My wife is flying from London to HK today.
What a day to fly.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
Monday, September 11, 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006
The GST Once Again
The proposed GST is still in the news here. It looks to me as though the government is going to implement some form of this even if it has to do it over the dead bodies of most of citizenry of Hong Kong.
I have spent considerable time wondering "Why the big push for this when there are other options available?" I'd put it down to the normal pig headed stubbornness that I often see here. When Hong Konger's get an idea about something they often seem to be unable to let it go. I think it has something to do with the vomitoria style of education here. They are used to memorizing one answer for any problem and then vomiting it back to the teacher when demanded. I think that form of education, especially when taken to the extreme that Hong Kong government schools take it, results in people who know lots of facts but cannot creatively solve problems. However, in this case, I'm not so sure about that anymore.
I think I may have to give Henry Tang some credit. He seems to have actually risen all the way up to the level of low cunning. I have speculated before that the real reason for this tax is not to simply "Broaden the tax base" but to broaden the government. I think, I have some indirect proof of that. Here is a link to an article from the investment firm of Price,Waterhouse and Cooper.
It has some rather unusual statistics about Hong Kong.
Apparently, one of the goals of the Hong Kong Government is to bring the cost of government down to below 20% of the GDP by 2008. What the article does not tell me is how far above 20% the percentage of the GDP the government take currently is. That 20% figure seemed high to me so being a librarian after all, I looked it up. My intuition was, both wrong and right.
If you look at over all percentage of government expenditures as a portion of GDP you find that the nations on the table spend from about 35% to nearly 60% of the GDP on government. So on the surface, Hong Kong would look to be at the low end of the scale. However, you have to throw out the nations with highly socialistic economies like the Sandinavian countries because their economic structure is very different from Hong Kong.
If you look at the more market oriented nations you'll find that they normally spend about 1/3 to about 1/2 of the GDP on government. However, all of the other nations listed have to also spend money on things that Hong Kong doesn't. For example, when I was an undergraduate, the number 17% was often cited as the amount of the US budget devoted to defense. Well, if you take the 35% or so of GDP the US spends on government and subtract 17% you end up with 18%. If Hong Kong, a market economy is spending over 20% of its GDP on government then as a percentage it is spending somewhere between 2% and 11% more of it's GDP on government without funding an army or navy or a foreign service that mans embassies and consulates. That is assuming that the government currently spends no more than 29% of the GDP on government which is what the article implies to me.
So, what does this have to do with Henry Tang rising above his education?
It appears to me that Henry sees that the government cannot meet its goal of reducing the percentage of the GDP used by government to less than 20%. Especially since most of the HK baboons (My term for the Hong Kong Civil Service) were trained Europe they would look not at the US but at Europe with slower growth, higher taxes and less freedom as their model rather than the traditionally lower tax, higher growth and more personal freedom model that the people here are used to.
In short, I don't think Henry Tang believes the government can reduce its cost to less than 20% of the GDP because countries like France, and the UK and Germany are, after subtracting their military and diplomatic budgets, higher than that, but can't say so because of the political problems it would cost. He wants to keep his job.
He is trying to find a way to increase the governments revenue to, at least in part, cover the bloated salaries that government officials are paid because he knows very well that those salaries are one of the first things that the local population will call for cutting rather than raising taxes.
A GST is a good way to do that because it is a hidden tax. People pay it a little at a time. They get used to it after a while. So why should Henry cut his salary or forgo hiring 50 more cronies at the ministerial level? Why not raise taxes?
Or, it could be that Henry is thinking like a European socialist. He may believe that the road to freedom is to tax the population into prosperity.
Or maybe He thinks his astronomical salary of over USD $45,000.00 per month is justified because he is so much more competant than the average Zhou.
Or maybe, it is just low cuning
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Libertine Blogger
I have spent considerable time wondering "Why the big push for this when there are other options available?" I'd put it down to the normal pig headed stubbornness that I often see here. When Hong Konger's get an idea about something they often seem to be unable to let it go. I think it has something to do with the vomitoria style of education here. They are used to memorizing one answer for any problem and then vomiting it back to the teacher when demanded. I think that form of education, especially when taken to the extreme that Hong Kong government schools take it, results in people who know lots of facts but cannot creatively solve problems. However, in this case, I'm not so sure about that anymore.
I think I may have to give Henry Tang some credit. He seems to have actually risen all the way up to the level of low cunning. I have speculated before that the real reason for this tax is not to simply "Broaden the tax base" but to broaden the government. I think, I have some indirect proof of that. Here is a link to an article from the investment firm of Price,Waterhouse and Cooper.
It has some rather unusual statistics about Hong Kong.
Apparently, one of the goals of the Hong Kong Government is to bring the cost of government down to below 20% of the GDP by 2008. What the article does not tell me is how far above 20% the percentage of the GDP the government take currently is. That 20% figure seemed high to me so being a librarian after all, I looked it up. My intuition was, both wrong and right.
If you look at over all percentage of government expenditures as a portion of GDP you find that the nations on the table spend from about 35% to nearly 60% of the GDP on government. So on the surface, Hong Kong would look to be at the low end of the scale. However, you have to throw out the nations with highly socialistic economies like the Sandinavian countries because their economic structure is very different from Hong Kong.
If you look at the more market oriented nations you'll find that they normally spend about 1/3 to about 1/2 of the GDP on government. However, all of the other nations listed have to also spend money on things that Hong Kong doesn't. For example, when I was an undergraduate, the number 17% was often cited as the amount of the US budget devoted to defense. Well, if you take the 35% or so of GDP the US spends on government and subtract 17% you end up with 18%. If Hong Kong, a market economy is spending over 20% of its GDP on government then as a percentage it is spending somewhere between 2% and 11% more of it's GDP on government without funding an army or navy or a foreign service that mans embassies and consulates. That is assuming that the government currently spends no more than 29% of the GDP on government which is what the article implies to me.
So, what does this have to do with Henry Tang rising above his education?
It appears to me that Henry sees that the government cannot meet its goal of reducing the percentage of the GDP used by government to less than 20%. Especially since most of the HK baboons (My term for the Hong Kong Civil Service) were trained Europe they would look not at the US but at Europe with slower growth, higher taxes and less freedom as their model rather than the traditionally lower tax, higher growth and more personal freedom model that the people here are used to.
In short, I don't think Henry Tang believes the government can reduce its cost to less than 20% of the GDP because countries like France, and the UK and Germany are, after subtracting their military and diplomatic budgets, higher than that, but can't say so because of the political problems it would cost. He wants to keep his job.
He is trying to find a way to increase the governments revenue to, at least in part, cover the bloated salaries that government officials are paid because he knows very well that those salaries are one of the first things that the local population will call for cutting rather than raising taxes.
A GST is a good way to do that because it is a hidden tax. People pay it a little at a time. They get used to it after a while. So why should Henry cut his salary or forgo hiring 50 more cronies at the ministerial level? Why not raise taxes?
Or, it could be that Henry is thinking like a European socialist. He may believe that the road to freedom is to tax the population into prosperity.
Or maybe He thinks his astronomical salary of over USD $45,000.00 per month is justified because he is so much more competant than the average Zhou.
