出發前不太想過在印度會談及政治。
在斯里蘭卡，關員檢查我的護照後，問我香港與中國有什麼關係。我說香港是中國的一個城市。他再問我香港是否只是一個中國城市及香港是否與中國分開等問題，我答香港是屬於中國的。
以色列的Noam也問了很多問題，例如香港是否奉行社會主義以及會否容許私人企業的存在等。
印度喀拉拉邦是社會主義的省份，在1957年成立全球首個民選的社會主義政府。
在這裡很容易看到社會主義的象徵。連咖啡店的餐牌也印有哲古華拉的樣貌。
而邦政府大力投資教育及醫療服務，以致識字率達百分之91。而財富分佈也較平均，這幾天在街上很少看到乞丐。這裡的市政府叫Corporation of Cochin。
曾在亞洲週刊讀到一篇有關喀拉拉邦解決貧窮的報導：
「印度手捲煙行業約600萬全職和兼職工人，生財工具只要一把剪刀、一個竹盆、靈巧的手、專注的精神，一天可卷600至2000支煙，入息微薄，卷1000支煙的收入相當於3港元。這是低賤的行業，辛勞的活。但是，一些捲煙工人幾十年來有一個習慣：工人分成30至40人一組，每組由一人輪流專責朗讀報紙和書，讓他們一邊工作，一邊聽讀報念書，一邊討論。每天晚上，各人把一些捲煙交給讀報工人，讓他有同等收入。」
在市內真的看見老百姓在讀書室讀報。
不知是否在這種環境下成長會令提高人民的政治意識。一位餐廳侍應突然問我是否對政治有興趣。問我香港是否實行社會主義，又問我有否加入共產黨。
這位侍應說他明白香港與中國的關係，就像印度各邦的情況一樣，每個邦有自己的邦政府，而這些邦政府要向中央政府負責。
侍應說這城市正上演一套電影，內容是一個喀拉拉人，因為迷戀中國共產主義，而愛上一個由杜拜到印度的中國女子。
其實，也有其他老百姓得悉我是香港人後，也說出中國是共產主義的話。
雖然邦政府很進取，但喀拉拉邦也面對不少問題。由於當地缺乏工業發展，以致人民收入不多。很多受過教育的年青人感到失望而自殺或到中東國家工作，以獲得外匯養家。南華早報早前刊登了一篇報導諷刺這個社會主義邦的人民要賺取資本主義的金錢。
I have never expected that I will be involved in political discussion before departing Hong Kong.
In Sri Lanka, the immigration officer asked me on the relationship between Hong Kong and China. I told him that Hong Kong is a Chinese city. He went on asking me if Hong Kong was only a Chinese city and if Hong Kong was separated from China. I replied that Hong Kong is part of China.
Israeli Noam had also asked a lot of such questions, for example, whether Hong Kong was a socialist community and whether private corporations were accepted.
Kerala is a socialist state of India, having the world’s first elected socialist government in 1957. The symbols of socialism are always seen in the city, and even the menu of a café has the photos of Che Guevara printed.
The state government heavily invests in education and health services, leading to the literacy rate of 91 percent and the more even distribution of wealth. I have rarely seen beggars in Cochin, which the municipal government is called Corporation of Cochin.
I have read a report in Yazhouzhoukan concerning how Kerala government tackles poverty.
The article says ``The cigarette rolling industry employs 6 million full-time and part-time workers in India. The workers only need a scissor, bamboo boat, a pair flexible hands and concentration to earn money. Each worker can roll between 600 and 2000 cigarettes each day. Their income is minimal as rolling 1,000 cigarettes will only give them HK$3. This is a low-class job. However, the workers have a decades long habit. They are grouped into between 30 and 40 workers, and there is a specialized person in each group responsible for reading newspaper and books to the workers. Therefore, the workers can actually read and discuss the papers while doing their job. The workers will give some cigarettes to the newspaper readers as salary.’’
I have seen ordinary citizens reading newspapers in reading room.
I wonder whether the people will be more politically alerted under such environment. A restaurant staff has suddenly asked me whether I am interested in politics, whether Hong Kong is a socialist community and whether I have joined the Communist Party.
The staff says he understands the relationship between Hong Kong and China, and says it is like the relationship between different states of India. Each state of India has its own government, but they need to report to the country central government.
He also says a movie is being shown in the city, which is about a Keralite man falling in love with a Chinese woman from Dubai as he is obsessed with Chinese communism.
Indeed, many Indians say they know China is a communist country when they know that I am from Hong Kong.
Although Kerala government is progressive, the state faces many problems. People are not earning high income because of the lack of industrial development. A lot of educated youngsters feel disappointed, committing suicide and going to Middle East countries for earning foreign currencies to support their families. The South China Morning Post has published an article satirizing the residents of the socialist state need to earn capitalist money.
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