A critical policy study—One child policy & its social impact

1. Before watching to the video what are your understandings and perceptions towards the “One-child policy” in China?
I know “One-child policy” is a policy of controlling the number of people in China that each family bears one child only. Controlling the population is a critical issue in China and I can understand why the government would establish this policy with many social factors, but as the view of a normal person, it is a harsh and selfish plan on the way of developing freedom, equality and human-right.

2. Do you agree that the “One-child policy” makes youth (on China) becoming more isolated & self-oriented (detach from the peers or society)?
"One-child policy" means each family can bear one child only that the child grows under the protection and spoiling from his/her parents. This group of children is growing in fairy-tales-like world that they may change to be more self-oriented and isolated from other peers and even society due to prince/princess-like characteristic. Mostly, all thighs received and enjoyed are regarded as “of course”. They would not recognize to share with the others and to be modest from the others’ praise.

3. In addition to the spoiling from parents, do you agree that youth (under one-child policy) suffering from high pressures from family (high levels of expectation & hope)?
China has its own long and old tradition which creates a special Chinese value. Many Chinese people (especially the last generation) prefer having a boy to a girl, therefore, no matter the youth is a boy or a girl, both have a high pressure with their parents’ expectation on study, career and more. As for family role, boys take a big responsibility for earning living and to be the pillar of family. Girls may not be expected to obtain such a high achievement as boys, but they also live under their anticipation that does not enhance their financial burden. Of course, sometimes, when the family really has a girl only, the youth may be expected to be the pillars of the family too since their parents lose the working ability owing to aging.

4. Beside the individual & family problems, will the one-child policy have other impacts on the Chinese society?
When the “one-child policy” is taken action, many impacts occur within different areas besides the individual and family problems. In terms of impacts of society, the increasing aging percentage is a critical issue since the newborn rate was decreasing. With better medical, lifestyle standard and technologic development, mortality rate gets an obvious drop, but the other problems like the tumbling labor force is occurred also. Moreover, the side-effects like forced abortion, slaughter of baby girl, official violence and corruption, etc are the influence to shake the society as well.

5. Nowadays, most of the HKSAR youth grow-up in a small size family. Do you think that HKSAR youth facing the same problem? Any recommendations to improve the situation?
Under the value of elite-training in Hong Kong, most of the families would prefer having only one child who is also facing the same situation as the youth under one-child policy. In fact, HKSAR can help change this phenomenon through laughing different campaigns, activities, workshops throughout 18 districts. With the assistance of community centers, it can help promote and touch the citizens from all walks of life in Hong Kong. By instilling the value of “Three is enough” and other politic measures (such as tax cuts, educational allowance) to family, it can help enhance the interest of bearing more children.

Feedback: Federer sails to set up clash with Djokovic

The article is come from Thursday, September 8, 2011

http://2011.usopen.org/en_US/news/match_reports/2011-09-08/201109081315521322722.html

My summary of the reading
This article is talking about one of the matches in 2011 US Open and the feedback between two athletes after the match. The winner, Federer, kept alive on the line of the competition and would face another competitor next match. It is closely related with the tennis fans in Hong Kong, even in the world since how famous this Open is.

My reflections on the reading
Leisure Management is the course I take here. All my lectures encourage us to recognize more different types of leisure activities and I prefer tennis. When more information about tennis I know, more enjoyment I can find, at last, I even become one of the fans and pay a close eye on related up-dated news as well.

Use this article as an example, if I am not a loyal tennis fan from last year, I would not know what happen in Wimbledon Open and I would not understand why the writer says “There would be no Wimbledon-like comeback for Tsonga…”

US Open is one of the four famous Opens and all tennis players are eager to win the game so they would pay a big effort and try hard to play a good show for glory and honor. From the article, the description with beautiful words about how awesome the winner is and how whizzing skill he has I can learn a lot. The way to present the result of match is one important, practical material can be learnt and used when I may be a club assistant in future who may be responsible for data recoding and publishing.

Police trace mass-suicide group on Facebook as more emerge

Police trace mass-suicide group on Facebook as more emerge-Clifford Lo and Martin Wong (South China Morning Post-27/22/1009)

Police have tracked down the internet user who started a mass-suicide group on the social networking site Facebook, while a similar online group with about 100 participants surfaced two days ago.

An investigating officer said the force had identified the creator of the first Facebook suicide group, named “I want to practice suicide” in Chinese, set up this year. It called on its nearly 190 members to kill themselves on December 21.

The case came to light after one of its members, a 15-year-old schoolboy, had attempted suicide a little more than two weeks ago. The group was shut down on Wednesday after extensive media reports.

The officer refused to reveal how the creator had been traced, but said the person “is a local teenager and did it for fun. Investigation shows that those who joined the group are also youngsters”.

No arrests had been made.

Another officer said the first group had been attracting more people to join since April, and that one of its members had posted a mobile phone number asking others with the intention of committing suicide to call.

Even as the old group was removed, another emerged on Wednesday night-also registered in Chinese characters-and named “I have to (practice) suicide”. Ninety-seven people had signed up.

In its description, it said: “What is the meaning of life…my beloved is in love with another…while everything adults do is right, what we do is all wrong…no one knows me exist, why don’t we all commit suicide.”

Officers said they were trying to identify the creator. They warned that posting such comments online could run foul of the law-anyone who aids, abets, counsels or procures the suicide of another, or an attempt by another to commit suicide, faces up to 14 years in jail.

Meanwhile, officials from the Education Bureau, the Social Welfare Department and the police met yesterday to discuss the problem. “The main purpose of the meeting is to discuss how the related departments can co-operate and follow up [on this trend],” a government officer said.

Officers from the Commercial Crime Bureau’s technology division, assigned to the case, were tight-lipped on the developments.

A university lecturer who specialized in social sciences and mental health said it was hard to guess the motives of the creators or participants of such groups.

Stephen Sun Yu-kit, of City University’s School of Continuing and Professional Education, warned that the incident could spawn copycats.

“What concerns us and society is that some fragile people may be motivated to actually doing it,” he said.

“People may have the impression that their real identities won’t be revealed or disclosed as they talk freely in the cyber world. But …police can still trance their identities. We should also think of the consequences, the bad influence on others.”

Questions over regulations on establishing mass-suicide groups have been sent to Facebook administrators since Wednesday, but no answer had been received.


2. Summary

A mass-suicide group, named “I want to practice suicide” in Chinese, was set up on the social networking site Facebook. Police followed the case closely and around 100 people surfaced the group before the media reported it extensively. This group called upon about 190 members to commit suicide on December 21. One of its members is a 15 year-old boy who had attempted suicide a little more than two weeks ago. The investigating shows that the creator of this group is a local teenager and does it for fun. Most of the participators are teenagers too. And the educators said that it was difficult to guess the motives of the creators or participants of such groups.

3. Feedback

The trend of committing suicide among the young people concerns many citizens nowadays. The number of case about the teenagers to practice suicide is increasing very fast that it has been arisen the public attention. Even some teenagers would set up some groups to share their ideas about some ways to commit suicide again and again but it is not a good phenomenon. Most Hong Kong people are stressful, even the teenagers are under the pressure of their study, relationship between different people or a host of factors. The present generation always propagates that we need health, not only the physical health, but also the mental, emotional and psychological health. A balanced life is necessary. In fact, life is valuable. Giving up the life is not a smart method to deal with the difficulties. Therefore, I hope that all of the people can treasure their life and try to give a hand to the needy.

Spying parents should try talking instead

Spying parents should try talking instead – South China Morning Post

Youth drug use is undeniably a growing problem. Police statistics and surveys point squarely to the trend. But spying on our children and randomly testing them at school are not solutions. However well intentioned, such actions will, in all likelihood, erode trust and irrevocably harm relationship.

Drugs are easily available and inexpensive. Curiosity and peer pressure turn our children to them. The best way to combat this scourge is education and better policing, not keyhole video cameras and in-school checks.