Or maybe, it is just low cuning
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Libertine Blogger
Friday, September 01, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Truth is Stranger than Fiction
I think that dog would have been given a license in Hong Kong. He could even earn a living driving a minibus
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger without a Drivers License
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger without a Drivers License
Monday, August 28, 2006
Funny in an Ironic Way
The Link above is what you get when you click on the page for information on "Victims of Violent Crime" at the Hong Kong Department of Justice
It figures
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who doesn't believe that Hong Kong has a justice system
It figures
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who doesn't believe that Hong Kong has a justice system
What More Can Be Said?
Yet another egregious judicial decision last Friday by a Hong Kong judge.
A group of young men captured a young girl in 2004, tied her up, beat her and sexually assaulted her over a span of two days before she died
The longest sentence given to any of these perverted reprobates was nine years in prison. One of these sub-human, throwback (I used in the old social Darwinist term on purpose as it is the most insulting term that applies to them) monsters received only a three month probation.
This is the third judge in a two week span to give incredibly lenient sentences to perpetrators of brutal crimes.
Hong Kong currently has a very low crime rate. It is a safe place. However, if the non-justice system keeps doing this then Hong Kong will not remain a safe place for long.
Look at what is happening in the UK . Not only the burglary but violent crime is on the rise. Hong Kong judiciaries were trained in the UK and evidently have the same flawed understanding of the law not to mention human nature. We are in trouble if we do not remove these idiots from the bench.
Do these judges actually think that the Triads haven't noticed this? Watch; it will not be long before the Triads start having 14 or 15 year olds murder rivals because a teenager will be able to get off with probation. I'd be surprized if it hasn't happened already.
Yep, the crime rate for violent crimes in Hong Kong is now officially on the way up. It gets worse. In Hong Kong you can't even defend yourself, it is like the UK because you can't own a weapon to protect yourself. If you strike back at an agressor you are often charged with a crime. Part of the bargin that gun control advocates claim to make with the population is that you don't need to protect yourself because the government will do it for you. What happens if the state doesn't protect you but doesn't let you protect yourself? Hong Kong may be about to find out.
Now that the state has stopped protecting the citizens it could get bad fast.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who wishes he had the right to a sleeveless shirt in Hong Kong
A group of young men captured a young girl in 2004, tied her up, beat her and sexually assaulted her over a span of two days before she died
The longest sentence given to any of these perverted reprobates was nine years in prison. One of these sub-human, throwback (I used in the old social Darwinist term on purpose as it is the most insulting term that applies to them) monsters received only a three month probation.
This is the third judge in a two week span to give incredibly lenient sentences to perpetrators of brutal crimes.
Hong Kong currently has a very low crime rate. It is a safe place. However, if the non-justice system keeps doing this then Hong Kong will not remain a safe place for long.
Look at what is happening in the UK . Not only the burglary but violent crime is on the rise. Hong Kong judiciaries were trained in the UK and evidently have the same flawed understanding of the law not to mention human nature. We are in trouble if we do not remove these idiots from the bench.
Do these judges actually think that the Triads haven't noticed this? Watch; it will not be long before the Triads start having 14 or 15 year olds murder rivals because a teenager will be able to get off with probation. I'd be surprized if it hasn't happened already.
Yep, the crime rate for violent crimes in Hong Kong is now officially on the way up. It gets worse. In Hong Kong you can't even defend yourself, it is like the UK because you can't own a weapon to protect yourself. If you strike back at an agressor you are often charged with a crime. Part of the bargin that gun control advocates claim to make with the population is that you don't need to protect yourself because the government will do it for you. What happens if the state doesn't protect you but doesn't let you protect yourself? Hong Kong may be about to find out.
Now that the state has stopped protecting the citizens it could get bad fast.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who wishes he had the right to a sleeveless shirt in Hong Kong
Friday, August 25, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Lurking and Posting
Some unidentified person left comment correcting something I'd said about the man arrested in the Jon Bennet Ramsey murder. The correction doesn't really change the thrust of the post but it does make me more believable if I have facts straight.
Thank you Madam/Sir whoever you are. Please come again.
I do wish people would leave a name or place.
Unlike a newspaper reporter I don't think I'm infallible. I'm not going to give anyone a written slap down if I can avoid it. If I think I've gotten a reply by a crank, I'll probably just delete the comment and move on. I've had a couple of rather strident replies over the years I've been doing this and I've always tried to be polite when replying. Which doesn't mean that I don't try and defend my position if I think I'm right.
I'm always appreciative when people take time to respond; even if I disagree with them.
I think the ability to have people with more knowledge than I in certain subjects offer corrections is one of the great things about blogs. (In this case the person had probably read more recent news reports.) This is important because words have consequences. What I say affects or possibly affects what others do. Thus, it is important that I have my facts straight.
One of the false defenses sometimes used against censorship (as opposed to those that are valid) is that "It is just a book or just an opinion or just art and doesn't affect anybody" Well, it is my hope that when I write something that it affects those who read it. Indeed, I cannot imagine any artist saying this. Yet, I've heard this many times in discussions on censorship.
Why would I go to the trouble to write long angry essay about what I perceive as problems with the justice system in Hong Kong if I didn't think that I could either change someone's mind, alert them to a problem, or let them know that there are others who agree or disagree with them?
In a broader sense, if art has no affect or effect on us then why do we do it? Even if that effect is only to bring us pleasure or enjoyment. In my case, I am hoping that people enjoy my opinions. I hope that they find me funny or insightful or intelligent or to at least be saying something in an entertaining way. I think that my post, or essays are a form of art. I may not be a very good artist but I don't think my writing is valueless. What I say here has the potential to affect people and have an effect in their lives.
Anyway, I ramble.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger Who is Probably Not Really A Very Good Artist
Thank you Madam/Sir whoever you are. Please come again.
I do wish people would leave a name or place.
Unlike a newspaper reporter I don't think I'm infallible. I'm not going to give anyone a written slap down if I can avoid it. If I think I've gotten a reply by a crank, I'll probably just delete the comment and move on. I've had a couple of rather strident replies over the years I've been doing this and I've always tried to be polite when replying. Which doesn't mean that I don't try and defend my position if I think I'm right.
I'm always appreciative when people take time to respond; even if I disagree with them.
I think the ability to have people with more knowledge than I in certain subjects offer corrections is one of the great things about blogs. (In this case the person had probably read more recent news reports.) This is important because words have consequences. What I say affects or possibly affects what others do. Thus, it is important that I have my facts straight.
One of the false defenses sometimes used against censorship (as opposed to those that are valid) is that "It is just a book or just an opinion or just art and doesn't affect anybody" Well, it is my hope that when I write something that it affects those who read it. Indeed, I cannot imagine any artist saying this. Yet, I've heard this many times in discussions on censorship.
Why would I go to the trouble to write long angry essay about what I perceive as problems with the justice system in Hong Kong if I didn't think that I could either change someone's mind, alert them to a problem, or let them know that there are others who agree or disagree with them?
In a broader sense, if art has no affect or effect on us then why do we do it? Even if that effect is only to bring us pleasure or enjoyment. In my case, I am hoping that people enjoy my opinions. I hope that they find me funny or insightful or intelligent or to at least be saying something in an entertaining way. I think that my post, or essays are a form of art. I may not be a very good artist but I don't think my writing is valueless. What I say here has the potential to affect people and have an effect in their lives.
