The Correspondent, August 1993 by The Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong

THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLI.JB

TESSI\/E

North Block, 2 Lower Albert Road, Hong Kong. Telephone: 521 15l I Fax: 868 4092 President - Philip Bowring F¡rst Vice President - Carl Goldstein Second Vice President - Stuart Wolfendale Correspondent Member Governors Paul Bayfield, Daniela Deue, Simon Holberton, Brian Jeffries, V.G. Kulkmi, Philip¡i I: Core, Paul Mmney, Hubert Van Es Jou¡nalist Member Governors Christopher Slaughter, Ka¡l lililson Associate Member Governors Kevin Egm, David Garcia, Saul Lockharl, Julie Meldrum Professional Commilaee: Conv¿nor.' Carl Goldslein Members: Julie Meldrum, Philippe l-æ Cone, Paul Mmney, Paul Bayfield, Christopher Slaughler

Finance Committee Simon Holberton,

Goldstein,

V.G. Kulkmi Membership Commitlee: C¿zven¿r.' Huben Van Es Members: V.G. Kulkmi, Kevin Egm Entertainment Committec: Convenor: DnielaDene Member: David Garcla, Paul Bayfield,

Julie Meldrum Public¿tions Committec: Convenor: Saul Lockhart Members: H. Vm Es, Christopher Slaughter K. Wilson @ditor), Paul Bayfield (Cmpted) F & B Commiltees C onvenor : Stuart r¡y'olfendale Memhers: Davíd Garcia, Simon Holberton, V-G. Kulkami, Brim Jeffri*, Philippe læ Core lryall Committe€: H. Vm Es, ChristÒpher Slaughter Club Manager

COVER STORY Farewell to Heinz Stuart Wolfendale looks at Heinz Grabner's at the FCC.

years

Staff farewell for Heinz

AND VIEWS Cleaning up our own backyard Ian Kiernan issues the challenge forHong Kong to be part of the Clean Up The World campaign. The FCC's part in the campaign is on page 5.

Aboriginal rights Prof. Henry Reynolds on the Australian High Court's controversial Mabo decision. Russell Spurr's views on the matter appear on page 28.

Making GATT fair French cabinet minister Gerard Longuet defends 'fortress' France. Is this a living wage? Francine Brevetti reports on the Hong Kong Women in Publishing Society's freelance rates survey.

Governors I have known Jack Spackman reflects on the four govemors he knew while he was a reporter in Hong Kong.

H. Gmbne¡

THE CORRESPONDBNT Advertisiog Mmager: Kit Myea Pãge

Artil:

Travel A special safari tour to Kenya for FCC members.

MakÈupr Jme Ræio Armando D- Ræio, Jr.

EDITORIAL OFFICE: AsiaPacifi c

DirEtori$ Ltd,

Rm. t301, 13Æ, Pait Commercial Cqtre, . GlO Shelter Saræt, Cauwway Bay, Hong Kong Telephone; 57'l 933 I ; Fax: 890 7 ?37

Regional news FCC Japan gets new president.

OBITUARIES

' Q¡iinioni æ mt , äatssarily Ìhos of the Fole¡gn Cor$Pondents' Club:.r

Michael Holbeche: 1936 - 1993. Peter Pun Chiu-yin: 1926 - 1993.

.,The,.CgtrçspondaÐt is published mootNy for ud or¡ tiehálf oÎ'Ihe Forcign Coriepondenri Club by:

ìlsiaPacific Dlrectorlæ Lad. Rm 1301, 13/I, Park Comercial Cent¡e, ó'10 Shelþrsüæt, Caueway Bay, Hong Kong. . Tel: 577 9331;Fax:89O7287 AJardine Pacific Business (Distributor for Hong Kong and Macau), Bonaventure House, Leighton Road, Hong Kong Tel' 895 7288 f22 Canton Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowìoon Te1,735 ll99 Zung Fu Carpark Buitding, 50 Po Loi Street, Hunghom 1e1,764 6919 SOUTHERN STAR MOTOR CO. (Distributor forSouth China),40th Floor, Central Plaza, t8 Harbour Road, Vanchai Tel:594 8888

ZUNG FU

MERCEDES-BENZ AG, BEIJING LIAISON OFFICE (Distrìbutor for North 19 Jian Cuo Men Vai Dajie, Beijing Tel, 500 305t

Ch¡na), 20Æ, CITIC Build¡ns,

Publ¡sher: Vomie Bostm Managlng Direcfor: Mike Bishm

Colour spamtion by: Colou Art Gmphic Conpmy hinted by Elite Printing Co., Ltd., Hong Mm Ind. CentrE, l.l(B-l,l0E,2 HongMan Sr., Cïai Wil, HK.

Mercedes-Benz

Engineered to move the human spirit

GOLF NOTES BOOK REVIEW LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA Cover photograph by Hubert Van Es.

lnside photographs supplied by David Thurston, Hubert Van Es and Ray Cranboume. THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

1993

NEWS AND VIEWS ¡ølp

Cleaning up our own back yard ext month, millions of people in

By Karl Wilson

cities scattered around the world

will take a day off to literally clean uP their own back Yards. Clean Up The World is exPected to become the largest global movement created to focus attention on the need for locdl action for the environment.

The man behind the project is a 52year-old Australian, lan Kiernan, who was guest of honour at a Club luncheon on June 30. Kiernan's awakening to the state of

':.;A#'

çùr

competing in the BOC Challenge solo around-the-world yacht race in 1986. "As a child I was told this story of a mythical sea where a bird would come and lay its eggs in fine golden seaweed," he said. "Of course that is just a legend. The reality is quite different... sometimes you can'l even see the seaweed because it is covered by plastic and other assoded

"There is still one place which

man has left untouched. Perhaps it is because it is isolated.

That place is the great Southern Ocean where there is an abundance of bird and marine life and where 60 to 70 foot waves are not uncommon." When Kiernan returned to Australia he decided to do something, especially about the harbour he grew up on, sailed on, swam in and fished.

"For most of my life

had

witnessed the degradation of Sydney Harbour and didn't even notice it," he said. "lt took a 27,000 mile, singlehanded yacht race to open my eyes to what was really happening to our environment.

"When O

returned home

started asking some friends to see if something could be done to cleah up Sydney Harbour. I even went to the beach where I learned to swim as a child to find it littered with garbage and

broken bottles. "l found there was a lot of suppod. So on SundaY Janu-

Ian Kiernan during the Sydney harbour clean-up.

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

1993

our environment came when he was

garbage. Garbage that is left behind by us.

\r."tp""

oleaa uo

qc+ LocallY";ov,e

ary

8, some 40,000 people gave up their Sunday and volunteered to clean up the foreshores and beaches of Sydney Harbour. "On that day alone we re-

moved more than 5,000 tonnes of garbage. I think the last time Sydney Harbour was cleaned up was back in 1902 when they removed eightdead horses and

15 dead kangaroos. "l response was amazing to say the least. But it didn't stop there. People starled to

ring up from around the country asking one basic question: 'How did you do it'. "Even the late mayor of

Darwin rang saying: 'We have garbage here which has

been left over since World War ll ... can you help us get rid of it?' "ln Wollongong, an iron and steel city south of Sydney, a campaign called Project Armada was launched to clean up Lake lllawarra. ln a day they pulled 158 cars and two buses from the lake." This success led to the creation of the annual Clean Up Australia Day. To date, more than 1.5 million Australians have participated in Community clean-up drives. Today the Clean Up Australia committee, which Kiernan established, operate in over 665 cities and towns throughout Australia.

"All it takes is just one person to start

to clean up his back yard has now taken

the ball rolling. l'm only an ordinary

on a global perspective. Kiernan's ac-

bloke and I knew we had to act and act now to try and turn around the problems facing our environment. "For me I am very positive that what we have created is having an impact.

tivities in Australia were drawn to the

People realise that they can not go on waiting for their elected representatives to do something ... because they won't. It is up to each and everyone of us to do something and start cleaning up our own back yards."

What started out as one man's drive

attention of the United Nations. "The UN has been very supportive in taking this idea globally and next month

ordinary men, women and children around the world are going to set aside one day to cleaning up their own backyards," Kiernan said. "lt is a very easy concept to understand because there is no point in waiting for governments to do anything. So at the end of the day it is up to us.

