Freedom

Most of us like freedom. We all like the freedom such as to choose where we want to live, what we want to have, how to do things in our own way, and when to do something. Most of us would not like to be told where to live, what we want, how to do, and when to do. We are humans, not slaves. Only slaves are deprived of their freedom.

Rulers also like freedom but they do not like those ruled having the same amount of freedom as they do, otherwise those ruled are difficult to control. History shows that one major difference between a totalitarian country and a democratic country is the amount of freedom enjoyed by the rulers and the ruled. The wider the gap the more servitude of the ruled.

When our government asks us to do something but the officials are not doing the same, that's a sign of inequality. Disdain it.

Political Reform

The government proposed political reform will be passed soon as the government has secured sufficient support to pass the bill in Legco. No matter you like it or not, everything is settled until a few years before 2017.

One-man-one-vote is the most basic political reform we should get and we are READY to have it now but the government does not agree with it. The problem is not with the local government but lies to the central government. If you have one-man-one-vote to vote all members of the Legislation and the Chief Executive, why if others want the same?

Politics is an art. It is for the people. Different people have different desires and politics requires negotiation as well as compromise in order to come up with something that satisfies the majority while not ignoring the minority. Our HK government still has a lot to learn.

Reform?

The HK government recently broadcasts two commercials on TV begging us to support the so called political reform. The two commercials have two core messages - support and belief. The first message threats that if you want a political reform you are bound to support the government's proposal, there is no alternative. The second message tries to brainwash you that you need to trust your government to implement the political reform.

To clear the myths, we need to ask: why do we need to support the government's proposal and why do we need to trust the government? If the government says that its proposal is the best and nothing but the best, prove it! If the government forces us to trust it, then show us that its previous performance is worth the trust!

Our government shall not become the Ministry of Truth.

Essential 2

What is the next most important essential for humans besides air? Water of course. Without water we can only live for days. The sad reality is that water has become a precious resource and the situation is continuing.

The recent drought in China has highlighted the shortage of water. 15 years ago, we had drought in China but it only affected crop; 10 years ago, the drought in China affected crop and animals; now the drought in China is affecting humans. We need to act immediately to control the situation otherwise more people will suffer.

The crux is that although the Chinese government is trying to find more water from underground water or divert river course to acquire more water, the problems are that the first method causes land collapses as hollows are formed underground and the second method may lead to war as we are stealing water from other countries. Some rivers start from China pass different countries before reach to the sea. By diverting river courses people who live in the downstream areas may not get sufficient water.

An alternative which is viable is to change sea water to drinking water. It takes more money than pumping from the underground or stealing from others but the supply is unlimited in theory. If we build up more factories for converting sea water to drinking water, the costs should go down.

Although the above factories can solve the water scarcity, the northwest or southwest parts of China still face the drought problem as the sea is not near them. It is necessary to build up long pipes to pump water from the east to the west in order to solve the problem. If we have built up long pipes for delivering oil from Russia to China, why not water pipes?

Essential

What is the essential of our life? Health? Money? Frame? I think air must be the one, without air we can't live for minutes!

The reality is that air quality in HK is getting worse. Haze is bad and it is caused by pollutants from China as well as HK but dust storm from northern China is worse and it can spread all the way to the US! The air quality index in HK in the past several days speak for itself: the dust storm can reach HK and easily break our worst air quality index!

Dust storm is originated from desert. And desertization in northern China, which is a result of rapid development by invading forest, causes more dust storm. To prevent dust storm, we need to plan more trees and using less forest land for development. Dust storm is threatening the livelihood of China and there will be no development if situation continues.



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Housing in HK

Most of us in HK properly know that the housing prices are surging in the past 6 months and it seems that the trend continues. For those who want to purchase a home, they need to pay a higher and higher price and it looks like that their dream house is far away.

The government, along with property developers, are the only ones who deny the existence of a housing bubble. Everyone else knows the fact. If the housing prices increased by 20, 30 or even 40 percent in the past six months and this situation continues but our salary increment could not match them, it means that we are having a bigger and bigger bubble.

More people cannot afford the current housing prices means that these prices finally will fall and it's only a matter of time. So if you really want to purchase a dream home, I suggest that you had better wait. Set a price level that you think is reasonable and you can afford it, and hit it when the moment comes - the housing price drop to your set level.

Government direction again

A few weeks ago the HK government, once again, pronounced that it would consider giving resources to boost the growth of six different trades. It is just a repetition of the same mistake made years ago when the ex-CE claimed that HK would be a hub of Chinese medicine or IT or whatever. We now know that those ideas were built on sand. Again? Please don't.