Anyway, I ramble.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger Who is Probably Not Really A Very Good Artist
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Another Evil Hong Kong Judge
It seems that bad judicial decisions are becoming as common in
A 42 year-old man was given eight years for molesting at least 12 children. What’s that work out to, 9 months per rape? Assuming, of course that the only raped each child once.
After the creep is released he will have to undergo therapy.
This was not justice. It was a miscarriage of justice. I do not care that he pleaded guilty. I don’t care that after he was caught he confessed. This man raped 12 little girls.
To make matters worse the judge was quoted as saying that she was surprised to know that parents would let children as young as nine go to the park by them selves. Perhaps I misunderstood but it appears to me that she is, in part blaming the parents for the allowing a pedophile to attack their children. I guess she doesn’t realize that not everyone here can afford to hire two Filipino or Indonesian helpers per child as babysitters, tutors and substitute parents so that like her the parent can go to work and meditate upon the arcane and ancient craft of law.
What a travesty
What a farce.
What an incompetent human sack of shit
This man ruined at least 12 children’s live. He has traumatized whole families for many years to come. He has committed a crime that many, if not most people feel is more heinous than murder. He did not commit the crime once but many times. This man is a monster. That he received a term of incarceration of only eight years for these crimes should be staggering to anyone who believe that society has a right to be protected from such people and that government has the responsibility to keep such people off the streets.
Therapy and counseling are seldom helpful in such cases.
Societies have basically three choices with this type of criminal. They can locked them up forever; They can be executed; or possibly electronically tracked. The last option is not appropriate for
The only hope that justice will be served in this case is that molesters are not very popular in prison. One, Jeffery Dahmer was put back into the general population several years ago in the
Fai Mao
The Blogger Who Thinks that Hong Judges Are a Criminals’ Best Friend
Friday, August 18, 2006
Is My Bicycle Worth More Than My Life?
Last November a cyclist was killed during the bicycling section of the Hong Kong Triathlon series by a Mini-Bus driver who was driving recklessly. I find it amazing that the roads were closed to private cars but open to these hellishly bad drivers. What a dangerous situation. What was worse I was at the race. It could have been me who was hit.
Yesterday the driver of the mini-bus who was speeding, by some reports talking on his cell-phone and in the wrong lane while passing around a blind curve was sentenced to 5 months in jail. His license was revoked for two years.
What an absolute travesty
What a farce
What kind of idiots does Hong Kong allow to become judges?
Considering that the bicycles ridden by triathletes can cost upwards of HKD $60,000 it is possible that the mini-bus driver will lose less money in lost wages than the man he MURDERED had invested in his bicycle.
I realize that putting the human sack of shit driver in one of Hong Kong's cushy prisons isn't going to bring the man he killed back. But, it might make other drivers think a little before they pass around blind curves and engage in all the other incredibly dangerous stunts that they pull in traffic.
The human sack of shit judge commented upon how the driver was actually a man of good character and showed true remorse and all the other tripe and swill that judges who lose sight of the victim and the damage done to the victims families spout as excuses for their cowardice in not handing down a just and equitable judgment.
If this driver was a man of good character he would not have been in the wrong lane, speeding or illegaly passing on a blind curve. He would have been concerned enough about the people in his bus and on the bicycles around him that he would not have taken the deliberate actions that caused this accident.
What this judge has actually just done is allow mini-bus drivers to run over cyclist and pedestrians at will. After all, even if they kill someone the worst they'll get is five months in a minimum security lockup.
Conversely, anyone wishing to murder someone simply needs to run over them while driving a mini-bus.
Can any other conclusion be drawn from this verdict?
I think that as of today, as a pedestrian, cyclist and concerned citizen I am going to refuse to ride a mini-bus. They are dangerous; often poorly maintained, at times overloaded and the drivers negligent of basic traffic laws such as speed limits, traffic lights and stop signs. They should outlawed. Just get them off the streets.
The judge who handed this decision down should be impeached. Indeed, if he/she/it is indicative of all the judges in Hong Kong then they should all be replaced.
I'm sorry, if this is justice in Hong Kong then Hong Kong is not a civilized place. If the judge that handed down this decision believes he was being civil, just or enlightened he/she/it should think again.
Cretins, Philistines, Dunciads in robes - It doesn't take much intelligence to see that in this case, justice was not served. It wasn't even thought about.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who believes in the Idea of Just Punishment More than the Hong Kong Judges
Yesterday the driver of the mini-bus who was speeding, by some reports talking on his cell-phone and in the wrong lane while passing around a blind curve was sentenced to 5 months in jail. His license was revoked for two years.
What an absolute travesty
What a farce
What kind of idiots does Hong Kong allow to become judges?
Considering that the bicycles ridden by triathletes can cost upwards of HKD $60,000 it is possible that the mini-bus driver will lose less money in lost wages than the man he MURDERED had invested in his bicycle.
I realize that putting the human sack of shit driver in one of Hong Kong's cushy prisons isn't going to bring the man he killed back. But, it might make other drivers think a little before they pass around blind curves and engage in all the other incredibly dangerous stunts that they pull in traffic.
The human sack of shit judge commented upon how the driver was actually a man of good character and showed true remorse and all the other tripe and swill that judges who lose sight of the victim and the damage done to the victims families spout as excuses for their cowardice in not handing down a just and equitable judgment.
If this driver was a man of good character he would not have been in the wrong lane, speeding or illegaly passing on a blind curve. He would have been concerned enough about the people in his bus and on the bicycles around him that he would not have taken the deliberate actions that caused this accident.
What this judge has actually just done is allow mini-bus drivers to run over cyclist and pedestrians at will. After all, even if they kill someone the worst they'll get is five months in a minimum security lockup.
Conversely, anyone wishing to murder someone simply needs to run over them while driving a mini-bus.
Can any other conclusion be drawn from this verdict?
I think that as of today, as a pedestrian, cyclist and concerned citizen I am going to refuse to ride a mini-bus. They are dangerous; often poorly maintained, at times overloaded and the drivers negligent of basic traffic laws such as speed limits, traffic lights and stop signs. They should outlawed. Just get them off the streets.
The judge who handed this decision down should be impeached. Indeed, if he/she/it is indicative of all the judges in Hong Kong then they should all be replaced.
I'm sorry, if this is justice in Hong Kong then Hong Kong is not a civilized place. If the judge that handed down this decision believes he was being civil, just or enlightened he/she/it should think again.
Cretins, Philistines, Dunciads in robes - It doesn't take much intelligence to see that in this case, justice was not served. It wasn't even thought about.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who believes in the Idea of Just Punishment More than the Hong Kong Judges
Of Walking and Picnics
I was slightly surprised and encouraged last night because according to TVB the government has put forward a proposal to relieve the congestion in Causeway Bay. What's more, the proposal actually makes sense and would be started and completed before June of 3006.
