Hopefully Sarah Palin realizes she's been invited to Hong Kong almost certainly as a practical joke.

CLSA, the Asia-focused broker who invited Mrs. Palin as keynote speaker for an Asian investment conference, is well known for their cheeky takes on investment research.

In the past, they've polled Asian fortune tellers for index targets, hired anime cartoonists to draw Japanese research, and generally love to push the boundaries between entertainment and analysis. They are a real research firm, it's just that they love to sprinkle in some hilarity every now and then as a smart marketing gimmick.

Sarah Palin is this year's big laugh for them.

Her invitation as keynote speaker in Hong Kong is so ridiculous that its absurdity can't be accidental.

WSJ: Palin " who's never been to East Asia and isn't exactly famous for her mastery of public speaking or her expertise in finance and international affairs " might seem an unusual choice for an event that, according to CLSA, is Asia's premier investment conference providing unrivalled corporate access to 1,300 global fund managers from 32 countries, representing more than $10 trillion in funds under management.

AP: "Our keynote speakers are notable luminaries who often address topics that go beyond traditional finance such as geopolitics," company spokeswoman Simone Wheeler said in a statement. "We just felt it would be a fabulous opportunity for CLSA clients to hear from Mrs. Palin," Wheeler said, adding that CLSA approached Palin with the offer.

This is the straight-faced professional comedy which CLSA does so well. Palin probably doesn't know what she's in for. If you will, she's being "Borat'ed" and doesn't have the Asia knowledge to realize it.