The Correspondent, June 1994

THE

COTSPOIUIIDNT The Official Publication of the Foreign Con'espr.tnd,ents'Clttb

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No free

lunch: covefing movies

for Asia is no holiday Introducing the new FCC Board

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Laogaiz Insíde

China's Gulag

THD GORRDSPOTTDENT Jrne,1994

I

Anflla-l

Report

Looking at 1993-94

with

president Philip Bowring.

THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB

I-eûter Fr:orrr A-rrrerica An update on Nguyen Dinh Tu.

2 Iower.Albert Road, Hong Kong

Telephone: 521

ISll

Fax:8684O92

cad Goldstein Simon Holberton Fißt vice President President

Second

Vice President

-

6

CrSr Freedorrr Where we fit in the Asian

Dorothy Ryan

libety

stakes

Corespondent Member Govemom Paui Bayfield, Marcus \¡v. Bmuchli, Phillipe Le Core, Diane Stomont,

\zideo l\Iigtrts Another controversial screening at the FCC

Hubert Vm Es, Nury Vittachi, Hans Vriens, Mike Westlake Joumâlist Member Govemom Paul Mooney, Fmnc¡s Moriarq' Âssociate Member Govemoß Athene Choy, Kevin Egan, Ronald Ling, Keith Shakespeare

Social Affairs Noteable occasions in words and pictures.

Secrcta,Jt: PatlMooney

Saml's Sszara Song

Colmittee

Saul Lockhalt's long goodbye.

Professional

Conuenot': Hansvriens tuIembm: PaulBayfield, Marcus rù1. Bnuch-li, Philippe Ir Cone, Fmncis Moriarty Finánce Committee

fr?dstr?r: Dorclh)' R)a n Carl Goldstein. Simon Holberton, Keith Shakespeare

a-3

a-4

of following the movie world.

Telephone: 521

lSll Fu:

Tsang Yok Sing & Etienne Reuter speak at the FCC.

24

l\ufedia l\dalfers & now for the letter'J".

25

A. Fond

Fareszelf

J "Mike" Ttrner.

26

a68 4092

Getas.a)a Golf

@ 1994 The Foreign comespondents'

Club ofHong Kong Opinions e xpressed by writem in Tbe Cofl'esþondent are îoa necessarily those of The Foreign Corespondents' Club.

Lines

Lrrnctr

The Correspondent EDITORIÀL OFFICE Simon Twiston Davies, Editor Inwer Albert Road, Hong Kong 2

Star Gazirtg, Fionnuala Halligan on the woes ancl wonders

& B Comittee

Cotruenor': Phjllipe If, Come Mernbeß: KeY't Egan, .A.thene Cho)' 'Wall Committee Hubef Van Es, Bob Davis Publications Committee C o n u e n o r : P aul Ba¡freld Me,nbqs: Fnncis Moriarty, Hubert Vân Es, Nuri Vittachi, Simon Twiston Davies (Editor)

EBa-frter:

Introducing the dictionarl' of FCC digestibles.

Membeßhip Committee Conuenor: HuberlVrî Es Mernbers: K*ii Egan, Keitlì Shakespeare Entertâirment Comittee Conùenor Nury Vittachi Merrtbers: Mrrcss W Bmuchli, Ronald Ling F

Barside

30

Tlre Cotresponder¡t is published monthly b1'

-

flook

Classic Encounters

fLe¡.ieq¡

Karl lfilson leafs through a rib tickler

The Foreign Coftespondents' Club of HonB Kong,.

Mercedes-Benz ZUNG FU A Jard¡ne PacÌfic Business (Distributor for Hong Kong and Macau), Bonaventure House, Leighton Road, Hong Kong. Tel: 895 7288 '122 Canton Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon. Tel: 735 1 199. Zung Fu Carpark Building, S0 Po Loi Street, Hunghom. Tel: 7ó4 6919 SOUTHERN STAR MOTOR CO. (Distributor for South China), 40th Floor, Central Plaza, 1 I Harbour Road, Wanchai. Tel: 594 8888 EASTERN STAR AUTOMOBILE LIMITED (Distr¡butor for East China), 12th Floor, New World Tower ll, 18 Oueen's Road, Central. Tet: 52ó 1051 NORTHERN STAR AUTOMOBILE LIMITED (D¡str¡butor for North China), 20th Floor, New World Tower ll, 18 Oueen's Road, Central. Tel: 52ó 1051 MERCEDESBENZ Ac, BElJlNc LIAISON OFFICE 20th Floor CITIC Building, 19 .lian Guo Men Wai Dajie, Beijing. Tel: 500 3501

PRODUCTION FST Line Design & Printing Founh Floor, ISB Wellington Street, centml, Hong Kong ^rel: 5217993 Fn: 521 a366

32

FCC Faces The beefcake forJune

Iari Harling Publisher - Katie Mccregor Marketing Director Tom Blatchford, Joey Lee DTP Ârtist

-

CoYer photogrzph: Courtesy of Golden Hârvest

Jute 1994 THI GoRRISPoNIIDNT

Mitigated Losses lfkre Ch-rb kreld its Anmral Genera-l À/Ieeting on À/Ia¡z 25tkr, x.tren out-going president, Ptrilip Bovzring, delirzered tris annual repor:t on vrzhat tre described as a "difficult" year-

po. all the problems of the year t- 1993-94, said Bowring before a suprisingly less-than-full house, "we end on an optimistic note".