They want to connect the Sogo Department store with the Hennessey Center across the street with a 50 meter wide subterranean pedestrian tunnel. They also want to widen the sidewalks above ground and limit motorized traffic. I'm not sure how they plan to limit motorized traffic but it is something that needs to be done. My guess is that in part, what would happen is that there would be fewer places to exit the road and that there would also be no street level pedestrian crossings. That might actually help quite a bit.
Here is the question that they didn't address. If they make the sidewalks wider and have a covered, therefore dry subterranean walkway, how are they going to control the masses of domestic helpers who use the streets for picnics on weekends?
Is this underground walk-way going to become an underground picnics area from 7:00AM until 10:00PM every Sunday?
Don't get me wrong, I have some sympathy for the helpers who don't really have many options for things to do on a day off. However, the all day sidewalk picnics in Causeway bay are already a major source of congestion. Not to mention the amount of trash and litter they leave behind every week has sanitation crews working all night to clean Victoria park and the surrounding streets.
These picnics are also, I believe a major source of ill will between the helpers and the locals. Once setup the picnickers won't move an inch and often take up all but the narrowest of lanes down the center of the sidewalk. Some of the groups of helpers can actually be somewhat intimidating when they get their Islamic chants going in rhythm with a big drum.
I'm sure that the local businesses have lost customers each Sunday because people don't want to walk over several 1000 Indonesian and Filipinos to get to the store.
A 50 meter wide tunnel and more trees would, it seems to me, only exacerbate this problem unless there a strictly enforced "No Picnicking" policy.
I don't know that there are any good solutions to this problem. However, while I have some sympathy for the helpers I do think that the congestion on the week-end in Causeway Bay could be controlled by simply enforcing loitering laws. In some respects it is too easy for the maids to set up their picnics on the sidewalk. If they were ticketed then they would find somewhere else to go.
Perhaps they might find several somewhere else's which would spread the congestion out and make it less obvious. Perhaps, a charitable group like the Jockey club for example could open the infield of the Happy valley Race Track on days when there is no racing That would be a place that is easy to get to, is safe and has access to toilets and water.
Anyway, I don't think they will solve the congestion problem until they solve the Sunday-sidewalk-picnics problem
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Non-Picnicing Blogger
They want to connect the Sogo Department store with the Hennessey Center across the street with a 50 meter wide subterranean pedestrian tunnel. They also want to widen the sidewalks above ground and limit motorized traffic. I'm not sure how they plan to limit motorized traffic but it is something that needs to be done. My guess is that in part, what would happen is that there would be fewer places to exit the road and that there would also be no street level pedestrian crossings. That might actually help quite a bit.
Here is the question that they didn't address. If they make the sidewalks wider and have a covered, therefore dry subterranean walkway, how are they going to control the masses of domestic helpers who use the streets for picnics on weekends?
Is this underground walk-way going to become an underground picnics area from 7:00AM until 10:00PM every Sunday?
Don't get me wrong, I have some sympathy for the helpers who don't really have many options for things to do on a day off. However, the all day sidewalk picnics in Causeway bay are already a major source of congestion. Not to mention the amount of trash and litter they leave behind every week has sanitation crews working all night to clean Victoria park and the surrounding streets.
These picnics are also, I believe a major source of ill will between the helpers and the locals. Once setup the picnickers won't move an inch and often take up all but the narrowest of lanes down the center of the sidewalk. Some of the groups of helpers can actually be somewhat intimidating when they get their Islamic chants going in rhythm with a big drum.
I'm sure that the local businesses have lost customers each Sunday because people don't want to walk over several 1000 Indonesian and Filipinos to get to the store.
A 50 meter wide tunnel and more trees would, it seems to me, only exacerbate this problem unless there a strictly enforced "No Picnicking" policy.
I don't know that there are any good solutions to this problem. However, while I have some sympathy for the helpers I do think that the congestion on the week-end in Causeway Bay could be controlled by simply enforcing loitering laws. In some respects it is too easy for the maids to set up their picnics on the sidewalk. If they were ticketed then they would find somewhere else to go.
Perhaps they might find several somewhere else's which would spread the congestion out and make it less obvious. Perhaps, a charitable group like the Jockey club for example could open the infield of the Happy valley Race Track on days when there is no racing That would be a place that is easy to get to, is safe and has access to toilets and water.
Anyway, I don't think they will solve the congestion problem until they solve the Sunday-sidewalk-picnics problem
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Non-Picnicing Blogger
Thursday, August 17, 2006
The evil that lurks in the hearts of men
There is an article in the news this morning that says that police in Thailand have arrested a man in connection with the murder of Jon Bennet Ramsey who was killed in Denver about 15 years ago.
This was a horrific murder and because her parents were somewhat quirky, newly-rich with a rather extravagant lifestyle, they were the prime suspect for many years. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The parents were all but tried and convicted of murdering their child in the papers and on television. Like O.J. Simpson they've maintained their innocence all along. Unlike O.J. Simpson it now appears that they are not guilty as Hell but were quite possibly wrongly accused.
The guy who has confessed to this is being held in a Thailand prison. (He is now back in the US (Aug 25) He is a second grade teacher from the US state of Georgia. It seems that education is a magnet along with church youth workers for Pedophiles. Bangkok is where these guys go for a good time with 10 or 12 year-old girls or boys. It makes me wonder if Jon Bennet was the only little girl he molested and killed.
It makes me wonder if schools should require male teachers to be married. I'm not sure that would always work. One of the best elementary school teachers I have ever met was a single man. He was not and is not a child molester. Thus many kids would have missed out on a wonderful educational experience if Gregg hadn't been allowed to teach. Also, there is nothing to say that pedophiles can't be married.
As someone in education it is hard call. I'm not sure there is a good answer.
At any rate, it is good to see a case like this finally solved. If I were the US government, I'd be tempted to refuse extradition. Let this guy spend the rest of his life in Thai prison. Pedophile are among the offenders who are least likely to be rehabilitated. Lock him up, throw away the key and remind him not to bend over to pick up his soap in the shower. Maybe a little of the horror he has inflicted upon little girls (and boys?) can be repaid to him.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger Who Doesn't Have Much Mercy for Paedophiles
This was a horrific murder and because her parents were somewhat quirky, newly-rich with a rather extravagant lifestyle, they were the prime suspect for many years. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The parents were all but tried and convicted of murdering their child in the papers and on television. Like O.J. Simpson they've maintained their innocence all along. Unlike O.J. Simpson it now appears that they are not guilty as Hell but were quite possibly wrongly accused.
The guy who has confessed to this is being held in a Thailand prison. (He is now back in the US (Aug 25) He is a second grade teacher from the US state of Georgia. It seems that education is a magnet along with church youth workers for Pedophiles. Bangkok is where these guys go for a good time with 10 or 12 year-old girls or boys. It makes me wonder if Jon Bennet was the only little girl he molested and killed.
It makes me wonder if schools should require male teachers to be married. I'm not sure that would always work. One of the best elementary school teachers I have ever met was a single man. He was not and is not a child molester. Thus many kids would have missed out on a wonderful educational experience if Gregg hadn't been allowed to teach. Also, there is nothing to say that pedophiles can't be married.
As someone in education it is hard call. I'm not sure there is a good answer.
