judges

Chinese-only top court would
hurt HK’s global standing

Victor Fung Keung says our effective legal system should be left alone

The call from a legal expert
to appoint only Chinese
judges to Hong Kong’s
Court of Final Appeal is alarmist
and misguided. Such a move
would only erode investors’
confidence in the city.
Mainland scholar Cheng Jie,
a former researcher for the Basic
Law Committee, told a seminar
this month that the Court of
Final Appeal should be made up
only of Chinese nationals. She
said this would reflect the
principle of Hong Kong people
ruling Hong Kong. Alan Hoo,
chairman of the Basic Law
Institute, said she raised a valid
concern.
Their remarks were made on
the heels of former Secretary for
Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie’s
criticism of Hong Kong judges
for failing to understand the
relationship between Hong
Kong and the Beijing
government.
The city’s top judge, Chief
Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, said
last week that it was natural for
Hongkongers to speculate about
Leung’s recent criticism of the
judiciary. While speaking to a
small group at Oxford
University’s Harris Manchester
College, Ma said Leung had
every right to voice her opinion,
and Hong Kong’s higher courts
were subject to criticism like any
other body. But her background
and close ties to Beijing could
lead people to believe she was
voicing the views of certain
interests in Beijing, he said.
Although the views of Leung
and the two other legal experts
were noble and informed, most
people in this city, I believe,
would beg to differ. Hong Kong’s
prosperity hinges on whether it
can continue to be an
international city. Foreign
investors and businessmen
would lose confidence if local
top judges were influenced by
politics in Beijing. Hong Kong’s
seven million inhabitants would
become China’s burden if the
city lost its competitive edge.
We must be appreciative that
Beijing has tried very hard to
maintain Hong Kong’s
economic growth by sending us
thousands of tourists and
investments worth millions of
dollars. But Beijing has never
hinted that there’s something
wrong with our legal system.
Hong Kong’s legal system
prides itself on maintaining its
independence and preserving
the common law tradition. Any
moves to ruin these can only
hurt the city. The system has
worked well since the handover.
Why do we need to break it?
The Basic Law stipulates only
that the top judge in both the
Court of Final Appeal and the
High Court must be Hong Kong
Chinese. Other judges can be
citizens of any nation as long as
they are familiar with rules in
common law jurisdictions. We
should respect the Basic Law,
shouldn’t we? It is unwise to
bring politics into Hong Kong’s
legal systems. If all the judges are
local Chinese, what would
foreign investors think? The first
question they would ask is:
“Why?” It wouldn’t do Hong
Kong any good if foreign
investors have doubts.
At present, 10 of the 15 nonpermanent
judges of the Court
of Final Appeal come from other
common law jurisdictions such
as Britain, New Zealand and
Australia. If the Court of Final
Appeal works effectively and
fairly, let us keep it this way. It is
unwise to tie our own hands as
we face a very competitive and
ever-changing world.
Justice Secretary Rimsky
Yuen Kwok-keung should be
lauded for saying that “the
presence of overseas nonpermanent
judges helps to
enhance the international
reputation of our judiciary. Any
proposal to impose nationality
or residence requirements
would unduly restrict the pool of
talent that can be appointed as
judges”.
Fifteen years after the
handover, many patriotic
Chinese may be starting to focus
on the “one country” and not
the “two systems”, believing that
it’s time for Hong Kong to be
closely reintegrated, politically
and economically, with the
motherland. Their views should
be respected. However, the
reality is that Hong Kong can
only survive as a world financial
centre if it has a common-law
legal system free of political
intervention. We should build,
not erode, people’s confidence
in Hong Kong.

Victor Fung Keung is a local
commentator and co-ordinator
of the B.S.Sc in financial
journalism programme at
Hong Kong Baptist University

