn't listen to the ppl because they did bring back the $10 note and damn I did receive a few last year.  

[ Last edited by  doghead at 17-1-2011 10:57 ]

Yes, indeed. CNY is the time of year when everyone comes out of the woodwork. With the staff in an apartment building, the numbers are still manageable. At a golf club, including greenskeepers, restaurant staff, golf marshals  and even staff attending the half way houses, this can number up to 100 per golf club. I know of some members that would give a red packet to all the caddies as well and this amounts to another 100, making 200 packets given just at one location alone! You cannot write this off as a business expense like a factory boss giving thousands of red packets to the workers which can be written off as a bonus.

[ Last edited by  geoduck at 17-1-2011 13:10 ]

is it all that common to give out red envelops out? I have like 10 people directly report to me, and they are all paid quite nicely.

I do like red envelop
Hope this year will be better for everyone!