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST 1993 3

The FCC's Clean Up the World

et(au\ (

Tþam

Will you help clean up the world? lt all stafis in your own backyards, with recognition of the problems of pollution,

iñep

toxic wastes, and poor public awareness. Next step? Think globally, act locally, and make a difference by signing up on the FCC Clean Up Team. Sunday, September 19 is the date, and the FCC team will be joining millions of other people around the world who not only care about the quality of our environment but also will make an effort to make a difference. Clean Up the World is a truly global event sponsored by the United Nations

=f{-F-==

1993ì (5 iune

"Rubbish is a problem affecting every

of another country but you only have to look out the window of the Star Ferry to see the state of your harbour and believe me it is in big trouble. "Hong Kong Harbour is very interesting. I wonder whether anyone has put a

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

value on it? I mean, what is it worth to the people of Hong Kong? "lt is a transport medium, it is a major port and it is a tourist attraction. And, when you really want to know, it is Hong Kong's reason for being in the f irst place. It is the central focus of Hong Kong. Without it there would be no Hong Kong. "l don't know what it is worth but a

reasonable guess would be billions ... billions of dollars. The cost of cleaning it up would be just a drop in the bucket. "l have found in other parls of the world, and in parlicular Australia, when people are told that this is theirs and it

1993

recently awarded the UNEP's Global 500 Prize. FCC members who sign up can look forward to a full Sunday of hard work, followed by a picnic-style buffet at the Club. Children will be welcome. Members who sign-on also book a unique

Nancy Nash

was the usual turnout on blood-

donor day -- mostly staff, long-term donors like Irene O'Shea and a few wastrels pictured below. Hubert

should be saved they act. "And it is then that they start to realise that this asset does not belong to any one person it belong to everYbodY. "So when people act, the government acts and then the industrialists. ln Australia, for example, there are a number of joint ventures now between the government, industry and the local community. "ln short, the government has to listen to the community. "There is a saying among aboriginal people that says 'tread on the earth lightly."'

tralia, for his environmental work and

Clean Up the World edition of an FCC T-shirt. Clean-up gloves will be provided free of charge by Jebsen & Co and the transport of garbage will be organised. Sign-up, find your way to the sites (to be announced later) and take part in a very important event that can help all life on earth; and make a difference in your own community, for all life on earth.

Banking on blood It

corner of this planet we inhabit. Clean Up the World is an activity which transcends all borders and ideologies and which brings people of all cultures together." ln Hong Kong to lend his support to the local arm of Clean Up the World, Kiernan said: "l don't want to be critical

Environment Programme (UNEP) and led by lan Kiernan who was given Australia's highest award, Order of Aus-

Van Es gives

with

smile, Paul

Bayfield reads his insurance

contract while Annie Van Es is not quite certain.

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST 1993

The Swire Group

NEV/S AND VIEWS

Offering more space

Mabo: Aboriginal rights vs economic priorities he Mabo decision by the High Court of Australia come at a time when Australians are reas-

sessing who they and what they are.

Professor Henry Reynolds, a senior research fellow at the Australian Research Council, spoke to the Club on July 15 aboutthe High Court's ruling and its impact on Australia. The following is an edited extract of his address.

What was the Mabo decision all about? The Mabo decision was made by the High Court of Australia on June 3 last year. The Court found that a group of Murray lslanders from the Torres Strait

had native title to their land. This was after a 10 year battle in the courts. For me it began 15 years ago when Eddie Mabo was a gardener at my university. Every few weeks we would have lunch together. He would tell me about life on Murray lsland and 'his' land. For my pan I would discuss political matters. One day, as he was talking about his land, I said "But Eddie, you must appreciate the fact that you don't own it. lt's crown land."

He looked at me with a sense of incredulity and horror that it was probably true. That probably was the beginning of

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST 1993

the Mabo story ... at least for me it was. Eddie Mabo took the case to the High

than ever, Cathay Pacific

Courl of Australia to let the court resolve the matter.

now introduces new Marco

Principles at stake On the one hand you had Eddie Mabo

Polo Business Class seating

and on the other the Queensland state government.

with an extra two inches of legroom on all aircraft. And also on all 747s, you'll find

As far as Eddie Mabo was concerned he had lived on the island all his life and his ancestors had lived on the island. ln

a convenient swivel table

and

fact his ancestors were living on the

fully extendable legrest for

long

island well before the Europeans came. So in his eyes he still owned the land. For its paft the Queensland government said: "No. ln 1879 when we gained sovereignty ovgr Murray lsland, we not only gained sovereignty to rule over the island, we also gained ownership of the land." As far as the Queensland government was concerned the Torres Strait lslanders were trespassers who were allowed to stay on crown land. The critical issue in the Mabo case was Eddie Mabo's claim for native title and the right to his land based on prior occupation. The Queensland govern-

new, redesigned seat featuring

distance comfort. What's more, we've dedicated the upper deck of

].-

all our 747s exclusively to

Marco

Polo Business Class and made it smoke-free. Enhancing the space and

comfort of our cabin is yet another way

in which Cathay Pacific helps business travellers arrive in better shape.

_.l-

CATHAYPACIFIC Arrive in better shape.

COVER STORY

ment adopted the traditional Australian legal view that Austral ia was terra n u ll i us (land belonging to no one). When the British arrived, the crown became the owner of the land. The Courl's ruling, however, was the

Too much time on Mabo

bombshell ... it was applicable to all indigenous people of Australia and not just Murray lslanders.

The Mabo decision has placed a cloud of uncertainty over Western

That decision changed the story of the nation. The old story was: when the British arrived, they claimed sovereignty. Over the years they gave some of the

Australia, according to the State Premier Richard Court. Addressing a Club luncheon recently he said: "The decision has

"The problem stems from title

recognised by law. So, where there is vacant crown land you can assume there may be some indigenous owners. lf they can prove traditional links to the land, they can have native title unless the crown can prove otherwise.

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST

The State of Western Australia is the one most affected by the Mabo

political issue for a long time and it only has a politicalsolution."

titles.

"But even so,

The crown has always had the power

being a problem because the Federal government has said it will honour all titles granted after 1975."

decision because most of it is vacant crown land. Pastoral leases have not extinguished native title where as in most other states they have. "lf you are going to have a system it should be for all Australians not just a few," Court said. "Native title is a problem ín most countries. ln Australia it will be a hot

granted over 1975 ... are they valid. "Now we have native titles but there is no law in place to handle native

But what does Mabo really mean in practice?

native title. Nothing have a new title in other countries where uncommon have been around for 200 such titles years. But in Australia it is all new. Since the decision was handed down last year, it has dominated the media. To try and calm the uncertaintY the

office door as though it is running against the lights. The gait is quick, stacatto, with a swing of the shoulders. The figure pauses at the junction of the stairs. lt sees a staff member needing instruction. An arm is raised, the fingers extended as though about to squeeze a fruit for freshness. The wrist twists this way then that. Fast English in a Germanic tenor is heard. The figure suffers a second's indecision. lt turns sharply to left and right, then bowls down the Pool Bar stairs in a fuss of trouser flannel. This is the manager, the only man-

tural industries in the State." While the unceñainty is allowed to continue the investment will dry up.

tish arrived the indigenous people owned the land and that ownership should be

tem of land-ownership because you now

stocky figure, light ginger in colouring, motors out of the

mining, pastoral, tour¡sm and agricul-

gave some to the indigenous people. Now the new story is: When the Bri-

granted since 1975. The Mabo decision has had a dramatic effect on the way the storY of Australia is told and the Australian sys-

By Stuart Wolfendale

placed great uncertainty over our

land away to individuals and later on

to extinguish native title. And has extinguished native title from the very beginning. However, where there is vacant crown land, and there are people presumed to be the owners, it must be assumed they have native title to the land. Where there are leases and licences, which covers a lot of Australia, there is some doubt. This is also complicated by the fact that from 1975 Australia had the Race Discrimination Act. Which means that any lease or licence granted since 1975 may have affected some indigenous interest: The point is a legal question now hangs over the leases and licences

Farewell and thanks, Heinz

I can't see there

federal government came up with, in my view anyway, a reasonable proposition for resolving the immediate problem. That was to make secure any titles granted since 1975. And pay compensation. Also accept that native title is now part of Australian law and that means people who hold native title are no different from anyone else. That may seem like a fairly straight forward proposition. But in Australia you are dealing with two levels of government - state and federal. The states have a mistrust of the federal government and what appears to be a simple solution becomes very difficult because of the federal system in place. The High Court ruling has played a major directional role not only in the immediate political and legal spheres

but how Australians see themselves and their country. ln a sense Mabo is Australia's coming

to terms with its indigenous people as indeed Australians have had to come to

1993

terms over this last generation with their geographical position in Asia Pacific. The White Australia policy always had

two faces. Looking outward it had

restrictive immigration policy based on race and an inward looking policy which sought to assimilate the native people into a different culture and in time lose their identity altogether as a people. So

in time they would have no claim

anything and own nothing. Australians have had to come to terms with the fact that it is a European culture

in a non-European world. Mabo is an attempt to try and reconcile the indigenous people .of Australia with European Australians. The European Australians tended to emphasis their history rather than their geography. What Mabo has done is do something which, politically would have been next to impossible; it has changed the relationship between European Australians and indigenous Australians. See Russell Spurr's view on page 28.

s t-,

l¡l

ager, that The Club has known in lce House Street and by the end of this month, it will know him no more. Heinz Grabner leaves after eleven and a half years to, at last, open a venture of his very own. He spent only weeks back in 1982 managing the old premises in Sutherland House. The decision to move had been made by the time he was hired. He

would not have taken the job if it hadn't been. He recalls the place with the best low view in the world with a grimace. "Sutherland House was a little dump lt was smelly. There were more cockroaches than here and, even with all the problems the kitchen poses here, the one there was appalling. What really attracted me to the job in the first place was the challenge of moving the Club." For Heinz it was another opening to another show. He was born to the business. His family owned a restaurant in Salzburg. His grandparents had a hotel in Germany. He began as a cook ap-

prentice, learning his trade in the Fatherland. Eventually he spent five years in Paris where he translated from purely the F&B side to the general skills of

Heinz gives a final lesson to the kitchen staff. hoteliering, learning everything from the switchboard to the running of a hotel's five bars.

