HK Pair Arrested for Brawl Over Paying Dinner Bill
By Bridget O'Donnell
A date that escalated into a physical altercation in Hong Kong after a disagreement over who would pay the bill, the South China Morning Post reports.
According to reports, the date went sour after the couple — a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman — argued over a meal at a Japanese barbecue restaurant that included three bottles of sake and three glasses of beer.
The bill added up to HKD2,135. When the woman insisted on paying HKD500 to contribute to the high total cost, the man grabbed her banknote and tore it up. From there the argument turned physical.
The two were later arrested, him for assault causing bodily harm and her for common assault. They were then taken to a nearby hospital where the man was treated for injuries to his nose and the woman injuries to her limbs.
In the end, the man paid HKD2,200 (which included a HKD65 tip).
The SCMP reports that the incident is generating buzz on social media in Hong Kong, with many debating the practice of "Going Dutch" (otherwise known as "AA"). In China, group bills are traditionally paid by one person. And while it's common for men to pay the bill on first dates, some view the practice as too traditional for the 21st century.
[Images via SCMP, NewsCult]
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