Today, an elderly beggar approached me. I reached into my purse and pulled out a two-HK dollar coin. He took the coin in a soft, fingerless hand, and I wondered what had happened. Had he had an accident or had he mutilated himself? He squinted rheumy eyes at the coin in his palm and said, “I can’t spend HK dollars.” I fished a one rmb bill out of my bag and gave it to him. He wished me well, pocketed both the 2 HK dollar piece and the rmb, pivoted on his cane and walked away.