Government giving directions never work. Those who work for the HK government are just people who know nothing but bureaucracy, probably they know one thing - how not to do it. You ask them to lead us? The performance of our government in the last 12 years speaks for itself.

The government should only provide the rule of law, respect its people, give us justice as well as beneficence and we should be doing fine. We know what we need. Give us the tools and we will finish the job. This is not North Korea, we don't need non-stop directions.

Donation

As the economy is getting worse, more social organizations require donations from the public. We may donate a few dollars on street, but how can we know whether an organization is worth to donate if we want to donate more say a hundred dollars?

I think a simple way is to know the background of the charity you want to donate. We can go to see the website of the charity and see whether you like to support the services provided by the charity. In addition, you need to see the annual report to find out how the charity has spent its donations. If a charity has spent a substantial amount of donations to its staff salary, you should be careful. A good charity should, from my point of view, spends 90% of its income to its services. Anything between 80% and 89% is acceptable. Lower than 80% is not a good charity. If a charity cannot even provide a financial statement in its annual report, don't donate.

2009 Financial Budget

Have you read about the budget 2009 which is just released this week? I only know some of the key suggestions but they are heading to failure.

The government wants to create jobs for people. It is the right direction, but the internship programme for students means the government is extending the unemployability of students. The only purpose of internship programme is for reducing the unemployment rate, not for enhancing students' abilities for employment. Many students show their discontent by only getting several thousands a month in the internship program, they want to make big money. Unfortunately, they do not know that some of them are unemployable. If they were smart, they should get a job without assistance from government. The government should have enhanced their employability before pushing them to the market.

Adult Education

Our economy is getting worse so many working adults who want to do better than others are eager to enrol in adult education. The question is: what do you want to study?

Adult education is a big market and many institutions are offering various courses for working adults. However, having taken some of these courses does not mean that you job is secure. You need to know what an employer really wants.

Based on my experience in job interviews, I think most of the employers want three basic skills:-

1. above average spoken and written language skills, both English and Chinese;
2. logical problem solving skills; and
3. interpersonal skills to face difficult persons.

Go for courses that help you to enhance these skills and you should be doing fine with you job.

A decade of loss

From 1998 to 2008, HK went from downhill to uphill and then downhill again. From 1998 to 2003, our economy was from bad to worse and then worst. Fortunately, the central authority started injecting cash to us by allowing people to visit HK. We were getting better from 2004 onwards until late 2007. Now we are struggling again but the central authority is busy helping itself so we may not be as lucky as we were.

From 1998 to 2007, we have lost a whole decade without achieving anything substantial to prepare us for the next financial crisis. We did not upgrade ourselves, we did not diversify our economy, and we did not know what to do next but only took a favourable policy from the central authority for granted. The financial crisis is destroying our economy and this may be the end of the peril of the East. There is a Chinese saying that "when you do not work hard during your young ages, you will have a miserable life when you become old".

Financial Crisis

Now we are all in the centre of financial crisis. Our pension funds are losing money and people are losing jobs. Some elders are forced to work in their 60's or even 70's. For those who can keep their job in the coming 2 years are the lucky ones.

The financial crisis comes from the US and then spread to the whole world. We can all blame the US to make us like that but if we were not tempted by our own desire for fast money by investing into complex financial products, we would not become what we are now.

In the past, we envied those who worked for Investment Banks and many people were desperate to become a member of them. Now it's all over. Although we did not understand why people in the Investment Banks could make so much money, we just wanted to be the same. Now we know that their huge income came from those complex investment products that lured people to invest in. When the bubbles are explosed, we all need to start from the ground again.

毒

由數年前中國的奶粉有製造商故意不加營養以省成本引致不少可憐孩子成為大頭嬰兒後，現在更進化到在奶粉增加化學原料以偽裝成蛋白質豐富之飲料，殘害大量中國的小孩，更把這些化學奶粉出口外國，造成全球震驚。中國政府極重視的面子便即時掃地，之前的奧運大國形象亦消失無踪。

這種為自己利益而不顧他人生命安全的心態表示出兩種事實：一、如果在奶粉加入工業化學物質的人為了增加蛋白質但不知其副作用者就是極度自私而不顧他人有否受害；二、若果是知道副作用而仍照用工業化學物質的人便是喪心病狂，毫無人性可言了。

可惜中國仍有大量上述極端自私以至喪心病狂的人，所以想成為大國真是痴人說夢。

Election Again

The Legco is going to have an election soon. I am a voter and I definitely will vote. Although I do not have any hope on whoever I am going to vote, I still want to participate in this game.

