The Correspondent, March 1989

I

TEDDIE TSEING NOV

iN&A16

10,1915 FEB 6,1989

SPECIAL

MARCH 1989 VOLUME 2 NUMBER 5

THE

REPORT

GORRDSPOilIIDNT COVER

Z

Absent friends

Ddward E.P Tseng, a longtime member of the FCC, was

the Clubrs presiclent in

and, again, during

1968 1984-85

l¿st month, cancer claimed his life. He had been receiv-

ing treatment in Taiwan

in Hong Kong

and

since he was

diagnosed in mid-1988 to have an .incurable and inoperable form of lung cancer.

Another former president of the Club, Mon$r Parrot, also died last rnonth after a long illness in retirement in New Zealand.

Cover illustratiot¡.t Gaain Coates

MEET THE PRESS

An evening at Mujra street

18

The mujra dance which originated in Persia and was brought to India by Mogul invaders is looked down upon by upper-class Indians though it is now almost an essential part of most Indian movies. Club member læighton Willgerodt on a business trip to India was taken by his Indian hosts to witness a mujra dance on a back street of Bombay unknown to foreigners. He rccounls the experience.

BOOKS 19

The abuse of power

Fred Armentrout reviews htformation, Freedom and Censorshiþ: The Article 19 Worltl Reþort and says that this book should be required reacling for journalists, editors, publishers and, most importantly, government information ministries.

The dangerbehindthe

Goråachevphenomenon 8 l¡rd Chalfont, a former British intel-

ForAuld [-ang Syne,

or

20

ligence officer and former secretary of state for foreign affairs, was guest

speaker

at the Club in

January.

Speaking on East-West relations and

I -worldf peace, he said the West was reacting in an

'rextremely irrational ald very uncoordinated wayrr to the Gorbachev phenomenon. And he feels that the Western world as a whole is entering rra dangerous periodrl Ihe Swiæ Gmp

P*4

With our newcitycheck-inryou can even arrive at the airport in better shape. ft's

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It's

Bangkokrs Nation Group of publications has sparked some speculations which its founder editor-publisher, Suthichai Yoon, thinks are monstrously unfair. The Nation has, meanwhile, lured away to its side the editor-in-chief of the rival pape¡ Banghok Post.

ll Viswa Nathan Editorial Supervision Publicalions Sub Cornmift ee: Paul Bayfiekl (Chairm¿n) Kcn Ball James Foil eslcr

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ot

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t7 22

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Ol' GO\¡ERNORS: Pres¡dcnt l)erek

First Vice-President - Si¡an lisek. Second V¡ce-President lrene O'She¿ Corrcspondent l![ember Governors l)a(l Bayficld, Jailìes [ot testct B¡iarì Jellies, Craham Lovell, Keilh N4illeI lìobin Movet Peter Seidli?, Richartì Wagner: Journalist lllember Covernors llob Davis, lurl \\'ilson Assoc¡ate Member Governors-Ken llall, \Vcndy BOARD

Written by Club member Bruce Maxwell, who is the editor and publisher of the resp€cted Asian Boating, the repoft will cover all aspects of boating - from simply sailing for pleasure to the China Sea Cup ser¡es.

For advertising

details, call

lelephone

t2l15ll

Fil: t8684092

5-286289

COMì\fITTEES: Professionâl Coñmiftee -Derek D¿vies, l)aul llayfield, Wendy Hughes, Pcter Seìdliu, Sinan Fisek Entertainment Committee - Irerìe O'Sheå, Petpr sei(llitz. Paul Baliìel(ì, Richard Wagner, ßob D¿vis Membership Comûittee -Craham l¡vell, flrjan Jefhics Tcchniøl Committcc l,aul ßay'1ìeld, K.ith l\'lill, r. Ker llall. Robin l\4oyer Club Manager: Hei¡z (ìråbnei Club Sfewtrd: Julia Suen The Cor r esDondent is published rnonlhly for irnd on behâlt ot I he

\Vanchai, Hong Kong teleDhone: t286289, t2P6480 F¿ù: t8662439

Opinions expressed by writers ¡re nol necesstrily those ofthe Foreign Corresporrdents' Club

Davies.

Hughes, Briân l-loyd, Dorolhy Ryan

Prind¡ne

Iror

eign Correspondents' Club, by:

tld.

4l l¡ckhål t Roâd, \\¡anchai, Hong Kong Telet)hone: i2862tì9, !28tj480; Fu: 5-8ôtj2439

502 l.l¿st Town Bùildine,

lltæaging D¡rector: P Viswa Nathan, Opcrations Director: Dcbbie Nunall, Advertising illanager: Anthony Markland

3-7673888.

Arrive in better shape

After that, you're free to shop, go to a meeting,

5 5 L4 15

Letters The 7-oo Club News People Stop Press

BOATII\JG IN HONG KONG"

Anthony Markland Editor

When you get to the airport, all you nced to do is go straight to customs and passport cont¡ol.

Cathay Pacific's CityCheck, onc more way to eûsure you a¡rive in better shapc.

F-or more information on CityCheck, please contact Cathay Pacific

16

Dow Jonesr acquisition of a minority interest in

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STAR I LRRI

DEPARTMENTS

MEDIA Not

effectively

A survey conducted among FCC members res¡dent in Hong Kong found that nearly 30 per cent of them are sailing enthus¡asts most of them own boats either personally or through their compan¡es.

With such a strong sailing commun¡ty within the club, the April issue of The Correspondent will publish a spec¡al report on

e L !

Ðd paÊê dp\iÊn q' neraled oil Apt'1. Maciutoslì lJ årì,1 linished ¿il oiltjrt by Linorronii3irtl.Print,.à'inHongKorrgi,yK¡,lettPr;nrirÊCo..t6ll Renr¡xr',nrrc, t huk Hang Road, Hong Kurrg.

T' xt

4z \4bng

ITID

qNn[SPOilDIIUT 502 East Town Building 41 l¡ckhart Road

Wanchai, Hong Kong

THE 7OO

LETTERS

lfil

An open letter

(^

to Ted Thomas

f,

BY ARÍI]UR HACKTR

A TOUC H

WORSE

FCC CLUB

,

OF GOUT

FooT!

?

DearTed,

I

CAN|T believe

it -

but my consolation is that few others will either. Not only new errors, but old errors recycled in your tireless pursuit of the . .

What do you

.

pursue

nowadays, Ted?

Item: Stanley Rich

was never editor, founding or otherwise, of the Hong Kong

(

Standard. When I first in 1951, he

met him

was

a

TU

v.

junior

U

Associated Press cor-

respondent, working for the sainted Fred Hampson. Editor of a

: Item: Frank Robertson

moved

lr leavy. Since you say he is legendary, I assume that he exists. Can you enlighten me?

I look forward to the next instalment of

Ted Thomasrs Tremulous Tales of the Supernatural and the Unknown.

to

Contact: Shawki Safieddine Telephone; (301)-7 24-67 23 I 4 I s Telex:219591 GRAD GR

New York Contact: Sarah Monks Louis Epstein Telephone: (1)-21 2-838-8688 Telex: 710 581 6302 HKTDC NyK Facs¡mile; (1 )-21 2-838-8941

Bårcelona Contact: Joaqu¡n ¡,4aestre Telephone: (34)-3-21 7 -62-50 Answerphone night serv¡ce: (34)-3-217-æ-54 Cable: PUBLTmELAT¡ONS

1

Telex: 728335 HONG KONG CGO F acsimile: (1)-31 2-7 26-24 41 Dallas Contact: D¡ana Patlerson Telephone: (1).-21 4-7 48-81 62 Cable: HONGTRADS DALLAS Telex:791719 HKIDC DAL F acsimile: (1121 4-7 42-67 01 Los Angeles Conlact: Daniel C Fernandez Telephone: (1\-21 3-622-31 94 Cable: CONOTRAD LOS ANGELES Telex: 194288 HKrDC LA LSA Facs¡mile: ('l )-213-61 3-1 490

Torcnto Contact: Lee Meisler Telephone: (1 )-41 G366-3594 Câble: CONOIRAD TORONTO Telex: 06218056 HKTDC TOR Facsim¡le: (1)-41 ê366-1 569 Vancouyor

Contact: Pamela Bottomley Telephone:

(1

Facsimile:

(1

)-604-685-OBB3

f604-681 -0093

Australia Sydney Contact: Douglas Chan Telephone: (61)-02-æ8-34316 Cable: HONGKONBEP SYDNEy Telex: AA 12'1313 CONSYD Facsim¡le: (61 )-02-290-1 889

Alhens

Miami Conlact: l/arch Davenporl Telephone: ( )-305-577-041 4 Facsim¡le: (1)-30S-371-9324

Central Amedca Panam Contact: Anel Beliz Telephone: (507)-69-5894

lelex:

(507)-69-s61 1 (507)-69-5109 29B9 HKTDCP pG

From USA:3682989 From other counk¡es: 3792999 Facs¡mile: (507)-69-6183

F

acs¡mile: (gO1)-7 24-Bg2Z

BARCELONA 6 (SPA|N) Telex: 97862 SABP E Facsimile: (34)-3-237-92-26

FranKurl Conlact: Lore Busher Telephone: (49)-069-74-01 -61 Cable: CONOIRAD FRANKFURT

Telex: 414705 COFHA D Facsim¡¡e: (49)-069-7451 24

lstanbul Contact: Yakup Barouh Telephone: (901!51 1-46-24 (901f520-80-50 Facsimile: (901!527-48-65 London Contact: Martin Evam Telephone: (44)-01 -930-795S Cable: CONOTRAD LONDON SWI Telex: 916923 CONLON G Facs¡mile: (44)-01 -930-4742

C¡ntact: Amy

for this.