Through a Parisien intermediary, he job at The Peninsula Hotel in 1962 and given 15 days to pack up and shift to a far corner of the globe which was to add up to the rest of his was offered

professional life. At the beginning he was 'maitre d" at The Pen before moving over to the old Repulse Bay Hotel for a year. Then he started his run of openings, first of the Hong Kong Hotel in 1969 followed by project management of The Peak Tram building in 1971 . He refuses to take it personally that they are, at this mo-

ment, tearing that down again. He left the Peninsula's Group in 1973.

It was about that time, ten years in, when even incurable expatriates toy with the idea of home again. Heinz wanted to open a business in Australia. "l was, shall we say, discouraged by the banks", he recalls. With a wife seven months pregnant and not a hope of anything to do there, he wanted out of the homeland and back East. The solution came from Karl Stumpf of the Hong Kong Christian Council who asked him backto run the nascent Kwun Tong Hotel School. Pride in this still stretches Heinz Grabner's smile out if its normally ironic

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST 1993 9

n___J1_-/7

LFĂ&#x161;\S wriggle into full width. "At the beginning I regretted the three year commitment

to a low salary and the uncertainty of teaching." At the end of eight years he had changed a one classroom, thirty student operation into a fully fledged and facilitated school whose 480 students went like hot cakes in the hotel employment market. Stumpf's retirement opened the way for a bureaucracy not to Heinz's taste. "Liz Eckersely, the then FCC steward, had been on at me for some time and she finally persuaded me to give the

agement or, even, positively useful, Heinz would give it an injection of his enthusiasm that would help it run and run till it exhausted, fell downstairs at 10 am to bicarbonate on screwdrivers. These subtly adversarial Fridays, he will miss as much as we will. It was an interesting tribute, not long ago, after the latest in a tradition of mild discourtesies which the manager has to occasionally swallow from correspondents, that a senior club member banged the bar top and declared. "lts not fucking right. This Club is Heinz' baby!" He has seen several of his staff ma-

ing; a charge that never gave him much peace. What kept changing? "FranklY the membership. At the beginning, there

were more correspondents who

had

been in wars and the like. That made them gentler, underneath their roughness. At the beginning the sense of

a club member was

stronger' Even if they went broke, they'd pay the club bill before anything else. lt was

being

tslltr THERE'S ALWAYS

A STORYAT THE

HONG I(ONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

much more a second home in those days.

"lt was somehow more interesting to be around the barthen. Now, unless you

Club a shot. I met Donald Wise and Mike Keats and was formally interviewed by Bill Sykes, the Treasurer." Heinz still speaks with partisan warmth about Sykes. He

has always preferred practi-

cal businessmen as Club Treasurer to financial correspondents. The early days of lce House

Street were distinctly makeshift. "We had second hand window-type air cons in the Main Bar. For all the good they were, we'd have been better off just opening the windows. For the first few months, we cooked in the pantry and in that corner of the Main Bar. lt was only a set menu. Sweat dripped off the members but the place was packed.

Heinz with former presidents Donald Wise and Mike Keats when Ice House Street was being refurbished.

"For two months, they'd had to do without the Club. They had been paying Dragon Boat and Captain's Bar prices. The relief was immense."

Under the not altogether consistent direction of 12 different Boards, Heinz physically put lce House Street together and kept it that way, day by daY. His expedise at dealing with Boards was interesting to experience. When a Board was wandering down a path which threatened good running order aÂĄd profit, Heinz would either try to blind it with the science of his trade till it ran up a cul de sac or give it a depreciating smile which left it in no doubt that it was attempting to re-invent the wheel. When it was all steamed up about something, that was harmless to man-

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

ture and have babies of their own over the years. "The departments are much

the same as they were. The front of

are pissed, it can be rather boring." Heinz believes the Club set a trend in appointing him. "Ten years ago nearly

house people have all stayed on with

allthe clubs in town were run by ex-army

me. The turnover is faster with the

or navy officers or retired administrators

The Hong Kong Trode Development Council con help you moke business heodlines every doy of the yeor, As

younger ones. There is more money

who knew nothing about F&B or customer relations. Then the Hong Kong

o mojor force in world trode you'll find we've olwoys got o good story io tell: no podding, no puff ond bocked by occurote, upJo-the-moment figures ond stotistics, Next time you receive one of our press releoses, give it o good

and opportunity outside now than in the Club." Drawing the undemonstrative Grabner

on the subject of the nostalgia is like pulling teeth. He has celebrated his 50th

bidhday in the Club and his 25th wedding anniversary, attended by a clutch of past presidents, atributewhich clearly gave him satisfaction. But he will not be pinned down on sentimental nooks and

crannies of his 11 years. Much as lce

Club became more aware and pulled in the Peninsula {o sorl out its food and the FCC employed me from a professional background. "The managers became less able to

cope and the professionals moved in. Members have simply got more and more demanding", he paused for a moment. "Aah! They were always demanding. Always will be."

House Street was his baby, it was obvi-

And rude, sometimes in a gratiutously

ously one that never really stopped teeth-

unpleasant way that not even hoteliers

1993

once-over, You'll soon see whot we meon, 0r contoct us if you need detoils on ony ospect of Hong Kong trode,

Hong Kong Trade Development Council We Creote Opportunities

Heod Office: 38.th Floor, Office Tower, Conven.tion Plozo, 4 Horbour Rood, Wonchoi, Hong Kong. Tel: [852) 584 4333 Fox: (852) 8240249

likemanager-designatechristophHoelzl times wily

critics would say The Board has conferred honorary will have quite hard to cope with' one intransigent defence of what he saw membership on Heinz Grabner. when member' as an example, seeing Heinz as the best interests ano gooo running hesurfacesfromhisplansandhistacos, one lunchtime sitting at the bar talking of the club' he wiil be back, standing at the bar as a to another member' loudly declared, He ran that alongside an endlessly member, fully at liberty to say ,,God, "Good God! Now even the staff are flexible kindness a-no netptulness to whered¡otheygetthishousewhite?"or sitting here taking up precious bar stool members old or new who sought his ,,not okra again?!" Go on Heinz, come in space " Heinz Grabner' effecting not to help or advice. These were uoil"r [rot"r- t"".î,ln ,ì-." be¡y patting contentment hear a remark that might in other cir- sional and personal instincts and they of the successful retaurateur and run it cumstances have been a,decking,mat_ were rrrr his orrer¡vLr¡ strength. all bacK atl back on on usl ter, letthewraith of

some

awintrysmilecross

his mouth and ignored it. After 1 1 years, had he perhaps stayed too long? "ln retrospect, yes. I love the

old to do something new. I was wrong but I resolved never to risk that again.', He is not one to cry over spilt years.

up mightily. "lt is something new; a

# Llt tr

Èr

Staff farewell for Heinz

Club but maybe I should have made a move into business earlier. When I left the Hotel School, I was afraid I was too

The prospect of his new authentic Mexican restaurant in Times Square is a start up challenge which is livening Grabner

ü -

HUBERT VAN ES

The FCC staff held a surprise farewell party for Heinz and his wife Josephine in the main dining

room recently.

challenge and quite a riskl"

Elaborating on

it, Heinz

becomes

Napoleonic. Yes, he would be seen a lot front of house a the beginning. ,,But the plan is to open several of these restaurants. That will demand a lot of me in the planning and management role. I will be busier than I have been for some time.

tß

f;t

# # il'

?Ì

"l will be able to see the fruits of my efforts." Cynicism born of experience kicked in wryly. "l may not actually be able to get at the fruits, but at least I'll see them." What early breakfasters will not see again is the Heinz emerging from the Fitness Centre in a worrying sheen of sweat after a long ride on a stationary

,'#,

.t:í:. a:

Heinz with Sammy Cheung, left, and Gilbert Cheng.

bicycle in the vain battle against the managerial paunch. Nor will Saturday lunchtime drinkers likely see again a

Josephine and Heinz with a gift

from the staff.

tili

sorely tested managerial Toyota catapulted onto the pavement by the bar

back door, loaded up with barbqcue

¡ {

supplies and driven away again along

Lower Albert Road at speeds which

I ¡

cause adjacent drivers to return home and change their underwear.

There are those who have known Heinz Grabner longer and better and who will itch to fill a volume of reminiscences and anecdotes, yet they would agree with those who have known him for only a breath of his time at the FCC that Heinz maintained a steadfast. some-

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST

I{EWSMAKER

t g Ê

where history is made,

asil:j;åär,Hlî,ff.);iîi.iiiîi;

rnfalingry,

f Receiving his gift from Gilbert, right.

It!