The door may be closing

好文共賞 V26	Sharp Daily - Hong Kong Version	馮強 2012-11-22
“The door may be closing, for good.”聯合國秘書長潘基文（Ban Ki-moon）
1."The door ① may be closing, for good ② ." （Ban Ki-moon） 背景：聯合國秘書長潘基文（Ban Ki-moon）警告以色列不要再在巴勒斯坦土地上搞殖民，威脅中東和平。 2."You want to try it ③? Get in the ring ④." （Ann Romney） 背景：美國共和黨總統候選人羅姆尼太太Ann Romney在電台反諷那些不支持她丈夫的人時如是說。 3."Dignity ⑤ does not come from ⑥ avenging ⑦ insults ⑧, especially with violence ⑨." （Hillary Clinton） 背景：美國國務卿希拉莉在談到中東政局動盪時發表這樣的意見。 馮強短評 好辭彙共賞： ① the door = 和平之門。Shut the door behind [after] him = 把他身後的門關上。See somebody to the door = 送客。Show somebody the door = 驅逐，攆走某人。 ② for good = 永遠（forever）。A good joke = 逗人樂的笑話。Good faith = 正直、誠實。Good life = 道德的生活；幸福的生活。 ③ You want to try it = 你想嘗試競選的滋味嗎？ ④ Get in the ring = 站到擂台上去（意思是試試捱打的滋味）。He is trying to solve the problem = 他正在努力解決這個問題。It's hard, but I will try = 這不容易辦，但我要試試看。 ⑤ dignity = 尊嚴 。 With dignity = 莊嚴地。Impair one's dignity = 有傷體面。 ⑥ come from = 得到。You come out well in that photo = 你那張相片照得很好。Nothing came out of all this talk = 談來談去，結果全無。 ⑦ avenging = 報復 。 He avenged himself on his enemies = 他對仇人實行報復。 ⑧ insults = 侮辱。Add insult to injury = 傷害之外又加侮辱。 ⑨ violence = 暴力。Resort to violence = 用暴力、動武。Use violence = 用暴力。 短評共賞： 　　我很同意報復並不能換回尊嚴。 Do not pay back evil for evil.（Proverbs 24.29） [不要以惡報惡。（箴言24章29節）] 馮強

an independent HK?

an independent HK?

(commentary in the SCMP Nov. 14, 2012) An independent HK is not on anyone’s agenda Victor Fung Keung says people are just resorting to extreme means to vent their frustrations (1) Chen Zuoer , the former deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing and a key negotiator during the 1997 handover, said recently that “a force calling for Hong Kong independence has been gaining momentum in recent years, and it has spread like a virus”. He needn’t worry; there is no independence force, or virus. Not for an instant would I or hundreds of others ever believe that an independence movement could take root in this city. Our water, fuel and food – without which we couldn’t survive – all come from the mainland. Physically or (3) No one in this prosperous world city wants to start a revolution. Tycoons such as Li Ka-shing and Lee Shau-kee also love a stable Hong Kong so local and foreign investors will continue buying properties and boosting their profits. Chen, who retired in 2008, also told a reporter that he was “heartbroken” to see a picture of a Hong Kong colonial flag being waved by a protester in Sheung Shui shouting at “parallel traders” to “return to the mainland”. However, this was an isolated case. Sheung Shui residents say they have grown weary of hordes of cross-border professional shoppers pushing up the prices of milk powder and other daily commodities, and so resort to extreme means to drive home their point – such as wearing “Satan” masks or waving colonial flags. These are just expressions of anger, nothing more.

(2) politically, Hong Kong could never become independent. Chen, an extremely patriotic Chinese citizen, can rest easy. No political party in Hong Kong ever talks of the slight possibility of an independent Hong Kong, and their political platforms, including those of the powerful Democratic Party and Civic Party, never offer hints that advocating independence is one of their goals. I am also pretty sure none of the major think tanks in Hong Kong has called on the city to go its own way. So why did Chen make such an alarmist statement? The timing of his warning betrays him, coming when he was in Hong Kong last month to launch a book, Negotiations on The Handover of Sovereignty of Hong Kong: A Witness Recount, in which he shares his experiences of the Sino-British negotiations over Hong Kong’s future. (4) Most middle- and working-class Hongkongers, myself included, cherish the stable political, social and economic environment that enables us to make a living. As long as we can enjoy the freedoms promised to us in the Basic Law, no one will waste their time and energy in fighting for an independent Hong Kong. Victor Fung Keung, a local commentator who has published seven books on English enhancement, is co-ordinator of the B.S.Sc in financial journalism programme at Hong Kong Baptist University