L¡

Telephone; (39)-02-S65405 (39)-02_86571 5

Telephone: (86)-01 -S0O-3285 feÞx:22927 HKrDC CN

Cable: KONGTRAD MTLAN Telex: 333508 HKTDC I Facsimile; (39)-02-860304

Facsim¡le: (86)-01-500-3295

Par¡s

Contact; Dom¡nique Duchiron Telephone: (æ)-01 -47 -42-41 -SO Te¡ex: 283098 HKTDC F F ac simile : (33) -O1 - 47 - 42-7 7 - 4 4

Slækholm

Viênm Contact: Johannæ Neumann Telephone: (43)-0222-533-98-1 Cable: CONO-rFADREp W¡EN Telex: 1 15079 HKTDC A Facsimile: (43)-0222-53S-31 -56

I

JA

O$ka

Furrer

Telephone: (4j )-Oj -2S1 -01 -85

Cable: CONOTBAD ZURTCH Telex: 817850 CONZ CH Facsimile: (41)-01 -2S1 -OB-1 4

Middle East Dubai.U-4.E.

Contact: Mr Ramzi Raad Telephone: (9714) 665950 (971 4) 660664

Cab¡e: ¡,4AFKETS DUBAT Telex: 46361 II/ARKET EM Facsimile: (9714) 667j 14

Telephone: (81).06-344-521

York Times to work for the Red Cross at least 20 years ago.

Item: W'oody Edwards has not returned

to

Nsgoya Contact: ¡/r O Esaki Telephone: 052-971-3626 Facsimile: 052-962-061 3

Contact: Yoshihisa Ueno

Conlact: lngmo Bonner Telephone: (46)-08-1 00677 (46)_08-1 1 5690 Cable: CONOTRAD STOCKHOLT\,4 Telex: 1 1993 TDC S Facsimile: (46)-08-7231 630

Zurich Contact:

Item: Greg MacGregor leff the New

Contacl: Agnes Hsu

1

Cable: CONNOTFADD OSAKA Telex: c/o Tokyo HKIDCT J2691 7 Facsim¡¡e: (8 1 )-06-347-0791

Shanghai Contacl: Agnes Hsu Telephone: (86)-21-264196 (86)_21-265935

Telex: 30175 TDCSH CN Facsim¡le: (86),21-264200

Honolulu since my last lette¡ but

remains at 855 Pine Street (Apt 17), San Francisco, California 94108. please do not hustle him into an early grave, and please do send him a subscription to The Corresþondent, to which as a former president of the FCC he is entitled. Of course, that might just hustle him off, since he is a

stickler for accuracy.

Finally, I am sure it is my loss, but I have never heard of the legendary Steve Dun-

Ta¡pe¡

THE following appeal was sent to The Corresþondent through David Davies who last year retired from AFP after 38 years

BUSINESS WRITERS

of service and now lives in tæ Grand Pressigny in the French countryside: ON December 18, in the middle of the night, Murray and Jenny Saylers house

AmCham, the monthly magazine

burnt but not badly.

The Sayles lost everything - files, records, photographic equipment, furnihre, clothes, personal possessions. None of

Mr4R:

outside Toþo burnt down. Jenny was in the house with their three children and Murray was in l¡ndon. She managed to get all three to safety. Her hands were

- it is apparently get contents insurance against

Tokyo Contact: David Hui

out.ll

As Murray says, rrwerve been wiped

{K

Real Esrare; Office Automarim; Compureñ; & Copy'right Protectron

Pater¡ts

ÁPÀ: MAY:

Sor¡th China & Macau

Hotelsl Catering & Fæd Processing; Medical

Products

& Seriiæs

,IUN.' Finance& Banking; Telecomrnunications

JUL:

Americans.in Asia¡ US Invesrnents in HK; US

òervrce hdustnes

n Asn

.AUG: Air"Frciehr; Shipping & Pons;

Central, Hong Kong

Tel:5-265293

of

the

American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, wants to expand its network of freelance business w¡iæn. Published word rate: HKg 1.30. Average length: 1500-2000 wds. Most stories æsigned.

Contact Fred Armentrout, Editor-in-Chief, at 5-260165. Remaining featu¡e themes 1989:

difficult to

fire in Japan.

SEP;

Business

Textiles

OCT: Dong

1ÆKowloon Centre, 29Ashley Road,

"O*

Tsimshatsui, Kowloon

DEC;

Tel:3-68402i

Northumberland place, London W2 5BS

An appeal for Murray Sayle Disaster Fund

it was insured

1-3 Wyndham Srreet,

Phillip Kniehrly, 4

(Robert Eleg:rnt)

Contacl: Vivia YarE Telephone; (886)-(02)-70S-9333 Telex: 23288 OUANIA Fa6imile: (886¡02-705-9222

Telephone: (81 )-03-502-32S1 /5 Cable: CONNO'IRADD TOKYO Telex: HKTDCT J26917 Facsimile: (Bl )-03-591 -6484

send me, as soon as you carì, a cheque made out to rrMurray Sayle Disaster Funãil.

Bob

Mount Eliza,

Milan

have each contributed f500 to start a fund. ff you would like to contribute, please

As ever, bemused,

ago. You can nis Warner, Contact: George M- Ammerlaan Telephone: (31r-On-277 1 01 Cable: CONOTRAD AMSTERDAM Telex: 15081 HKIDC NL Facsimile: (31)-Oæ-229S29

Two of his closest friends in Britain

Tnvel;

Freighr Forwarders

Consumer Producrs; Apparcl

&

Business In China

y"ì.ttñn t"*ology In Asia; Elecrmics; Executive.Search; M_anagernent Sewices; Law;

rqulpmmr lJasmg; lnsunnce

I propose that friends and colleagues of Murray and Jenny try to help them do this.

THE CORRESPONDENTMARCH 1989 5

OBITUARY

Absent friends

lGthmandu. Capital of the Kingdom of Nepal.

A

name

stewardesses who go outoftheir way

that conjures up visions of mystery and adventure.

to please you. Howeve¡ our service

0f

is not just up in the sky. Our

treks through Himalayan peal6 and snowscapes. 0f

legendary Yeti, the "abominable snowman'i And of a

all-

Boeing fleet is maintained to the most rigid international

quaint, medieval city, where ancient wooden

standards and

buildings jos'tle side by side on narrow stræts.

for

efficiency, we've invested

in

the

HE CLUB has recently lost two of its former presidents to the same dreaded disease. The man listed as the FCCrs second president in 1951, Monty Parrot of Reuters, died after a long illness in retirementin New 7-eala¡d.

Just before we received that bad news, we learned of the sad death of Edward E.P Tseng, who was president of the Club overtwo periods, in 1968 and again in 1984-85. Eddie, for many years before his retirement when he becarne a distinguished member of the group of elder statesmen who had brought Taiwan through to its present stage of liberalisation, had run the Central News Agency in Hong Kong. Throughout the Territoryrs political ups and downs he had

$ate-of-the-art SABBE computer reservations

Eddie Tseng Yet the comfoft of modern hotels

system. And we are backed by

a group

of

ANCER claimed Bddie Tseng on February 6, and the Hong Kong journalistic community lost one of its most respected and distinguished colleagues.

Eddiers life, (he was 73 when he passed away) mirrored some of the

In the fierceþ competitive

diræt from Hong Kong thræ

r'

All of which should give you

times a week,

every /

reasons

to fly

ample

Dragonair

:!"

to lGthmandu,

business of agency reporting, Eddie also got the drop on his colleagues by being the first to report Japanrs surrender on board

the USS Missouri in Tbþo Bay in

September 1945. Itwas, Eddie later conceded, a stroke ofluck.

As he recalled the events of that heady surrender day, there were five

reporters allowed Missouri

Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. So

just one more destination in our ongoing plan to blæe new tralls into the most

you can stan and finish your Nepal

interesting places in Asia.

adventure in comfort, cared for by

$7360202 or 5.8108055.

our team of young,

DRAGONAIR HONGKONG

for

reseryations, call your travel agent or Dragonair on

)ËÊEfrnÊ

enthusiastic

Iì

1952, Eddie Tseng was named

assuming responsibility

NewsAgency.

Hong Kong's leading ærporations.

ln

Deputy Editor-in-Chief of CNA in Taipei, while he also doubled as the New York Tfunes correspondenl at a

Chiang Kai-shek to Taiwan, the Korean

as a correspondent for Chinars Central

Dragonair can fly you there,

career.

time when the confrontation between Peking and Taiwan'was on the boil.

In 1953, he was moved to lnndon,

andVietnamwars.

Eddie covered these epochal events Now

Eddiers number came up with the magic 1.

Eddiers number was to come up many times in a long and illustrious

most tumultous happenings in the AsiaPacific region - the second world war,

the Maoist revolution, the flight by

is still to be found.

remained a popular and respected member of the local journalistic community, rising above any political differences between the Mainland and the Kuomingtang. He was a reliable friend, a good newsman and an infnite source of good humour. Tragically he died of lung cancer, 27 years after he quit smoking.

The Club was represented at Monty Parrotrs funeral byTed Kerr, a Reuter correspondent on temporary assignment to New Zealand, who passed on condo lences from the Club to Mrs Parrot and family. Many of the Clubrs members were present to mark Eddiers last rites and offer condolences to his beautiful wife Betty, who gave him so much support during his life and his lastillness.

to

on board

the

witness Japanrs formal

capitulation. Representatives included

Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters and Central News, all seeking first use of the shiprs only radio. The American information officer on board decided the only way out was to hold a lottery to decide who goes first. Five numbers went into a hat.

for

CNAs

five branches in western Europe.

Eddie returned to Hong Kong in 1966, even as the Cultural Revolution

was building up its head of steam across the border and tensions in the

territory were running high. Named to the Republic of Chinars Legislative

dealing out lovely anecdotes of his days on the reporterrs beal of which he had many.

Tb the end, Eddie Tseng lived life to its fullest, despite the pain and punishment of an incurable illness.

Eddie Tseng touched the lives of many people, most particularly his fellow combatants in journalism. For all of them there is the memory of a great and good man.