According to the retiring president, the Club's finances are healthy and the

newly-installed general manager, Jethro Lee-Mahoney, "has learned his job quickly and has brought a wide range of professional skills to bear in dealing with the staff, the membership, house management and food and beverage issues".

The question ofthe removal ofl-ee-

Mahoney's predecessor was a painful one for all concemed, he said. "However, eve44hing that has emerged since his dismissal has confirmed the correctness of that decision."

There may still be debate about whether it could have been achieved in a less costly manner but, in the event, the losses had been mitigated by the fact thatasalary didnot need to be paid to amanaget for the three-and-

a-half months of the interregnum.

Bowring then paid tribute to the "hardwork, dedication and experience of senior staffwho saw us through this period without any major problems".

"The search for a new manager was even more time-consuming and I would single out the three non-board members of the search committee, Mike Matthews,Athene ChoyandJonRittger.

I am delighted to see Athene on the new Board," said Bowring.

Other negative consequences of the period when there was no perma-

nentleadership inthe backofficewere delays

in carrying out much-needed

maintenance and in the implementation of plans to renovate the kitchens.

Meanwhile, the FCC has come face to face with new legislation on health and safety requirements for clubs. "'W'e are nowmoving fast on these issues in consultation with our land-

THE CORRf,SP0NIIENT

June 1994

lord (the govemment) and various

Bowring also acknowledged the

government departments. One effect has been the closure of the verandah kitchen. This small loss of amenity is

serwices of out-going vice-president Stuart Wolfendale. "For the past year

being offset by the fact that we will be able to increase the number of tables on the verandah," said Bowring.

Meanwhile, said Bowring "we are

confident that continued efforts to upgrade the premises will be justified by enhanced security of tenure".

On the other hand, the government has indicated a willingness, in

principle, to renew the Club's lease for a further seven years without waitingforthe expiryof the existing agreement in 1996.

There is also a need to change the

he has headed the F&B committee.

This is a difficult enough job at any time but especially so in the period when he was the only buffer between the members and the kitchen."

Before completing his report Bowring concluded with some personal observations. "I have mentioned the sterling work done by several board

members," he said. "However, Continued on þøge4

Result ol the Ballol Counting for Election ol The Board of Governors (1994-1995) Held on May, 16 1994

date of the annual general meeting. The

Club's auditors have complained of dif-

ficulties in conducting a thorough audit in time for distribution to members in accordance with the articles of association.

On the professional side, the Club has been increasingly active on issues "

of local and international journalistic concem," said Bowring. In the meantime, the Club has continued to attract a strong roster of distinguished lunch-

time speakers.

136 Correspondent Members voted

43

budding amateur photographer.

Journalist lVembers voted

22ô Associate Members voted

4

lnvalid votes

Elected were

:

PRESIDENT

(e6)

Carl Goldstein, Far Eastern Econonic Review FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT

(ee)

Simon Holberton, Financial Times SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT

(208)

Dorothy Ryan, Shetland Investments CORRESPONDENT ME[/BER GOVERNORS Diane Stormonl, Reuters

(75)

Hubert Van Es, Photoreporters Inc. Paul Bayfield, Asiapacific Directories

(75)

tlian $100,000" will be spent on improving facilities in the work room, of

Nury Vittachi, Far Eastern Econom¡c Rev¡ew

(60)

Mike Westlake, Far Eastern Economic Review Hans Vriens, Dutch TV

(56)

which at least 50 per cent will be

Marcus W Brauchli, Ihe Wall Street Journal Philippe Le Cone, Radio France 1

(51) (48)

JOURNALIST [/EN/BER GOVERNORS Paul Mooney, Eastern Express Francis Morìarty, Vlelro Radio

(Be)

Meanwhile, the Board has ordered that over the next 72 months "not less

recrüTent spending on additional newspapers and magazines, data bases and

staff supervision.

In praise of publications committee convenor Saul Lockhart, who is retiring from the board after several

years, Bowring said: "Responsibility for publications is as time-consuming as any job on the Board and Saul has done it for severalyears. Saul deserves the thanks of several presidents as well as the members."