1993

sole Agent: shriro (H.K r Ltd.. 2rF Hutchison House, cenrrar. Hong Kong. rer:524 5o3r

rireressry.

as in the developing countries. And lastly any future agreement must

also be equitable and verifiable. On this point, I would like to ask you a

Making GATT

question: "Let us suppose the Uruguay Round stops here and now with a general agreement, all the negotiators come

back home tonight. What would happen if tomorrow one of the contracting parties does not implementthe agreement? Nobody has the answer. But I will tell you what will happen. We would have to start all over again and the expected positive effects for world trade will quickly fade in our memory. The French government would like to institutionalise a world trade organisation to make sure that all parties respect their commitments. More importantly such an agreement should not only be enforced for agriculture it must also open public tenders, seek the consolidation of custom rates and liberalise services. Such an agreement can only work if its is globally equitable and if everybody plays fairly.

fair and equitable

Gerard Longuet. as stated by the Montreal Conference in

1988. This objective has already been reached by the EC.

Gerard Longuet, French Minister of Industry, Post and T e le c ommunic ations and Foreign Trade was guest speaker at a Club luncheon on May 25. The following is an edited extract of his address. eading the press here in Asia and various international publi-

With the service staff.

With the administration staff.

cations, one gets the feeling that France is a fortress closed to the outside world. Nothing could be further from the truth. ln 1992 our trade deficit with Asian countries reached US$8 billion. As the fourth biggest exporter of manu-

factured goods in the world, and the second biggest exporter of services and food products, France has a major inter-

est in the development of world trade

With the bartenders.

With kitchen staff.

and in particularan agreementon GATT. But having said that, such an agreement must be global and it must include all the fields that belong to the Uruguay Round. These negotiations have been presented as a kind of duel between the

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

1993

larly financial services. ln this field, as well, the EC is

ITREMIS

unique market

towhich ourGATT

Ël

ã lrÈ-

-. É

"Ê

lr}

l*l -Fr'Ì. te .& tGlr+ l:r -F

*t'

;¿E

Eñ *

- E ñ.F, Ê 5 tE

tË Æ t.¡ ;z åË,Ìrt

Ef ítt.4\

3ß

E-r FJ:

tr!

have access.

huF'

We also need an agreement on intellectual property. The progressive improvement

of protection

Compoct tighting System

fr.rcr¡f,[EEf,[ Professionol Tope Recorder

Wireless Tronsmiilor & Receiver

for

Gooper Sound

intellectual prop-

Professionol Á.udio Mixer

erty rights among

our trading partners and, espe-

ffdedolight Lighting System for Film & Video

cially here in Asia,

will greatly

olobal. it mustalso AG ENI

Any

HCY'IUC'1

n l¡J

r.:slncf

:"oe:',,,.,.

Pro1e66¡ 6ot"t schtlêr

/;\

I .--

\,,/

Comero Support & lighting Equipment

Mogic Dolly & lrocks

en-

world.

This will require lower custom rates

tr â

partners already

hance investment and stimulate exchanges.

products.

David gives Heinz a hug while Tom looks on.

Another condition of new world growth would be the liberalisation of services, particu-

United States and Europe, mainly on agriculture. But what about the rest? What about services? What about access to markets? What we would like to see is sustainable, economic growth all over the

One condition of this would be the liberalisation of exchange rates and better access to markets for industrial

With cleaning staff.

Another condition would be the abolition of the main non-tariff obstacles and a consolidation of custom rates. Another set of conditions would be the opening of public tenders and in this regard the EC is very open and could be taken as a model by many countries.

future

GATT agreement

O-tasloIlc Collopsible Rofledors, Diffusor, Bockground

¡Ïr

Profossionol Cosos [or Field Production Creri¡

l-totìsEMAt\t Prolessionol

4x5

View Comero

E¡]F"

elinchrorn

srudio sronds & Top sysrem

Stud¡o El€dronic FIosh System

must not be only

be reasonable-TREMIST¡r,r,i and balanced inorder to promote employment in the developed, aswell

***ËEüü t h E1éË*+,Ù8ol - 2e tl¿ : Bas 3101 {¡f Çr¡ : 564 s29s

MErFo TOWEF, r KoRNH|LL ROÂo, TA¡KOO, HONG KoNG T€t:aas 3101 Fa¡ s6a s29s

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST 1993

NEWS AND VIEV/S survey did not address timeliness

Is this a living wage? oes your monthly income fluctuate between a couple of

thousand dollars

and

$20,000? Do you feel your experieince is not reflected in your earning power? lf you answer yes, you are in good company. The Hong Kong Women in Publishing Society's (WIPS) first freelancers' rates survey shows there is no clear path between expertise and financial reward in Hong Kong.

The questionnaire was distributed to

the journalist/correspondent members of the FCC, members of PEN as well as

being paid about $130 - $500 per hour, writers across professions with editors

about $300 - $800 per hour and photographers between $3,000 and 98,000 for female. a day's work. The kind of work and the lt was important to wlps, in designing publisher determined the variations. the survey, to ascertain how many peo* For writers, editors and photogra- ple were completely dependent on their phers at least, corporate clients paid own freelance earnings. betterthan publishers. Forcertain kinds ln Hong Kong there is a common of work, public relations and advertising perception that females, especially excompanies paid best of all. Editors could patriates, are supported by a well-earnexpect about $180 - $200 from publishing husband. Some employers con-

corPR/advertising clients.

clude that such

porate and

women, therefore,

The hourly

our own members. Of the 750 distributed, 68 copies were returned. Since there was no way of asceftaining beforehand how many of the 750 do in fact f reelance (whetherfulllime or part{ime), we feel the total of 68 responses fell within accepted standards of representativeness. These are among the findings of the survey of freelancers' (writers, editors, photographers, illustrators etc) income recently conducted by WIPS. The 67

completed questionnaires on 1992 income showed, among other findings, that: - Two freelancers earned less than $9,998 per month; Four earned between $10,000 $19,999 per month; Five earned between $20,000 $29,999 per month; Two earned between $30,000 $39,999 per month; Two earned between $40,000 $49,999 per month One earned over $50,000 per month The hourly rates which were reported

must be treated with caution, the analyst warned, because respondents were

not consistent in filling out this area of the questionnaire. But three broad conclusions were made.

Hourly rates varied substantially

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

and eight female (one of unknown gender). Three of the top four earners in this group were male, but the top earner was

ers and $500 from

did not appear in word rates where the situa-

rates

questionnaire.

tion was reversed. Word rates paid by PR and advertising firms calculated around $2 - $2.50 per word while corporate clients were more likely to pay 93 - 94. * As for word rates, the lowest rate paid by newspapers to freelancer writers in Hong Kong is g1 per word, the highest $4. While word rates varied as much as 40 cents to $5 depending on whether the publisher was a magazine, journal or newspaper. But the vast majority of entries varied from between g2 and $2.50 a word.

tributed. While the work of freelancers gives meaning to a publication and suppons

the advertising, yet freelancers are treated as pesky and unnecessary. Perhaps publishers think: Anybody can write. Anybody can snap a picture. Anybody can edit. Anybody can ... etc We are pleased that the survey had

elicited many excited responses. We received an inquiry from a cameraman: Will the next WIPS survey consider the broadcast industry and its freelancers? Several editors and publishers have asked when these results will be available so they can check the competitiveness of their own rates. Whether the rates reported in this survey are fair or not is highly debatable. But we cer.lainly hope people use them,

pendent on their analysis

What the other surveys say

were financially independent ... Just under half obtained more than three

We think it is valuable to compare the

quarters of their income from freelance work. One-quaner were full{ime freelancers with no other income to rely on. While more women than men responded to the questionnaire, the group of fulltime and financially independent free-

lancers was roughly equally split between men and women." Since this is the first survey we have completed, we cannot compare it to any

financially independent freelancers for whom we had data, seven were male

knowledge that in Hong Kong, freelancers are the last to get paid. The WIPS

respondents charged between 920

hour with the average begin about 915

$25; 15 per cent between $15 - $20. Six per cent were able to charge 970 or more. However, the initial report of the results did not specify which crafts these hourly rates included. The American Society of Journalists and Authors asks its members to cite the publisher when reporting rates. We wonder if freelancers in Hong Kong would have the courage to do likewise? The New York Editorial Freelancers Association canvasses members yearly. Their 1991 results included these findings in US dollars. Three per cent of its full-time freelancers earned less than $10,000; 28 per cent between $10,000 - $19,000;29 per cent between $20,000 - $29,000; 20 per cent between $30,000 - $39,000; 1 2 per cent between $40,000 - $49,000; eight per cent in excess of $50,000. Book editors, depending on the kind of manuscript (fiction, juvenile, reference etc) earned between $1 0 - $30 an

- $18. There seems a great deal more variation in the rates for production ed-

I l

results of the WIPS survey with those culled by other craft associations. For instance, the British National Union of Journalists surveyed freelance rates in book publishing. According to its 1992-93 results, copy editors earned a minimum hourly rate of Stgl 1.40 for simple indexing and proof-

reading; Stg12.40 for copy editing; Stg13.45 for sub-editing and rewriting and Stg15.55 an hour for project man-

iting, with entries as low as 913 an hour

up to $50 an hour depending on the material.

Writing for newspapers was also measured in hours, making it difficult to compare to the local situation where word rates prevail. The NYEF rates varied from $5 - $4d an hour. Of course, it is difficult to compare these sums without the currency conversions spelled out clearly. The message here is: other publishing related groups regularly publish updates of their income experience.

Hong Kong freelancers must surely ask themselves: ls my income keeping up with my counterparts in other countries, considering the pace of inflation and the cost of living.

