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。

Back to School

It's Sep and I am a student again. The difference is that this time I am going to stay in the same school for six years and I anticipate that I will be extremely busy. I am going to take some classes in the next couple of years and then if everything goes right, I am heading to the thesis.

I know that this is a lonely journey and it requires persistence and determination. I have chosen this path and I have the courage to face it. I need your support and you are welcome to drop me a few lines.

In fact I was thinking of becoming a PhD student after I completed my master degree in 2003. But I did not want to face the challenge until early this year. Now I am in, and it all depends on whether I can substantiate the loneliness and difficulties in the coming years. Life is difficult sometimes but you will not become a true learner if you do not endure the hardship of learning.

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.

Back to Work

Back to full time work for more than a month. New environment, new colleagues, new culture. I need some time to get used to all but I am confident that I can handle them.

I am getting busy at work and will be very busy starting Sep. as I am going to start a six-year graduate studies. I like to conduct research and I know that I need to prepare well in the next few weeks so that I can go for this academic apex. I need your support and encouragement.

If you want to excel at work, not only you need to work hard, but also to learn continuously. I am amazed that many of my colleagues are studying part time, and some of them are going for a second graduate degree. It's demanding in terms of physical and mental as a part time student but if everybody is working hard, you have to follow the trend. Although it seems tough but when you look back, you will realize that all your effort is worthwhile.

Long Break

Back to work since April 2008. As a volunteer and then an instructor. Now full time work. Having taken a long break, my feelings are:

1. you had time to chat with people who normally you did not have time for, such as lunch with friends, no matter where they worked, and visited relatives, who you normally met only during CNY;

2. you could study anything you like, no matter they were held in daytime or evening, and never missed any class due to work commitment;

3. you could read a lot of books and magazines, this is the part I liked. No matter long classic or short novel, you could enjoy them day after day;

4. you exercised more;

5. most importantly, you had time to think about yourself and decide the next career you want.

So, try taking a longer break, say 3 months or more, and you definitely feel the difference.
Remember, this is a special stopover in your life for you to get re-changed and keep going.