I know the norm is sio siong can kong. Reasoning being - with lesser cards, slimmer chance to 'kong', there4 acceptable. However, my logic is......wif the shortage of card, the player concerned is considered 'out' of the game liao, there4 cannot participate in kong, bite, everything. Dun make sense?? Boils down to hse rules once again. What counts is that everybody agrees n are clear abt them. Happy ok liao.