Francine Brevetti

NOTICE TO MEMBERS

freelancers and employers alike, as a basis for negotiating.

notes: "More than half the respondents

son's income fluctuated between 93,000 and $22,000; another between $17,000 and $1 00,000. * There was no clear evidence in sex discrimination rates. Of the 16 full-time

1993

ÂĄ

own earnings.

standard. Hov/ever I am not alone in observing that in the past few years, despite rampant inflation, rates paid by some publishers have hardly budged. Some have even dropped. There are many things about freelancers' compensation in Hong Kong which are unjust in the view of many freelancers. For instance, it is common

Other findings included: * lncomes fluctuated on a monthly basis as much as 10 times. One per-

Ăš

need not be paid a

The

payment. Unlike other markets, publishers here pay f reelancers upon publ ication instead of upon acceptance. Many are lucky to be paid upon publication! The many magazines that emerge only to fail after a few issues frequently refuse to compensate the freelancers who have con-

E Effective from September

1, the Club will cease to serve cooked breakfast on the verandah. Instead, a self-service continental breakfast ofjuice, coffee, croissant, etc. will be available.

Q I regret the necessity for this decision but the average number of breakfasts served has been running at only nine. This is insufficient to justify the staffing required to provide full, a la carte breakfast.

The Club's expenditure has been growing more rapidly than its income. We also face massive costs to renovate the kitchen and bring it up to new fire safety standards. To try to avoid general iricrease in prices and dues, we are trying to pare costs by cutting back on underutilised services, such as breakfast.

agement.

Chicago Women in Publishing published the results of their yearly survey in June. Their findings, all in US dollars:

32 per cent of respondents reporled average yearly salaries of 915,000 or less; three per cent earned $75,000 and

above; the middle ground lay in the range of $15,000 - $45,000 for 56 per cent.

As for hourly

17 per cent of

O The more you use the Club's facilities, the easier it will be for the

Board to hold down prices. E continental buffet breakfast with bottomless coffee/tea at g30 per head will be served at the Verandah from 8 a.m. - 10.30 a.m. (Monday to Saturday only).

Philip Bowring President

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST 1993 I7

OBITUARIES

Typically, this generosity

Michael Holbeche: 1936 - 1993 I

was one of two people f rom Leo Burnett

Limited who went to meet Mike Holbeche on his arrival in Hong Kong in 1971 ; the other was a colleague from whom Mike was due to take over as general manager. Neither of us knew much about him. All we had to go on, apart f rom the usual potted career history, was a cryptic comment from the director of our Sydney office who had called me with the news of Mike's appointment: "You don't have

to worry about how he'll go down

Hong Kong, David; he's more English than you arel" When Mike turned up at the crossharbour helicopter terminal in Harcourt Road (those were the days!), he cer-

[brought in top talent and looked after them like a benign Godfather; they responded as he knew they would. He left the company in 1982 at what was arguably the height of its success, leaving a larger than life void behind him. lf Mike was a generous employer, he was an even more generous friend.

extended to his gambling. He played to win, but that didn't prevent him from being a gracious loser. Who in his right mind would invite his two business-lunch guests to join him in a game of poker, go overto the Dunhillshop to buy the cards and the chips, rent a hotel room as the only venue worth considering and then, after losing a small fortune in the course of an afternoon, insist on taking his opponents and their wives to The Eagle's Nest for

dinner.

There was something of a gamble, too, about Mike's second career in Hong Kong, as managing director of a newlook Saatchi & Saatchi: "lf I can't turn

the agency around in 12 months, you can terminate my contract." This time, the odds really were against him.

tainly gave the impression of being every

well-tailored inch an Englishman. Any lingering doubts were dispelled as soon as he unleashed that distinctive voice in greeting. For good measure, there was the way in which he suggested that "a

Peter Pun Ch¡u-y¡n: 1926 - 1993

couple of drinks" might, perhaps, be in order; the English are, after all, masters

of understatement. During the next however many hours, suspect that my Sydney informant could well be right about Mike Holbeche and Hong Kong. During the next few months, suspicion gave way to certainty; Mike took to the place as to the manor born. lf I had any reservations about how he would settle in at the office, they were

I began to

Peter, 67, was seriously injured in a traffic accident during a press tour

Guangzhou, majoring in economics. He was also the Nieman Fellow of Harvard University.

things by halves. At Leo Burnett, he 1993

IN HONG KOI$G 1993 Bu"tr.".

it. "

[*".il"o".

T.op],-t

never managed to get together again

with Mike. I was looking forward

f993

seeing him at Chris Minter's 60th birlhday celebrations in April, but he didn't put in an appearance. I tried to contact

Vton-olo"

lho Y..".

him, but it eventually dawned on me that he didn't want to see anyone other than

N"'" Z..l.oJ', Top T"opl,y ""J C"lJ M"J"l Vtno.r to Nnttoonl & Iot""ooltoonl

close friends.

Vlo. Co-p.[t[too".

Not a few people reading this will have

much more recent memories of Mike

than I have; most of them like Chris Minster will confirm that, in spite of bad luck (a victim of the BCCI debacle) and

ill-health, he was never anything less than excellent company. I am among the many people who remember Mike as he was something like 10 years ago: best summed up, to my mind, by that wonderful old-fashioned word, "urbane". And that is how I want to remember him.

David Perkins

V-|-D-A-L aaooa^. a a a ; a a .a i ' '

I I o

f993 T"op[,y f"" Cl'n-¡,rooVr,',.

¡t

1993 R"),,,1

[o"t."Sl''*.

l'."pl,y f.r Cl'o,optoo Vr"" "t A¡" NZ Vr"" 4.""*1"

1992

1993

'l'h" l".Jt^s T"ophy .oJ M.J.l Vrn^n" t,, Nn*'2.^1,.,.J'" prernlilm ."¡¡t.n of llr*L". B.r.

Hong Kong's head

of Chinese Public Affairs, assistant

general manager

of Hong Kong Commercial

Membership book update

G¡ven Name

C"-p.

UK.

lln.J,,"oltoJ MembershipNo.:

Vt'n" [".- ll.r'1""

B.y.

Nationality:

MembershipStatus:Correspondent_

Journalist:

Associate:

SEil,ECIIED S/NNES Employing Organisation

oN pRo\40TnON

AlI

Your Title or Position:

IIITE F'ORENGN

CORRESPONDEN1IS CI,IJts

Rediffusion Tel-

Office Telephone No.:

developmentof jour-

evision Hongkong

HomeAddress:

DII]RING SEPIIE\{tsER Dt.["tL..Lo"'

of Reader's Digest

(Chinese Edition).

lnt,,"t¡^ No.tlt Am"rl.ro

G"tJ 1991 Io[u"on[toon[ Vtne" & Sptrtt.

ing a tremendous

and editor

.t 1991 Âr" NZ Vloo Âr"n",[., G"tJ - 1992

The new and improved Membership book needs your input. lf you haven't already done so, please fill in the form and return it to the FCC office.

contribution to the

Survived by his

NOTI/ AVANI,AtsI,E

\/NNBRITS

spare room is occupied;the good news is that it's your father who is occupying

Broadcasting, head of news in

Kong.

N[I\¡ ZEAN,,\ND'S TOP

CL.-ptoo Vtu,,

Evening News, Radio Television

Hong

the night: "The bad news is that the

ilR0}t ltHp,E[

1991 T""pl'y lì'.

Kong where more than 300 col-

nalism in

Digest executive); Simon found out when he called a friend about a bed for

FINE lvxNES

had

Peter was an all rounder when it came to his chosen profession. He worked as a sub-editor lor Sing Tao Daily News, city editor for Sing Tao

praised him for mak-

knowing that Mike was still alive. lfound out from Chris Minter (now a Reader's

been a journalist for mosl of his life. He graduated from Queen's College and the University of

of Shanghai in May. He remained in poor condition after being admitted to Zhongshan hospital and died a month later from his injuries. His body was flown back to Hong

Clarence Chang Ching-po, who had ben afriend of Pun's for over 30 years

early on, not at all tongue-in-cheek); but he knew that he could sell. Give him the advertisements and the media plans and he'd produce the proposal documents, descend on the clients and, more often than not, have them eating out of his hand in no time. Mike was larger than life; the showman in him wouldn't allow him to do

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

wife and four children, Peter

leagues and friends attended hisfuneral.

short-lived. Mike didn't see himself as an adverlising man ("1'm not even an advertising man's arsehole," he told me

Peter Pun Chiu-yin, chief editor of the Chinese-language Wah K¡u Yat Po , died recently in a Shanghai hospital.

I saw less of Mike during that year. But lsurvived one ortwo memorable lunches at his Discovery Bay flat (he cooked a serious curry when the mood took him) and I still have a cassette tape of the radio commercials that he voiced for an old PPA client, Avant Garde. The next thing that I heard about Mike was that he had surfaced in Spain. Sometime later, he opened a seaside restaurant there (shades of Stanley's one of his legacies to Hông Kong); rumour has it that such was the hospitality, few visitors could remember the food. More news f iltered through to Hong Kong occasionally. Barry Kirkham, who seemed to visit Mike quite regularly, used to bring me up to date when I saw him during the summer holidays in the United Kingdom. He was the only one who told me that Mike had started a company by the name of Speakeasy Limited; he was doing a bit of advertising, as well as voice-overs for radio commercials in Gibraltar. When I moved to London in May last year, I didn't know that Mike was living here; nordid his son, Simon, who moved here last year as well after almost three years in the United Stateq not even

Home Telephone No.:

Fax No.:

No"tL..*|. T".Jrog C". (HK) [tJ.