Our leaders and some parents seem to think otherwise. Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen’s order of random tests in Tai Po high schools outwardly aims to get to the heart of the problem. Yet there is scant evidence from where such schemes have been tried elsewhere that they lead to less drug use. Energies are spent instead on seeking out ways of avoiding detection and harm parental and school ties. Politics, more than eradicating drugs, is most likely Tsang’s motive. Aimed rising discontent with his government and government style, he is trying to generate successes. But the Tai Po testing, which starts next month, will likely have little real effect. It may turn up a handful of users, but it will not stop the wider recreational abuse of commonly used drugs such as Ecstasy and ketamine.

On the back of concerns about drugs, private detective agencies are increasingly advertising their services. They are reporting growing business from parents. Suspicions are confirmed with miniature cameras and by shadowing children. But here too-no matter what their success rate-such a method of detection has to be considered as a last, desperate, resort.

There may be times when we need to spy on our children. Calling on investigators may be necessary if a suspected life-threatening situation evolves. We have to bear in mind, though, that such a measure could have a high chance of forever damaging relations with our children. There are other steps that should first be considered.

Counseling and therapy are options. Being watchful for signs of unusual behavior is crucial. But the simplest and most useful method-and one too often overlooked by parents, schools and, it would seem, Tsang-is communication. We can best know our children by talking to them. With time and effort from when they are young, a rapport and friendship can be built. This paves the way for open, transparent discussion and, critically, trusts. Decisions can then be made with firmness and authority.

Parenting is a difficult job. It is especially so in Hong Kong, where parents work long hours and get few holidays. Children spend more time by themselves than they should. Teachers and maids are too often by default given the job of child-raising.

But problems between parents and their children cannot be outsourced. Doing so, in the case of drugs, only drives a wedge between students and their parents and teachers. If the problem of teenage drug abuse is to be lessened, authorities would do better to provide more funding for education program and policing. Most of all, though, parents have to find the time to build sound relationships with their children.

2. Summary

The random drug testing among students in Tai Po is one of the policies that Donald Tsang introduced for preventing the continued worsening problem of drug abuse. Yet there is scant evidence to show us that it is useful to reduce the number of taking drugs. And there is a big likelihood that ruins the relationship between students, parents and teachers. Actually, the best method to combat the scourge is education and better policing. For parents, being watchful to their children is crucial. Often talking with their children can build a rapport easily that paves the way for open and transparent discussion.

3. Feedback

Undeniably, drug abuse has been a social problem which concerns many people in Hong Kong. Most parents are worried their children very much at the same time because they have to work long hours and spend little time with their children. In fact, no matter how busy the parents are, they should take some time with their kids. Interaction and communication are necessary in parenting. If they can spend more time chatting with theirs, build a rapport and friendship, it must be better than spying on them or asking help of so-called random testing. Parents’ love and care can be correctly expressed to their children as well as the positive result can be received more efficiently and easily.

Buses blamed for ‘bad or awful’ air quality

Buses blamed for ‘bad or awful’ air quality – Adrian Wan (SCMP – 28/9/2009)

More than 40 per cent of newsvendors on Nathan Road suffer from bronchitis or nasal allergies, and most blame exhaust fumes from the buses that ply the busy thoroughfare.

This has emerged from a survey by Friends of Earth, which says their condition mirrors that of not only the city’s 600 licensed newspaper sellers but also the 3.5 million people who live within five minutes walking distance of a major road.

Newsvendors were surveyed because they spent a great deal of time on the street and were an indicator of street-level air quality, the green group said.

Tang Yap-ming, vice-chairman of the Newspaper Hawker Association, said “Coughs and asthma are occupational diseases newsvendors come down with, but they don’t have other options but to continue working at the same places.”

All 22 vendors on Nathan Road were approached in August and 19 agreed to be interviewed. Almost all said the air quality was “bad or awful” and a similar number pointed the finger of blame at exhaust fumes from buses, especially those with air conditioning.

A vendor who has been running his news-stand for 15 years in Yau Ma Tei suffers from bronchitis, nasal allergy and a chesty cough. He says ge occasionally feels breathless.

Friends of the Earth environmental affairs officer Angus Wong Chun-yin said the “foul air quality” did not concern just newsvendors “but also almost half of the entire population who live by a road”.

He said vehicles that ran on heavy diesel were very harmful to the air on the street, and that buses that ran on this fuel made up 35 per cent of all traffic on Nathan Road. Wong said suspended particles and nitrogen dioxide levels in the past 10 years had exceed levels set down by the government’s air quality objectives.

“Buses are at the centre of the air pollution.” He said.


2. Summary

Coughs and asthma are occupational diseases newsvendors come down with, they spent a great deal of time on the street with “foul air quality” but they don’t have other options to change another place working. According to the survey by Friends of the Earth, almost all newspaper sellers said the air quality was “bad or awful” and some of them occasionally feel breathless. The official of Friends of the Earth environmental affairs clamed, the vehicles running on heavy diesel are very harmful to the air on the road, especially the buses with air conditioning.

3. Feedback

Hong Kong Government always urged the residents boarding public transport to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. Yet the most serious emission of transport is the buses with air conditioning actually. Although reducing the use of non-public transport can cut the emissions, it is not helpful for the environment when people board the vehicles running on heavy diesel. In fact, regulating the emissions of public transport is more important than urging people to follow the ideas of government only. If the public transport cannot achieve the standard of emission, the government how to promote their plans of improving air quality to the citizens? It is very hard to convince us to change our daily habit! In order to preventing more people will be come down with by bad air quality, the government should take action as soon as possible.

Teens, over-65s hit hardest among 1.23 million poor

Teens, over-65s hit hardest among 1.23 million poor
Record number of people living under poverty line – Austin Chiu (SCMP 28/9/09)

The number of people living under the poverty line in the first half of the year reached a record high of 1.23 million, with the elderly and teenagers hit hard, a study showed.

This means there were 20,000 more people considered poor compared with half a year ago, according to the study by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, which came to the figure using government data. The poverty rate was 17.9 per cent in the first half of the year, compared with 17.6 per cent last year.

The definition of poverty in the study involves people earning an income equal to or less than half the median monthly domestic household income, which is set according to the number of members in a family.

The median for the first half of 2009 was HK$3,300 for a single-member family, HK$6,750 for a two-member family, HK$9,150 for a three- member family and HK$12,650 for families with four or more members.

Across the age groups, people aged 65 and over were revealed to be the most seriously poverty-stricken, with 32.1 per cent, or 270,000, living below the poverty line.

The council expressed concern about poverty among young people between the ages of 15 and 24.

Poverty in that group rose from 15.4 per cent 10 years ago to 20 per cent in the first half of the year. This means there are 180,000 teens and young adults living in poverty.

Council chief executive Christine Fang Meng-sang said: “Many people think that Hong Kong’s economy is reviving as the property market and the stock market are faring well…but the member of people living under the poverty line reflects that the grass roots have not benefited from the so-called economic revival. In fact, poverty is getting worse.”

Long-term unemployment was up from 0.6 per cent last year to 1.4 per cent.

The study also found that the rich-poor divide had widened over the past 20 years.

The median income of high-income earners was 3.6 times that of low-income earners. The first group’s median income had increased 34.7 per cent over the past 20 years, while low-income earners saw their pay drop 3.3 per cent over the same period.

Joblessness among teenagers was the highest, at 12.6 per cent, compared with 4.5 per cent among 25-39-year-olds and 5 per cent among those aged 40 and above.

Fang called on the government to introduce a minimum wage as soon as possible and dedicate more resources to young training. She suggested that the government create more temporary jobs to ease unemployment now.

Responding to the survey findings, Secretary for Labor and Welfare Matttew Cheung Kin-chung said a series of measures had been introduced to help low-income earners. Employment retraining was one measure aimed at resolving youth and cross-generational poverty.

Meanwhile, about 20 people from the Labour Association protested outside the Central Government Offices, criticizing the government for ignoring the needs of grass-roots workers and saying that low-skilled workers would not benefit from development of the six “pillar industries”, which involved new technology and advanced skills.