These practices have no basis in science

好文共賞 V28	Sharp Daily - Hong Kong Version	馮強 2012-11-08
"These practices have no basis in science or medicine, and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery."
1."These practices ① have no basis ② in science or medicine, and they will now be relegated ③ to the dustbin of quackery ④ ." （Jerry Brown） 背景：美國加州州長Jerry Brown簽新法案禁止行為治療學家（Therapists）宣稱可以把同性戀男孩變為異性戀。 2."There was a massive intelligence failure on behalf of ⑤ our American friends. However, I do believe that the Americans learn very fast ⑥ from their mistakes." （Rami El-Obeidi） 背景：前利比亞情報局長Rami El-Obeidi在利比亞班加西市的美國大使館受攻擊後如是說。 3."Couldn't you just go to the future ⑦ and then come back ⑧ and kill that Arnold ⑨ ? " （Jon Stewart） 背景：電視節目主持人Jon Stewart在節目上訪問前加州州長阿諾舒華辛力加（Arnold Schwarzenegge，電影《未來戰士》The Terminator演員）時提出這個問題。 馮強短評 好辭彙共賞： ①　practices =醫生、律師和治療師等的業務。A plausible idea, but will it work in practice？=主意雖好，然而能實行嗎？A common practice =風氣；常例。 ②　no basis =毫無根據。 ③　On a production basis =在大規模生產的基礎上。On what basis？= 憑甚麼條件、基礎等？ 　　relegated =貶黜；丟棄，束之高閣。Relegate的同義詞有demote, downgrade和consign等。 ④　quackery =自我吹噓，大話；騙子行為。江湖醫生的治療，庸醫的醫術。 ⑤ 　on behalf of =代表（Speaking or acting for）。例句：On behalf of all those present, may I thank you, Professor Huang, for a well executed revamp of our department. ⑥　learn very fast =學得很快。 ⑦　go to the future =去到未來。 　　Future delivery =期貨交割。 　　Have a future =有前途，將來有希望。 　　Have no future =沒前途，前途無望。 ⑧　come back = 回到目前。 ⑨　kill that Arnold =把對Maria Shriver不忠的阿諾舒華辛力加殺掉（像電影情節）。 短評共賞： 同性戀是不是可以用行為治療法（Therapies）去改變呢？美國加州的經驗是不可以。政府認為聲稱用行為治療法可以改變性傾向是騙人的。 馮強 浸會大學傳理學院財經新聞統籌主任 逢周四刊登

declining English proficency in HK

Dear friends,

I went to RTHK3 this morning to talk about declining English proficiency in HK. Here is the link if you are interested in the topic:
http://programme.rthk.org.hk/channel/radio/programme.php?name=radio3/backchat&d=2012-10-29&p=514&e=&m=episode
Rgds,

Victor

Exorbitant provident fund fee chargers should be shamed

HK Opinion
H03 China Daily Hong Kong Edition Victor Fung Keung
2012-10-27

Exorbitant provident fund fee chargers should be shamed

A survey by Hong Kong’s Consumer Council found that the average fee charged by a Mandatory Pension Fund (MPF) provider equates to nearly 2 percent of the assets under its management. The fees three fund houses have charged, at 4.62 percent, 3.88 percent and 3.86 percent respectively, are the highest. These high fee chargers should be named and shamed.

The council said the fee charged in Hong Kong is higher than those charged by fund companies in several other countries.If Hong Kong citizens purchase (invest in) mutual funds, the charges range from 0.1 percent to 0.5 percent. That makes the high charges for MPF a blatant rip off, which remains an enigma. Nevertheless, the mystery isn’t hard to solve. The cause of high fees is written on the walls. There is a structural problem in the fee-charging regime, which the government’s Mandatory Pension Fund Authority should consider tackling.

The MPF is a compulsory pension scheme established 12 years ago. The MPF’s value now totals HK$400 billion. The law requires all employees in the city to pay in 5 percent of their salaries per month, which will be matched by their employers. The contributions will be managed by an MPF provider which might be a bank or a fund company.

The structural flaw is that employers would invariably solicit benefits from the MPF providers they appointed, in kind, including providing free financial services and worse, kickbacks. Employers could care less about the high fees charged by the fund providers, since the fees are paid by the employees. The high fees wouldn’t hurt the employers a tiny bit.

The government on Nov 1 will introduce a new scheme called MPF Employee Choice Arrangement, which will allow employees to shift to new fund managers if they are not happy with the ones chosen by their employers. But this half-hearted scheme applies only to the additional contributions to pension funds made by an employee. The bulk of their pension money (the 5 percent pay-in by an employee and his employer, totalling 10 percent of his monthly income), as required by law, still stays with the fund houses picked by their employers.

Some unscrupulous MPF providers, on top of demanding high management fees, also charge other fees, including annual fees and fees for the fund companies’ annual bonus for their own employees.

The only way to reduce management and other fees charged by MPF providers, and hence increase competition, is to empower employees to shift at their discretion their employer-contributed funds to another fund manager, if they become disenchanted with existing ones. Economic efficiency will work only when the financial ties between an employer and an MPF provider selected by the employer are severed.