At any rate, it is good to see a case like this finally solved. If I were the US government, I'd be tempted to refuse extradition. Let this guy spend the rest of his life in Thai prison. Pedophile are among the offenders who are least likely to be rehabilitated. Lock him up, throw away the key and remind him not to bend over to pick up his soap in the shower. Maybe a little of the horror he has inflicted upon little girls (and boys?) can be repaid to him.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger Who Doesn't Have Much Mercy for Paedophiles
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Another T-Shirt
A 30-something Chinese woman was on the bus this morning
Her shirt said
"I've got rubber nipples"
It had a picture of a baby bottle on it but she was obviously unaware of the intent.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The T-Shirt Spotting Blogger
Her shirt said
"I've got rubber nipples"
It had a picture of a baby bottle on it but she was obviously unaware of the intent.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The T-Shirt Spotting Blogger
Tied up in Knots
I woke up last night with cramps in both calves.
Wow, did that mess up my sleep schedule.
One of the people I work with says that means I need more salt in my diet. I wish that were so. I am not one to deny my self many foods and I think I eat a lot of salt. However, I sweat a lot here because I walk a lot. So, maybe I sweat it all out.
Walking actually helped this morning. The cramps eased up as I walked through the park.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger with painful legs.
Wow, did that mess up my sleep schedule.
One of the people I work with says that means I need more salt in my diet. I wish that were so. I am not one to deny my self many foods and I think I eat a lot of salt. However, I sweat a lot here because I walk a lot. So, maybe I sweat it all out.
Walking actually helped this morning. The cramps eased up as I walked through the park.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger with painful legs.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Beer and BBQ
The lovely, talented, loving, looks 25 years younger than she is, hardworking and intelligent Chinese wife is in Singapore on business until late this afternoon. So, being all by my lonesome and not wanting to cook, I took a short walk across the street to the Brazilian BBQ in Victoria Park right beside the swimming pool.
What a great place. A really long salad bar with various meats brought to your table by guys from the kitchen for $68.00 (about $7.50 US) and all the beer you can drink for only $16.00 more(About $2.05 US).
I've got to admit that some of the meats they serve are a little on the strange side and look suspiciously more Chinese than South American. Hey-Sirah-Sirah, other than the "Corn Sausage" it's still good. The down side is that they bring out the cheap stuff first so you have to pace yourself a little bit. But, that isn't a bad thing either. If you live in Hong Kong and haven't gone then give it a try. For $58.00 to $98.00 all you can eat (Depending on the time of day and whether you have the BBQ or just the Salad bar) plus an additional $16.00 for the beer or soda it is the best deal in town.
Best of all ...... The place is nearly empty on Sunday afternoons because the locals stay away from Queen Vicky park so that they don't have step over the picnicking domestic helpers. The domestic helpers stay away from this place because they are Indonesian Muslims and don't eat pork!
A few flirty Filipinos helpers were there and some local families but unlike most all-you-can-eat restaurants in Hong Kong this one is relatively quiet and you can focus on packing it away rather than listening to the guy at the next table curse into his cellphone.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Definitely not a Gormet or Gourmand Blogger
What a great place. A really long salad bar with various meats brought to your table by guys from the kitchen for $68.00 (about $7.50 US) and all the beer you can drink for only $16.00 more(About $2.05 US).
I've got to admit that some of the meats they serve are a little on the strange side and look suspiciously more Chinese than South American. Hey-Sirah-Sirah, other than the "Corn Sausage" it's still good. The down side is that they bring out the cheap stuff first so you have to pace yourself a little bit. But, that isn't a bad thing either. If you live in Hong Kong and haven't gone then give it a try. For $58.00 to $98.00 all you can eat (Depending on the time of day and whether you have the BBQ or just the Salad bar) plus an additional $16.00 for the beer or soda it is the best deal in town.
Best of all ...... The place is nearly empty on Sunday afternoons because the locals stay away from Queen Vicky park so that they don't have step over the picnicking domestic helpers. The domestic helpers stay away from this place because they are Indonesian Muslims and don't eat pork!
A few flirty Filipinos helpers were there and some local families but unlike most all-you-can-eat restaurants in Hong Kong this one is relatively quiet and you can focus on packing it away rather than listening to the guy at the next table curse into his cellphone.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Definitely not a Gormet or Gourmand Blogger
Hong Kong Needs a K-Mart
I was so frustrated yesterday that I could have bit nails and spit tacks.
I was repairing something in our bathroom and needed a tube of silicone sealant or caulk. The stuff is ubiquitous, easy to find and cheap. You can get it everywhere. Well, everywhere except near where I live.
I went to three little shops in the shopping center under our building. I went to the Jusco $10.00 store several blocks away, Pricerite, and the big 24 hour Wellcome Supermarket near Victoria Park. It wasn't there. I also looked at a couple of plumbing fixture places; no luck. This took over an hour because I had to wade through the molasses like crowds that clog the Causeway Bay sidewalks on Saturdays.
The frustrating thing is that if I'm not looking for this stuff I'll see it in about 40 places in an hour. I'll probably find it tomorrow but I wanted it yesterday. That's Hong Kong.
The last place I looked was Ikea. I didn't expect to really find it there but you never know. Ikea is sort of a Swedish Wal-Mart with out the clothing and groceries. They sell furniture, dishes and household decorator items like curtains and bed spreads. They also carry light bulbs and batteries and household electrical supplies so there was chance they'd have caulk or sealer.
I went to Ikea last because Ikea is a store I absolutely hate with a purple passion. I actually like many of their products but the store is laid out in a serpentine fashion that forces you to walk past everything to get to anything. I swear that they read my mind before I go in there because it always seems that whatever I want is the last thing on the last twist of the path. Not that it would make any difference because I'd still have to walk past all the other stuff to check out anyway.
I freely admit I'm a buyer not a shopper.
I want to enter a store that has a high probability of having the item(s) I want at a reasonable price, walk directly to that item or items because there are clear signs that tell where things are and then select the item from the shelf, rack or bin. I then want to pay without standing in line for 45 minute. What I want is a K-Mart or maybe a Target or a Sears in Causeway Bay. I'd say Wal-Mart but then I get lots of weirdo's calling me names.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Buyer Not Shopper Blogger
I was repairing something in our bathroom and needed a tube of silicone sealant or caulk. The stuff is ubiquitous, easy to find and cheap. You can get it everywhere. Well, everywhere except near where I live.
I went to three little shops in the shopping center under our building. I went to the Jusco $10.00 store several blocks away, Pricerite, and the big 24 hour Wellcome Supermarket near Victoria Park. It wasn't there. I also looked at a couple of plumbing fixture places; no luck. This took over an hour because I had to wade through the molasses like crowds that clog the Causeway Bay sidewalks on Saturdays.
The frustrating thing is that if I'm not looking for this stuff I'll see it in about 40 places in an hour. I'll probably find it tomorrow but I wanted it yesterday. That's Hong Kong.
The last place I looked was Ikea. I didn't expect to really find it there but you never know. Ikea is sort of a Swedish Wal-Mart with out the clothing and groceries. They sell furniture, dishes and household decorator items like curtains and bed spreads. They also carry light bulbs and batteries and household electrical supplies so there was chance they'd have caulk or sealer.
