Entries from December 2007 ↓

The China Government dictated today that Hong Kong people can only choose their head of government in 2017 - 10 years from now - I hope I am still alive. As for the universal suffrage for legislative council (i.e. parliament), that will be implemented after the universal suffrage of the chief executive of Hong Kong. No timeline has been set on this.       

In the public consultation carried out by the Hong Kong government earlier, over 50% of the Hong Kong people support universal suffrage of chief executive and legislative council in 2012. However, our current chief executive Donald Tsang recommended to the China central government that it is better for Hong Kong to have the universal suffrage in 2017, though he admitted that over 50% of the Hong Kong people want universal suffrage in 2012.

He is appointed by the China Government and knows what his boss wants. So to no one’s surprise, the China Government has adopted his suggestions.  

And do not imagine that we can have real universal suffrage in 10 years time. Who can be the candidates and how are they produced? We, Hong Kong people, have no say on the rule of the election game. Will you trust the China government to allow Hong Kong real democracy when it dictates that this city’s people can only choose their government head, not to mention legislative council, in ten years time? The answer is abundantly clear.

Of course, it is understandable that why China does not want Hong Kong to have democracy. It is the fear of people in Mainland China to demand democracy, following the example set by Hong Kong.

Hong Kong won’t have real democracy, unless there is major change in China politically. And I don’t see that is coming. So I don’t see Hong Kong people can have real democracy anytime soon. Not in 10 years - that is for sure.

The internet users in China have chosen the funniest China news for 2007.  Among them are:

HuaNan Tiger saga

 (photo of Huanan Tiger claimed to be taken by the farmer)

A farmer in Shaanxi Province claimed that he had taken a photo of a wild HuaNan tiger and his claim was backed up by the forestry ministry of the province. However, experts have testified that the photo was fake, with some pointing out that it is a replica of a poster featuring HuaNan tiger.

It was funny/ridiculous because, according to the internet users, what with the evidence, the ministry still refused to admit that the photo was fake, and insisted instead that there is trace of HuaNan tigers in their province, which,  if true, would be a boost to the reputation and economy of the province.

Former foreign minister Li Zhaoxing’s quote

“I had experienced starvation, so I know what human right is.”

So human right is a very straight forward and simple issue – it is all about starvation. 

A characteristic street named Lee Tung Street, which traditionally was filled with wedding card shops, has faded out of Hong Kong’s landscape, due to the “vision” of the Hong Kong government. This government has the “vision” to demolish Star Ferry Pier and Street Market in Central already.

This is what Lee Tung Street, in Wan Chai, also called Wedding Card Street, is like, with all the shops closed down and sealed with labels from the Urban Renewal Authority, waiting to be redeveloped.

In their place will stand four high-rise buildings and one underground carpark, and new shops that together promote the image of the street as a “Wedding City”. That means the old shops here, which are mostly small businesses and family run, have to move to somewhere else to make business, facing high rent and losing old customers.

The Government said it was considering to give priority to these shops to move back to the “Wedding City” and also waive their rent for a short period of time, given that the rent in the “Wedding City” would not be cheap. But giving a short period of rent-exemption to the shops will not be a sustainable way to keep them afloat in the redeveloped area. I wonder how many old shops will choose to move back, and how many are dying already.

No wonder a shop owner in the area is staging a hunger strike to protest the redevelopment plan. Because for people like her, that basically means the loss of her and her family’s livelihood. 

One reason the Government cited for demolition of the area is that the restoration fee will be too high. I wonder if the government ever calculated the social cost of demolishment and redevelopment.

Btw, what is this “Wedding City”? Do people prefer an artificially made Wedding City or a wedding card street that has been part of the city landscape for so many years? I would think few people will prefer the fake over the real. But the government seems to think otherwise.

Hong Kong’s oldest open air market in Graham Street and nearby lanes in Central is set to be demolished, to pave way for the redevelopment of the area. A so called “old street” will be created, in an attempt to represent the old days of the neighborhood. But don’t be fooled. The shops and buildings in the “old street” are mere replicas.

The Hong Kong government, as always, has a logic of its own: the replicas can replace the original, especially the old, which are run down and obsolete. So why not just tear down the old rather than preserve them? Conservation is time and money consuming, anyway.

And do not forget that tearing down the old is a very profitable business for the territory’s powerful quarters- the property developers. With redevelopment of the Graham Street area, a 96,000 sq ft hotel, a 400,000 sq ft commercial building, and two residential buildings accommodating 290 units will be put up here. There is no need to say who benefit most from the redevelopment. Btw, who can afford to live in these two luxury residential buildings in this very prime area of Hong Kong? The wealthy, of course. 

That is how Hong Kong’s general public is being rid of their public space and heritage in a city whose government knows only redevelopment but not conservation.

Besides Graham Street, there is Wedding Card Street in Wan Chai being torn down and re-developed. Before, not long ago, we witnessed the sad fate of Star Ferry pier in Central.

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Petition to save the graham street market

Since the previous posting about apartment rental in Hong Kong, I’ve noticed more options on the Hong Kong island. One is causeway corner (www.causewaycorner.com). Monthly rent ranges from HK$11,660 (partial seaview) to HK$33,000 (with sea view and balcony). Conveniently located in Causeway Bay, the apartments are run by a Japanese company and that is why their website is available in Japanese as well.

Another is Domus (www. Domus.com.hk). They have 69 well furnished apartments in Tin Hau, near Causeway Bay. Monthly rent ranges from HK$16,800 to HK$28,500. But the minimum stay is two months.

Here’s some choice that I stumbled upon of recent and found it a bit interesting - city loft (www.cityloft.com.hk). The website boasts modern living in historical buildings (i.e. old buildings). The studios are all refurnished and refurbished, available in Sheung Wan, Central, Wanchai and Causeway Bay, all major and busy areas on Hong Kong Island. Monthly rent ranges from HK$6,000 to HK$10,000.

“Lou Wai Lou” (樓外樓)Restaurant

“Lou Wai Lou” is Hangzhou’s oldest, most authentic and best restaurant. It is said any trip to the city must include a visit to this Hangzhou restaurant, if only to sample the great atmosphere of the place. The restaurant is located at the lake side and has great views over the West Lake. It is lit up like a beacon at dusk, a symbol of the restaurant’s superb status.

Address: Solitary Island, West Lake, Hangzhou

“Yao Bu De” (咬不得)Restaurant

“Yao Bu De” restaurant is a specialty shop selling fried buns. The bun’s bottom part is slightly burned and crispy, while the upper part soft. The most interesting aspect is the bun is very juicy. When you take a bite, the juice, very hot, splashes in all directions from your mouth. You have to be careful and skillful eating it. That is why the restaurant is named “Yao Bu De’”, meaning not to bite. But then you find the whole eating experience memorable.

The making of such buns has a long history. It was said to be a favorite food of the Emperor of Gao Zhu in Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). In Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties, it became popular in the region of Shanghai, Hangzhou and their neighboring areas.

Address: Wen Er Road