As you know more, you realize that most of the candidates give empty promises before the election. Once they are elected, they will disappear for years and you only see them a couple of months before the next election. You have no idea what they have done in the past few years. All they want is to beg you to vote them again so that they can enjoy to be a well-paid Legco member for another 4 years.

Who wants to be a direct elected Legco member? Not the best and brightest as they would rather make more money. Not the second best as they are too busy to climb up their career ladder. Some of those rich and famous may want to be a Legco member as a compliment but must be appointed. And most People in HK prefer not to get involved as there is no career prospect to be a Legco member. So only some people who are thirsty for a little bit of power go for election, but I doubt very much they can have what they want.

談教學語言政策

由政府宣佈應能容許學校自行決定教學語言開始，政府用作規範中中及英中的教學語言政策宣告終結。亦表示政府終能自我了斷其中一個影響最大及爭議最多的政策。有趣的是，政府花了大筆錢請人研究母語教學的成效，但完成報告後卻拒絕公開整份報告。最大原因就是報告顯示母語教學對中中畢業生的前途有很壞的影響。亦表示回歸以來一面倒以為迎合主子心意的教學語言政策毒害了不少年青人。

老實說，我是十分贊成母語教學的。能夠用母語學習知識肯定會比用第二語言吸收得快及多，而且學生在課堂上更會勇於發問。不過，由於大專院校多以英文為教學語言，中中畢業生在大專院校內一定較英中畢業生難適應。所以，理想模式應是在小學便要學生學習英語音標，使他們懂得英文發音，在初中時再學文法，打好基礎；另外在初中各科目內的名詞附加中英文對照，使學生開始認識多一點英文名詞。到了高中後便全用英文課本，學生到大專時便容易應付。

新年大計

新年開始，很多人習慣寫下新一年的大計。雖然無此習慣，但自從在去年開始放假時學了國際音標後，覺得自己的英文實在有很大的改善空間，所以今年要努力提高自己的英文水準。

當我們北望神州，很多人都期望今年中國在經濟上繼續向上，而香港亦可受惠。但是，中國經濟之高速增長是要付出很大的代價。在增長背後，國家的生態環境正在不斷受到嚴重破壞。無論是土地、空氣、水源、食物，都已受到污染。香港的空氣質素比十年前差了不少已是不爭的事實，而我們的食水是水務處做了不少加工才可使之符合標準。若果大家有飲過全無污染的地下水的話便知味道和普通食水有不少分別。

由於中國治理環境的資源遠追不上污染的增長，而大家抱着在最短時間賺最多錢的心態，所以對環境污染視而不見，結果是人民生活愈富裕但生活環境卻愈差。看看IHT對中國環境的專題報告"Choking on growth"便明白：http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/25/asia/26china.php

煙霞

早上在鰂魚涌公園跑步時看見九龍那面煙霧瀰漫，建築物像有一層薄紗蓋着，感覺不太舒服。事實上，香港的空氣已是愈來愈差。政府知道必須改善以保持香港形象及保護市民健康，但奈何政府一不肯採用更嚴格的污染物指數標準(因怕很多時會超過標準)，二要規管電力公司及汽車排污等都是決而不行，行而不力(看怎樣對待兩電及停車熄匙的議論便知)，三是不太敢要求珠三角控制污染(怕人家不高興兼反說是港商在珠三角開工廠弄成這個結果)。

當然，除了辦事能力低外，亦要在語言上誤導大眾，大家才可以感覺良好。因此，便產生「煙霞」這名詞。大家在聽天氣報告時聽到煙霞這名詞可能覺得是山谷中的輕煙霞氣，感覺浪漫。其實煙霞是煙霧或霾，即污染物的意思。香港天文台在中文網頁上用煙霞這詞但英文網頁是用 hazy 這字，它是 haze 的形容詞，表示風夾着塵土。政府可以在語言上誤導與歧視中國人，但卻不敢對外國人如此。奴才心態，又一例子。

西九龍文娛藝術區

從一開始便對西九龍文娛藝術區沒有好感，感覺這會是貝沙灣的翻板－一個以科技來包裝的地產項目。話說回來。在研究西九龍填海區建造文娛藝術區是否有需要前，近日報章都有報導當初這填海區是本擬發展成為公園，供西九龍舊區的市民享用，補足休憩用地的不足及預留位置建屋來安置受重建影響的居民。*1 若是如此，政府便要向市民特別是上述舊區居民交待為何不守信用。