I went to Ikea last because Ikea is a store I absolutely hate with a purple passion. I actually like many of their products but the store is laid out in a serpentine fashion that forces you to walk past everything to get to anything. I swear that they read my mind before I go in there because it always seems that whatever I want is the last thing on the last twist of the path. Not that it would make any difference because I'd still have to walk past all the other stuff to check out anyway.
I freely admit I'm a buyer not a shopper.
I want to enter a store that has a high probability of having the item(s) I want at a reasonable price, walk directly to that item or items because there are clear signs that tell where things are and then select the item from the shelf, rack or bin. I then want to pay without standing in line for 45 minute. What I want is a K-Mart or maybe a Target or a Sears in Causeway Bay. I'd say Wal-Mart but then I get lots of weirdo's calling me names.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Buyer Not Shopper Blogger
Saturday, August 12, 2006
On Reason and Hatred
Several days before the arrest of the latest cohort of bombers in London, I was having a discussion with a friend about the motivation(s) of terrorist. His position is that rather than fighting them the West should remove the motivation for making them terrorist. To show them that "We are not a threat." Of all the people that I have talked to on issues like this he is one of the most sincere, logical and rational. He tries very hard to see all sides of issues and is a person that I am glad to know because knowing him makes my life better. It was truly a pleasant talk because we could discuss these things without the acrimony that often accompanies such conversations.
His argument basically boils down to
1. Terrorist feel themselves to be oppressed, disenfranchised or both.
2. Because they are oppressed, disenfranchised or both they are powerless to affect the political process in a normal means or do not trust the normal means for affecting change.
3. Therefore, we will never be rid of terrorism until we solve the underlying problems that cause it.
4. Therefore, it is counter productive to fight terrorism because in fighting it we only exacerbate the problems that cause it.
5. Once you remove the sources of frustration then the few remaining nuts will not be difficult to control.
I understand the sentiment but I have to disagree.
I don't disagree completely because there are some undeniable root problems that many times feeds the despair and rage that some people feel. But, in many cases I think that my friend is injecting reason and logic into an inherently unreasonable and illogical situation. Thus, all of the points above fall because the situation is not reasonable. I do not believe that reason can be used as a weapon against that which is militantly unreasonable. I also do not believe that all evil has inherently economic causes, but that is another post for another time.
When talking about terrorism we are, in general talking about only two groups of people. Islamic jihadist, or political revolutionaries. While individuals in these groups may be disenfranchised, oppressed or both this is not always the case. What is always true is that Jihadist and political revolutionaries are, or at lest their leadership is, generally speaking, "true believers" they aren't in it for the money. They aren't in it to liberate the oppressed, though that might be part of it. They do what they do because they believe in "inevitable rise of socialism" or because they are looking for some form of spiritual enlightenment or salvation through martyrdom. All of the other things they stand for are secondary to the cause of Islam or whatever political "ism" they represent.
These are not necessarily rational or reasonable things. Indeed, if you listen to what Osama bin Ladin has said then Spain would have to be returned to Muslim control and everyone would have to either be a Muslim or become dhimmi living under Sharia law. Is this a reasonable position? No, I do not think so. Especially since if nations would not voluntarily agree to this then they would be overcome by force. When we are dealing with Jihadist we are often time, indeed possibly most of the time talking about people who literally believe one or more of the following: that the Earth is flat; that the throne of Allah is directly over the city of Mecca, which is the actual center of the universe; that Mohammed cut the moon in 1/2 with his sword and then put it back together, that Mohammed preached to Genji's in the desert and that God literally speaks Arabic which is the perfect language. Everything mentioned above is something that is stated in the Quran or Hadith. Jihadist also seem to believe that it is a sin worthy of death to question or not believe anything in the Quran or Hadiths.
Which one of those propositions would the average non-fundamentalist Muslim be willing to hold to as truth; much less a Christian, Buddhist or Hindu? If you think the Bible has problems with science read the Quran!
You cannot compromise with people espousing ideals like this, whether religious or political because they will concede no middle ground. You cannot reason with them because their belief system is not based upon the same set of assumptions as yours but upon an internal logic that only applies to the system. If you don't buy the whole package they will just kill you or enslave you and move on.
The same is true of political revolutionaries from groups such as the "Shining Path"
in Peru. They are, or so they claim, working to bring about a total restructuring of society through armed struggle. That new society would be perfect and free of all the opression of the past one. The problem is, as far as I am concerned, that theirs would be utopia maintained by force and if you are not for them you are against them. If you are against them you are dead.
Does that mean every revolution to overthrow a government is lead by hyper-right or hyper-left wing radicals? No, certainly not. But some are and if you do not completely agree with those that are you will probably be in lots of trouble if they catch you.
Karl Popper talks about this in volume 2 of The Open Society and its Enemies when he shows how Marxism, or any ideology for that matter that claims to explain everything, as does fundamentalist Islam actually explains nothing. Such systems can only be maintained by force because they are inconsistent with the real world. The true believers in this case will not let you question them because the whole cause hangs together as a unit. If one part isn't true then the whole thing falls. Therefore, the cause must supersede the individual or argument.
Thus, in both cases, when dealing with either religious or political extremist dialog and understanding are oftentimes useless. There are only three choices available; surrender and become a slave, die passively or resist.
To deal with all-consuming, universal ideologies means we must wage either a war of words or a war of bullets, often both. We must both defeat and discredit them. There is no other way.
I'm not sure we can change many Jihadist minds through verbal methods. So, unfortunately, we are left with only more forceful options. We can isolate them, imprison them or we can kill them. Or, they will do that to us.
When I look at the near total loss of dignity suffered by women in Islamic societies, the persecution of non-Muslims in most Islamic societies, the horrific legal system that is Sharia law that Jihadist want to impose, the incredibly backwards and anti-intellectual blinders that many Muslim sects and all Jihadist submit themselves to; I chose to resist Jihadist. I would rather die than live under such conditions. I will die before I allow my wife and daughter to live under such conditions. I will resist Jihadist by all means possible. Preferably in a peaceable manner but by any means needed. They must be defeated or the world faces a future more horrific than H.W. Wells or H.P. Lovecraft could have ever imagined.
Hatred isn't reasonable. Reason is not an antidote to hatred and has often been used by haters to their advantage as proved by NAZI Germany's pact with the UK and France that was, to use Neville Chamberlain's phrase, to achieve "Peace in our time." Because hate is not reasonable I will not reason with it. I will defeat it.
Many of the leaders of terrorist groups and terrible tyrant's of the 20th century actually came from middle class or higher socio-economic backgrounds. They may recruit from the lower classes but one would be hard pressed to say that these movement arise from below. They start from much nearer the top of society than the bottom. It seems that one needs to have a certain level of education to plan and lead a revolution or to realize just how oppressed the masses are.
Thus, far from being powerless the leaders of revolutionary movements seem to wield a great deal of power.
Does all of this mean we shouldn't work harder to alleviate social and economic problems in the world including Islamic areas? No.