The irony, and bad news for many Hong Kong salary-men, is that the high fees charged by an MPF provider have absolutely no relation to the fund’s performance. In 2011, an MPF stock fund that charged its clients 4.62 percent fees suffered a loss of 15.53 percent. Another provider that invests in European stocks suffered a loss of 14 percent, even though it charged fund owners (employees) 3.88 percent in fees.

Some experts suggest capping the fees charged by MPF providers. This is hardly a good solution. The way to enhance competition and lower fees charged is to take away employers’ right to appoint fund managers. It is only natural that employers would appoint fund managers that offer them the highest “reciprocal benefits”, or commonly known as “kickbacks, in kind”. Another consideration can be linking the fees to the fund managers’ annual performance.

Hong Kong’s economic freedom should be upheld. Any policy that stifles competition should become anachronistic and abandoned. Enough is enough. The government should take employers’ power to appoint MPF providers away and hand it over to employees to make their own choices.

The author is coordinator of the B.S.Sc in financial journalism program at Hong Kong Baptist University.

United States Far East Policy

好文共賞 V26	Sharp Daily - Hong Kong Version	馮強 2012-10-18
United States Far East Policy美國的亞洲政策
美國駐聯合國大使Adlai Stevenson於1955年接受總統候選人提名時發表演說節錄 On this April evening I remember vividly ① that it was in April just ten years ago that the largest conference in all diplomatic history met at San Francisco to write the Charter of the United Nations. The spirit of San Francisco was one of optimism and of boundless hope ②. The tragedy is that the possibility of war just now seems to hinge upon ③ Quemoy and Matsu; islands that presumably have been fortified by the Chinese Nationalists with our approval and assistance. Should we be plunged into ④ another great war, the maintenance of our alliances of the uncommitted nations of Asia will be far more important to us than the possession of these offshore islands by General Chiang Kai-shek ever could be. Moreover, the main-tenance of a united front ⑤ is of vital importance to the defense of Formosa ⑥ itself, since their moral support and the knowledge by the Com-munist leaders that they would be facing a united free world would be a much more effective deterrent to an assault on Formosa. Joint action along the lines I've indicated would put Formosa policy on a more comprehensive basis. We would thereby achieve a consistent and morally unquestionable position in providing for the protection of the Formosans according to the principles and ideals ⑦ of international law. In the eyes of our European friends and allies we would once more have asserted our full belief in the value of main-taining the alliance of the free world against the slave world. But if the Chinese Communists insist on force and reject any peaceful solution ⑧, then at least it would be clear to everyone who the aggressors were. And, clearly, if the Chinese are so bent on violence, then we have no alternative but to meet force with force ⑨. 馮強短評 好辭彙共賞： ①　vividly =如在眼前的，生動的，栩栩如生的。A vivid imagination=活躍的想像力。A vivid description=生動的描寫。Vivid in one's memory=記得清清楚楚。 ②　boundless hope = 無限 的，無窮的，無邊無際的。Boundless ambition =欲壑難填，無限大的野心。Boundless energy = 無窮的精力。 ③　hinge upon =看……而定。Victor's acceptance of the writing job will hinge upon the terms =我接受與否將依條件而定。 ④　plunged into =陷入。 Plunge into the river=跳入河中。Plunge into war =投入戰鬥。Victor is plunging deeper and deeper into debt = Victor的債務越陷越深。 ⑤　a united front =聯合戰線。Cold front =氣象學上的冷鋒。In front of =在……的前面。Up front =預先。 ⑥　Formosa =台灣（Taiwan）。 Formosa是16世紀時葡萄牙對台灣的稱呼。 ⑦　the principles and ideals =原則和理想。An ideal place for a holiday =度假的理想場所。 ⑧　peaceful solution =和平解決方案。 ⑨　meet force with force = 以暴力對付暴力，以暴易暴。 短評共賞： 美國官員說得很清楚，它會連同亞洲其他盟友力抗北京進攻台灣。此政策60年不變。 馮強 浸會大學傳理學院財經新聞統籌主任 逢周四刊登

in the middle of nowhere

好文共賞
V27 Sharp Daily - Hong Kong Version 馮強
2012-10-11

"Of course, it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere."

"Of course, it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere."

英國首相卡梅倫David Cameron

1."Make no mistake (1), this apartment was designed (2) to kill whoever entered (3) it."

（Dan Oates）

背景：James Holmes在丹佛市Aurora鎮附近一家電影院殘殺12人後，Aurora警務處長Dan Oates如此形容Holmes的住所。

2."Of course, it's easier (4) if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere (5)."