Monty Parrot

Mfrå

Tauranga, New Zealand at the end

of February. A correspondent in Asia for a New Zealand newspaper at the end of the second world war,

Yuan, Eddie Tseng marvellousþ married the demands of three careers diplomat, politician and working jour-

Monty was one of the few corre spondents to interview Japanrs wartime leader Tbjo, before Tojo

nalist, wielding considerable power

was executed as

and influence but using it with characteristic prudence and understanding.

Twice president of the FCC, Eddie

plane hijack and HMS Amethystrs

-

Tseng was always staunchly loyal to his chosen profession - a journalist

first and last. He was a thoughtful

individual and above all a caring man.

In his later years, as he increasingly shed the responsibilities of meeting the rush of deadlines, Eddie Tseng amused himself and his close friends throwing dice (his luck continued to hold most times), sharing a drink and

a

war criminal.

He scored several notable scoops in Asia - the worldrs first escape down the Yanglze for exam-

- before moving to I¡ndon. In London, he became Reuter overseas editor, moving out of this hot seat to be chief Reuter correspondent in the Caribbean before retiring to Dmokoroa near Tauranga in the earþ 1970s.

Monty is survived by his wife,

ple

Esther, two sons and a daughter.tr

MARCH 1989THE CORRESPONDENT 7

MEET THE PRESS

MEET THE PRESS begun to behave and to react in, what is to my mind, an extremely irrational and very uncoordinated way. It has apparentþ decided to regard all this as a revolution in international relations. It 'is now proposing to go along with the idea of a 50 per cent cut in strategic nuclear weapons, a

The danger behind the Gorbachev phenomenon Two former British politicians, l¡rd Carrington and I¡rd Chalfont, spoke on East-West relations and world peace at two successive professional luncheons at the FCC in January. l¡rd Carrington, a former British foreign secretary who ended his political career last year as secretary-general of Nato, said that Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachevrs move to reduce the Soviet military presence in East Europe, to pull out the Russian forces from Æghanistan, to persuade the Vietnamese to withdraw from Kampuchea, and other proposals to reduce world tension are good for the \Mest provided whatrs done is properly verified.

He said: rrl am quite certain if werre sensible, if we actually play our hand properly, we can all live in a very much greater level of security, much less expensively and much more sensibly.rr (See The Correspondent, F ebruary r89) .

I¡rd Chalfont, a former British intelligence officer and former secretary of state for foreign affairs who later became Britainrs best-known defence correspondent and a prolific author, holds a more hawkish view on the matter. Speaking a week after l¡rd Carrington, he said the Westwas reacting in an rrextremely irrational and very uncoordinated wayrr to the Gorbachev phenomenon and was regarding all this as arrrevolution in international relationsrr. He said: rrl have a feeling the Western world as a whole is entering a dangerous periodrr.

Excerpts of t¡rd Chalfontrs speech follow:

proposal which in my mind carries grave dangers for the West. It is

now proposing also that there should be a matching cut in our convention-

al

forces in western Europe to match that

since the 1917 revolution, got a leader who actually realises what it is like to have to run a massive and complicated economy of a country of 250 million people. He discovered when he came into power that the Soviet economy is in a dreadful state, the industrial infrastructure is incompetent, the agricultural industry is a disaster area. He realised immediately that he had to do something about this. And one of the things he discovered very quickly was, that you cannot have industrial or agricultural or economic revolution in the Soviet Union while you are spending somewhere between 15 and 20 per

cent of the gross national product

HE STARTING POINT of

any

talk about international relations

or international strategy at the moment has to be East-West relations. I have a feeling that the Western world as a whole is entering a dangerous period. To live in the political, and especially the political-strategic world in l¡ndon or in western Europe now, is to get the impression that simply because the Soviet Union now has as its leader a man with a certain degree of sophistication and a reasonably good tailor, and because his wife is attractive and also very well dressed, that the whole com-

of international relations has changed. You will hear people with perfectly good sense, normally, and a good experience of international life saying, Ithe cold war is over; we are entering into a new phase of peace and harmony, and plexion

accommodation; we are entering into a phase in which the Soviet Union is going to move from being a totalitarian, central-

ly 8

controlled communist country, to

being a pluralist democracy with many of the same values as our own, with a great regard for human rights and all our fears can now be laid at rest; and the Soviet threat is overrr.

That is the way the argument now tends to go across a very broad spectrum of public and political opinion in western Europe. This is not just a popular concept brought about by the exposure on television of Mr Gorbachev and the new breed of people around him. It seems also to be very much in the minds of political leaders

in western Europe and was, of

course,

until recently very much in the mind of the president of the United Slates.

What I would like to do is simply to put to you what I believe is hap

RUSST{'S REASON:

in the Soviet Union and how I believe we, in the Western world, the pening

democratic world, the free world, should be reacting to it.

What has happened, I think, is that the Soviet Union has, perhaps for the first time

rHB coRRESPoNDENT MARCH 1989

on defence. So, he decided that he would have proportion of the Soviet reduce resources spent on the military establishment. But he also realised that he could not do this unless he could persuade the West to do the same. He would not have lasted five minutes if he had gone in for a series of uni-

to

a

lateral cuts in his defence budget without persuading the West to do something at least to match it.

So we have had

this series of clever and

extremely fleible and sophisticated moves

by Mr Gorbachev - the treaty on intermediate nuclear forces, the proposal for a 50 per cent cut in long-range nuclear forces (what is known as the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), an offer to make fundamental cuts in the conventional forces facing Nato in eastern Europe, and more recently, an offer

by East Germany to reduce its forces. So, what we are no\M faced with in the West is the need to react in some way to this quite brilliant, diplomatic and public relations initiative by Gorbachev. And the West has

which Mr Gorbachev has recently proposed. Again, in my view, a move which present grave dangers to the security of western Europe.

No one yet seems have asked themselves two ques-

T1V0 VIIAL QIJFSIIONS:

to tions: First, what happens Gorbachev succeeds

in

if

Mr

rejuvenating

and revolutionising the Soviet economy, to make the Soviet Union a strong, prosperous, selJ-confident country, but does nothing to change the nature of its for-

eign policy and the basic aims of Marxism-læninism which are, after all, designed to bring it in constant conflict with the capitalist West? If we have been Írightened of the Soviet Union for the past 30 years, knowing that it was eco-

West has taken the Gorbachev

phenomenon too much at its face value. It has

failed to look into what the long-term effects of all this may be and I believe that it is moving in a very dangerous direction indeecl.

TIm U,S, POIICY: This, of course, coincides with something quite remarkable that is happening in US foreign policy as well.

Itrs a combination of a number of things. First of all, it is a feeling in many thinking bodies of opinion in the US that it has concentrated far too much on Europe

as the centre of its defence, on

from communist infiltration in

that

it

has had

in the past with

a bigger impact on the Western alliance, especially the military part of the Western alliance, Nato, that many people

have

yet

foreseen. I donrt believe that Mr Bush is going to take

Gorbachev

phe-

that he is going to solve

I put these questions simply to under-

defend yourselves because we are no longer as interested as we used to be in you, rverre interested in the world, we will fìnd our allies in the world where we think they are most useful and most imporlant, and where they are prepared to pick up their share of the burden.l This is going to happen at a time when

is already being so by the Gorbachev phenomenon

western Europe seduced

that it is thinking of reducing its defences.

Yourve only got to listen to recent speeches

by the German Chancellor to realise that western European countries are thinking of reducing their defences rather than improving and increasing them. And I can tell Mr Bush now in case nobody else tells him, there is absolutely no possibility that any western European country is going to increase its defence budget. That is abso-

lutely out of the question.

So when you get faced with that kind of dilemma, as Mr Bush will be faced with very quickly, it will be very interesting to +

I love him in

quite the same optimistic view of the

dent, economically prosperous

line my first point, i.e., I believe that the

the

European-Atlantic area.

Secondly, a change of president. This, I think, is going to have

nomenon as Mr Reagan did. But, on the other

and

Central

America, it comes from communist expansion in Southern Africa, it comes from what is happening in the Middle East and in the Far East and in Southeast Asia, and that the US foreign policy should, in future, cease to have the preoccupation,

nomically incompetent, and industrially and agriculturally underdeveloped, how much more should we be frightened of the Soviet Union that is strong, confimorally selJ-confi dent?

The second question is, what hap pens, if having achieved all these things in the Soviet Union and having persuaded the West to carry out its own measures of disarmament, Mr Gorbachev disappears? What if they suddenly decide in the Soviet Union that this is not the kind of leader that they want? ilrhat if, after we have carried out all the disarmament measures that he is now pressing upon us, he should be removed and we should go back to the kind of Stalinist leadership in the Soviet Union?

the

European-Atlantic area. America¡r strate gists are now beginning to point out that the threat to the US is no longer really the threat of a Soviet advance on western Europe, it comes from elsewhere. It comes

US saying that we in western Europe donrt pay enough for our defence; we donrt pick up enough of the tab; and we rely constantly on the US to defend us. My guess is that Mr Bush is going to say, rThe partyrs over, you people in Europe have got to start to

RASPBERRY

hand, Mr Bush has an

enormous problem the deficit. He knows

that problem, and

knows, like

he

Mr

Gorbachev knew, that there is only one way he can do it and that is to begin to reduce the enormous US defence budget. He knows that that is going to happen.

When that

process

begins, one of the areas

of the world that is going to be immediately affected is western Europe. Already there are many people in the

MARCH 1989 THE CORRESPONDENT 9

All you wanted to know about

DESKTOP PUBLISHING ¡ . . but

were afraid to ask!

MEET THE PRESS see what the effect is. I would guess that one ofthe effects is going to be the virtual disintegration of Nato. I donrt see that it can continue, or will continue, or, perhaps, even needs to continue in its present form. And one of the things that I think we are looking at now is the fundamental change in the whole way in which the West perceives the threat and seeks to defend itselJ. ASLI mE CENTRE 0F GRAVIIY: My final and third point is to say this:'Whatever

happens to East-West relations in the sense of relationship between the US and the Soviet Union, whatever happens to the defence of western Europe, the simple, real fact of the matter is that that

Do you plan to acquire, or have

you already invested in, Desktop

area is no longer the most important area in the world as it has been for so long. This is the most important area now and likely to become so increasingly throughout the 1990s and into the beginning of the 21st century. For some time, as you all know far better than I,

Publishing facilities? Either way, it pays to talk to the

Desktop specialists at PRINTLINE.

the economic centre of gravity has been shifting here to the Asia-Pacific area.

