On Location - Avenue of the Stars

Freedomites, we are blogcasting LIVE on location on the TST boardwalk, right across the water from HK Island. i decided to mix it up a little today, as it's beautifully hazy, but really, too nice to be in the home office so taking it mobile. the best part? this office has no price tag, aside from the short-ferry ride to get here which costs a staggering $0.25. otherwise, it's freedom seating, freedoom wifi, freedom nation! it's a tad touristy, which makes for good people watching, with their mutterings muffled out by my iPod. got a couple of euro-looking kids next to me, enjoying the rays, as well as a few sunbrellas out. of course.
until now, my go-to out of office location has been one of the many parks around our hood. unfortunately, after yesterday's experience i may not go back.
[real-time interruption - just had an Asian man pose for a picture next to me....apparently i'm on the itinerary.]
where was i. HK may not have lizards, but they have fleas. at least i think they are fleas. without fail, every time i sit out in a park, i return to our abode covered in bites. unlike 'skeeters, when you know you've been bitten, these guys are undercover lovers of my skin. i barely notice the little fruit-fly like bugs, but man, they itch like a sonbitch. the reason i think they're fleas is because i googled it. they seem common to parks and even have their own markets.
and so i scratch.
staying with physical abuse for a second, i was somewhat horrified by another incident at said park yesterday, feelings of guilt that i didn't do anything. tell me what you think -

angry woman (likely a mother)
young nerdy boy (likely 10 & mom's son)
the dialogue was in Chinese, but here's my re-enactment:

Mom - "I told you not to play with those pigeons!"
Son - "I'm sorry, Mom...."
Mom - "Oh, you're going to be sorry..."
The Mom then proceeded to grab the kid by the collar, and i mean her hand was fully in the tie-slot of the shirt, spun him around and borderline dragged the kid about 10 feet. if not bad enough, she then piledrived the kid down to the ground with all her might, leaving the son in the fetal position.
I was shocked, mortified at what i was seeing...waiting for something even worse to happen. fortunately, the mother simply turned and slowly walked across to the other side of the park; son, dusting self off, gets to feet and sheepishly starts to follow at plenty arms length.

so here's the question - what does one do in this situation?
where does the parental jurisdiction start and end, and how does culture play into this? see, i'm the product of spanking, and i think i turned out ok (thanks for going easy, M&D). discipline is a good thing, but this...this was crossing awfully close to MMA. mother & culture aside, i definitely would have stepped in if any boots started up. so, i ask again, what would you do in this situation?
just to make amends, i'm gonna let my kids out early tomorrow from class...pay it forward a little for lil' junior in the park.
[real-time interruption 2, asked to take a picture of 2 young ladies in front of the avenue of stars sign. odd, they didn't want me in it.]

other quick updates that you've been eagerly waiting for -
*iPads still remain unsold. do i wish i had those 5+ hours back in London...? talk to me when/if the eBay auction turns out in my favour.

*really forming a bond with my Wed class now, to the point they want to become FB friends and want my phone number. i haven't given either, so may miss out on the invite to Snowy's bday party this weekend (yes, the kids give themselves their own English names here.) My fave names? Snowy, Icy, Rico & Elvis. One kid also has a nickname - II, which stands for Illegal Immigrant. how cute.

getting real hot now, friends....may need to invest in a cold beverage.
but keep following our live blogcast all afternoon....we'll have magicians and balloon animals and a few more interruptions likely.
you're blogging with the best, who needs the rest, keep it locked to Freedom 32!