（David Cameron）

背景：　英國首相卡梅倫說美國2002年在鹽湖城舉行的冬季奧運會與英國今年在倫敦舉辦的奧運會不能相提並論。

3."Call me chauvinistic (6), call me jingoistic (7), but I think we knocked the spots off (8) Beijing last night."

（Boris Johnson）

背景：現任倫敦市長Boris Johnson這樣來形容在倫敦舉行的2012年奧運會開幕禮。

馮強短評

好辭彙共賞：

(1)make no mistake = 不用懷疑（certainly） 。例句："Make no mistake－I'll vote for the Democrats no matter who runs for Legco this September."

(2)designed = 設計，草擬，擬定，籌劃。By design and not by accident = 是故意不是偶然。

(3)enter = 入；擠進。Enter a profession =就業。Enter into an agreement = 締約。Enter的同義詞有go into和penetrate等。

(4)it's easier = 比較容易。It's easier said than done=說時容易做時難。Feel easy=舒服；安心。Easy on the eye（s）= 好看的。

(5)in the middle of nowhere =荒野（A very remote place far away from other places; or far from other human civilization; or a place where you aren't quite familiar to）。

(6)chauvinistic =沙文主義的，極端愛國主義的（fanatical patriotism）。

(7)jingoistic = 具有侵略味道的民族主義（Extreme nationalism characterized especially by a belligerent foreign policy）。

(8)knock the spots off =令他人相形見絀，徹底擊敗，超過，凌駕。Spots是spotlights的簡稱。Hit the spot = 正合要求；恰到好處。In a spot = 處在困境中。Touch the（tender）spot = 碰到痛處。

短評共賞：

James Holmes在丹佛市Aurora鎮附近一家電影院殘殺12人，還在家設下炸彈陷阱。後來才曉得他患有精神病。我們要對精神病人多加照顧。

馮強

浸會大學傳理學院財經新聞統籌主任

逢周四刊出

Curb couriers to win back people’s heart

HK Opinion H03	China Daily Hong Kong Edition	Victor Fung Keung 2012-09-26
Curb couriers to win back people’s heart
Hong Kong people are patriotic and easy-going. They just want to enjoy the quiet, peaceful life. People get angry when their quiet lifestyle is disrupted. When the government announced the plan to issue multiple-entry permits to thousands of transient, migrant workers in Shenzhen to visit Hong Kong, Many local people were irritated, because the more lenient restrictions would mean throngs of more mainland tourists on Hong Kong’s streets. Fortunately this plan was shelved. Then another ugly picture emerged: parallel traders who swamp the shops in Sheung Shui, pushing retail prices at least 10 percent higher in that border town. The traders block traffic, flood train carriages with their goods, without even a wink as they violate Hong Kong’s immigration laws in a most blatant way. When they repackage goods at a factory in Sheung Shui, such as red wine and powdered milk, their activity is tantamount to working in Hong Kong. Shenzhen residents, who account for the bulk of the parallel traders, are given multiple-entry permits to visit Hong Kong but not to work here or carry on business here! Sheung Shui residents became outraged and took to the streets to confront the parallel traders. The Hong Kong government should crack down hard on these traders, who profit by importing goods from Hong Kong to the mainland without paying import duties. Based on press reports, these 3,000-odd traders are well-organized and apparently controlled by one or even several syndicates. They are well-organized into groups of buyers, packagers and couriers. The writing is on the wall that they are controlled and employed by consortia. The Hong Kong police should arrest and charge the masterminds of these consortia who employ hundreds of parallel traders. Sending a signal of zero tolerance is important to weeding out such trades. It will at least have a deterrent effect on those who ignore the law in Hong Kong, something the local people cherish. At the same time, our Chief Executive should ask for help from the mainland authorities, particularly those in Beijing since they have no ties to residents in Shenzhen. Only when Beijing intervenes in this parallel trade disarray will we have a chance to eliminate the money-making, law-breaching enterprise. In a sense, parallel trading is equivalent to smuggling. Some Hong Kong people already harbor negative sentiments against mainland visitors. This parallel trade fiasco will only exacerbate ill-feelings toward mainlanders visiting Hong Kong. Mainlanders already are blamed for pushing up local property prices. We should try to have gratitude and respect for each other, not hatred. After all, Hong Kong and mainland Chinese belong to one big family. The Chief Executive must try his best to change Hong Kong people’s negative perceptions of mainlanders. The bad feeling will not help Mr Leung’s governance of the territory. Social harmony is what Hong Kong people cherish, not confrontation. We all welcome mainland shoppers who respect our laws. Their spending has helped create jobs and boost the local economy. Additional resources should be allocated to a police task force based in Sheung Shui to disrupt the parallel-trade syndicates’ operations. We must tackle the issue at its roots. To win back Hong Kong people’s hearts and minds, there’s no time for procrastination. Mr Leung, you must walk the talk. The author is coordinator of the B.S.Sc in financial journalism program at Hong Kong Baptist University.