It does that mean we should not delude ourselves into thinking that we can negociate with people who have a take-it-or-leave-it worldview. If nothing else works then we must eradicate the Jihadist before they eradicate us. As was shown this week, It only takes a few nuts to potentially kill 1000's.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger Who Advocates Resisting Terrorist
His argument basically boils down to
1. Terrorist feel themselves to be oppressed, disenfranchised or both.
2. Because they are oppressed, disenfranchised or both they are powerless to affect the political process in a normal means or do not trust the normal means for affecting change.
3. Therefore, we will never be rid of terrorism until we solve the underlying problems that cause it.
4. Therefore, it is counter productive to fight terrorism because in fighting it we only exacerbate the problems that cause it.
5. Once you remove the sources of frustration then the few remaining nuts will not be difficult to control.
I understand the sentiment but I have to disagree.
I don't disagree completely because there are some undeniable root problems that many times feeds the despair and rage that some people feel. But, in many cases I think that my friend is injecting reason and logic into an inherently unreasonable and illogical situation. Thus, all of the points above fall because the situation is not reasonable. I do not believe that reason can be used as a weapon against that which is militantly unreasonable. I also do not believe that all evil has inherently economic causes, but that is another post for another time.
When talking about terrorism we are, in general talking about only two groups of people. Islamic jihadist, or political revolutionaries. While individuals in these groups may be disenfranchised, oppressed or both this is not always the case. What is always true is that Jihadist and political revolutionaries are, or at lest their leadership is, generally speaking, "true believers" they aren't in it for the money. They aren't in it to liberate the oppressed, though that might be part of it. They do what they do because they believe in "inevitable rise of socialism" or because they are looking for some form of spiritual enlightenment or salvation through martyrdom. All of the other things they stand for are secondary to the cause of Islam or whatever political "ism" they represent.
These are not necessarily rational or reasonable things. Indeed, if you listen to what Osama bin Ladin has said then Spain would have to be returned to Muslim control and everyone would have to either be a Muslim or become dhimmi living under Sharia law. Is this a reasonable position? No, I do not think so. Especially since if nations would not voluntarily agree to this then they would be overcome by force. When we are dealing with Jihadist we are often time, indeed possibly most of the time talking about people who literally believe one or more of the following: that the Earth is flat; that the throne of Allah is directly over the city of Mecca, which is the actual center of the universe; that Mohammed cut the moon in 1/2 with his sword and then put it back together, that Mohammed preached to Genji's in the desert and that God literally speaks Arabic which is the perfect language. Everything mentioned above is something that is stated in the Quran or Hadith. Jihadist also seem to believe that it is a sin worthy of death to question or not believe anything in the Quran or Hadiths.
Which one of those propositions would the average non-fundamentalist Muslim be willing to hold to as truth; much less a Christian, Buddhist or Hindu? If you think the Bible has problems with science read the Quran!
You cannot compromise with people espousing ideals like this, whether religious or political because they will concede no middle ground. You cannot reason with them because their belief system is not based upon the same set of assumptions as yours but upon an internal logic that only applies to the system. If you don't buy the whole package they will just kill you or enslave you and move on.
The same is true of political revolutionaries from groups such as the "Shining Path"
in Peru. They are, or so they claim, working to bring about a total restructuring of society through armed struggle. That new society would be perfect and free of all the opression of the past one. The problem is, as far as I am concerned, that theirs would be utopia maintained by force and if you are not for them you are against them. If you are against them you are dead.
Does that mean every revolution to overthrow a government is lead by hyper-right or hyper-left wing radicals? No, certainly not. But some are and if you do not completely agree with those that are you will probably be in lots of trouble if they catch you.
Karl Popper talks about this in volume 2 of The Open Society and its Enemies when he shows how Marxism, or any ideology for that matter that claims to explain everything, as does fundamentalist Islam actually explains nothing. Such systems can only be maintained by force because they are inconsistent with the real world. The true believers in this case will not let you question them because the whole cause hangs together as a unit. If one part isn't true then the whole thing falls. Therefore, the cause must supersede the individual or argument.
Thus, in both cases, when dealing with either religious or political extremist dialog and understanding are oftentimes useless. There are only three choices available; surrender and become a slave, die passively or resist.
To deal with all-consuming, universal ideologies means we must wage either a war of words or a war of bullets, often both. We must both defeat and discredit them. There is no other way.
I'm not sure we can change many Jihadist minds through verbal methods. So, unfortunately, we are left with only more forceful options. We can isolate them, imprison them or we can kill them. Or, they will do that to us.
When I look at the near total loss of dignity suffered by women in Islamic societies, the persecution of non-Muslims in most Islamic societies, the horrific legal system that is Sharia law that Jihadist want to impose, the incredibly backwards and anti-intellectual blinders that many Muslim sects and all Jihadist submit themselves to; I chose to resist Jihadist. I would rather die than live under such conditions. I will die before I allow my wife and daughter to live under such conditions. I will resist Jihadist by all means possible. Preferably in a peaceable manner but by any means needed. They must be defeated or the world faces a future more horrific than H.W. Wells or H.P. Lovecraft could have ever imagined.
Hatred isn't reasonable. Reason is not an antidote to hatred and has often been used by haters to their advantage as proved by NAZI Germany's pact with the UK and France that was, to use Neville Chamberlain's phrase, to achieve "Peace in our time." Because hate is not reasonable I will not reason with it. I will defeat it.
Many of the leaders of terrorist groups and terrible tyrant's of the 20th century actually came from middle class or higher socio-economic backgrounds. They may recruit from the lower classes but one would be hard pressed to say that these movement arise from below. They start from much nearer the top of society than the bottom. It seems that one needs to have a certain level of education to plan and lead a revolution or to realize just how oppressed the masses are.
Thus, far from being powerless the leaders of revolutionary movements seem to wield a great deal of power.
Does all of this mean we shouldn't work harder to alleviate social and economic problems in the world including Islamic areas? No.
It does that mean we should not delude ourselves into thinking that we can negociate with people who have a take-it-or-leave-it worldview. If nothing else works then we must eradicate the Jihadist before they eradicate us. As was shown this week, It only takes a few nuts to potentially kill 1000's.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger Who Advocates Resisting Terrorist
Friday, August 11, 2006
After the Typhoon
I've had back to back 70+ hour weeks. It is a busy time of year for me.
Thus, not much time to post my thoughts. Unlike much of Hong Kong I make it a point to get my work done on time and don't hang around my job after hours so that I can appear to be working hard and staying late. I'd rather eat at my desk, and take a 25 minute lunch and one coffee break and leave at 4:30 or 5:00 (I get to work at 7:30 AM) than have a two-hour lunch and three 30 minute breaks like most of Hong Kong and stay until 8:30 PM. So, weeks with this many hours are a rarity for me.
I may be wrong but I find that most people here are not really very productive. They obstensibly work lots of hours but appear to me to spend lots of time subtly goofing off. I'm glad my employer looks at what you get done rather than how long you are at the office.
I should start having more time this weekend. I can post more then.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Overworked Blogger
Thus, not much time to post my thoughts. Unlike much of Hong Kong I make it a point to get my work done on time and don't hang around my job after hours so that I can appear to be working hard and staying late. I'd rather eat at my desk, and take a 25 minute lunch and one coffee break and leave at 4:30 or 5:00 (I get to work at 7:30 AM) than have a two-hour lunch and three 30 minute breaks like most of Hong Kong and stay until 8:30 PM. So, weeks with this many hours are a rarity for me.