T"l, BB097Z2 F..*, 8805126 THE CORRESPONDBNT AUGUST 1993 19

NEWS AND VIEWS

GOLF }{OTES

I have known

Governors s a reporter I knew four British governors in Hong Kong in the period 1967-88. lt was always my experience that governors did not give interviews - unless perhaps one had a big Fleet Street byline. Forthe rest of us it was a constant struggle against the barricades erected by the Government lnformation Services to keep local journalists away from Their Excellencies. Sir David Trench went on summer leave in 1967 and his return was welcomed by a city struggling with urban

terrorism. We asked of course, but no interview. But they did agree to a picture. Bang off the shot and out. That was the deal. No questions allowed. I had made it clear that I wanted a picture

of a working governor, fresh from

holiday, back at his desk on the job on the dot of 9am. No problem. What I didn't feel obliged to tell GIS

was that

a day or two earlier I

The late Sir Edward Youde. Everyone

I ever met loved the little guy. We admired his tenacity, his stoicism. But he also wasn't a big one for giving intervtews.

Some, I understand, in their frustration took to calling him "Youdeful and Constructive." Somewhat impolite perhaps but it was meant well and he liked joke as much as anyone. We miss him

srill.

disappointed Sir Edward,

fear, when he asked me, at the opening of the FCC's premises what had been the in my 15 years in

hear. For Sir David we chose the Sartorial-Tonsorial Trail. Everytime he appeared we took a good look and the results of this research clearly indicated that he should get a.new tailor and take firm action on the disaster area that some might have described as his hairstyle. My standing instruction to our

reporters on the Sunday Morning Post was that in the event of us ever getting an interview, we must ask him who his barber was. All quite trivial but in the absence of real news the only thing we could do to keep our governor's name and face before the public. I recall one of the last times I met Sir David Wilson. He had settled well into the job by the time he and Lady Natasha

number of previous members who were regular participants and are still mem-

bers of the FCCGS even though they have left Hong Kong

Frank Millar, Jim

Shaw, David Gillhoulley,

John

Lenaghan, Alan Taylor and Mike Foote. I think that Danish schnaps should be

declared

a weapon of war from the

damage that it did to some of the celebrants.

The good news is that the format of the top amateur golfing competition in Asia will remain the same. Players will come from the FCCGS and invited guests of Carlsberg. lt will not become an elitist event.

Carlsberg is now

being brewed in Thailand with good

street scene, then and now, a PWD (Public Works Department) ditch-digging operation. And we ran that picture inthe China Malsomewhat smaller with

that of Sir David Trench. Those of us who admit to being veterans will recall that the PWD in those days used signs quite unlike today's. Back then, they a_ used words on the signs. The English U 4 ones read:TRENCH WORKS AHEAD. Jack Spackman and Maclehose in 1972. Sir Murray Maclehose became a favourite of everyone when he braved the Hong Kong, I suspect he had some came to the Press Ball of 1988. At one narrow staircase of a less-than-grand political development in mind. But for point in the evening, she leant across building in Wanchai to open the Press drama, shock value, sense of loss and toward me, nodded in his direction and Club. But again, lack of communication destruction, nothing matches for me, asked me a simple question: "Do you on impoftant matters reared its head. the burning of the old Queen Elizabeth. like his new haircut?" The committee and members chipped Not all the good stories, I told him, This was all long before Bill Clinton's in to buy Sir Murray a suitable souvenir. involve politics. Nature and its forces $200 job. Someone checked with the right peohave a way of breaking in on the news. ple, or so we thought, and we bought Sir David Wilson didn't change things Extracted from an address to 800 and inscribed a pewter beer tankard. much in the matter of accessibility for members and guests at the Hong We had it on the bar, chilled and shiny the media. We made routine requests Kong Journalists Association's Silver when he strode in the door. "What will it for interviews but again no luck. Jubilee ball on May 17, 1993. Among be?" I asked confidently, as the waiter As Society's watchdogs, cut off from the guests were: Gov. Chris Patten prepared to fill the tankard. "A pink gin, the source, we fell back on the old and Lavender

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

Seidelin and Derek Currie of Carlsberg with a lunch at the Club on July 12. John McDougall gave us a short history of the event and reminded us of a

More good news

had

ordered up a picture of a fairly typical

he FCC Golf Society said a deep felt thank you to Flemming With-

reporter's technique - observing and writing what we could see rather than

By Jack Spackman

Carlsberg Media Classic

1993

reports that it is extending its reputation to the land of smiles. As a gesture of solidarity the FCCGS has agreed to give wholehearted support to an FCCGS Carlsberg Media Classic in Thailand. The timing is likely to be October at the time we have out annual Bangkok Overseas Challenge (BOC) match.

The Player of the Year 1992 Mike Tinworth who was presented with the John Lenaghan/David Gillhoulley silver salver at the Club last month by FCCGS captain Charlie Smith.

A Presidential gathering The only female president of the

FCC, Victoria Wakefield (1979), dropped into the Club recently to say hello to some old friends. The former United Press

International correspondent is pictured with former Far Eastern Economic Review editor and current President, Philip Bowring, who was president in 1.985, Hubert Van Es (right) president in 1982 and Bert Okuley, formerly of United Press International, who was president

in 1976.

Golf in Malaysia We are following up the possibility of having special gold packages and playing in the northern states. Anal Taylor in Bangkok is looking into how we can be the official guests of the parlicipating clubs.

Micronesia Continental Airlines has offered to introduce the FCCGS to the excellent golf courses in Micronesia at very special rates that will cover air fare, hotels, green fees, inter-island transport with a few receptions thrown in for us to get to know the golf opporlunities better.

John Price THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST 1993

BOOK REVIEW

Two Cambodian war veterans, incurably insane, at Ba Vi.

An ex-soldier at lunch at Ba Vi near Hanoi.

Psychiatry and war: patients at a Hanoi mental hospital.

Vietnamese veterans r Flotsam of war Late in 1986, the Vietnamese Communist Pady announced a period ofchange

Doi Moi

in newspapers, magazines and books

By Jan Banning

around the world. Doi Moi is thte product of five trips to Vietnam in 1988-89, 1990 and 1992. This year, two series from this book received prizes from the Silver Camera Foundation, which presents the most

and innovation: Doi Moi. It is more than just a slogan: Doi Moi

Publisher: Focus, Amsterdam

heralded a new chapter in the history of the Vietnamese people. This book by Dutch photographerJan Banning gives an impression of the Vietnamese, with their doubts and di-

free-market economy. Although the after effects of the war against the United States are still in evidence, slowly but

lemmas, their courage and vitality, on the threshold of a new era. The world's second largest socialist country has fallen under the spell of the

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST

surelythe Vietnamese have found themselves captivated by the cultural icons of their former enemy. Jan Banning, 39, began his career as a freelance photographer in 1981. His photographs have been published 1993

prestigious Dutch photojournalism awards. The photos on these pages are taken from Banning's book. lnquiries about the book should be made to: Vaudine

England or Kes on547 8812.

Two former soldiers at the Centre for Mental Treatment in Ba Vi. THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST 1993 23 J

is the only publication produced

within the region devoted to:

)

COMM ùlJoAflefts Eandl A;J I = -ÍV MMUNI /Yfl oflS

Ward at Bien Hoa Mental Hospital to the northeast of Saigon.

Make an impact on the most dynamic region , in the world. Put your

advertising to work in AsiaPacif ic Space Report

'ã Electric-shock therapy at Hanoi Mental Hospital.

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

1993

For details contact: Brian Jeffries Phone:(852) 577 9331 Fax:(852) 890 7287

C.RISACHER

for both its big game and scenic beauty. Lunch and afternoon game viewing

Nov. 6 - Saturday After breaKast transfer to the airport. 11:45. Depart on flight KQ605 to Nairobi. 13:00. Arrive Nairobi to connect with flight GF712. 15:40. Depart for Hong Kong via Muscat onGF712/

beneath the snow-capped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Welcome dinner and overnight stay at Amboselli Lodge.

Nov. L - Monday A dawn game-view drive with an amazing view on Mt. Kilimanjaro followed by a

512.

Nov. 7

breakfast at the lodge. Morning talkby Tomanka Ole

FRONTIERES 56 Travel, which specialises in putting together boutique

tours, has just put the finishing touches to a special Kenya safari tour for FCC members. Anyone who has been to Kenya will have marvelled at the natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Kenya, like most of Africa, has had it fair share of problems ttying to protect its wildlife from poachers driven by the greed of others tucked

safely away in other parts of the world. But Kenya has probably done more than most African countries to deter the poachers and preserve the continent's fast vanishing animal and bird populations. A vast open country ofdustybarren savannahs, towering snowcapped mountains, dense forests and bushlands teeming with an extraordinary array of wildlife from lumbering elephants, zebras and giraffe to prowling lions, Kenya has to be seen to be believed.

