The folks in HongKong are enjoying the longest life span in the world.
“If you ever wonder why, here are the reasons:
1. Seniors in HK have truly world class government health care which is virtually free by world standards
2. Seniors enjoy a very active life-style in their daily get-togethers with other fellow seniors to do voluntary social work, because public transport for all seniors is very heavily subsidised
3. Every senior is rewarded with a no-means-test-required monthly stipend of HK$2200 in recognition of their past contribution to build up HK.
How is the HK government able to provide all these benefits even with absolutely zero percent GST?
The answer is because the bureaucracy does not charge astronomical salaries for the services of ministers and top civil servants.
One senior minister in HK has put his own view very clearly:
“Just being given the opportunity to work for my fellow citizens is already a
great honour for me that does not need to be waxed with any high salary.
I cannot bring the high salary with me to my grave, but I can leave this Earth
with the greatest satisfaction that I have helped my fellow citizens, and I will
leave behind my humble honour in Hong Kong’s history books.” “
I received the above in my email. I was kinda uh, true or not? Ubelieveable leh, where got so good govt? And Hongkong is not even richer than us, with lesser national reserves. We are the richest country in the world. If Sinkieland cannot afford it, who else can? Mind you, while we have been on the path of the people paying for their own welfare with their savings and dished out by the govt like it is from the govt, the Hongkong govt has been paying for it for all these years. Must not be true huh? If like dat, our govt will definitely want to outdo Hongkong and be number one also.
Even if it claimed that the high salary for our govt will mean that it cannot provide such benefits, I disagree. We have so so many billions or trillions in our reserves, sure can one. If not, raise the GST, raise the ERP, COEs, transport fare, and what more, sure can one. KNN, does Hongkong got GST or not, got ERP or COEs? And their public transport fares are even cheaper than ours. It is thus a matter of only got heart or no heart to want to do. Or at least put some money into the special account or retirement account lah, long long time cannot touch never mine, but can feel shiok also good what.
Maybe Hongkong govt not very smart and cannot attract the top talents without the top salaries. So they stupid stupid, give free money to the seniors. And one joker political leader said it was an honour to serve the people woah, greatest satisfaction and no need high salary! Must be a nit wit. Must be too idealistic. Come Sinkieland sure kenna reject from standing as a MP.
PS. My apologies. I accidentally deleted this article with all the comments while trying to delete another article that crowded the blog.
9/06/2012
Japan pushing the limits of China’s tolerance
The Japanese govt is pushing ahead with its farce buying of Diaoyu Island from another Japanese whose fictitious claim to ownership of the island must the height of Japanese trickery. They did this kind of shit over and over again during Imperial Japan to bully a decadent and weak China. It is trying to do the same today to a China that could give them a bloody nose any time.
Japan is forcing the hands of Beijing and the latter has no choice but to respond robustly or it would lose its credibility in the eyes of its citizens and would also encourage adventurism in South China Sea. China would now have to mount a military force to protect its island, like it or not. This could lead to a military confrontation that China has chosen not to oblige for a long time.
The world, the Asean countries and the US are watching how China would respond to this aggressive act against its territories. Backing out and allowing the Japanese to continue in its heady encroachment of its islands is a no option.
Japan has made the first offensive move. The ball is now in Beijing’s court.
9/05/2012
China's new face in the global arena
China's new face in the global arena
Updated: 2012-09-04 16:20
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China has changed a lot since its opening-up
policy in 1978. China is now the world's second economic and military
powerhouse. As China continues to rise, so does the wrong misconceptions
and deceitful stigma about how it will continue to waltz out and
evaporate.
China's approach now is with a strong emphasis on economic diplomacy, stern professionalism, and cultural exchanges. In the common parlance, it is known as "business is business" or "strictly business." Political liberalization is gradually following economic liberalization. An American scholar, Michael Roskin, once said "You have freedom here (China)."
What makes China different from other rising or emerging powers is that is has peppered itself with a strong emphasis on bilateral and multilateral diplomacy and international commitments. This is evidenced by their strong participation in international governmental organizations. No other emerging power in history has done what China is doing in terms of a very wide reach of economic linkages and activism in international affairs and global responsibilities which actually signals to the world they have no ulterior motive.
China has also committed to engaging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the East Asia Summit among others.