Now it seems to me that it is very likely that the strategic centre of gravity will

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I

think,

is

where, in future, the US and to some extent the Soviet Union is going to be looking, rather than towards the classic theatre of confrontation in western Europe. And for this reason, I think that, in the next 10 or 20 years, the countries that will be occupying the minds of strategists far more than the countries of Nato and western Europe will be the Peoplers Republic of China, the Asean

countries

-

which,

I

suspecl will

become much more a securiçy organisa-

annual reports, in-house magazines, marketing and promotional literature, corporate studies and position papers.

The depth of our technical knowledge and publishing experience permits us to offer a truly professional service.

tion than they have been in the past and, of course, Japan. Now I donrt propose to say any more about that at the moment. Each one of those would be worthy of a long and detailed analysis on its own.

QIJFSTION: I just want to ask how many Euroþeans share your þoint ofuiew?

CIIALFONTT

The answer has to be not

many. I think itrs fair and true to say that

Gall me,

the general feeling in Western Europe at the moment is that the change which

Penny Day,

is taking place in the Soviet Union is fundamental. It is not only an internal change in the Soviet Union, but it also represents a change of Soviet foreign

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policy. There is a general belief that the cold war is ending. Indeed a very distinguished western politician has said within the past few months, the cold war

has ended. They believe we are moving into a period of detente and possibly into a period of friendship and accommodation.

You will hear distinguished European politicians now talking about a Marshall Plan for the Soviet Union. You will hear British politicians of more, or less, distinction talking about the European Common Market and Comecon coming together to form a single economic union.

Now; if that kind of thing can happen so soon after the appearance of Mr Gorbachev on the scene, I think itrs a measure of the fact that the kind of view that Irve been putting forward today is a minority view and I guess that those of us who put it forward will, generally speaking, be regarded as very hardline, very, very ultra-conservative, very hawkish and be accused of standing in the way of progress.

QIJESIIONT

Isn't it one of the reøsons, þer-

haþs, that Jaþan is so economically large and successful now because it hasn't had to sþend enormous amounts of moneJ on defence? Isn't there a lesson that America and rnost of the Western countries could learn?

CHAI"FONT:

I

think it would obviously

be

sense of stability of a number of countries in this region? Itrs a very, very difficult problem that the Americans are faced with. My guess

is that President Bush will bring far more pressure to bear on the Europeans than he

will bring to bear on the Japanese for

rea-

sons that, I think, to those of you who live in this region, are fairly obvious. I donrt know what would, for example, be the view of the Peoplers Republic of China or any of the Asean countries to a Japa¡r that was spending, let us say, six or seven per cent of its

gross national product on military forces. I suspect that there would be a faint feeling of instability. could also ørgue: why not giue a chance? Because one aduantage of the changes in Moscow is that QIJES'IION: One

the Souiet Union

the communist þarties of China and the Souiet Union are not channelling aid anymore to corumunist rebels in Asia li,ke those the Philiþþines. The Indo-China þroblem, meanwhile, seems to be solued. So, what we see in Asia is that there are some benefits already comi.ng out of the chønges. So while noticing your alørm signals, don't you think we should take the chance to see how Mr Gorbacheu i,s doing, because so far there are

in

some adaantages coming out of

it?

-

true to say that part of the reason for Japanrs phenomenal economic success is that it spends a very small pro portion of its gross national product on defence. Indeed, it is constitutionally debar-

with CASSIS

red from having military forces,

it

can only have

a

self-defence force. But itrs not the only reason. There are many other reasons - to do with being industrious a¡rd to do also with having and extraordinary businessability to penetrate markets around the world, which seem to be impervious to the efforts of Americans and west Europeans. To come back to your question, the

he is so cute

\è

obvious inference from it would be that the US should now press the Japanese in exactly the same way as it is pressing and going to press western Europeans, to take up a larger burden of their own defence.

Now, leaving aside for a moment what effect that would have on internal opinions in Japan, I wonder what impact it would have on the

) a

t t

MARCH 1989THE CORRESPONDENT 11

-t

MEET THE PRESS CHAIIOM: Yes .Why I think thatrs a perfectly

fair question.

not, why not

see

what happens. I'm perfectly prepared to do that.

It seems to me that if you take what strategists call a best-case scenario, the

best possible outcome will be that Gorbachev not only means what he says, but he will be successful in trying to do what he wants to do, and then that

success will extend both to revolutionising the internal economy of the Soviet Union and changing its foreign policy from a basically expansionist and aggressive one to a peaceful one. Thatrs the best we can hope for.

The worst we can hope for

Irve

already outlined. Either Gorbachev fails or his foreign policy doesnrt change and so the Soviet Union remains expansionist and aggressive, but more effective.

All Irm saying is that while werre making up our minds about that, we should

not lower our own guard, and I think werre in danger of doing so. I think that of the arms control agÍeements that have

MEET THE PRESS

be removed from Europe. That is a very dangerous agreement. It takes us towards denuclearisation of western Europe which has been a central aim of Soviet foreign policy for years.

I

go back as far as the days of Adam in Poland. I remember the first

Rapacki

negotiations I went to, Rapacki was proposing a nuclear-free zone for central Europe.

We, in the \Mest have resisted it and resisted it and resisted it, because werve always realised that a nuclear-free zone in Europe

would decouple Europe from the US. And yet here we are suddenly, turning our foreign policy on its head and accepting some thing which we have resisted strongly and vigorousþ for 25 years.

The next thing we are going to be faced with, I can see, is the 50 per cent cut in strategic missiles. That, in my vieq will be even more dangerous.

Everything that is happening is reducing the ability of the US to guarantee Europe against attack by the Soviet Union.

So I'm not saying for one moment that

we

shouldnrt give

Mr

Gorbachev

a

been agreed since the Gorbachev era

chance. Irm very happy to do that. But Irm

began, the principal one is the intermediate nuclea¡ force treaty by which all medium-range landbase missiles are to

not happy that we should, while we're waiting to see what the outcome is, reduce our own defences and make our-

selves vulnerable to a possible sudden change back in Soviet thinking.

And, I really do have that when I .Westto say rBut, surely, hear people in the say, we must all wish Mr Gorbachev every successr,

I

donrt wish

Mr

policy hasnrt changed, to

I will

tated, as it has been for the past 50 or more

years,

by the

principles

of

Marxismlæninism. I donrt see any evidence of that at the moment. And until I do, Irm not in favour of removing one missile, one tank or one soldier from western Europe.

QIJESIION: To what extent do you uiew the growing economic relationshiþ between western Euroþe and the Soaiet Union as a þositiae deueloþment, giuen your uiews that the Souiet Union's fundamental foreign þolicy

has not changed?

CHAIIONT: Well

I regard it, with

ount of misgiving for two basic

a certain am-

reasons.

r>

First, the foreign policy of the Soviet Union has been historically, since the revolution, one ofthe expansion and aggression and the movement of Soviet communism out into the rest of the world. This has not been the case with the Peoplers Republic of China. The Peoplers Republic of China does not have an army or an armed force which is trained to fight outside its own territory nor does it have a tactical doctrine of fighting outside its own

ments and trade arrangements with the Soviet Union which involve credit terms of a very favourable kind, all werre doing is enabling the Soviet Union, if its foreign

Gorbachev every

only be really happy when I can see clear evidence that therers been a fundamental change in Soviet foreign policy and that Soviet foreign policy is not any longer dic-

seems to me that if western

One,

success. I wish him success in liberalising the Soviet Union. Irm very happy when he lets people out ofprisons and out ofpsychiatric wards. I am very happy when he takes

his troops out of Afghanistan. But

it

Europe is going to enter into trade agree-

I fl $

divert resources which you would otherwise need to devote to consumer goods, for increasing the standard of livìng of its people. We are enabling them to continue moving that into their military establishment. So I think werve got to be very careful that whatever we do with the Soviet Union we donrt make it easier for them to keep a large military establishment and at the same time improve the

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a very specific kind. That is, hightechnology. If we are going to enter into an exchange of high-technology with the Soviet Union, of a kind which seems to be in the minds of a number of high-technology companies of a multi-national kind, then I think therers a very considerable danger in it. Because once again, one of the reasons that werve been able to keep abreast: of the Soviet Union in terms of military balance over the years

aggressive content about it.

So, to answer your question,

is that our high-technology,

military

theirs.

If we help them to reduce that

gap, then we have an obvious impact on the military balance if their foreign policy hasnrt changed. It always comes back to that.

If there was a sign, a clear sign, that the Soviet Union no longer regarded the capitalist West as its mortal enemy, then all kinds of things would become possiincluding liberalised change between western Europe and the Soviet Union. I donrt see evidence of that at the

ble,

moment and until I do, I donrt want to see the kind of trade relations between the West and the Soviet Union which many people in Europe seem to be moving towards at the moment.

QIßSIIONI You are agai,nst the exþort of hi,gh-technologt to the Souiet Union. What are ylur uiews on the ban on the exþort of high-technologt to the Peoþle's Reþublic of China?

Well, I think that the present rules are, let me put it as mildly as I can, somewhat bizarre.I would like to see, in terms of the relationship between the West and the Soviet Union and the West and the Peoplers Republic, a very considerable distinction drawn, for a number of CHAI..FONT:

l?rr¡n coRRESPoNDENT MARCH 1989

study of the PIA that the doctrine of the Peoplers war has always been a defensive

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exceptions, does it have a history offight ing outside its own territory. It is a defensive power, I believe, in every sense of the world. It has always seemed to me from a

standard and quality of life of the people.

