You're dead wrong Onobaron. I have seen both the main protagonists, and it appears clear to me that the threat of a new forum has driven them both to drink...

I have no problem with Chris, nor for people who don't want fa piao. But if someone wants to go out of their way to make snide comments about what kind of person I am just because I ask for a receipt, and they don't, then I guess it's too bad if I bite back. As for "outrage", please cite where I claimed to be outraged. I just believe establishments such as French cafe' should set the bar a little higher than your average dumpling seller. You don't agree? That's fine by me, but why feel the need to make patently absurd assertions about what kind of person I am?

I'll take it up with Chris over a cold Brooklyn or something, and rest assured we will be hugging and kissing in no time...

Just one thing Chris my friend, why does it bother you that someone would want a receipt? Look, you've had a mildly successful career, and you're not a bad sort of bloke, if not a bit eccentric, so why this negativity? I thought we were friends!

The business in question paying tax is one thing, what is more of a concern to me is that I can claim a legitimate business expense. And if we are to take the approach that foreigners are guests here then perhaps we should at least have enough respect for the system to not build a business model around avoiding paying tax. I consider this kind of behaviour disrespectful in the extreme, far more than the street peddler who spends his whole miserable time looking over his shoulder for thuggish chengguan. People who have enough money to voluntarily come to this country to start a business do not fall into the same category as these poor unfortunates.
And you are right tiger, it is not my responsibility that a business pays it's tax, but it is most certainly my right to insist on a tax receipt

Very sensitive for a tiger, now arn't we?