They petitioned the government to immediately introduce a minimum wage.



2. Summary

Around 1.23 million people are living under the poverty line in the first half of the year, a study showed by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, which came to the figure using government data. The poverty rate was 17.9 per cent in the study, compared with 17.6 per cent last year. The people aged 65 or above were revealed to be the most serious group that they are living below the poverty line. The council also expressed concern about the poverty of young people between 15 and 24.

3. Feedback

Nowadays, most of people are living under poverty line, especially the teens. The main reason of high unemployment rate and poverty number of the people is the low education. Although the economy of Hong Kong is reviving, the low-skilled workers have not benefited because of low education. Actually, in order to the economic revival, there are lots of chances of job in the market. They were not hired by the employers. Besides, they deeply believe that the government will help them. From my point of view, the government should prefer encouraging people to learn more than providing the welfare, chances of job or setting the minimum wage only. Teaching them how to fishing is better than giving them a fish. Therefore, I think that the high number of people living under poverty line can be decreased and improved if the government will introduce more money into education.

Tsang will walk to work on city’s first Carfree Day

Tsang will walk to work on city’s first Carfree Day – Martin Wong and Dan Kadison (SCMP 22/9/2009)

Donald Tsang Yam-kuen will walk to the office today and senior officials will use public transport to show their support for the fight against climate changes, as Hong Kong participates in its first World Carfree Day.

Greenpeace said at least 54 groups – including universities, companies such as HSBC, the Airport Authority and non – governmental bodies – had pledged to join the event, first organized in Europe in the 1990s.

“The initial response to the campaign is quite encouraging. We think the government officials’ participation set a role model to members of the public that we can keep our cars off the road,” Greenpeace campaigner Prentice Koo Wai-muk said.

While more than 17,000 people had signed up for the campaign, it was hard to estimate how many cars would be off the road or the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

“We really do not know how many of these people are drivers and how many of them use public transport.”

Tsang was expected to leave his car at home in Government House and walk the 500 metres to the government headquarters on Lower Albert Road. “Depending on security and other factors relating to his work, the chief executive will make appropriate arrangements,” a spokeswoman said when asked whether he would walk to work on other days,

Other senior officials will use public transport, but those living on The Peak, which would require a 30-minute walk to walk to work, will share a taxi. They include Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen and Secretary for Justice Wong Yan-lung. Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah will share a taxi with his wife and daughter.

Home Affairs Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor will walk from home to her office. “She will attend a number of functions and will use the MTR as far as possible,” a bureau spokesman said.

Environment Secretary Edward Yau Tang-wah also take the MTR.

The Transport Department, KMB, Citybus, New World First Bus and the MTR Corp said they would monitor the situation to see if more services needed to be added.

Greenpeace said Hong Kong was lagging other cities on arrangements for World Carfree Day. “In Taipei, for instance, it is like a carnival, and the government leads the campaign by arranging a lot of activities to boost the participation,” Koo said.

In Hong Kong, more than 90 per cent of the commuting public uses public transport on a regular basis.

The Civic Psrty urged the government to follow the example of Paris and Taipei by promoting the use of bicycles, such as by building more cycle paths, to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The government is consulting the public over its air-quality objectives. The consultation will end on November 30.

CSL, one of the city’s mobile phone operators, said it would send a text message to its customers today urging them to support a campaign orgainised by environmental concern group the Clean Air Network by signing a petition calling for the government to clean up the air. The message will read: “You can breathe healthy air in HK only 41 days a year. Help us clean up air pollution, one signature at a time.”

2. Summary

Hong Kong held the first Carfree Day at 22nd Set, 09. The chief executive – Donald Tsang goes to office on foot and the senior officials use the public transport to support the campaign as well. At least 54 groups - -including universities, companies and non-governmental bodies, had ensured to join the activity. Most of people think that the government officials’ participation sets a role model to members of the public that it should keep the cars off the road. Greenpeace claimed that Hong Kong has lagged behind the other countries and cities that promote this arrangement.

3. Feedback

Hong Kong is an international city, but most of the campaigns are held later than the other international countries, such as Taiwan and France. But luckily, doing later is better than doing nothing. The government would try to set a role model to promote the campaign that it has shown they want to push Hong Kong more environmental friendly. Of course, many people think that this is just a show. A show is for the green sweater workers, residents and anti-government people. One “Carfree Day” does not help something actually! It is not really useful for the environment and reducing the carbon dioxide emissions! However, for me, it is enough to enhance the sense of protecting environment to public. The chief of Hong Kong supports the campaign and makes himself as an example. I believe that it can boost the participation and aid to launch the other campaigns in future.

Woman tried to cut baby out of mum’s belly

Attacker who faked pregnancy wanted child of her own, court told
Woman tried to cut baby out of mum’s belly – Yvonne Tsul (South China Morning Post 11/9/09)

A woman who was desperate for a child and had faked pregnancy for months – deceiving even her husband – strangled a pregnant acquaintance into unconsciousness then cut open her belly to remove her baby, a court heard yesterday.

Leung Sin-ting, 27, slashed a 10cm wound in the abdomen of the 37-week pregnant woman whom she had met on a childcare website and invited to her home, a prosecutor told the Court of First Instance.

The infant, who suffered brain damage and impaired bodily functions because of the injuries to the mother in the attack last September 16, died in North District Hospital on March 17.

Leung pleaded guilty to manslaughter of the baby.

The court heard that Leung, who claimed to have suffered miscarriages in 2003 and early last year, had pretended to be pregnant by wearing towels tied under her clothes.

Her ruse had been so successful that she had convinced her husband of four years that he felt the baby moving in her womb.

She had even persuaded a doctor to give her a certificate so that she could claim maternity leave and had put her own name on other women’s ultrasound images to show to family and friends.

On the day of the attack, Leung told police, she had “suddenly had an evil idea” and “wanted to see the baby”.

She said she was jealous of the expectant mother’s happiness and wanted the child for herself.

Leung admitted manslaughter after the prosecution accepted that she only wanted to remove the baby from the mother’s womb and did not necessarily intend to kill it.

She also pleaded guilty to one charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on the mother, as an alternative to a charge of attempted murder, which she had denied.

Defence barrister James McGowan told Mr Justice Darryl Saw that the attack took place out of Leung’s desperation to have a baby.

Saw adjourned sentencing to October 27 to seek psychiatrists’ and psychologists’ reports to help decide whether Leung should be committed to a mental hospital and whether she posed a long-term risk to the community.

The deputy director of public prosecutions, John Reading SC, told the court that Leung, using the internet alias “Minnie Tong Tong”, came to know the victim – identified only as Ms Lee – through a forum on a website called Baby Kingdom.

She offered Lee a baby bed and feeding bottles, and the pair exchanged contact information.

On the afternoon of September 16, Leung invited Lee to her home at Flora Plaza in Fanling to pick up the items.

As Lee was about to leave, Leung complained she had a sore back and abdomen and asked Lee to massage her while she applied an electronic massager to her belly.

Leung kept crying as if she were in pain, so Lee decided to stay with her until her family came home.

Lee had talked about feeling the baby growing.

When the fetus kicked, she had asked Leung to stroke her abdomen to feel it.

She told Leung she was expecting a boy.

Suddenly Leung, who was still complaining about the pain, stood in front of Lee and shouted: “I’m scared!”

Lee had embraced her and said: “Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.”

But then she felt pressure on her neck and was unable to breathe and realized Leung was strangling her with the cord of the massager.

As she lost consciousness, she heard Leung repeatedly saying she was scared.

Reading said Leung cut open Lee’s abdomen after she passed out.

Leung’s husband, Chan Man-choi, called the police after returning home to find his wife in the kitchen with the injured woman, who Leung claimed had cut herself after suffering a cramp.

Lee underwent an emergency Caesarean section at North District Hospital to deliver the baby and Leung was arrested early the next morning.