The second reason is one which is of

technology, has been someway ahead of

CHINA NATIONAT ELECTRONICS IMPORT & Ð(PORT CORPORATION

territory, no¡ with one or two minor

reasons.

doctrine with very little expansionist or

I

would

have entirely different rules for the export of military equipment and hightechnology to the Peoplers Republic of China than I would have for the Soviet Union.

QIJESIION: What þroof would you acceþt that the Souiet Uni.on has, in fact, changed

its foreign þolicy? They're þulling out of

cal weapons and so on. The whole of the operation they carry out every autumn, in their training area, is an advance - the

parachute troops landing in front and a quick, sudden blitzkrieg type of attack.

People donrt practise that kind of war, if they are looking to defend their country against someone else.

Nators exercises, every year, are also exactþ the same. Every year we start from and retreat to the river Rhine. Because we know werre not going to attack the Soviet Union.

So,

I would like to see, quite

seriously,

the Berlin Wall come down. That would be a key, symbolic gesture.

I would then like to see some real evidence from our intelligence analysis of a change of doctrine in the Soviet armed forces. And I would also like to see - perhaps werre beginning to see it, I donrt want

to paint an entirely black picture

-

the

Soviet forward foreign policy change in Southern Africa. As a military analyst, one of the things that impresses me most is the fact that there has so far been no change in the way that the Soviet army does its training. And quite franldy, you donrt train to attack other people if all yourre meaning to do is to defend tr

yourself.

Afghanistan and they're

telling Vietnam

they'ue

got to get out

of Indochina. ll4tat would

you really want?

PEACH

CIIAIF0NT: A number of things. The first thing Ird like to see is for the

Berlin Wall

is

to

come down. Once that had happened I really would

begin

my own

to think that

somebody

had

some

new ideas.

In a rather more sophisticated way than that, Ird want to see the training and tactics of the Soviet armed forces fundamentally changed.

Those of us whose business it is to watch Soviet training exercises will have noticed that

their

exercises

are

aggressive, not defensive. Every autumn, a group of Soviet forces

in

J\

Germany practises

on western Europe with tanks, with paratroops, with chemiassault

MARCH 1989THE CORRESPONDENT 13

CLUB NE\MS

PE O PLE HE FCC Video Clubrs permanent video stock is getting better all the time.

Every week new titles are being added. These include the latest releases, cinema classics and television programmes like

Brideshead Revisted and Fawþ Towers.

The membership list

also

expanding.

So, get in earþ and often.

The library hours have been extended to include SaturdaY from 12p.m. - 2.3O p.m.

-

Farewell to Schokking

HONG KONGTs much talked about brain drain has made its impact on the clubrs Board of Grovernors.

CALLING ALL MEMBERS

Watch the FCC noticeboard for the latest additions to the

Kong since 1978 and the clubrs treasurer for the past two years, has last month relo-

cated himself

in his homeland,

Netherlands. Dorothy Ryan,

the

a member of

the Board of Goverors, has taken over

as

treasurer while Brian R. Lloyd, an associate member, has been appointed to the Board.

Schokking came to Hong Kong in 1978 to work with Continental Bank of lllinois.

But more recentþ he was working with his long time Dutch friend Bob l¿voo at Swan Finance Ltd.

Schokking (lø?) is seen here at a farewell luncheon hosted by the Board of Governors.

Ri$t

Opening hours Monday to Friday

of access

ACCORDING TO Articles of Association of the FCC, only membersr spouses have the right to use the Clubrs facilities and the right to sign. Dependants (children)

THE Health Corner is f¡ee of charge to active members. Guests and absent members are charged $30 per visit.

-2.30 p.m. and p.m.7.30 p.m.

5 2.30p.m.

Where to find us Just offthe Pool Room bar on the lower ground floor.

<lt>Dah hrlridçs

(Dy¡an)

$intet

Dhkette¡ . r.r"

0AIc]| 14

rHr

tions agency. Barbara works in the editorial

Alison and Sabu Saheed returned to England just in time for a good old-fashioned English winter last year, and both have

section

been freela¡rcing

biggest public rela-

at

Charles

Barker.

There have

THEY NOW

been one or two unconfirmed sight

Among them, Peter Van Velson of 77 and Entertainment Times fame and fortune, and Sarah Monks formerþ mamasan at the South China Morning Post. lilhether therers any truth in the story of their respective sightings remains to be seen.

MEDICAL EDITORì/ WRITER Experienced Scientific/ Medical Editor/VVriter required to work on a wide range of

sponsored publications newsletters, monographs, proceedings, etc). English mother tongue, science or medical academic background, and professional publishing experience essen-

IllI Ì,itARC¡I SP[CIA[$ !

1989

t

RêloilOull€15

KowlÕo^ lel 3 ó8m3 LG2ð Sosemenl PenrÕsuloCenÙe¡Ts'msholsurÉol No ó3 2 f Adm rolv ShopÞrnoArcode Admrollv Ceôke Honç Kcng lel 5 270890 No l3l ì tPenrnsuloCenLe ßrmsholsurtosl Kowloon Tel ló89ó37 2 Ê wrngOnoeÞodmenlsrore

¡¡:t@

coRRESPoNDENTMARcH

I

2ll ÐervoeurRood she!ñgwon HoneKo¡g lel

excellent service to old Asia hands. [.et me add to your February 1989 report.

"Gregg McGregor retired lrom The New York Times several years ago and

Publications. Contact number 01-634 1398

Caroline Birch from Discouery is also in l¡ndon and is now assistant editor with Executiue Traueller based near Victoria Station. Shers already wangled a press trip back to the Far Easl so no doubt sherll be back again in the near future. Contact

number0l-821 1155.

make it back to British shores is Felicity Bates who many moons ago worked for Eue, W and Entertainmenl Times and the HKTDC. Felicity reached l¡ndon by a rather circuitous route via Australia where she spent several years

became the public relations officer for the New York Blood Center. I last heard from Greg in 1986 when he was on the job at the Blood Center and living on Staten Island.

Telephone (7IÐ {e9241. His office num-

berwas (2I2) 57U3009.

'Woody Edwards, retired from the Af; was living at 855 Pine Street, San Francisco, California 94108, when I last heard from him a year ago. Surgery performed in 1986 prevented Woody from attending that yearrs reunion of Vietnam correspondents arranged by the Overseas Press Club and held in NewYork City."

with provincial papers and mags. Shers now freelancing and looking for a fulltime job. Contact number 087-387-670.

(

tial. Stimulating work envi ronment, opportu nity to travel to meetings within Asia.

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience, health insurance, etc,, will be offered to the right candidate.

Regional Director, Excerpta Medica Asia Ltd.,

TOPPAN MOORE (IIK) LTD. Ht P¡t c Bus['.Jrss À,te¡.1¡,c¡ r.lroBvor'o^

University News Service:

rrYour feature, 'TVhere They Are Now," is an

graþh! She is now working temporarily (but full-time) for Charles Barker

Another former Hong Kong hack to

I

A LE"fTER from former president of the FCC, Al Kaff who is now the brains and international editor of the Cornell

for

recent assignment was a story on Champagne - the area and the bubbly - for the Daily Tele-

by Ted Thomas

ings of Club faithfuls.

Paris, France"

regional and national press. Alisonrs most

also

samples to:

Get a year planner or a Chinese Pa¡nt¡ng calendar lree for orders more than S200, or a desktop calendar for orders more than S300. rydoøÞoe<qrqæntuê@ud

museum.

probably, is Europers

cu

ó9

It was ATV who indicated that Annie didn't have much of a future in TV. She is now a mega-star and her effigy is the main exhibit in I¡ndonrs world famous Madame Tussauds Waxwork

Barker City, which,

Apply in writing with full CV rrent/expected salary, work

toooffllï

.5.25"

xå'"TlFi.{"åi Charles

:

are considered guests.

Health corner

ence at

ATV eat your heart out!

12 p.m.

L2p.m.-

I

BELCH in t¡n-

T

Former Hong Kong TV star Anneka Rice just got married and caused tremendous excitement in the media over here.

library.

Fred Schokking, a resident of Hong

looked Jack up on a visit to Paris recently and found him the usual saþ Belden but weak and often in pain from a spreading lung infection.

Jack's book China Shaþes the World was probably the best eyewitnesser written of activities in the communist areas of China. A second great book Still Time to Die took in his European experiences. He was wounded severely in the fighting in North Africa. Jack started his war correspondenting in China for the United Press but was eventually taken on Iry Life and became one of Life's muor wnlers from Europe.

Belden's address: I Rue CharcoÇ 75013

Hong Kong faces on the London scene

FCC VIDEO CLUB

8lF,67 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong Tel:5-243118.

I RECEIVED

a letter from

Till Durdin of fond memory, and am pleased to reproduce it verbatim.

(Old friends wishing to get in touch with Till can find him at 5357 La' Jolla Boulevard #29, I-a Jolla,

Þ-l lS7

vt>

(n (n

I want all of them

Ca92037.)

'There may be those in Hong Kong who still remember me (one-time New York Times l:ureau chief there covering China and Southeast

Asia) and the individual who prompts this letter.

Jack Belden, one of the great war correspondents of the China civil war and World War II in its European phase, is very ill with cancer in Paris where he has lived for many

years.

I

believe

he

CARTRON sparkling wine

"v ./Z )

would

appreciate being remembered by old friends if there are any

of these who are readers of The Corresþond¿zú. The illness

prognosis

Raspberry', Cassis Peach

is not good. I

EUTE GETAS UMITED Tel:5-236667

5 {47795

MARCH 1989THE CORRESPONDENT 15

MEDIA

tn

bv E.J. Dunfee

o

DOGflEAT,g BOSS

THE NATION-DOW TONES DEAL

P

P

FI

s S

E

¡EART,,¡ORRIED, I FIND A SI]ARP TAP

HÁJ

ASSIGNED HI¡,I TO ¿O\/ER

THÉ PROBLEN PAGE.