"It was like being in a washing machine."

好文共賞 V28	Sharp Daily - Hong Kong Version	馮強 2012-09-27
"It was like being in a washing machine."
1."To claim (1) that he knowingly (2), intentionally (3) protected a pedophile (4) is false." （the Paterno Family） 背景: 有評論認為Joe Paterno生前可以阻止副教練J Sandusky淫辱少年隊員。Paterno的家人不敢苟同。 2."My maternity leave% will be a few weeks long ^; and I'll work throughout& it." （Marissa Mayer） 背景: Marissa Mayer是近代歷史上第一位懷孕女性被委任為Yahoo的總裁。 3."It was like* being in a washing machine(." （Daniel Rossetto） 背景: 法國阿爾卑斯山脈（French Alps）雪崩，令九人死亡。導遊Daniel Rossetto憶述經過。 1."To claim (1) that he knowingly (2), intentionally (3) protected a pedophile (4) is false." （the Paterno Family） 背景: 有評論認為Joe Paterno生前可以阻止副教練J Sandusky淫辱少年隊員。Paterno的家人不敢苟同。 2."My maternity leave (5) will be a few weeks long (6); and I'll work throughout (7) it." （Marissa Mayer） 背景: Marissa Mayer是近代歷史上第一位懷孕女性被委任為Yahoo的總裁。 3."It was like (8) being in a washing machine (9)." （Daniel Rossetto） 背景: 法國阿爾卑斯山脈（French Alps）雪崩，令九人死亡。導遊Daniel Rossetto憶述經過。 馮強短評 好辭彙共賞： (1) claim =主張，斷言，聲稱。Lay claim to =聲稱，要求（某東西是自己的）。Stake out [off] a claim =標明（土地等的）所有權。 (2) knowingly =知道的，有知識的，心照不宣的，會意的。 (3) intentionally =有意（識）的，故意的。Intentionally的同義詞有deliberately，purposely和calculatedly等。 (4) pedophile =孌童癖患者（An adult who is sexually attracted to a child or children）。 (5) maternity leave =產假。Maternity ward =婦產病房。Paternity leave =父親享有的侍產假。 (6) a few weeks long =有數星期長。It will not take long for Victor to finish his textbook = Victor不需要很多時間去完成寫作。I shall not wait（any）longer =我不再等了。 (7) throughout =從頭到尾；自始至終。Throughout the day =終日，整天。 Throughout one's life =畢生，一生。 Throughout the country =全國。 (8) It was like =就好像。You may come if you like, Victor tells Julian =高興的話請過來坐。The guitar costs Victor something like $1,000 =我花了約一千元買了支結他。 (9) a washing machine =洗衣機。The bridge in Kowloon Tong was washed away =橋被冲走了。Wash one's dirty linen at home[in public] =掩藏【暴露】家醜。 短評共賞： Pedophile 是孌童癖患者。Pedophile的形容詞是pedophilic。Homophile 是同性戀者（Gay or lesbian）。 -phile是愛好者的意思（One that loves or has a strong affinity or preference for）; 例如 audiophile（唱片音響愛好者）和 Francophile（親法分子）等。我是一個bibliophile（愛書家，藏書者）。 馮強 浸會大學傳理學院財經新聞統籌主任 逢周四刊出

The British Empire 大英帝國

好文共賞
V25 Sharp Daily - Hong Kong Version 馮強
2012-09-20


The British Empire 大英帝國

英國殖民部大臣張伯倫（Joseph Chamberlain）

1895.11.6在倫敦演說節錄

I think it will not be disputed ① that we are approaching a critical stage ② in the history of the relations between ourselves and the self-governing colonies. That Empire, gentlemen, that world-wide dominion to which no Englishman can allude without a thrill of enthusiasm and patriotism, which has been the admiration, and perhaps the envy, of foreign nations, hangs together by a thread ③ so slender that it may well seem that even a breath would sever it.

The time to which they looked forward has arrived sooner than they expected ④. The conditions to which they referred have been more than fulfilled; and now these great communities, which have within them every element of national life, have taken their rank ⑤ amongst the nations of the world. As the possibility of separation has become greater, desire for separation has become less.