In subsequent interviews, the court heard, Leung had said she had become pregnant in January last year but had an abortion after she felt the fetus had no heartbeat.

But when she was taken to the hospital with the victim, she had told the doctors she was 38 weeks and nine days pregnant.

Leung had managed to get a certificate for her pregnancy from a Dr Wong Chi-kwong, to assist her application for maternity leave from the company where she worked as a clerk.

Police also found 21 ultrasound images bearing her name, which she admitted belonged to pregnant colleagues.

Leung said she had changed the names on the images to her own and shown them to her husband and friends so that they would believe she was pregnant.

Evidence also suggested that her husband did not know the pregnancy was feigned until the day of the attack.

Police Inspector Kevin Lau Siu-nam said outside court that Leung had made contact with five pregnant women in the week leading up to September 11 – the date on which she claimed she was due to deliver a baby boy.

He also said there was no evidence to support Leung’s claim about her previous pregnancy and abortion.

The director of the Hong Kong Mood Disorders Centre, Lee Sing, said Leung’s case could be a “delusional pseudo-pregnancy” – an unshaken belief in a pregnancy that is objectively false.

He said such cases were extremely rare, and usually occurred in people who had fertility problems.

2. Summary
A woman, Leung, 27, who pretended to be a pregnant by wearing towels tied under her cloths because she was very eager to have a baby. She deceived her friends, even her husband. She tried to cut baby out of the other pregnant women. They had met in a childcare website and Leung invited to her home. The baby suffered brain damage and impaired bodily functions because of the injuries to the mother. At last, the baby died in North District Hospital on March 17. Leung claimed that she had an evil idea suddenly at that time. She only wanted to see the baby out of the mother’s womb and did not necessarily intend to kill it. Leung’s husband called police after returning home to find her wife in the kitchen with the injured woman.

3. Feedback
It is too horrible that the accident happened. A woman cut baby out of a mother’s belly that I never think it before. Although the woman is too eager to have a baby, she cannot do such thing to hurt the mother and the baby. They are innocent! If the woman’s husband did not return home on time, the mother may have the danger of life. Moreover, it is because the mother believed the woman that she would feel easy in mind when staying the woman’s home. But the woman deceived her and tried to cut her belly. Even though the woman is very poor, everyone cannot do wrong thing because of “I want”. If I want to be well-being, that can I go to rob? It cannot! We cannot do anything that violates the law and moral, even we are really desperate.

Swine Flu

Swine Flu - Ng Yuk-hang, Dennis Eng and Agencies (24-4-09)

Countries from New Zealand to France reported suspected cases of a deadly new strain of swine flu yesterday as governments rushed to check the spread of the deadly virus that has become one of the biggest global health scares in years.

The World Health Organization declared the flu a “public health event of international concern” and WHO director-general Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun urged greater global surveillance for any unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness.

Governments across Asia began quarantining those with symptoms of the virus and Hong Kong and South Korea issued travel warnings for Mexico, where the probable death toll climbed to 81.

The Hong Kong Government also raised its influenza alert level from “alert” to “serious”, stepping up controls at the airport.

While all the deaths so far have been in Mexico, the flu is spreading in the United States. Eleven cases were confirmed in California, Kansas and Texas, and eight schoolchildren in New York City caught a type A influenza virus that health officials say is likely to be the swine flu.

There have also been suspected cases as far afield as New Zealand, where 10 pupils from a school party that had returned from Mexico were being treated for what authorities said was probably swine flu.

Israel said a man who visited Mexico had been admitted to hospital while authorities tried to determine whether he had the virus. France said two people were under observation in hospitals in Spain.

Governments must report any unusual cases of flu to the WHO, and the agency was considering whether to issue nonbinding recommendations on travel and trade restrictions, and even border closures.

“Countries are encouraged to do anything that they feel would be a precautionary measure.” WHO spokeswoman Aphaluck Bhatiasevi said. “All countries need to enhance their monitoring.”

The WHO stopped short of recommending measures to stop the disease, saying international experts will convene tomorrow to advise it on whether to raise the current pandemic alert level of 3 on a scale of 1-6.

Hong Kong health officials said the government was very concerned the outbreak could be the early phase of a pandemic and it had activated its emergency preparedness plan.

“If it is proved that this disease can spread from human to human, it will sooner or later come to Hong Kong,” Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said after the government’s first special meeting on swine flu. “Therefore we must plan for the worst. If the flu continues to spread, we might have our first case of swine flu very soon.”

Centre for Health Protection chief Thomas Tsang Ho-fai said tourists who showed flu symptoms and a temperature would be asked their travel history, and if they had been to affected areas, they would be quarantined in public hospitals.

Dr Chow said swine flu would also be made a notifiable disease, meaning that all hospitals and private doctors must immediately report cases.

The mainland said anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms within two weeks of arrival from an affected area had to report to authorities.

The new flu strain, a mixture of swine, bird and human viruses, poses the biggest risk of a pandemic since the H5N1 avian flu surfaced in1997.

2. Summary

The swine flu changes to the hottest news in current time. The WHO declared the flu a “public health event of international concern” since few days ago. Also, WHO reminded us again that all countries need to enhance their monitoring for the swine flu. The Asia government began quarantining those with symptoms of the virus. Hong Kong and South Korea issued travel warnings for Mexico as well. Hong Kong Government is very concerned about the virus and believes that the first cause of swine flu will be coming very fast in a few days later. And then, they have prepared a system for quarantining the suspected or unsuspected patients of swine flu, avoid spreading the virus and try to cut down the death tool from this flu.

3. Feedback

The new flu strain, a mixture of swine, bird and human viruses, which is like the H5N1 avian flu surfaced in 1997. If it is proved that this disease can spread from human to human, it will be like the SARS in 2003. These are too horrible experience in Hong Kong. Although Hong Kong people are very strong and brave to encounter these diseases, it is not worth expecting for its coming. The disease affected the economy of the whole society, made lots of company bankrupted and impressed on each Hong Kong resident. No one would expect the other new diseases can be surfaced in Hong Kong, even the whole world again and again. Therefore, we need to take care more about personal hygiene and health because these are the only way to protect ourselves. Even though it is not everyone owning the high science and technology, we have the blame for avoiding the spreading of flu. We just do little thing, it will help a lot for the world.

Lessons learned

Lessons learned-Sunny Tse
“It took a tragic death and time in prison for one bully to realize what he was doing was wrong.”

We are often told about the victims of bullying, but if’s rare to hear what becomes of bullies.

Young Post tracked down one of the offenders in one of the most serious bullying cases in recent years to find out how bullies put their future at risk.

From his boy-next-door looks, you would never have guessed 20-year-old Pon-not his real name-was involved in a murder, and spent two and half years in a juvenile jail.

It all started at secondary school. In Pon’s Kowloon School, bullying and triad activities were common. Teachers were unable to stop the bullies, who often had triad connections, from ruling the school.

“If you said something they didn’t like, they beat you up,” Pon says. “If they thought you were staring at them, they beat you up. If you hadn’t done anything but they were in a bad mood, they still beat you up.”

For Pon, then 13, it was only a matter of time before he became involved:” He [a bully] bumped into me. He thought I was blocking his way and he beat me up.” He fought back in self-defence, but that made matters worse. The gang held a grudge and bullied him when there were no teachers around.

“The only way I could avoid being picked on was to be one of them,” says Pon. He asked the gang leader if he could join. In return, he had to “give a helping hand” when needed.

Pon says some students who were used to being picked on would hang around with a gang, even if this meant being used as punching bags or forced to do gang members’ homework. “This may sound silly, but at least they wouldn’t be abused by anyone else,” says Pon.

Pon started Form Four in a new school, only to be kicked out after two months.

In 2004, without a job or school place, Pon joined another gang. In the new pack was an overweight girl called Ying, whom the other girl found irritating. They accused her of stealing their mobile phones and money, and encouraged the gang to “give her a lesson”. Ying was summoned to the gang’s hang-out.