Key to this success is the profession of the leaders and bureaucrats. In China, the most popular professions are engineering, business, architecture, IT, and the like. All these point to the fact that the leaders orientation will be reflected on the things that they do in society. This has been evident in the grand implementation of the national high-speed railway system, towering and magnificent mega-infrastructures, stretching flyovers, and booming high rise residential buildings – which are all aimed to provide for the needs and comforts of the people.
Leaders in China do not like to talk as much as leaders in "democratic countries." But rather, they devote their time for talking about the creation of material and tangible outputs for the benefit of the public. Most of the statesmen in China do not belong to the law profession, but what they have done for their country to achieve perpetual success is truly praiseworthy and has already been palpably embedded to improve people's lives. In China, their actions not their words are what achieves democracy -- which is done by a strong and overdriven government.
It is by the provision of efficient public services at a fast pace in which other democratic countries are not able to deliver due to much political bickering, partisanship, and squabbling. "Democracy" is just a nomenclature, what is important is a strong government that can effectively cater to the needs of its people in a swift and willful manner. There is no demagoguery in China, only productivity and non-stop activity managed by leaders that possess wisdom.
This goes to show that there is no best political form of government or political system. Every country has its own reception and perception towards its own constituency and nation-building. All nations must discover for itself what is good for it. This is what makes China flag their "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" which bespeak that everything shall be adapted and dealt with on a case to case basis.
The Chinese are now becoming the top source of tourists and foreign students abroad especially in many Western countries, bringing along money that can contribute to the economy of the country where they are going.
Football player Nicolas Anelka and NBA idol Stephon Marbury among others have come to China to grab the opportunities that can be realized. So, from the US version of an "American Dream," there is now seemingly an emerging "Chinese Sensation" where more and more people are starting to join the bandwagon. The world is changing, where Asian states are rising, and on the forefront of that comes China's new face to the world.
The author is an overseas student from Philippines mastering in
International Relations with a Holistic Law Background and Service
Experience at Shandong University in China.
The opinions expressed do not represent the views of the China Daily website
China's approach now is with a strong emphasis on economic diplomacy, stern professionalism, and cultural exchanges. In the common parlance, it is known as "business is business" or "strictly business." Political liberalization is gradually following economic liberalization. An American scholar, Michael Roskin, once said "You have freedom here (China)."
What makes China different from other rising or emerging powers is that is has peppered itself with a strong emphasis on bilateral and multilateral diplomacy and international commitments. This is evidenced by their strong participation in international governmental organizations. No other emerging power in history has done what China is doing in terms of a very wide reach of economic linkages and activism in international affairs and global responsibilities which actually signals to the world they have no ulterior motive.
China has also committed to engaging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the East Asia Summit among others.
Key to this success is the profession of the leaders and bureaucrats. In China, the most popular professions are engineering, business, architecture, IT, and the like. All these point to the fact that the leaders orientation will be reflected on the things that they do in society. This has been evident in the grand implementation of the national high-speed railway system, towering and magnificent mega-infrastructures, stretching flyovers, and booming high rise residential buildings – which are all aimed to provide for the needs and comforts of the people.
Leaders in China do not like to talk as much as leaders in "democratic countries." But rather, they devote their time for talking about the creation of material and tangible outputs for the benefit of the public. Most of the statesmen in China do not belong to the law profession, but what they have done for their country to achieve perpetual success is truly praiseworthy and has already been palpably embedded to improve people's lives. In China, their actions not their words are what achieves democracy -- which is done by a strong and overdriven government.
It is by the provision of efficient public services at a fast pace in which other democratic countries are not able to deliver due to much political bickering, partisanship, and squabbling. "Democracy" is just a nomenclature, what is important is a strong government that can effectively cater to the needs of its people in a swift and willful manner. There is no demagoguery in China, only productivity and non-stop activity managed by leaders that possess wisdom.
This goes to show that there is no best political form of government or political system. Every country has its own reception and perception towards its own constituency and nation-building. All nations must discover for itself what is good for it. This is what makes China flag their "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" which bespeak that everything shall be adapted and dealt with on a case to case basis.
The Chinese are now becoming the top source of tourists and foreign students abroad especially in many Western countries, bringing along money that can contribute to the economy of the country where they are going.