I rejoice at the change that has taken place. I rejoice at the wider patriotism, no longer confined to this small island. How could it be otherwise? We have a common origin, a common history, a common language, a common literature, and a common love of liberty and law. May it not be the same with the relations which exist between the colonies and ourselves; and may not that thread of union be capable of carrying a force of sentiment and of sympathy which will yet be a potent factor ⑥ in the history of the world?

There is a word which I am almost afraid to mention ⑦, lest at the very outset of my career I should lose my character as a practical states-man. I am told on every hand that Imperial Federation is a vain and empty dream ⑧. I will say this: If it be a dream, it is dream that appeals to the highest sentiments of patriotism. It is a dream which is calculated to stimulate and to inspire ⑨ everyone who cares for the future of the Anglo-Saxon people.

馮強短評

好辭彙共賞：

① will not be disputed =不再有爭論。Dispute every inch of ground =寸土必爭。A bitter [hot] dispute=激烈的爭論。

② a critical stage =重要時刻。I am nothing, if not critical =只有這張刻薄的嘴是我的長處。Be critical about =愛挑剔。

③ hangs together by a thread =懸繫一線。Hang in the balance =安危未定；成敗未決。The thread of one's argument =爭辯的頭緒。

④ sooner than they expected =比預期中快。Quicker是sooner的同義詞。

⑤ have taken their rank =有自己的身份。People of all ranks =各階層的人們。 A man of high rank =地位高的人。Rank and file =隊伍，行伍，士兵。Rise from the ranks=行伍出身；布衣起家。

⑥ a potent factor =強而有力的因素。Potent =有效力的；烈性的；(議論)使人心服的。Potent的同義詞有 mighty, powerful, puissant 和strong等。

⑦ afraid to mention =害怕提出。

⑧ a vain and empty dream = 一個徒然和空虛的夢。

⑨ to stimulate and to inspire =鼓勵、激勵和啟發。Daisy's encouragement will stimulate me to work harder = Daisy的鼓勵會激發我進一步努力。

短評共賞：

英國殖民部大臣張伯倫希望殖民地獨立後仍然成為「大英帝國聯邦」（Imperial Federation）的成員。這是一個徒然和空虛的夢（a vain and empty dream）。

馮強

浸會大學傳理學院財經新聞統籌主任

逢周四刊出

Time to scrap colonial legacy: English Schools Foundation

China Daily Hong Kong Edition

Victor Fung Keung
2012-09-19

Time to scrap colonial legacy: English Schools Foundation

It is a great insult to Hong Kong people that this rotten colonial legacy, the English Schools Foundation (ESF), continues to exist 15 years after Hong Kong was handed back to China by the British.

Adding insult to injury, this monstrous education institution adopts a new admission policy that benefits only the rich and leaves many middle-class Hong Kong Chinese in the lurch. The foundation announced on Sept 13 that if parents purchase a HK$500,000 non-refundable debenture, their children will have top priority in the allocation of place in the 20-odd primary and secondary schools it operates.

In 1967, following the social riots in Hong Kong, the British government enacted the ESF ordinance to lure more British administrators to come to Hong Kong, promising them that their kids’ education would be well-taken care of. Up to now, the ESF still holds to the English GCSE-A level curriculum. (In addition, it started offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme beginning in September 2007).

Why do people so conveniently forget that Hong Kong is no longer a colony? If expatriates working in Hong Kong want their children to receive an international English-speaking education, they should send them to international schools here or schools abroad. The Hong Kong government should stop providing the ESF with a HK$250 million subsidy a year. The subsidy, albeit generous, is wrong.

Due to a skewed and complicated, if not discriminatory, admission system, many local people who want their children to receive a British-style education have no choice but to send their kids overseas. The financial burden on these less well-to-do parents is beyond imagination.

It makes more sense for the government to spend the HK$250 million to educate local children so that one day they will contribute to the prosperity of Hong Kong. Many expatriates’ kids, since they have no attachment to Hong Kong, will build their career path somewhere, far away from Hong Kong.

If expatriates want their children to receive an international education, they should send them to other international schools that are not subsidized. When there is demand, there is always a supply of places. Yes, it’s more expensive than ESF fees, but expatriates can afford the tuition, can’t they? Or, expatriates can consider sending their children to local schools. It is not a bad idea for their sons and daughters to follow the local curriculum and learn Putonghua, because it is plain for everyone to see that China will become an economic powerhouse in the next 10 years. Prospects are bright for expatriates’ kids if they speak Chinese and are familiar with Chinese culture.