“Since Ying was my friend, once I learned about the plan, I told her not to come. But she thought that if being beaten up meant she could remain in the group, she was prepared to accept it,” Pon says.

About 20 people were there and took turns hitting Ying. Some used glass bottles and 30-pound dumbbells. Then Pon took his turn.

“I just had to punch her, not fiercely but hard enough to convince the others I was on their side. Or I would be the next victim,” he says.

Ying didn’t scream or cry, which annoyed the gang even more. They kept pounding her until dawn. Ying was locked in the flat and Pon thought the “lesson” was over.

A week later. Pon was called to the flat where he found Ying lying unconscious. The gang had beaten her again – and this time she didn’t survive. “I wasn’t scared at first.” says Pon. “I simply couldn’t believe how fragile life is.”

The gang members were arrested and none charged in connection with Ying’s death. Eight of them, including Pon, were convicted. Pon was sent to prison.

During his time behind bars, Pon realized the mistakes he had made, and that he should have called the police. He decided to turn over a new leaf.

“I know Ying’s family will never forgive me,” he says. “I’m sorry I put my mother through all this.”

2. Summary

A bully calls Pon, 20 year old, was spent two and half years in prison about a murder. He was bullied when he was 13. Owing to avoid being the target again, he joined to be a bully. In 2004, he joined another gang and recognized an overweight girl called Ying, but she became the new target by the gang. Pon has told her about this plan, but she did not mind. The gang punched and took something hitting her, and at last, she was killed. The gang members were arrested and charged in connection with Ying’s death. Pon realized the mistakes he had made, and he decided to turn over a new leaf.

3. Feedback

What a deplorable event! A boy, because of his weakness and cowardice, he did not want to be the next victims and he made a choice that from a common boy to be a ruthless gang. He committed the error when he was young. But, does he really want to be a murderer? I do not think so. Certainly, he can prevent the accident to happen, But, is it all his responsibility? Of course, maybe, some of the people have the same thoughts as to it. However, almost all of them did not want to make such tragic death, especially is Pon. He is the victim’s friend! What sad and shocked when he knew his friend was dead. It is unfair to pin the blame on the ignorant and young teenager merely. If he was not under the threat and oppression, would he do such thing? Pon is a coward person, but it is not his wrong. The real wrong is different kind of oppressions and crimes on the society.

Language-skills gap breeds class division

Language-skills gap breeds class division

Exactly 10 years ago today, this newspaper carried a story by a young reporter called Shirley Kwok. She looked forward a decade and imagined a Hong Kong education had gone through big reforms and primary-school pupils all speak fluently with their teachers in both English and Putonghua.

It was, as she wrote, a dream. A lot has changed since 1999-Ms Kwok, for example, now works for me. But despite a lot of work and reform, our education system still falls short of what we think we need. We still worry that Hong Kong is losing competitiveness because of young people’s weak language and critical-thinking skills.

Education reforms take years to have an effect. A new academic structure for senior secondary level will be introduced this September, full results will be seen when the first students graduate from four-year degree courses after 2015. The mother-tongue teaching policy introduced 10 years ago was controversial. But we can now see that children learn more when they are taught in a language they can actually speak.

The recent proposal to fine-tune the medium of instruction policy aims to allow greater use of English where teachers and students can handle it. But it also reflects a major problem caused by the labeling of schools as English- or Chinese- medium. To market themselves to status-conscious parents, many schools want the former label.

Although Hong Kong people are very sensitive about such labels on schools, it seems they could be paying far more attention to the quality-rather than language-of the teaching that goes on inside them.

In international surveys, Hong Kong students rank with those in Japan and South Korea around the top in mathematics and science, while they are weaker when it comes to language (Finland is first). This probably reflects the East Asian emphasis on rote learning; whatever the reason, it is not a bad thing to have highly numerate young people coming out of our schools.

We seem to take this success for granted. But many of us, especially politicians and those in the business community are less happy about our students’ creative thinking and communication skills. Perhaps we worry about poor English more than we did 10 years ago.

Writers on these pages in recent weeks have strongly criticized the English syllabus, textbooks and exam-centred approach. They say that students’ English is bad for the simple reason that is taught as an academic subject-words and complex rules to be memorized in order to pass exams. We teach communication as if it were algebra.

In a small number of schools with bright children, rich parents, superb teachers and a wide range of extracurricular activities, a highly academic approach can produce excellent results. But most people in Hong Kong have little hope of getting their children into elite schools.

Many people who can afford it send their children to local international schools or overseas schools, where medium of instruction isn’t an issue. That leaves the large number of parents who are less well-off and have no choice. They have to send their children to local schools.

Some such schools could handle more English, if their teachers are skilled and dedicated (many are) and if the students are up to it. But this is not always the case.

Years of talk and of actual reforms have left teachers feeling exhausted by change and extra administrative work. Many complain of a high workload and too few resources. Yet these schools are still largely focused on rote learning, cramming and exams. Does anyone really believe the dream of biliterate, trilingual students can become a reality in these schools?

This is not just a problem for business-people wanting skilled workers; it is about class division, social mobility, the wealth gap and the chances of thousands of young people to enjoy fulfilling future lives.

Bernard Chan is a former member of the executive and legislative councils.

2. Summary

Since 1999 it have had a reform about the system of education, it effected the whole primary and secondly students in Hong Kong. Originally, most of the people looked forward that the pupils can speak fluently with their teachers, even the foreign. However, the result of the mother-tongue teaching policy was controversial. Not only is the language ability of Hong Kong students lower than the Japanese and South Korean, but also the problem of labels on schools as English or Chinese medium is so serious. Therefore, the last big reform of MOI policy is fostered this September and it is hoped to stop these problems.

3. Feedback
The education system now is not enough good for the students that is because it cases many problems such as the label of schools and young people’s weak language. And the new reform of MOI policy maybe help lots of students, no matter they are weak in or good at English. That is because the new system can let the students touch more English in the lessons from the different normal subjects. For the weak language students, they can choose Chinese medium to study, that can help them as well. For me, I think that is a positive change for the students. I know that using Chinese medium to study only it is by no means enough to face the difficult curricula. And touching more English can bring good effects to the students, so I agree this system rather than the older system.

From the article, I find the phrase of “fall short of”. That is means that it still cannot achieve the main point or the final aim, it is not match the expectation completely.

Car rams gate at US Embassy in Beijing in January

Car rams gate at US Embassy in Beijing in January
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press Writer – Fri Feb 13, 2:20 am ET
BEIJING – Three Chinese men in a car rammed a gate at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing in late January, but little damage was caused and the incident is being investigated, an embassy spokesman said Friday.
Chinese police have released few details about the ramming, spokesman Richard Buangan said. The embassy did not report the incident at the time; Buangan was responding to queries from The Associated Press, which learned of the incident on Friday.
The three men were immediately taken into police custody and the embassy's security officers were seeking more information, Buangan said. Their identities are unknown to the embassy, he said.
In a brief statement faxed to the AP, China's Foreign Ministry confirmed the incident and said the driver appeared to be mentally ill.
"On Jan. 28, a male of Chinese nationality smashed a car into the south gate of the U.S. Embassy in China, causing damage to the car and the gate but no injuries or deaths," the statement said.
"After investigation, this man was found to have a mental disorder," it said, adding the case remained under investigation.
The ministry provided no information about the two other men in the car.
Beijing police did not immediately respond to questions about the incident, which they requested by fax.
The incident occurred at around 3 p.m. on Jan. 28, during China's weeklong Lunar New Year holiday. Buangan said the car involved was a Volkswagen Passat and the gate, which was a staff entrance to the complex, was bent inward and cannot now be opened.
Workers on Friday were repairing the gate with drills and welding torches.
Diplomats moved into the new U.S. Embassy in Beijing just last year. The massive complex is the second largest U.S. Embassy in the world after the one in Baghdad and sprawls over an entire city block on Beijing's eastern Chaoyang district.
China has blamed al-Qaida-linked terror cells for attacks in the country's far west, but the capital has been largely peaceful and sentiment among Chinese toward the U.S. has been largely neutral in recent years.