I\ot a sell-out, not a compromise

nimble-wit who runs Bangkokts The Nation newspaper, has a wide circle of ú:iends, admirers and confdants complete ly au faitvnth his mercurial disposition. He is perceived as a fair and dedicated man, excitable when it suits him, and, perhaps most of all, relentless. Opponents, too, tend to laud, at the very least, his scruples. All agree that a hot-under-the-co11ar Suthichai Yoon is not a pretty sight.

And right now, Suthichai is not a pretf sight. lll am not anli-farang (foreigner) at allr, he thunders, rrl am anti-ignorancerr.

It is a brief tirade, yet sudden and forceful. It is not off the cuff; this is a prepared point. Suthichai is objecting to the

IN

rrl

plans. This makes me very proud.rl It is quite true to say, he admits, rrthat we were very nationalistic when we started, and very much against foreign influence in newspapers in Thailand. This is also quite

true today. Nothing has changed. And,

accuse us of having been totally against

anything foreign, which is just bullshit.

We were not against foreigners at all; we were against Thomsonrs (The Thomson Press of UIg 99 per cent ownership of the Post and the foreign domination of the paperrs management.rl

Suthichai, who

turns 43 this June, makes no attempt to conceal his great satisfaction with the Dow Jones deal. He is almost smug. DowJones,

he points out, has become

rra

minority

now, we can proudly say that one of the worldrs greatest publishing groups has

joined us as a minorigr shareholder. We,as Thais, can stand on our own feet and let them become our partner, instead of the

other way round. (Dow Jones will be

allowed to increase its shareholding by a point each year for the next five years.)

MEDIA editor of the Pasl who too had left the paper, were left to ponder the alternaIn

a

matter of weeks they had assem-

bled an idealistic group of investors,

In the space of 60 days, from the moment Suthichai and a band of sym-

tion of two million bhat

quite riveting, really, given the circumstances of the paperrs founding in

1971.

pathisers concluded that the Posf intended to go ahead with its proposed purchase of the then morning daily, The Banghok World, thus

creating an English-language monopoly, The Nation was conceived, planned anC remarkably - produced.

Suthichai, then the Posúrs

with the death of Russian cosmonauts. 'rWe would have preferred a local lead,r' says Suthichai, who tapped the banks for his one per cent of the start-up capital. rrBut space was the top story of the day, and we had to prove our worth.rl

tives,

TI{E BEGINNING: Al1

some 200 strong, and with a capitalisa-

(then

us$100,000), The Nation came to be - at least in principle. On July 1, 1971, with

TTIE KEY PERSONT

Suthichai took on the role

of managing editor, which in effect gave

Indian expat Sam Krishniah -- who worked with the Pos/ during his early years in Bangkok and later movecl to Ihe World as its editor - just back from a brief stint in Singapore, at the helm as executive editor, the new daily hit the

him the responsibility of finding the stories. rrSam was really the man who founded The Nation,ttsays Suthichai without apparent mirth. "We had a very good start-up staff - about 45 in all with 20 editorial staffers - but Sam was critical to the operation.

All my experience to that time had been as a news ga-

streets. That first issuers lead story dealt

city editor with

therer and

responsibilities for the

news writer. Ird hate

strously unfair.

bosses to abandon the takeover, recommending instead that a syn-

what might

allr', he shouts, wav-

dicate of Thais be allowed to buy it to both foster competi-

investors. He finds the proposition mon-

rrThis has not come full circle at

ing a copy of the Hong Kong-based

tion and lessen the for-

eign

advertising and mar-

which has editorialised the thought

Thamnoon Mahapur-

that the recent acquisition by Dow Jones

iya, Suthichairs predecessor as city editor who had that year left

Publishing Co of New York of three per cent

the Pasf to go into

of the group's shares constituted a funda-

mental departure

original operating

influence.

Instead, ledgers prevailed, and Suthichai and friends - notably

keting weekly, Media,

philosophy, which

EYES ON TIIE FUTURE: The Nation Group chairman, Thanachai TheerapatvongQen and editor-publisher, Suthichai Yoon (right) with Theh Chongkhadikij in celebration of his new position as executive publisher of The Nation Group.

16rnB coRRESPoNDENT

MARCH 1989

....

asked themrr, he adds, rrwhy they want-

Sunday edition as well, had urged his

from the newspaperrs

NÔ ?IME

ed to join into a partnership with us and they said because the Iuture is here, looking at our expansion, our potential and our

rrTheir conclusions are stupid. They

suggestion that the Nation Group, which owns The Nation and other publications, is bowing to the demands of foreign

EACKTO Tf{E GAR.MN

yearsrr.

was to provide a Thai-owned and -managed alternative to the then foreignowned and -dominaled Banghok Post.

NOTHING HAS CHANGEDT

WILL SEÑò THE LITTLÍ BUGGE&S S¿YRRYING

up their voting rights for the next five

Bangkokrs Nation Group of publications, founded by a group of proud Thais, which opposed foreign domination of local newspapers, opened itself recently to foreign investors. But that doesnrt mean that the founders of the group are abandoning their original operating philosoph¡r, says Suthichai Yoon, who helped found the group.

UTHICHAI YOON, the forthright

ÔN

TIìE HEAD IJtfI{A HA}IMER

.

I'HCOINGfO REGrcT THIS. tKN0fJ tAt1..

shareholder on the condition that they give

ñuÂ,v

business for himself, and Sunida Punyarathabandhu, a relative of the royal family

to

ur

have hap-

pened without

cholce ol lolesl models

Aw& ^w¡d€ choce rsolwoyseoiloble hom Conlirenlol Co.Renlol s Lontu neel ol mde lhon 800 low mileoge coß. êsloles oM m nibuses

Conlineniol cul no corers when il cores lo seMce Bulourvery com ænveunlimiledmileoqeroles holf pÍrce lorlourweeksormore ensure lhol our cors spend Less lre rdle Ju5l like reducedotrfores hl pLone seols No h¡dden exlros Lrke mosl renlol comænes we

seourrolesexclusiveof

lot

o&r

15% VAT

lwotlllao:.

rrrc: o¡

wnH uiluHtt¡D

I WEEK x 2

:

fully compreÞnsNe rnsurorce rs ophorcl tul,unlike some here ore nooddilbml hrdæn e*os olonvkrnd MhenychdgeWnW colleci orLewe yørcorolhe oiFi

ond ol

¡oulw:trc

rH¡

FOREXAMPLE,

Unkloblevolue

I

think

whrch

4 WEEKS' Pick up your cor

ol H€olhrow or

Gotw¡ck roRD SIERRATSTATE

çró cMaARrioñ7ùÎo-Çts3 B/VIVV 3 rS/GOLFcla r¡O/ MERCEDES rroÈAUto Ló3

l%¿ eó14

'Jú 55 V A r ñ¿Ld¿r b.r. ¡r ion.¿ cn¿ roo¿ d. o;t"ôc. r' ,.o"!'ehêil 'è Euo(. o o,obe

Itsoll ncllded

ihe s€Nce Connnenlol oßo hove bronches rn Loñon Monche$el bvel Bruseß Fronkfudond Luxem&uAond o ioiolof more lhon 3 mvehicles rn

WHY NOT CAII TTI,IX OR SEND FÔR OUP BNOCHTJRE NOW.

qnß¡4av¡no¡ 5TONt Crost

{¡Ylca 7

,ffi'Nffi

PHONT

l0l) 9ó33333

3l!

him."

The lng community advertis-

warmed to the idea of an alterna-

tive

English-

language daily, but it

took full

six

years

before Suthichai and his par-tners

- Thamnoon had died in 1973 - were able to develop any sort of sense of securi['. The paper hrrned its first profit in 1978, and operations have been in the black since. I¿st year, the group - which now includes, in addition to The Nationas 40,000 circulation, a Thailan-

guage business daily, a pair of fortnightly magazines covering business (in English) and fashion (in Thai), a monthly tourism glossy and an Englishlanguage tabloid daily run as a sort of afternoon edition of the morning paper - expected to turn a profit of about 30 rnillion baht (uss1.2 million)on ad revenues of about 300 million baht.(usg12 million).

TIIE PR00F 0F SUCCES: Early next year the

group will move from its present cramped premises in the residential Phrakanong section of Bangkok - bought five years ago in the hope that it would function as headquarters for 15 more years - to a facility with seven or eight times the space on the outskirts of Bangkok on the road to Pafraya.

And, in perhaps the most remarkable editorial development in The Nationts 18 years, the doyen of Thailandrs press corps and long-serving editor of the Posf, 69year-old Theh Chongkhadikij, joined the group in February as exbcutive publisher.

Suthichai and Theh, former colleagues on the Pasf and protagonists in the occasionally bitter battles between the two papers these past 18 years, sit once again on the same

side.

E.J. Dunfee is the AsiaMagazine corresþondent based

tr in

Ilangkoh

and a former social

MARCH I')89 THE CORRESPONDENT 17

TRAVEL

TRAVEL

BOOKS

LEIGHTON \MILLGERODT

An evening at Mujra street FRIEND OF MINE, who used to once described Bombay as the biggest

visit India regularly, rrnon cityrr in the world.

I also used

to wonder if Bombay had anything more to offer in the way of entertainment other than a few hotels and restaurants, or the simple pleasure of admiring those old relics from the past - the magnificentþ ornate buildings left over frorn the days of the British Raj. Yes, it is true, Bombay

does not have a Patpong Road. The Indians are just not interested in imports

from the West like flashing lights and scantily clad disco dancers. However,

provided by the moon and stars. People in rags were wandering aimlessly about and there was no shortage ofbeggars.

THE STREET 0F FUN:Upon

gingeù on foot, taking care to avoid the mud,

the car we had to make our way

numerous puddles, and various unidenti-

fiable forms of refuse. Our destination was a narrow lane leading off the main road. It was lined on both sides with wooden dwellings, each with a small parlour facing the pedestrian thoroughfare.

In each parlour were one or two young ladies dressed in traditional finery and a three or four piece instrumental combo.