香港一直都是商業中心及購物勝地，但不是文化藝術中心。在零六/零七年香港藝術館物館共有大約四十萬人次入塲。*2 以一年開館三百一十一天計，每天平均有一千二百八十六人入塲。若我們假設有八成入塲人仕都是本地人，而他們每年都會去藝術館看一次，即每日有一千零二十八香港人入塲，再乘三百一十一即一年有三十二萬香港人入塲，佔人口比例百份之四點七。再者有一部份藝術館的入塲人仕有機會是常客，比例會再低。有興趣藝術的本地人是這麼少，是否值得花這麽多錢建造這些以好大喜功為基礎的建設呢？

可能有人會說，要推動藝術發展，所以便要建立藝術館等以提高市民對藝術的興趣。建立Cyberport 提高香港的科研水平相信大家都聽過，但結果怎樣大家亦有目共睹。在Cyberport 裏的科技公司主要從事銷售及市塲，真正科研都不在香港，香港根本亦無人材可從事科研。事實上，Microsoft 在九八年已在北京開設 Microsoft Research Asia 從事科研而在零三年再成立了Advanced Technology Centre，共聘請了數以百計科研人材在那裏工作。這正正說明Cyberport 的不設實際。當然，我們香港的工商科技官員對此可能不知或絕口不提。建設公共設施應是先有需求才興建，不應建好了才鼓勵市民使用。若根本沒需要，何須建造？有人說西九龍文娛藝術區是西九龍民愚偽術區，實在有一定道理。

*1 請看 http://www.inmediahk.net/public/article?item_id=257357&group_id=11
*2 請看香港藝術館網頁 http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Arts/english/intro/eintroa.html

風暴前夕

自從公務員加薪後，醫管局、社福界、勞工界等都爭相要求加薪。政府應早知肥了公務員後社會各界都會有相應要求，大家都是為了錢而眼紅。現在更有人要政府追加年資，以補償在前數年經濟不景時被削減了的薪水。情况就如你在零三年加入一間公司做文員，薪金有六千元，但在零零年加入公司的同事薪金有八千元，現已加至一萬；到了今年你的人工終加至八千元但一個新加入的同事人工因經濟較好已有七千五百，你便要求老闆把你的人工調整至最少一萬一仟五百才行。在你看來可合情合理，但在其他人看來是否要求多了一點？

其實香港經濟能夠從谷底反彈都是靠中央政府開放自由行及其他措施向香港輸入大量資金，香港自己沒什麽能力自我改善經濟，到現在仍是這樣。姑勿論依靠一個人均收入遠低於本地的祖國向自己輸入大量資金以保持本地繁盛是否合理，但更重要的是若世界經濟再次衰退，北面的資金不能再像現時一樣流向本地時香港便很難在此消彼長下仍然是經濟繁盛的遠東金融中心了。回歸後數年世界經濟不景下香港的表現如何大家心中有數，若在風暴前夕仍不知進取只求加薪在沖擊來到時被減薪裁員便只靠綜緩了。

政治人才

香港是否有政治人才？江山代有人才出，我相信香港不乏上述人才，只是那些有才華的人是否願意為香港政府效力而已。

說老實話，特首新班子已比上一屆政府多了一些人才，當然較次等的人亦存有但我相信保留這些次等人是有其特殊需要。雖然很多人都批評新班子是AO黨，但AO 其實正是港英政府培養用以執行其政策的華人。由他們來運作整個政府，是很合適的。但其弱點是主人已回英，整個政府已缺乏大腦，所以風浪一來，整個班子就變成亂七八糟兼且互相推搪責任了。在位高官在殖民政府管治下受到市民壓力而辭職實在聞所未聞，但特區政府的局長已試過三次了。

事實上，以往港英政府治下有不少出色的AO因看見仕途政治化或不想為新政府服務便提早離職，從而導致一些未夠班的人才代替位置。再加上港英政府根本沒有把治港心得傳授予華人高官，從而在基礎上已把AO精英變成二流人才。現在二流人才走後只餘下三流人才加上三流政府便會造成四流結果(皆因一流人才加上一流政府都可能有二流結果)。

在外國如英美加等不少政府高官都是在第一流大學裏的最出色學生，他們有些在畢業後便加入政府服務，但亦有些是在某行業幹得出色而被邀請加入政府。香港的問題正是我們的一流精英有很多往外國留學，而在學成後便留在當地服務，就算肯回港工作都已被投資銀行或大企業羅致，願意加入政府的已不多。再加上政府會把這些精英變成上司永遠是對的擦鞋機器，從而在制度上造成香港政治人才的缺乏。

若然有疑問，請看英美加等的政府網頁提供的高官簡歷便知什麽是真正人才。