2. Summary

An U.S. embassy spokesman said an incident about three Chinese men in a car rammed to gate at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing during Chinese New Year holiday. The embassy did not report the event at the first time, and it was reported now. The three Chinese men, their identities are unknown to the embassy, were immediately arrested by police, and the embassy offices were seeking the information about this case. According to the survey, the driver of this case, who has a mental disorder, damaged the car and the gate but no injuries or deaths.

3. Feedback
It is an unexpected accident for U.S. embassy and Chinese Government. No one would expect such case will happen during Chinese New Year, which is one of the most important festivals for Chinese nationals. In addition, no Chinese people want to have such uncheerful thing in the beginning of the year. And I absolutely believe that it is an unhoped accident. And I am also delighted that the damage is not too extensive, no one was injuries and deaths, besides the car and the gate were defaced. Nevertheless, it has been so fortunate, otherwise, it would be a horrible accident outside the embassy. What is more, it maybe affects the relationship between the two countries. It is not the good situation which we are hopeful to see as well.

Volcano erupts near Tokyo raining ash down on city

Volcano erupts near Tokyo raining ash down on city
By JAY ALABASTER, Associated Press Writer Jay Alabaster, Associated Press Writer – Mon Feb 2, 1:42 am ET
TOKYO – A snowcapped volcano northwest of Tokyo erupted early Monday, sending up a huge plume of smoke and gas and raining fine, powdery ash on parts of Japan's capital.
There were no reports of injuries or damage from the eruption of Mount Asama, which is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Tokyo.
The volcano erupted at 1:51 a.m. (0451 GMT, 11:51 p.m. EST) Monday, belching out a plume that rose about a mile (1.6 kilometers) high, according to Japan's Meteorological Agency. The plume was still roiling over the volcano's crater late Monday.
Chunks of rock from the explosion were found about 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) away from the volcano. Ash was detected over a wide area, including central Tokyo. In the town of Karuizawa, southeast of the volcano, the ash was thick enough to obscure road markings in some areas, town official Noboru Yanagishi said.
"Some people said they heard a strange noise in the morning when the eruption occurred," he said.
The eruption was not big enough to disrupt daily life near the volcano, though many people awoke to find their cars covered in a fine layer of powder. National broadcaster NHK showed people in Tokyo lining up to get carwashes, or wiping the ash from their windows.
In Tachikawa, a district in the northwest area of Tokyo, some farming areas were coated with ash.
"Because it's February and not harvesting season, there was no real damage to any crops," said Shoichi Matsumoto, a local official.
At Tsumagoi, a small town on the volcano with ski resorts and hot spring baths, residents went about their business as usual. Travelers planning vacations to the area had called to inquire, but no one had canceled, said Masaru Yoshida, a spokesman for the local tourist association.
"The wind has blown the ash to the other side of the mountain," he said. "It's a clear day so you can see some smoke, but not as much as we've had in the past."
Mount Asama has been active for thousands of years.
Its last major eruption took place in September 2004, spewing enough ash to damage local crops. It frequently spews smaller amounts of ash from its crater.
With 108 active volcanos, Japan is among the most seismically busy countries in the world. The country lies in the "Ring of Fire" — a series of volcanoes and fault lines that outline the Pacific Ocean.
An alert level of three was in place Monday for a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) radius, which bars entry into the area and urges nearby residents to take caution. Alert level four advises residents to prepare for evacuation, while level five, the highest, orders evacuation, according to the Meteorological Agency.
"We don't think there will be any stronger eruptions, but we don't see the activity stopping anytime soon, either," agency official Kazuya Kokubo said.

2. Summary
The eruption of Mount Asama occurred on 2nd February, 09, the ash was belched out that were found about 3,000 feet away from the volcano. There are no reports of injuries or damage, but the ash was detected over a wide area, including central Tokyo. And the thick ash obscured road marking in some areas. The residents were busy to get carwashes or wipe the ash from their windows. At Tsumagoi, there are a traveling spot for the travelers and local people, and this eruption was not big enough to cancel their trip or disrupt their daily life. Mount Asama is still active but the agency deems that it will not be any stronger eruptions.
3. Feedback
I am not surprised that the eruption occurred in Japan because this country lies on the “Ring of Fire” that I learned it from my geographic books. Lots of volcanos lie on Japan such as the famous hill, Fuji Mountain, which is a renowned sleepy volcano. Eruption is so dangerous for the people that it would cause a great damage for them, for example, the ash would affect their daily life, and the lava would burn their houses, factories, crops, even themselves. For this case, fortunately, it was not a big danger and loss for the local residents. The travelers and residents can travel and work as usual. Although the ash was blown down on the other city, it has been so lucky. Even though volcano eruption cannot avoid, we should have a good plan and knowledge for protecting our safety when the volcano is erupting. And for this point, the Japanese have done it very well.

Bomber in police uniform kills 21 Afghan policemen

Bomber in police uniform kills 21 Afghan policemen
By NOOR KHAN, Associated Press Writer Noor Khan, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 20 mins ago
AP – Map locates Tirin Kot, Afghanistan, where a suicide bomber killed at least 18 officers; 1 c x 1 5/8 in; …
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – A suicide bomber in a police uniform detonated his explosives inside a police training center in southern Afghanistan on Monday, killing 21 officers and wounding at least 20, officials said. The Taliban claimed responsibility.
The bomber entered the training facility in Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province, as the police reservists were exercising, said Juma Gul Himat, Uruzgan's provincial police chief. The Interior Ministry said the attacker was disguised in a police uniform, a tactic Taliban militants have used in several high-profile attacks.
The Taliban has made a comeback the last three years after their initial defeat following the U.S. invasion in 2001. Southern Afghanistan is the center of their fight against the government and international military forces, and militants control wide swaths of territory.
The blast, which also damaged the compound, killed 21 policemen and wounded at least 20 others, Himat said. Nine of the wounded were sent to hospitals, while the rest were released after treatment, Himat said.
A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, claimed responsibility for the blast in a phone call from an undisclosed location. Ahmadi said the militants will continue to launch bomb attacks on Afghan government officials and foreign troops in the country.
Over the last several years, police have borne the brunt of militant attacks. In 2008, some 868 policemen were killed in insurgent attacks, according to a tally of figures collected by The Associated Press. More than 900 police were killed in 2007.

2. Summary
A bomb attack occurred in Southern Afghanistan and this event was killed at least 18 officers and wounded more then 20 people. The militant wearing police uniform donated his explosives in a police training center when the police reservists were exercising. Nine of the wounded were sent to hospitals while the rest were released after treatment. The Taliban spokesman claimed that the responsibility for the blast in a phone call from an undisclosed place. And the Ahmadi said the suicide bomber will be continued on Afghan government and foreign troops. According to the tally, the death tolls of policeman were 868 in 2008.
3. Feedback
Militant attack is not an explosive issue for the local people, especially the local police and troops, who are usually to bear and resist the brunt of insurgent attacks. Nevertheless, it still is hot news for the reporters to cover, no matter are internal or external. They make use of the words to come into public notice to care the problem of militant. Although such suicide attacks seem too far to me, I am concerned for the safety of the local police and residents. They live under horror and fear, their safety was threatened every time by the militants. They can not work and study normally that makes them under the extensive stress everywhere. It is a horrible thing! I hope these attacks can be stopped immediately and return a peaceful life to them.

More study needed on class e-book plan

More study needed on class e-book plan – Adele Wong (The Standard - 15/12/08)

The government should ensure all students have computers before deciding on establishing an e-book learning environment, a teachers’ group said.

Hong Kong Women Teachers’ Organization chairwoman Pauline Chow Lo-sai said many issues need to studied before deciding whether electronic books are the way to go for classroom learning.

“The government should consider things such as why type of electronic books and whether each student will be able to have his or her own computer first,” Chow said regarding a government task force set up in October to study the use of electronic book in schools.