I may be wrong but I find that most people here are not really very productive. They obstensibly work lots of hours but appear to me to spend lots of time subtly goofing off. I'm glad my employer looks at what you get done rather than how long you are at the office.
I should start having more time this weekend. I can post more then.
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Overworked Blogger
Saturday, July 29, 2006
This Week In Hong Kong
I have been really busy and unable to post this week. However, I really enjoyed seeing Fat Pat (Chris Patten) and Henry Tang get after each other in the papers and on TV. I don’t like either one of them but it is funny; I agreed with both of them.
Fat Pat was absolutely correct when he said it was unethical of Henry to try to deflect criticism of his GST proposal by blaming all of Hong Kong problems on his administration. Henry hit it out of the park when he called Fat Pat, in effect, a glad-handing, self-centered politician. (I am being more polite than Henry)
I wish they’d gotten in fist fight. Boy, oh boy would that have been fun. They could of sold tickets
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
Fat Pat was absolutely correct when he said it was unethical of Henry to try to deflect criticism of his GST proposal by blaming all of Hong Kong problems on his administration. Henry hit it out of the park when he called Fat Pat, in effect, a glad-handing, self-centered politician. (I am being more polite than Henry)
I wish they’d gotten in fist fight. Boy, oh boy would that have been fun. They could of sold tickets
Until Next Time
Fai Mao
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Political Agenda
I am considering running for Legco in the next year or two. If I did the purpose would be to simply rock the political boat a bit and get my name in the paper because I am not part of the good-old-boy network here and didn’t graduate from either HKU or a university in the UK I have no real hope of being elected.
Here is my political agenda for Hong Kong which I reserve the right to modify or change without notice.
General
Education
Currently many of the degrees awarded by these institutions are nearly worthless anyway doing this would improve the degrees from Open and City and Poly-tech because they could use the savings gained from sacking redundant administrators and majors to improve the combined areas left. This would give Baptist and Lingnan a way to serve a niche that is currently not served in Hong Kong.
Environmental
Labor
Here is my political agenda for Hong Kong which I reserve the right to modify or change without notice.
General
- Universal suffrage for all Hong Kong Citizen above the age of 21.
- Revoke the corporate monopolies on cross harbor tunnels and set all of the fees at HKD $30.00 for a round trip. That would allow people and delivery drivers to choose the tunnel need rather than the one they could afford. In other words, like the rest of the civilized world.
- Require real-estate developers to advertise the actual interior dimensions of flats without adding part of the outside walls elevator lobby, stairs or other intangible additions to floor space. In other words, like the rest of the world.
- Abolish the functional Constituencies in Legco. In other words, like the rest of the civilized world.
- Require a 67% positive referendum before any form of a sales, goods and services or VAT tax could be imposed. Given the prominence of street vendors and hawkers such a tax would be impossible to fairly enforce and fall unduly on retailers with a street address.
- Institute a HKD$1000.00 per container tax on all cargo containers that go through the port. (See previous post on this subject)
- Petition the central government to form a Hong Kong regiment of the PLA. Station that regiment in Hong Kong rather than the non-Hong Kong soldiers who are now here. In order to ensure that the regiment was fully staffed require every male to serve from the ages of 19 to 21 with no deferments. My son, your son, Donald Tsang’s son Tung Che Wah’s son. Then provide every veteran of the Hong Kong regiment with a scholarship and guaranteed admission to the state sponsored universities (See below)
- Rather than onerous and freedom limiting anti-smoking laws being currently proposed require restaurants to obtain a smoking license in the same way that they must have a liquor license. If they have the license then it is a smoking establishment if they do not have the license then it is non-smoking.
- Restrict immigration and from China to people that can actually help Hong Kong. I really wonder about the apparent slew of 70 something year-old men with 30 something mainland wives.
- Increase the amount of land used for residential development and build enough flats so that the cost falls by 60% then greatly scale back the public housing authority. (Currently 53% of all Hong Kong Citizens live in government subsides housing at a huge cost to the government) Then use government surpluses to make a one time payment to homeowners to over the loss of equity for the middle and upper middle classes to a maximum of two flats. Then scale back the now unneeded public housing subsidies.
- Set Civil Servant and Legco pay at a maximum of 2.5 times the Hong Kong Median Income. If they want a raise make Hong Kong wealthier place overall.
- Make all civil servants participate in a lottery for their jobs. 1/3 of them should simply be fired. A lottery is the fairest way and would stand the best chance of getting rid of the incompetent higherups.
Education
- Abolish the ESF. There needs to be an English language public school in Hong Kong but the ESF is corrupt and not worth the money. Abolish them and start over.
- Combine Open University with City University and Polytechnic University, they all serve the same income and educational level students. Fire 2/3’s of the administrators.
- Combine Baptist University with Lingnan University; as they are both there roots in Christian organization. Cease giving them direct government funding and let them revert to private institutions
- Combine the University of Science and Technology and the Institute of Education with Chinese University.
- Let The University of Hong Kong become a private institution. Let them set their own tuition, and maintain the English instruction as they should. Allow them to really become the Harvard of Asia.
Currently many of the degrees awarded by these institutions are nearly worthless anyway doing this would improve the degrees from Open and City and Poly-tech because they could use the savings gained from sacking redundant administrators and majors to improve the combined areas left. This would give Baptist and Lingnan a way to serve a niche that is currently not served in Hong Kong.
- Reduce class size in Chinese public schools from 44 to 24 students
- Simplify the way schools are classified by the EMB They should be either government or Private and then classed by the medium of instruction. So private-English medium of instruction or Government and medium of instruction. Any of the old, so called “Elite” schools on Hong Kong Island that don’t want to abide by this can become private schools.
Environmental
- Institute a mandatory recycling program. Not necessarily as draconian as the one in Tokyo but make it easier to reduce waste.
- Require electrical companies to have modern pollution controls on their plants rather than none like they have now.
- Require buss companies to have modern pollution controls on their busses rather than the 1970’s era devices they now have.
- Stop reclaiming the harbor. If they need to reclaim something try South Hong Kong Island near the cyber port.
- Remind people and businesses that Hong Kong is one city. If they build a corporate headquarters in Yuen Long rather than Central they are still in Hong Kong.We cannot keep adding traffic and congestion to Hong Kong Island. The only way to reduce this problem is to not issue buildning permits for Central, Wan Chai and the "high zoot" areas of the Island. Use the whole SAR guys that way we don't need the big ugly elevated roads along the waterfront. Related to this would be an some zoning laws that wouldn't let a developer build a 62 story tall residential building on a two-lane road that cannot be widened and that cannot support the traffic generated by the project. Bonham Road is an abomination at rush hour because the road cannot safely carry that much traffic.
- Implement a unified pedestrian plan that makes it easier to walk by widening sidewalks and restricting traffic and delivery times
- Put some teeth in environmental law penalties
Labor
- A 48 hour work week regardless of whether an employee is on salary or hourly wage with mandatory time and half overtime.(This is still higher than most of the world)
- A HKD$25.00 per hour minimum wage. This is still very low.
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