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

E*perience Kenya on an FCC tour What makes this nine-day tour of some of the best game reserves in

Africa is its price

just

$12,000

Hong Kong roughly the price for a return ticket to Nairobi. The tour includes all accommodation, meals and travel insurance. The itinerary alone is hard to believe as it covers a number of game parks with the last two days in Mombasa.

Apart from that you will have country's leading wildlife experts such as Tim Allen-Rowlandson. Another unique feature is the balloon safari. access to some of the

1993

Itinerary - Friday 16:00. Depart on Gulf Air 1.53/ 711to Nairobi via Muscat. Oct,29

Oct. 30 06:45.

Saturday -Arrive Nairobi and

transfer to Hilton Hotel. After breakfast, morning f¡ee to rest and acclimatise. Early afternoon, visit the Nairobi National Park which has the largest group of rhino are in Kenya (around 60), and the ParKs animal orphanage. 19:00. Cocktail hosted by Hilton

Hotel. Dr. Esmond Bradley Martin of VWVF will talk about his project for closing down the international trade in rhinoceros products. Oct. 31- Sunday Depart earþ morning, and pass through Masai country to Amboseli National Parþ famous

Kiaepiari, Masai Cultural Lecturer, who will explain the customs and tradition of the Masai, followed by a visit to a traditional village. After lunch, enjoy the swimming pool in the park. Late afternoon, tree planting exercise: you will contribute to the reforestation of Amboselli. Barbecue dinner with Masai dance and songs under an immaculate African sky. Overnight stay at the

Price: HK$1 1,900.00/person,

twin sharing; HK$2,000.00/ single supplement

Balloon safari: US$240.00 (optional) preserve the wildlife and nature

from destruction by natural causes and tourism. The talk will be followed by a lunch around the swimming pool. Late afternoon game-view drive and farewell dinner at Taita hosted by Hilton Hotel.

lodge.

Nov. 2 - Tuesday After breakfast depart for Taita Hills which is a private ranch converfed into a sanctuary. Drive across Ku Ku Plains and Shaitani Black Lava Flow. After lunch at Kilaguni Lodge in Tsavo West National Park, drive to Mzima Springs and continue to Taita Hills. Welcome dinner at Sâlt Lick Lodge.

Nov.3

- Wednesday Balloon safari at dawn followed by a "specíal" breakfast in the savannah (op-

tional). Morning lecture at Taita Hill Lodge by Tim Allen Rowlandson. Tim is the only ecologist employed full time by a sanctuary or national park. He will talk about his work to

- Sunday 16:00. Arrive in Hong Kong.

Thursday Nov.4 After breaKast, depart for Mombasa, arriving at noon. Afternoon free to enjoy the many attractions and shopping of this seaside resort. Overnight stay at Serena Beach Resort.

Friday Free day in Mombasa

Nov.

to relax and enjoy watersports. Overnight stay at Serena Beach Resort.

The price includes: 1. Air transportation on Gulf Air, economy class Hong Kong/ Nairobi/Hong Kong via Muscat. 2. All inland transfers. 3. One night at the Hilton Hotel

in Nairobi with breakfast. 4. Two nights at Amboseli National Park with full board. 5. Two nights at Taita Hills with full board. 6. Two nights at Serena Beach with daily breakfast. 7. All visits, park entrance fees, transportation in 9-seater minibuses with pop-up roof (max 7 persons), services of native English speaking driver-guides. 8. Travel insurance coverage. Excludes: Drinks, tips, cigarettes,

porterage and airport taxes, visa fee. Corinne Risacher will lead the tour from Hong Kong. For bookings contact: Frontieres 56 Travel Ltd,.,8/F, California Ent. Bldg., 34-36

D'Aguilar St., Centraf Hong Kong. Tel: Fax:868 4479.

521. 057'1.;

Booking deadline: September 20,'1993. THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST 1993 27

LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA

PLE/\SE P TRONISE THESE FCC SL/PPORTERS Bull & Bear AmistartBâÂès

An exceptionally soft touch By Russell Spurr

'd hardly been a week in Australia when a truck knocked me down. The driver was backing blindly into a kerbside parking spot while I hovered in the roadway, just as blindly, trying to hail a cab. Back I staggered to our aparlment, bruised and bleeding. The Greek cleaning woman was ecstatic. "Wonderful", she cried. "Now you can sue for thousands." She wouldn't believe it when I demurred. Perhaps I should have known better. Litigation is one of Australia's few growth industries. Compensation, or

"compo" in the Sydney vernacular, is habitually demanded in the courts. Sympathy for the underdog makes justice,

Australian-style, an exceptionally soft touch.

The law is big business. There are supposed to be well over 100,000 lawyers practicing these days, an excep-

vidual case. A claque of self-interested social workers cheers them on from the sidelines. The same sort of caper would have bankrupted Hong Kong. A rich harvest is now promised from aboriginal land claims. Again, at the taxpayer's expense. A rash of claims are pending, thanks to what's known as "the Mabo case." It should be made perfectly clear at this point that the indigenous people who inhabited the Australian continent long before the English and their convicts arrived, are recognisable, to any unbiased observer, as tragic victims of

history. Many ancient races

Sumarians, Babylonians, lncas, Aztecs, North American lndians - have been massacred, unprooted and detribalised by their colonial conquerors. White Australians have lately tried to compensate for past op-

pression by in-

land tenure on the Australian mainland. The recently reelected Labor government, led by Paul Keating, saw the Mabo judgment as the opportunity to reach a long-overdue settlement with the aborigines. Publicly the Prime Minister listed the wrongs wrought by colonialism. The settlement he had in mind was similar to that reached with the Maoris of New Zealand more than a century ago. The way Keating spelled it out, existing leases and land holdings would be upheld. But any aboriginal tribes able to establish rightstothe ', u nre m ain ing, claimed areas of this

,,, vast, thinly-popu,' lated continentwould ,. ,,,'l be granted owner-

fare. Large sums have been spent

bunal was proposed

thing. A kind of mock court called an

with little apparent result. Most

lndustrial Tribunal meets in solemn ses-

aborigines remain

sion to hear unions and employers, and more particularly their lawyers, argue over wage rates, holiday pay and over-

resentful and de-

',,,,' claim on a case-by,',,' case basis. More , work, of course, for t!., the lawYers.

days for Australia's closely guarded

graded recipients of governments handouts, while the majority of Australian whites still suffer agonies of guilt. It ivas this seldom-expressed feeling that prompted the Australian High Court after a decade of deliberation to find last year in favour of claims lodged by one Eddie Mabo to land title in a group of offshore islands close to the New Guinea coast. Since then there's been uproar. The seizure of aboriginal land by white

shores. The handf ul who do are promptly

settlers had until then been justified

interned and stay interned for years as the lawyers get in on the act. Funded by the taxpayer, they fight each indi-

of Captain Cook, Australia was "terra hulius" or no one's land. The court's

time. Justices who've never made a widget in their lives decide, on the as-

sembled "evidence", precisely how much widget makers should earn. lt's a system, unique to Australia, that's been in cumbersome operation for more than 90 years. Lawyers dominate the immigration business. Few boat people head nowa-

by the legal f iction that prior to the arrival

PAS BAR 3l WYNDH,4'\4

workforce-and the colleges are churning out reinforcements at the rate of 10,000 ayear.

moralised, the de-

Buen Vino

brought into question some aspects of

vesting heavily in

Lawyers have their hands into every-

decision that Mabo and his indigenous

friends had perfect right 1o the land in their islands - indeed, deserved it, the justices implied, after the way native peoples had been treated

tional proportion of the professional

aboriginal wel-

ship. A national tri-

r,l

Not all Australians share the Keating vision. A few feel the

than 250,000 has been grossly oversubsidised. The considerable lobby

dedicated to aboriginal interests hits back with taunts of racialism. Businessmen, notably the miners, fear wider economic implications. Australia lives off its pastoral and mineral exports. The businessmen demand legislation to clarify the situation before uncertainties over land tenure inhibit investment. A slanging match has broken out be-

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

1993

We look forward to seeing you !

Ground FIoor, Hutchison House (next to Furama Hotel) Cenrral, Hong Kong. Tel: 5257436

G""å fooå r,,d ¿ vyarrrr *"1"o^" auraiú you.

Home of US Steaks & Ltve Mainø l,obsters

lelz 8Tf 9773 GIF

q LOUNGE Cont¡ul tloñg l(orrg

TRIO'S RESTAURANT

Iüo Or¡

la¡e ûA¡ulbr

trrei

South China Building, 1-l Vyndham Street Tel: 526-5293 Fax 801-5006

Close Encounters of the Exotic Indian Kind lrI llt':1.ìur,rnt /\ lhrv,rl gourrD0t dclite ¡hiÌ¡t5 v(,u, r{ith V.ìlet lìrrkin¡¡ Serviec ììì - ll)1)ll t) rì ) ,lìlltl\rr¡r'..¿\r]elicitlttsl¡rtli¡llll.lttlgenec\!etlt'ljvcrtheIlrLlttlgrrlct,lttr, '' I

(;1ì() p

betrlt'en l:(ll) P rì

I(llì(l

p nr

\Vr.,rrestillthorurt5T-59\\'\'ndh¡¡nSt,(r'ntr¡l,llK,

lcl i24.1621,5255719 ¡n(l¡lso¡t()urbr¡rìdrìu\\lìl¡cc¡t(;/lrConrnuÊlìtConìmt'rciallìuiltlin¡, llli \\'.rncl¡.ri lìo¡Ll, I I K, lel S(,1 ¡jg¡ll, Sul 505-] ()l'liN r\f-|, D,\\'s()l- l-l l¡i \\'l:liK (()|rùr,ì[J b\ t n'l(J tlÍ(\rrK\ Inl(Irrt¡1,|¡l)

ì$!