Football player Nicolas Anelka and NBA idol Stephon Marbury among others have come to China to grab the opportunities that can be realized. So, from the US version of an "American Dream," there is now seemingly an emerging "Chinese Sensation" where more and more people are starting to join the bandwagon. The world is changing, where Asian states are rising, and on the forefront of that comes China's new face to the world.
The opinions expressed do not represent the views of the China Daily website
China cancelled meeting with Hillary
I was expecting this to happen for a very long time. There is no reason why the host of a country would want to discuss his neighbourhood problems with his guests, and definitely not one from the other side of the Pacific Ocean. Why should Hillary or the Americans be dictating the agenda, on what to discuss and what not to discuss, and what more, the disputes between neighbours? Who do the US think they are to tell the neighbours how to behave and what to do? Oh, I forget, the Empire.
It is about time that Asian and Southeast Asian countries decide what they should talk to their guests and not be dragged along by the guests. And this is what happened in Beijing today.
‘BEIJING (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sat down Wednesday with Chinese President Hu Jintao to press Beijing to agree to peacefully resolve territorial disputes with its smaller neighbors over the South China Sea. But as she began her meetings here, China questioned the stated neutrality of the United States.
At the start of the talks with Hu, Clinton said the U.S.-China relationship is strong. "We are able to explore areas of agreement and disagreement in a very open manner, which I think demonstrates the maturity of the relationship and the chance to take it further in the future," she said.
There was no immediate comment on the talks, but a scheduled meeting with Vice President Xi Jinping for later Wednesday morning had been canceled by China "for unexpected scheduling reasons," said a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity.’
The next time China may not even want to see her, or maybe no next time unless Obama is reelected. The host country should determine the agenda of the visit and not about meddling with other countries’ affairs.
Send her home.
Social media versus commercial media
I would like to use the term professional media to describe the main media but that would have given them far too much credit than they deserved. The only thing professional is probably its recognition as a profession. Today, many professional journalists or even academics are far from neutral, objective, and many try to pursue their private agenda for personal or financial gains. This is particularly widespread among the much hyped and considered respectable big names in the western media. Many have proven to be writing fictions created to suit their personal motive.
Cherian George wrote a hefty piece of material in his article, ‘Press Controls and the Myth of Online Bypass’ in Journalism.sg. The title itself suggested where he is coming from and he did not hide much to be seen as being neutral. The main media or commercial media is the still the cornerstone in the collection and dissemination of news. This I cannot disagree as long as it keeps to these roles. Once it strays towards opinion and commentaries, to set an agenda, the horns are raised. The main media will play its part to serve its master’s interests and agenda. Period. How many professional journalists could touch their hearts and say, I am saying this, writing this, strictly from a neutral, professional and objective point of view? Not that bloggers and social media are clean and objective either. There is a contest, a war, by both sides trying to tell their truths or version of truths.
The intrinsic biases in Cherian George’s position to favour main media are understandable. This can be reflected in his comments here,
‘Professional journalism
There is, however, a third role that newspapers play that online media show no signs of taking on. As much as our blogs claim to be monitoring the powerful, the reality is that their capacity is extremely limited. One limitation is their lack of training and experience, in making ethical judgment calls and in separating reliable information from gossip. This gap may be overstated. Journalism is not rocket science and I think it is possible for bloggers to develop professional journalism skills.
However, there is a bigger – and so far unbridgeable – gap that we need to take far more seriously. This is the gap between what can be accomplished by large teams of professional, full-time journalists versus small collectives of part-time amateurs. No matter how intelligent, talented and sincere the latter are, there are simply practical limits to what they can accomplish without sufficient time and the organisational back-up.’
His assumption is that the main media and professionals would do the necessary, to accomplish that idealism, that aspirations, that the media as the Fourth Estate should do or expected to do. The expectation and hope by the public are very high, but often in vain when the professionals failed them. If bloggers are assumed to lack the skills and intellect to make ethical judgements, so professionals will have the skills and the will to do so? The assumption is too naïve and simplistic. How many professionals are strutting their stuff and bulldozing their ways under a power halo over their heads? And in so doing, totally ignore the ethical calling of their professions and their conscience?
Cherian assumed that by virtue of their training, their numbers and organization resources, the professionals will do good for the sake of good and ethics, to say the right stuff. Really?
How many would agree to this assertion?
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