Sindhis' willingness to take risks

A Sindhi exporter explains that the character of Hong Kong itself is overtrading and gambling, and this is abetted by the excellent facilities for banking, manufacturing, and shipping. 'We Sindhis are willing to court bankruptcy as part of the chance we must take to compete and succeed here. Bankruptcy is just the part of the whole picture. It happens fairly oftento us Sindhis, but then we go on. And if our business moves succeed... just look at the Harilelas!'

Although every Sindhi would like to have international business concerns like the Harilelas, selling 24-hour suits to foreign suits to foreign tourists is as close as many come. Larry Mangalani, a small Sindhi shopkeeper himself, feels that many Hong Kong Sindhi shopkeepers deserve their dubious reputation because of their touting and shoddy business practices. But, Hong Kong is a tough, competitive city, and other Sindhis defend their practices as the only way to get ahead. Business news travels faster than a typhoon, and if is known that a local Sindhi is responsible for dubious business practices, the whole community gives him the cold shoulder. If he pays his bills and straightens out his difficulties, however the community becomes friendly again. Some Sindhis complain that others are out to do as well as possible for themselves, and consequently business can be fiercely competitive. Those who are successful, or hope the community will assume they are, are expected to donate generously and publicly to worthy causes supported by Indians. The result is impressive support by Sindhis for causes with the community, for general Hong Kong charities, as well as for those in India. Success in business is more important to most Sindhis than education for its own sake.

The current penchant for wealthy Sindhis to send their sons to Universities abroad to gain business degrees stems from the desire to further the family business and increase its prestige.