The Legislative Council in Hong Kong and the local government are well advised to abolish the controversial ESF. The ESF’s next step could be privatization (i.e., with absolutely no government subsidy). Supporters of the ESF have argued that the Hong Kong government should provide an international education for expatriates’ children, since it claims that Hong Kong is “Asia’s world city”. This is a red herring. Hong Kong, as an international city, offers job opportunities for expatriates in the banking, finance and other sectors. I am sure most expatriates make quite good money working in Hong Kong. They have no right to ask Hong Kong taxpayers to subsidize their kids’ education.

And it is a shame to ask middle-class and lower-class people in Hong Kong to help pay for tuition of rich expatriates’ kids.

Some expatriates also contend that the ESF caters for the children of “transient migrants” who otherwise would not come to Hong Kong and contribute to its economy. Are you kidding me? This is another red herring. I am sure that expatriates look at the pay-packages they get from their prospective employers first in deciding whether they will relocate to Hong Kong. In fact, if they don’t take up the job offers, many local Chinese or mainland Chinese will rise up to the challenge and get the job offers with glee.

Legislators and government officials should not procrastinate. The sensitive policy of asking local people to pay for expatriates’ children’s education should be abolished. Fifteen years after Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty, it’s time we scrapped this humiliating colonial education legacy called the English Schools Foundation.

The author is coordinator of the B.S.Sc in financial journalism program at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Sex education needs to be improved

HK Opinion
H03 China Daily Hong Kong Edition Victor Fung Keung
2012-09-06

Sex education needs to be improved


We cannot bury our heads in the sand anymore. It’s time we provided better sex education to both pre-teens and teenagers in Hong Kong and on the mainland.

About one-third of Hong Kong’s troubled teenagers aged between 10 and 15 believe that sex and dating come in a package, according to a survey in August 2012 conducted by the Federation of Youth Groups. One-fifth of respondents admitted they had sexual experiences.

The situation on the mainland is none the better. About 30 percent of young people born after the 1990s said their first “puppy love” happened in primary or junior high school, according to a survey done by a dating website Baihe in June 2012. The shocking revelation is that many teenagers under 16 borrowed identity cards from older kids so that they can go to “hotels” to have sex. Most hotel staff turn a blind eye anyway, because business is business.

Sex invariably leads to the teen-pregnancy problem. In Hong Kong, we have about 800 such cases every year, and most cases end in abortions, from which the physical and mental shocks brought to bear on the girls were handily ignored. And it is sad to read from newspaper reports that every year about half a dozen newly-born babies are abandoned in dark allies or filthy dumps.

The mainland’s National Working Committee on Children and Women reported that 22.4 percent of those aged between 15 and 24 have had premarital sex; and 21.3 percent of those sexually active girls have become pregnant; and 91 percent of these pregnancies ended in abortions.

Hong Kong and mainland teenagers share a lot in common. They mature earlier than the older generation because of better diet, nutrition and living environments. Girls on the mainland have their first menstruation at 11, compared to 14 a few years ago.

Another common problem is that parents in Hong Kong and the mainland don’t know how to talk to their children and educate them about sex. Some even regard the topic as taboo.

It almost becomes a cliche to blame the media and the Internet. Western TV series, such as “Gossip Girl” and “Sex in the City”, are very open about having out-of-wedlock sex. One of my favorite TV series titled “Without a trace” tells of a woman detective having extra-marital sexual relationships with two of her co-workers. And of course, pornographic videos and movies available free on the Internet are only a click away. Such videos and movies emphasize the joys of sex, rather than sex as part of a serious and fruitful life and relationship.

Most schools in Hong Kong aren’t doing a good job, I am afraid. They teach children how to use a condom. More importantly, they should teach the teenagers about building companionships, relationships, trust and showing care, love and respect for the opposite sex. Simply put, dating is more than having sex in a “love hotel”. This misconception must be uprooted from teenagers’ minds.

The Hong Kong government provides funds to have high-school kids test for drugs, such as ketamine and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide). In the same vein, perhaps it can allocate more resources to sex education in schools. A comprehensive sex education is more than just teaching kids their different body parts and organs. Sex and relationships and health hazards (including HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases) brought about by having unsafe sex should also be emphasized. Non-governmental-organizations should also receive more funding from the government to run seminars on sex education and provide counseling for teenagers.

After all, the buck stops at home. Parents, who themselves must receive sex education first, should talk openly with their children about sex and pregnancy. They should overcome the feeling of uneasiness and embarrassment, because such intimate chats might help change their kids’ lives forever. Their impact can’t be underestimated.

We should act and show our children that we love them and care for them. Let’s do it. Now!

The author is coordinator of the B.S.Sc in financial journalism program at Hong Kong Baptist University.