Factors such as maintenance fees and other costs involving electronic equipment need to be taken into account, she added.

“The Education Bureau must solve all of these issues before making any decisions.”

She warned that e-books may end up being more expensive than the printed version.

According to the organization, 45.86 percent, or 482 out of 1,051 teachers polled, agrees that e-books were a good method of teaching while 382 or 36.35 percent did not agree.

Of interest to note was that elementary school teachers tended to believe more in electronic books as a useful classroom learning tool.

Out of those who agrees e-books were a good learning tool, 81.5 percent were primary school teachers while only 34.98 percent were secondary school teachers.

But 48.53 percent, or 510 teachers did not believe that a total e-book environment was possible.

The poll covered 1,051 teachers from 50 kindergartens, and primary and secondary schools last month.

2. Summary

Hong Kong students use electronic books instead of printed version that will be very common in the future. Nevertheless, Hong Kong Women Teachers’ Organization deemed the Government should ensure all students have computer before deciding on building an e-book learning environment. The chairwoman – Pauline Chow Lo-sai thought the Government should consider more carefully concerning what type of electronic books first. And the other factors such as maintenance fees and other costs involving the equipment also are very important. According to their poll, near 46 percent teachers agreed e-books were a good method of teaching. Most the elementary school teachers tended to believe in e-books as a useful classroom learning tool.

3. Feedback

Recently, the Government actively promotes electronic books instead of printed version. Needless to say, electronic books learning can enhance the interest of primary school students who will pay more attention on the lesson. However, there are lots of considerable factors regarding launching this plan such as the costs of buying the equipment and the maintenance fees. It is a high and expensive expense. Now, we encounter the financial crisis; need more money to open the plan of helping the company. Have we any extra resources to afford the extensive expense? I don’t think so. Therefore, I prefer this plan to be delayed that the Government can have more time to plan and prepare better. In addition, the students can also have a great environment for leaning at the same time. So, I think this method to progress this program better.

Teacher takes Russian art to the next step

Teacher takes Russian art to the next step – Bonnie Chen (The Standard - 15/12/08)

Despite the financial crisis, a Russian art teacher plans to open her second Hong Kong art school in Mid-Levels next month.

Anastasia Katafygiotis, who landed in Hong Kong several years ago to teach at the University of Science and Technology, opened her first school in Sai Kung in 2006.

Two years later, she is ready for a second school-in an area where rents are three to four times higher than in Sai Kung.

However, the CEO of Anastasia’s Art House believes there is a market for a second art school and that Mid-Levels is a prime location for a gallery showcasing works by Russian artists.

She said most people associate arts and culture with France and Italy, which are seen as the cradles of western art, but cited renowned and influential Russian artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Borisov Musatov and Konstantin Korovin.

Indeed, paintings influenced by those Russian masters are found everywhere at Katafygiotis’ school in Sai Kung.

“Some Hong Kong people are keen to learn about Russian art even though some of my students prefer to concentrate on Western masters like Claude Monet and Gustav Klimt,” Katafygiotis said.

Half the school’s 500 students are locals and the rest are Westerners. Seventy percent are children.

She said Hong Kong’s relaxed immigration policy has made it easier for her to hire teachers from Russia and other eastern European countries. It used to take almost a year to get permission to hire a Russian artist, but it now takes only a few months.

“Hong Kong is a metropolitan city with artists from around the world who I can employ as teachers. But I also hire artists who have graduated from universities in Hong Kong,” Katafygiotis said.

She hopes to eventually enter the mainland market.

“Hong Kong has a free environment for art development which you cannot easily find flourish when the West Kowloon Cultural District is completed.” Katafygiotis said.

2. Summary

The financial crisis is the top issue nowadays, but someone still has the confidence to open her new school to teach and promote the Russian art. Anastasia Katafygiotis landed in Hong Kong several years ago and open her first school in Kai Kung in 2006. And now, she intends to launch her second school despite of the financial crisis. She said most people are keen to learn Russian art, even though they prefer to focus on Western masters’ painting. Anyway, she admired the relaxed immigration policy of Hong Kong which has made it easier for her to hire teachers from the world.

3. Feedback

Culture is very important for a city, especially for an international metropolis. Hong Kong Government forces the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District that I think it will be further flourished. And I also admire Hong Kong Government actually because of her relaxed immigration policy which helps a host of people to hire their suitable and professional candidates from the world. Although most of people deemed that the Government does not focus on pushing the development of culture, she has spent a lot on it. In addition, I think we need to help and push the development of art as well. And Anastasia’s course is a good method to increase the knowledge of art. Also, I want to learn more about the different culture through the artwork which can teach me about Russian culture that I like it very much.

Nick says: No arms, no legs, no worries

Nick says: No arms, no legs, no worries – Adele Wong (The Standard - 26/11/08)

Nick Vujicic may have been born with no arms and legs but he makes speeches 250 times a year and has talked 20 2.4 million people face to face.

Motivational speaker Vujicic used the Hong Kong stop on his tour to wow audiences with stunts, poses and positivism, passing on gems of inspiration and more than a few words of wisdom along the way.

Vujicic was born in Melbourne, Australia, to Serbian parents with a condition known as tetra-amelia syndrome, which deprived him of all four limbs and left him with a two-toed foot instead.

The 25-year-old has become well known since starting his motivational speaking tours six years ago.

More prime-time exposure may be on its way as he has been approached by representatives of US talk-show host Oprah Winfrey about making an appearance. Larry King Live is also interested in meeting him.

Speaking at a church venue, Vujicic urged his audience to have hope, faith and never give up.

And to prove his point, he demonstrated writing with a pen in his month, and falling down and picking himself back up by propping his head a book.

“Dear Hong Kong, Thank you for loving me. I love you!” Vujicic wrote meticulously in fine black ink before an entranced audience.

He is putting his skills to good use by writing a book, No arms, No legs, No worries, which he hopes will be published next year.

He also recalled the bad times: “I tried to drown myself in the bathtub when I was eight,” he said.

He was also made fun of throughout his young life.

“I know how it feels to be broken, alone.”

2. Summary

Australian Nick Vujicic came to Hong Kong recently and made a speech with local people. He has made 250 times a year and has talked to 2.4 million people since six years ago. Nick has a special condition which is tetra-amelia syndrome depriving him of all four limbs. But he urges people to have hope, faith and never give up, even through he also has a terrible childhood when he was eight. Also, he has written a book which is called “No arms, No legs, No worries” which he hopes will be published next year.

3. Feedback

Nick is a courageous person who makes use of his life to prove “nothing is impossible”. His innate drawback would not stop him to kick the stumbling block; moreover, he is positive to face the difficulties. And his noble mind and bravery are worth admiring and clapping. I am really admired him very much because of his persistence. He leads me know that everyone can try their best to resist everything which we think that is impossible originally. He uses his month, his effort, his persistence to write a book urging people to be brave, confident and hopeful. Although he is a disabled, his spirit is beautiful. I want I can learn him being a perseverant people and would not be afraid for everything.

Hijacked supertanker in pirates’ lair

Hijacked supertanker in pirates’ lair – Agencies (The Standard - 19/11/08)

A hijacked Saudi supertanker, carrying US$100 million (HK$780 million) of oil, has anchored off a notorious Somali pirate port, officials said, as the international community reeled from the growing threat from sea gangs.

Vela International, shipping subsidiary of The Sirius Star owners Saudi Aramco, said the 25 crew were unharmed and crisis teams have been set up to try to win their release and the return of the vessel.

Meanwhile, a Hong Kong cargo ship loaded with wheat bound for Iran has been hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

There were 25 crew members on board, none of them from Hong Kong or the mainland. The ship was carrying 36,000 tonnes of wheat.

The biggest act of piracy yet by the marauding Somali bandits was condemned by Saudi Arabia, with its foreign minister calling piracy a growing “disease” and experts saying few ships are now safe in the Indian Ocean.