\]r

ì I

PAPILLOI{ -

REST,\IJR.\NT FRENCH CUISINE

.LUNCH -DrNNh,R

aborigines are being singled out for pampered treatment. According to this view a national n¡inority totalling no more

\--

STREET TEL: 8775472

LIVE PIANO AND AMBIANCE AF-.ER 8-13

wo oNLANE,

DINNER

cENTRAL.

TEL: 526 5965

"Its late and had a bi we haverrft from l0 12 a.m. Late night supper Frida¡ Saturday and eve's to public holidays.

ålÈ +T t + -T I

cFbat-I-¡1 OPEhr

-,r T [D.A.II-I'

HAPPY HOURS. ALL DAY SUNDAY AND 5 - 7 PM & LL . I¿PMEVERY NIGHT

58 62 D'Aguilar Street Lan Kwai Fong Central Hong Kong

at onc of Cenfr¡l's fevouril¡ Opening Hours: 8 am till Midnight Monday - Saturday, Noon - Midnight Sunday tlearty English Breakfast served till 10:30 am Mon. - Sat. Traditional Pub Grub, Daily Special British, t-ocal and Imported Beers. \.Conrc and Join us

An Elíte Corrce¡tt

G/F., ON HING BLDG. (UP THE STAIRS, oppoelte'LOFT. tN WYNDHAU ST.) CENTRAL R ESERVATTON S: I 1 ot 1 62

*FCC SALE *FCC SALE *FCC SALE *FCC SALE

TÞFCC

SALE *FCC

SALE

*FCC SALE *FCC SALE

TKFCC

SALE *FCC SALE *FCC SALE *FCC SALE

you thought you had eaerything. Now -- with So

started. Unique is the watchword. Where else cøn you get items with the distinctiue FCC logo and colours. They øre øII reøsonnbly priced, too

tr Polo Shirts in three colours -- pink, blue and white. tr Club ties in two colours -- red and blue. D Leather wallets with an FCC logo. tr Folded cards with a drawing of the FCC. B Get in early with some Club Christmas cards. tr Club sweaters in three colours -- red, dark blue and light blue. D Watches for men and women. tr Umbrellas -- big enough for two, blue with gold logo. E Postcard book, a colletion of historic Hong Kong cards tr Headlines of the world postcard. tr Club lighters in the new squat design.

Diaries and address books

Watches

$90

$150 $130 $40 $S0

$190 $190 $140

$ZfS

$¡ $O

Wallets Polo shirts

Postcard book

Ties

Umbrellas Sweaters

*FCC SALE *FCC SALE *FCC SALE *FCC SALE *FCC SALE *FCC SALE

The SLRc

tween the Australian states, mostly conservative, prickly and anxious to preserve their rights and federal labour government seeking to centralise power

in Canberra. One valid criticism is that the Prime Minister has raised aboriginal hopes too high. Extravagant claims have already been lodged by aboriginal lawyers to ownership of the territory on which Canberra stands, to parts of central Brisbane, as well as tracts of the best agricultural land in southeast Australia. The tabloid media has whipped up hysterical fears that ash-smeared blacks will overnight start squatting on suburban back yards. Of course it's nonsense. The only people who might benefit from Mabo appear to be some of the 90,000 aborigines who still live in the outback. They might be entitled to unoccupied parts of northern and western Australia. Still, this has not prevented militant aboriginal lawyers from demanding compensation for the entire community; the majority, that is, who live impoverished in the coastal cities. It's a matter for urgent parliamentary debate. Sadly, parliaments in Australia seldom meet. The federal parliament in

its new, multi-billion dollar palace

REGIONAL NEWS

nications, first vice president; Pamela Burton of Japan Business Today, second vice president; Henry Scott-Stokes of the Ner,v York Times / Times Fax,

FCC Japan gets new

President

treasurer; Nobuko Hara of lhe Journal of Commerce, secretary; and directors-

at-large Takashi Oka of Time JaPan; Bob Neff of Business Week lnternatio nal

;Francois Vermeu len of La Su i sse ;

and Shota Ushio of Tokyo Keizai. Simons ran at the head of a unified slate of mostly bureau correspondents. Oka and Neff were the only other slate members to be elected.

ewly elected Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan President Lew Simons has called on members to pull together and re-establish the Club's professional reputation. "Several members who asked me to run said they believed I could be the mediator required to help pull the Club together after the tumult of the last few years. "lf, in fact, l'm able to help us bury our various hatchets and think of each other as colleagues rather than suspects or enemies, l'll consider the year a success," Simons said. "Beyond that prospect, I intend to

focus on restoring the soon-to-be

G7's hi-tech Press Bag eaders of seven world powers

began their annual summit in Tokyo on July 7 with a modest welcoming ceremony at the Akasaka

spruced up premises as a prime forum

Palace that was in sharp contrast to the

Canberra has spent no more than 67 days in full session every year since 1983. Members are currently enjoying their two month winter break to spend

for guest speakers. The Club used to be

inflated pomp of previous gatherings.

the summer in Europe. No one

has

demanded recall of parliament; most of

an essential stop for any major figures, Japanese or visitor, who had an important message to deliver to the world. Working together, we ought to be able to re-establish that role.

"My overriding efforts will go into re-

television. The prospect is endless litigation. Unless the politicians can hammer out legislation, the field will be left to the lawyers. The lawyers themselves are understandably expectant. One of them told me: "Mabo is my retirement."

generating a proud sense of professionalism so that all members will once again look to the Club as a place where they must go, and where they want to go." The FCC Japan has been racked by intense debates over renovations of the premises and membership classification categories in recent months. Simons, 54, the award-winning bu-

its work is these days conducted

Bussell Spurr was a former foreign correspondent for the Daily Express in London. An absent member he now lives in Sydney. Editor's note: Leighton Willgerodt is on leave. His Peddlefs Journal will resume next month.

@ 32

THECORRESPONDENT AUGUST

fromadiffere

reau chief of Knight-Ridder's Tokyo operation, won a narrow victory over Masuhiko Hirobuchi of TV Asahi in the June election. Hirobuchi and Simons met after the voting and both pledged to help restore unity and professionalism to the Club.

The other winners were: Roger Schreffler of Chilton Oo/ Crane Commu1993

But there was no scale-down of press

arrangements. When Valery Giscard

d'Estaing convened the first private, f

ive-nation meeting

in 1975

Your point of Yiew.

Rambouillet, outside Paris, there wasn't even a press centre. Reporters hung out at the local cafe. This time there were 1,600 foreign reporters accredited and 10,000 Japanese newsmen and women but it doubtful they had as much news to report. Each reporterwas given a "press bag" including a free Sony tape recorder, a thermometer in the reporter's choice of

Celsius or Fah/enheit readings "to be used orally or rectally," four ball point pens, an assortment of fact books and afree pass on Tokyo's subways and bus lines for the duration of the conference.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a budding amateur photographer, Canon EOS cameras put you a step ahead in your quest for perfect pictures. Designed with your individual requirements

FCC and is presently Tokyo correspond-

ent for the San Francisco Chronicle.

these advanced SLR cameras give free rein to your creativity.

eosl The Professional's Ultimate Creative Tool

eos lOOqo

Full auto mode or sophisticated manual operation lets you take winning shots with sure precision. Custom Control Function allows

A New Breed Of Quiet SLR Camera Three handy control dials simpliþ the art of fine photography. Multifunction Zoom flash provides natural lighting in lowlight

you to tailor auto mode to your personal preference AF system detects both vertical and horizontal lines to provide

conditions. A unique film transport system automatically advances and rewinds film without distracting noise

focusing ol extreme sharpness and clarity

eos lOqo

Optimally Quick For Action Photography One-shot AF, AI Servo AF or manual mode

Ed Neilan is an absent member of the

in mind,

puts you in control in any situation, even when shooting extremely fast-movingsubjects Motor

drive and Camera-shake Alert function ensure you'll capture all the act¡on with sharp definilion.

eos

eos looo/1000F

The New Standard Autofocus SLR The best of AF SLR features packed in an exceptionally compact and lightweight body Functions include two AF modes, four metering modes and ten exposure modes Large LCD panel gives full data on camera settings

Canon Canon Hongkong Trad¡ng Co., Ltd. 10/F., ¡¡irror Towei 61 Mody Road, Ts¡mshatsui East, Kowlæn, Hong

Kong

Tel: 739 OBO2

The name of the world's la

MasterCard issuer.

e name welcomed at more than 9

million outlets worldwide.

The most important name of all.

WE'vE PUT THREE BIG NAMES OI\ ONE SMALL CARD. CITIBAI{K MASTERCARD. Pick up an application form today or call our 24-hour hotline: 8661123,

Not Just MasterCard. Citibank MasterCard_