Groups of carousers were already wan-

Bombay can boast of an entertainment district of its own making. Off the tourist track, it is unknown to all but a few outsiders and, like almost everything else in

India, is deeply rooted in tradition.

Tucked away in one of the hidden cor-

alighting from

dering up and down the lane peering into

the parlours and chattering away on the merits of what they could see within.

LtIt 0FTIPS: On the corner of the lane sitting at a small table lit by the glow from a candle lantern was a money changer. One

A

ners of Bombay is the Mujra street. rrPlease be keeping yourself free

for tomorrow night because I am having for you a very interesting programmerr was the rather intriguing invitation I received from a business contact on one of mY trips to Bombay. He was not one of the sophisticated westernised Indians I was accustomed to associating with; but a dealer in plastics, a bazaar type, a Bombay wallah in the true sense of the word or, to use a phrase readily understood by my own countrymen, the Indian equivalent of a 'good old boy.' In short, the type that frequents the Mujra street.

IJNtn SIREE'IS AND IANES: He arrived at my hotel that evening with two of his friends jammed in the back seat of one of

those small black Indian-made cars which seem to always come equiPPed with driver. They were able to find room for me to squeeze in and we sped off on a 30 minute ride careering through unlit

streets and lanes, barely avoiding the hordes of pedestrians who seem to spend the better part of their wakeful hours on the streets.. My new friends had brought with them a bottle of scotch and were in a boisterous mood.

When they finally motioned to the driver to pull over and park, it seemed to me that we were in one of the poorer districts of Bombay. The road was no longer paved and the only available light was

18rHB coRRESPoNDENT MARCH 1989

of my companions stopped in front of him, took from his wallet a rather substantial amount of cash, and passed it across the table. In return he received several stacks of neatly bound small denomination notes. Not knowing the purpose of this exercise I asked my friend

what that was for and he told me they needed the money for the tips. One helluva lot of tips I thought.

We entered one of the parlours which

apparently my friend had frequented before and made ourselves comfortable among the pillows strewn about the floor.

The girl had not yet arrived but the musicians were there seated on the floor along one of the walls. One held a sitar, another

a harmonium, the third a tabla (a twopiece drum played with both hands) and the fourth a dholak, another small twosided drum. My companion with the bottle pulled it out of the bag and distributed to each of us a paper cup half full of whisky. The band began to play.

tempo began slowly, phrase following upon phrase rvith only the slightest variation, but always returning to the original refrain and repeating itself over and over. The steady drone pounding on my ears caused my mind to wander. Soon, as I watched my companions becoming as one with the music, SIOW BEGINNING:The

their torsos gentþ swaying with the beat and heads wobbling as if they had become detached from their bodies, I too began to

feel myself being carried into a semi-hyp

notic trance. The tempo quickened and

suddenly the tabla player began to sing.

My companions immediately perked up, their faces lit with smiles and they began to toss some of the small notes on the floor in front of the band.

The words of course meant nothing to me but it was obvious my Indian friends were enjoying the song immensely. At the

end of each verse they would laugh uproariously slapping their thighs in glee

and bombard the band with fistfuls of notes. The fellow with the scotch would periodically reach over and fill our cups. went on for about 20 minutes until a crack appeared in the

TIIE DANCER LXAPS IN:This

door and the owner stuck in his head to announce the arrival of the dancer. The musicians taking their cue, again quickened the

tempo and suddenly the door was thrown wide open a¡rd the mujra dancer in all her glory leapt into the middle of the room.

She whirled, twirled, pranced and spun, arms, legs, hands and feet, fingers, toes, head and eyes all moving simultaneously in different directions but always in beat with the music. She was wearing a spectacularþ coloured silk outfit embroidered

with hundreds of tiny mirrors which

sparkled and reflected light like tiny jewels. On her arms and legs were chains of bells which with their continuous jangle added to the clamour. There were beauty marks on her forehead and cheek, and a diamond on one nostril.

My friends were ecstatic. They

clapped, howled and cheered, all the while

tossing money in the air to flutter to the floor like confetti at a wedding.

At one stage she slithered along the floor on her stomach, raising her head like a cobra in front of each of us in hrn to receive a five rupee note in her mouth as our offering, and then leapt to her feet once more to continue her violent gyrations.

TIIE C[IMÆ(Finalþ it bècame too much and one of my friends rose to his feet to join her in the dance. Soon we were all taking turns, middleaged men with large paunches des-

perately trying to keep up only to sit down

exhausted and push the next up to take his place. It was a couple of hours later when both the money and the scotch ran dry that we decided to call it a night.

TIIE [,EGEND: The mujra

tradition originated in Persia and was brought to India by the Mogul invaders.

The dancers of that day were highly trained professionals who performed only

at court or at functions for the very wealthy. The language of the accompanying songs, originally Persian, was soon changed to the vernacular Urdhu and has remained in old Urdhu. But more recently it has evolved into the easily understood Hindustani, a mixture of Hindi and Urdu.

The songs themselves are melancholy and highly erotic and are also refined and elegant poetry.

Some aficionados of the dance were and still are attracted as much, if not more, by the poetry of the songs as by the dance itself.

The dancers were not prostitutes in the accepted sense of the word but many did make their favours available for selected

patrons who could afford to keep them in style. In that sense they were not unlike the geisha entertainers of old Japan.

During the British days the Anglicised

Indians scorned the mujra as being

beneath them and it came to be considered a vulgar form of entertainment. It was preserved, however, by the uneducated but wealthy merchant class and it was not unusual for family fortunes to be squandered on the dancers.

In recent years the mujra has become commercialised and regained some popularity but it is still looked down upon by the Indian upper class. Almost every Indian movie will have at least one mujra dance sequence, and some of the better- known films stars started as mujra dancers.

Today, there are several categories of mujra dancers ranging from the common prostitute to the highly trained entertainer. They can be hired out for weddings or parties and the more popular are in high demand. It is still an expensive proposition, though, to attend a session. The cost of engaging one of the girls for an evening to include a more intimate form of activity can be extremely prohibitive. My friend told me that that evening they had spent the equivalent of several hundreds of US dollars for the two hours we spent in that little parlour. tr @

t€lghton Wjllgerodt

Leighton WilLgerod,l is the sales manager in the AsiaPacific region for the US chemical comþan1, AquaLon. Basetl in Hong Kong, he tralels frequentQ in the region

Summary figures in this section leave

The abuses of power

no doubt that, as the snoops and public

affairs strike force of the globers rrcivilian siderr, journalists in many countries have low life expectancies and good reasons to be holding up the bars of the worldrs correspondentsr clubs when off duty.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 1987:

Information, Freedom and Censorship: The Article 19 World Report 1988 Published by lnngman Group UK Ltd., 340pp., f 14.95

EMore than 35 media organs were

Reviewed by

ordered closed by authorities in 14 countries (either temporarily or permanentþ.

Fred Armentrout his book should be required reading for journalists, editors, publshers and, most importantly, government information ministries (a cynic

might say these last would thereby learn a host of new dirty tricks to further choke the flow of bad news and its bearers).

This is a report on the right to freedom

of expression in the world and how that right is denied through censorship. It is offered by a new human rights organisation, Article 19, established in 1986 to combat censorship; chaired by William Shawcross (rrThe Quality of Mercyrr) and directed by Kevin Boyle. The group is based in l¡ndon.

Practices ofcensorship are reviewed in a sampling of 50 countries, represenlative

of all the worldrs regions and different political and ideological systems. These include nine Asian nations: China, India, Indonesia, North Korea, South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore and Taiwan. The six global regions are defined as Africa South of the Sahara (eight coun-

tries covered), Americas (12 countries), Asia (nine countries), Europe (13 countries), Middle East and N. Africa (six countries), Oceania (two countries).

Besides the 50 case studies of uses and abuses of censorship and the principles that inform its use, there is an excellent sketch, rrCensorship And Its History - A Personal Viewrr, by Michael Scammell, edi-

tor ofthe Index on Censorshiþ from 1971 to 1980 and currently professor of Russian History at Cornell University (uSA).

The best part of the book for people who must work in a censored environment or for activists working in opposition to censors is a section cross-referenced to

countries covered called "Themes and Issues", wherein a review of the state of world censorship is offered by themes: International Standards; Censorship: Reasons; Censorship: Methods; Censorship: Targets; Defending Freedom of Expression: Policies and Programmes.

EBetween 1975 and 1980 in South Africa, 600 to 700 journalists lost their jobs as a result of their demands for greater press freedom. In Poland in the 1980s, over 1,000 journalists lost their jobs and as many were demoted in the aftermath of the introduction of martial law.

DMore than 30 journalists

were

expelled from 10 countries; in addition to

15 foreign journalists expelled en bloc

from Tibet.

norrer a dozen journalists left their countries ofwork under threat.

n200;ournalists were arrested in

38

countries.

EMo." than 60 journalists were assaulted (ie. fired upon, beaten, had their houses house bombed, etc).

nNine journalists in seven countries

suf-

fered the ultimate form of censorship in 1987: They were murdered; appa¡ently ìn connection with what they wrote, broadcast or filmed. This excludes those killed in crossfire or for reasons unrelated to their journalism.

Article

19 takes

its name from a sec-

tion of the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights which states, rrEveryone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart informa-

tion and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.rl According to Shawcross, the group

was founded based upon the recognition that the abuse of power embodied in censorship can lead to all the other abuses of power. As such, it is the litmus test of those who would be kings. rrCensorship is essential to tyranny,rl says Shawcross, rrNot all tyrants torture but all tyrants censor.rr tr

MARCH 1989 THE CORRESPONDENT 19

O

MIKE SMITH

runs rapidly in a clockwise direction on steep Scottish mountain summits. The

Auld Lang Syne, or the l\ight of the Haggis

haggis' left legs are longer than its right ones, so the only way to catch one is to surprise it in such a way that it must escape in a countercloclc¡¡ise direction.

Then it is easily overtaken. Our haggises (haggi?) were captured by Bank of Scotland officials, according to the

For

And sent him homewa.rds Tae think again."