Bile Mohamoud Qabowsade, an adviser to the president of Somalia’s breakaway state of Puntland, said The Sirius Star was now off the coast at the pirate lair of Harardhere, 300 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

“We have been receiving some information and we now know that the ship is anchored near Harardhere,” Qabowsade said.

The supertanker-with its crew of 25 from Britain, the Philippines, Poland, Croatia and Saudi Arabia, and loaded with two million barrels of oil-was seized at the weekend. The Polish government said the captain of the Sirius Star and a technician are Polish.

It is the size of three football fields and three times the weight of a ‘US aircraft carrier, and is the largest ship ever seized by pirates. The hijacking was the furthest out to sea that Somali bandits struck, according to the US Navy.

2. Summary

Hijacking is very active around the East coast of Somalia recently. A Saudi supertanker which carried US$100 million of oil and anchored off a notorious port was hijacked. This ship is called The Sirius Star that its owner said the 25 crew were unharmed and crisis teams have been set up to try to save them. There were 25 crew members on board, none of them from Hong Kong. The ship is the size of three football fields and three times the weight of a US aircraft carrier, and is the largest ship seized by pirates. Meanwhile, a Hong Kong cargo ship loaded with wheat to Iran has been hijacked by pirates as well.

3. Feedback

The number of hijacking of oil tankers in the Somalia is rising. Especially this case, the ship of The Sirius Star is carrying HK$780 million of oil that the crisis teams cannot fire the ship or attack it by force. It is not easy to save the 25 crew who boarded the ship. Not only this hijacked action, but Hong Kong cargo ship was hijacked by the pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Therefore, we need to keep a closing eye on this problem and solve it more quickly. If not, it would happen again on the other ships. It is not the situation that everyone wants to see and hope to occur repeatedly. For this case, I hope that the 25 crew would be safe and unharmed. In additional, the detestable pirates can be arrested and ensure the ships’ safety.

Macau body parts ‘are missing ex-HK cop’

Macau body parts ‘are missing ex-HK cop’ – Staff Reporter (The Standard - 12/11/08)

Macau police believe a dismembered body found yesterday is that of missing former Hong Kong policeman Lai King-man.

The gruesome discovery was made by a man who rented a flat in Porto Exterior from one of six men arrested over Lai’s disappearance.

Macau Judiciary Police said they believed the remains were that of Lai, 60, who was last seen in September.

“The fact that the body was found in a flat rented out by one of the suspects is why we believe it is Lai King-man,” a police spokesman said.

He described Lai as a “compulsive gambler” at Macau casinos and likely killed over gambling debts.

The man who discovered the body said he detected a strong smell in the flat. He then found in one room three suitcases containing five bags of human remains – a severed head, legs, arms and torso wrapped in several layers of trash bags.

Police said the remains were those of a man who had died at least a month ago. The torso and head had wounds inflicted by a sharp object, but tests to determine the cause of death are ongoing. And a DNA test will be carried out soon to confirm the man’s identity.

Lai was rumored to have lost a large sum of money at an underground casino some years ago. He had not been seen since he was taken by alleged debt collectors on September 6 from a Macau casino where he had been gambling with two friends.

His family held a funeral for him on October 21 without the body. At the ceremony, marked by a heavy police presence, his daughter expressed a wish that her father’s case would be solved.

The former policeman had previously been arrested and eventually pleaded guilty to running one of the largest heroin smuggling rackets in the world. The operation was thought to have brought in about HK$1.58 billion during 1986 and 1987.

2. Summary

A dismembered body was found in a flat of Macau. The police of Macau believed that is remains of former Hong Kong Policeman Lai King-man who is missing two months ago. One of the suspects is Lai’s friend who described him as a “compulsive gambler” at Macau casinos and likely killed over gambling debts. He detected a strong smell in the flat firstly, then discovered the limbs and torso were inside of three suitcases. Police said the remains of the man who had died at least a month ago. His family has held a funeral for him on October 21 without the body.

3. Feedback

This terrible event happened on account of gambling that is harmful to a person’s future. Gambling actually is an entertainment which can reduce the players’ stress and relax themselves. But nowadays, most people distort the original intention and make use of it to lead more people to indulge in gambling. It is a serious problem that affects our city and we should resolutely say no with gambling in order to prevent us from choosing the wrong side. In this case, Lai indulged in gambling, troubled his family members, eventually lost his all money, family as well as valuable life that is because he chose the wrong side. In fact, if he did not touch gambling, that all the things could not be happened, his future may be bright and blissful with his family.

MrCain’s brave defence of Obama against insults wins rival’s praise

MrCain’s brave defence of Obama against insults wins rival’s praise – Agence France-Presse (South China Morning Post – 12/10/08)

Democratic White House candidate Barack Obama yesterday thanked his Republican rival John MrCain for urging supporters to be respectful and stop hurling abuse at the Illinois senator during his rallies.

It came after Senator McCain was booed at his own rally as he tried to rein in increasingly raw anger among supporters stunned by Senator Obama’s lead in the polls. Crowds at Senator McCain’s rallies have become increasing inflammatory, shouting out “terrorist” and “liar” when Senator Obama is mentioned.

At one Florida rally, someone even shouted “kill him”. The US Secret Service said it was investigating the alleged death threat.

“Now, I want to acknowledge that Senator McCain tried to tone down the rhetoric yesterday in his town hall meeting and I appreciate his reminder that we can disagree while still being respectful of each other,” Senator Obama said.

Speaking near Minneapolis on Friday, Senator McCain drew boos when he insisted to a skeptical supporter that Senator Obama was a “decent person”.

“We want to fight and I want to fight, but we will be respectful,” Senator McCain said. But when he then added, “I admire Senator Obama and his accomplishments,” the crowd jeered loudly. “That doesn’t mean you have to reduce your ferocity,” he said. “It’s just got to be respectful.”

While a number of questioners expressed concerns about Senator Obama, one woman went further.

“I don’t trust Obama. I have read about him. He’s an Arab,” she said, echoing a false assertion that has crept into some right-wing weblogs.

Senator McCain shook his head in disagreement and cut her off, grabbing the microphone back.

“No, ma’am. He’s a decent family man, [a] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues,” he said.

A man said: “Frankly, we’re scared, we’re scared of an Obama presidency.” He said he was especially worried that “someone who cohorts with domestic terrorists” might be in a position to choose Supreme Court justices.

“He is a decent person and a person that you do not have to scared [of] as president of the United States,” Senator McCain responded, drawing shouts of “no”.

But he added: “If I didn’t think I’d be a heck of a better president, I wouldn’t be running.”

Polls show that Senator Obama has opened a double-digit lead in the wake of a damning report that found Republican vice-president nominee Sarah Palin had abused her power as Alaska governor.

Senator Obama leads Senator McCain 52 per cent to 41 per cent among registered voters, according to Newsweek magazine. A similar poll a month ago showed the two candidates tied at 46 per cent.

2. Summary

White House candidate Barack Obama said thanks to John McCain concerning his speech of urging his supporters to be respectful during his rally. That is because McCain’s fans have yelled out “terrorist” and “liar”, ever “kill him” about Obama in his rally, but McCain said “It’s just got to be respectful.” And he also insisted that Obama is a “decent person”. At the same time, some his supporters did not trust Obama as he is an Arab. And this talk made McCain think that is a misconception although he still implies he is better than Obama to be president. However, according to polls showed that Obama leads McCain 52 to 41 per cent.

3. Feedback

McCain shows his tolerance in his rally even though it is not so convicting from this article. Needless to say, no matter McCain or Obama is eager to win this election and to be president to lead United States to face the difficulties. And she needs a capable, energetic and convictive president to lead the whole American to encounter the barriers. Although it is very hard to make up my mind, I prefer Obama to be president rather than McCain. Financial tsunami maybe is the biggest crisis of the United States and it is too tough, troublesome and hard to handle as well as control. Experience has not already been feasible enough in this case. On the other hand, the American needs more constructive and workable financial policies to help themselves and change their emergent situation. And Obama is the most suitable person to lead the American to fight the economic problems because “Change is coming”.