TWAS 2.15 a.m. in the Hilton, and 800 local Scots and guests were belting outyet another rousing cho rus of "Flower of Scotland." It was the 15th time Ird heard it that night. Hotel

guests must have been turning in their beds. They say patriotism is proportional to distance from home. With the mileage between Hong Kong and Scotland, that

formula should make Hong

Kongrs

Burns' Night the best outside Edinburgh.

And itprobably is.

There are in fact several Burnsr cele-

in Hong Kong, all on dates

close to January 25, Robert Burnsrbirthdate in 1759. It is probably possible for a Scot to celebrate Burns over lunch and dinner every day for a week. This is not

to be recommended: Too much haggis gravy is hazardous to health.

Burnsr Night at the Hilton was organ-

ised by the Hong Kong St. Andrewrs Society (founded 1881), which made it the rofficial' celebration. This men-only, black-tie affair began Fnday Jar,tary 27,

at 7.30 p.m. with cocktails. Scottish

newspapers (courtesy Cathay Pacific Airways) were stacked for the taking by the door. Scottish clan armorials decorated the ballroom walls, and above the head table, where sat the Hong Kong St' Andrewrs Society Chieftain and his officials, flanked by blue and white cross pennants, hung a large Portrait of Robert Burns, Scotlandrs great poet.

TIIE SERIOUS BUSINESS: once seated, the

serious business

of drinking

whisky

singing followed the food: The Queen,

The Immortal Memory, The l¿ssies, The Reply, The Guests, The Reply, and the comedian flown in from Scotland, courtesy of British Airways. The principal speech to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns was brilliantly given by a local policeman. Witty, academic, poetic

after-taste.

îIIE

CEREM0M 0F

îIIE

IIAGGIS:

and humorous, this was one of the finest after-dinner addresses Ird ever listened to. No Inspector Clouseau this chap.

After the

smoked trout course, bagpipes heralded the start of the 'Ceremony of the Haggis'.

ïIE

All stood respeclfully. Across the ballroom towards the Chieftainrs table

ruNNY BUSINESS: Bill Barclay is Scotlandrs second best-known comic. '"The difference between me and Bilþ Connolly? (pause) About five thousand

marched the 'bearer', haggis held overhead on a ramshead platter. He was led by the 'piper' and followed by the 'barley bree (whisþ) carrier.'The Chieftaìn recited Burns 'Toast to the Haggis', stabbed it

pounds a night" The one about the innocent lassie looking for employment took 10 minutes to relate. She lands a job in a

with his 'scian-doo' (sock knife), and offered a 'quaich' Goblet) of whisþ to

carnival as a ghost-train apparition. As the trains go by, she has to leap out wearing white smock crying "whoo,

a

the bearer and his aids.

The haggis looked like a hamburger gone wrong - black and crumbly. But it was much more tasty - especially with its traditional gravy poured

straight from

a

haggis was served with 'bashed neeps' (parsnips) and

'chappit tatties' þotatoes).

The

main course was 'braw bag orgame' Game pie), and finaþ came Scottish cheeses with oatcakes. It all went down very well. ''T eat is human, to digest divine", as Burns might have said.

A UVE HAGGIS: lncidentally, the haggis is to be found in Scotland only at

CATCI{ING

bottle: around five times itrs normal

retail price. Likewise, single malts were offered at HK$1,200 a bottle! Of course, no canny Scot would pay these prices.

They brought their own bottles, and paid HK$55 corkage for the privilege.

Single malt whiskies were on every table. The cheapet blended whiskies were rare indeed that night. Cardhu,

coRRESPoNDENT MARCH 1989

o N

bottle of

Scotch. Mine was flavoured liberally with Laphroaig. The

-

ïrn

Toasts, speeches, entertainment and

Talisker, Glenlivet, Bowmore - these and other great malts were to be seen on the tables. However, the greatest Scotch malt of all in my view was in Íront of the neighbour to my left. I planned to get acquainted real quick. laphroaig þronounced /a frog) is a superb island malt whisþ from Islay - full smoþ flavour with a pleasant

began. The hotel had a printed menu of their own Scotch selections. Red label the kind of whisþ Scots boil their vegetables in - was offered at HK$390. a

20

menu.

Glenmorangie, Knockando, Macallan,

"...And stood against him Proud Edward's arrny

brations

FFB EAT

O

FF'BEAT

whooo." The punch line - to her startled parents - "I got a job as a fairground whooer". This brought the house down.

I suppose the whisþ helped.

Then there was the one about the onearmed bloke who wrapped his wristh around his stump. 'Tltry donrt you put it on your good arm? (pause) How could I wind it?" Or what about the doctor who tells his patient "Irve got some good news, and some bad news. The bad news? Yourll be dead in 12 months. The good news? See that good looking nurse over there? Irll be bedding her tonight."

(And to think the Hong Kong

St.

Andrews Society turned down the idea of having Billy Connolly because herd be too'lavatory pan-ishr !)

HELL:Among the highlights of the evening was to see the expressions on the faces of some

LADIES FROM

of the

Chinese waiters. Clearly, many had never seen such a spectacle before. Hundreds of grown men in their'l¿dies from Hell'cos-

tumes climbing up on chairs and belting out ballads to the immortal memory of a poet! I suppose there's nothing equivalent in Chinese culture to compare.

ulc/< E R¡

PHOTOS:

TOP: Robert Burns'

portrait oversees tÏe

whole affair.

ABOVE: The Haggis is stabbed by the chieftain,

Drew Lamont.

RIGIIT: A dapper pair of local Scots - Cameron Sloan Iefi) andAndy Neilson.

Come to think of it, I canrt recall any culture, other than Scottish which mixes poetry and drink so effectively. Therers no Shakespeare spree, Frosffest, Goldsmith gala, Wordsworth

whoopee

or

Blake

booze-up.

Maybe, in the interests of poetry, there should be.

o

Mike Smith is a business executiae based

in Hong Kong.

MARCH 1989THE CORRESPONDENT 21

A BOTTLE OF

THE GORRISP

CHIVAS REGAL

CROSSV/OR Complied by Brian

1

989

CLUES ACROSS

T

llIll tl IITI It llll llI III -Tl rllII

1. Therers something sinister about this type of drive (4-4) 5. A disc advertising men sometimes have to fish for (4)

8.

L

One vessel that has been partly opened(4) Variable symbol direction, very soft on wrong line - itrs all up in the air! (9)

10. A pink, spotted effect sometimes found in copybooks? (7) 12. A shattered slab gets to the point where it becomes

quite indifferent

(5)

13. Wagner, even when composed, was some thing of a

biter (6) these young ladies! (6) 17. Mix thoroughly, rub in, and you may be able to

15. Quite alarming,

18. Pit rest for the one with the winners (7) 22. Ernest, for example, tends to be the most

guilible (8) 23. Apart of west Yemen is considered an eyesore (4) 24. Peel a strawberry and some of it will keep on going (4)

25 l¡se one of a plate of mince pies, for example (8) CLUES DOWN

1.

RULES 1.

Entries must be sent to:

mythical Greek maiden (5) a fraction, you idiot! (4) The late Col. had the ability to get it all together (7) Wooden seat with thick sections (5) 11. Ape on a swing had only four syllables (5) 12. A military man with his head in the clouds? (5) rrare you allowedrr is said 14. Ungrammatical version of to be quite charming (6) 16. A trial run goes wrong for this knife wielder (7)

Printline I-,¡td, 502 EastTown Building, 41 I-ockhart Road, Wanchai,

4.

6.

7.

Hong Kong 2. Entries must reach the office not later than March 20.

3. Entries must carry the name, address and the club membershiP number of the contestant.

4

The first correct solution drawn from the entries received will be awarded a bottle of Chivas Regal.

5.

The solution and winner's name

The Winner is Mary læe

will be pubiishedinThe Corresþondent the following month.

WERE

YOU

THERE?

(7)

Honest Charlemange (5) Landing place where a Pole took the last letter to a

THE CORRESPONDENT

cRosswoRD,

Festive activitysometimes seen in the House of

l¡rds?

Crossword No. 12 correct solution

Wind open the window

17. Second-rate time gets student roll (5) 19. Confusion letts one become a carpet maker (5) 20. These characters met to symbolise a clan (5) 21. This type of mantle is partly made of garlands (4)

Members who have anecdotes, memor¡es, pictures or other rel¡cs of the Club's early days are urged to send copies to the CIub Manager as soon as poss¡ble to help preparation of a CIub history for its 40th ann¡versary later this year.

braif ontheinside.

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The two latest models to bea¡ the illustrious EOS pedigree are the 750 and the 850, and taliing perfect pictures was never easier. Just find the shots you want and they'll worry about the technical details. In addition to their EOS technological wizardry, each has a personality all its own.

The EOS 750 has a convenient pop-up flash that automatically

swings into action when needed. With its low recycling time, you can shoot sequentially, even in the dark.

The lightest, most compact, and simplest EOS of them all, the 850 is nevertheless a mighty performer.

Like its kissing cousin, the 750, it makes it simple for anyone to take pictures they'll be proud of. The tiny clip-on Speedlite 160E provides just the right amount of light automatically.

Four fantastic EOS models from Canon. They've got looks, brains, and they're incredibly easy to get along with.

So what are you waiting for?

Canon

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750,.750G81

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'Standard with EOS 650. 750, 850

22 rIJ.n CORRESPONDENT MARCH

1989

CANON lNC.: p.O. Box 5050, Shin¡uku Dai-ich¡ Seimei Btdg., Tokyo 163, Japan CANON HONG KONG TRADING CO., LTD.: Room 1101-3 & 112'l-2, Peninsula Centre, 67 Mody Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong

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of various textile raw material, accessories and production equipments.

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3. processing business on imported materials or with materials supplied by customers.

4. Consultation service for foreign

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trade.

5. Domestic sales.

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17 Zhong Slran Dong Y Lu Shanghai, Cir na 21577o TCIEX: 33059 CTSSB CN

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