(53)

(45)

Ronaìd Ling, Ronald Ling & Assocìates -louche

Ltd

Tohmatsu

54) (120) (1

(1

1

B)

Keith Shakespeare, Provlsional Airpo( Authority (1 1 4)

Karen En Teresa Kwong

Fanny Chan

Canoil

Canon Hongkong Trading Co., Ltd.

l0Æ., Minor Tower, 61 Mody Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel: 739 0802

Kevin Egan, Barrister

TALLY CLERKS /SCRUTINEERS

V/ith a combination of superior Canon optics, innovative lens design, precision auto-focusing, advanced electronics and total flexibility, Canon EOS cameras put you a step ahead in your quest for perfect pictures.

(60)

ASSOCIATE MEMBER GOVERNORS

Athene Choy, Deloitte

Alike for both seasoned professional and

:

Philip Bowring David Garcia

Julie Meldrum

Continueclfron? þ¿rye 2

fulfillment of the responsibilities of being aboard memberis not as universal as it should be. The provision in the articles for members to be deprived of their positions for persistent failure to

attend may meet the worst cases of non-involvement. "But I would sug-

In the Counting House In the al>sence of tkre retiring treasurer, Sirrron Holberton, .qztro uzas av./ay frorrr Hong I(ong a-t ttre tiarre of the AGÀzI, out-going president, Pkìilip Bo-wzring, presented tkre lFreasr-rrer' s R-eport.

Ilpdate On aÍr Old Friend

gest to members that they keep an eye

on the attendance of those they have elected, and that the minutes distin-

guish clearþ between those absent

n tne year 1995-94 the fIoperating

FCC's

surplus increased l-rom $zor,ooo to $1,181,000. Thiswas due

The long-term future of the development fund including the need for

-

from meetings because of being out of town andthosewho simplyhad better things to do."

Bowring also noted that the behaviour of some members of the Club

contributions and the investment mainly to an increase in the margins of policy of the fund - will have to be F&B sales and partly to smaller than reviewed during the coming year in expected spending on items such as accordance with the evolution of the

towards staff can be "distressing". "Dur-

Development Fund has a book value of $10.2 million and a market value of over $12 million.

"As it is, there should be no need for recourse to the development fund in the cuffent financial year. There should be no prob-

ing the management interregnum I spent considerable time working in the office and heard the crude, arrogant manner in which a few members addressed the staff. It was embarrassing. This is not a question of sobriety.

Staff are usecl to the effects of drink on members. That's life at the FCC.

maintenance due to the lack of a manager to take some decisions. Even so, the Club is projecting that the surplus

will fall back again during 1994-95.

Meanwhile, bar sales rose in yolume terms and restaurant sales fell slightly, due to a combination of price sensitivity and a smaller

number of Club functions.

"On the spending

"VØhat is objectionable, drunk or sober, is an undedying attitude shown by a small minority. We try to ensure

wage costs below that

that staff are polite to members and

o[ the average for exist-

hear complaints graciously.

side we managecl to

hold

disci-

ing staf[," Bowring re-

pline members who are violent or persistently abusive, but we cannot

ported. "The increase in 'sundry expenses' was

create rules outlawing hectoring and generally colonial attitudes. Peer pressure is the only effective remedy."

mainJy related to the cost

SØe

Meanwhile, Bowring noted with satisfaction the committment of the electorate to continuity and firm decision-making. "I am sure the newBoard headed by Cad Goldstein, Simon Holberton and Dorothy Ryan will meet

the expectations of most members, and of myself," he said. Having presented his annual report, Bowring fielded questions and observations from the floor. Most notable were words of congratulation from associate member Ross'W'ay for the exemplary fashion in which the 1993-94 Board of Governors had coped with the difficulties of the past year.

Another matter raised from the floorwas that of security. Among other security problems over recent months has been that ofuninvited guests utilising the women's lavatories. It was suggested that better security on the front door might be a reme dy and that former Gurkha soldiers could be employed to do the job,

re

THE CORRf,SPOI|DENT

June 1994

lease and related issues. At present the

lem financing this "As it is, ttrere year's capital exstror-rld l>e no need penditure out of the for recorlrse to the cash flow and balances ofthe accumltderreloprrrent lated fund."

The main items furnd in tkre of capital expendi currerlt firl.anl<:ia,l ture are likely to be

of a lengthy engineer's

yeaf -"

kitchen renovation,

lations. The increase in administrative

safetyrelatedworks, and replacement of the computer system. The existing system, now five years old and fully depreciated, is not

salaties included the paying-off of Mr

user-friendlyand the auditors have rec-

Hoelzl and the ten-week ovedap

ommended its replacement.

However, members should not be complacent, Bowring warned. During the past year membership dues were increased by significantlyless than the inflation in staff and most other costs.

"We are also, I believe, close to the upper limit of tolerable catering margins for a club of this sort. These

compliance report on the impact on the Club of newhealth and safetyregu-

between him and Mr Grabner."

Spending increases included

a

$290,000 additionalrent and rates and

a $358,000 increase in depreciation charges. The latter was mainly attributable to the first full year of write-off of the pool bar refurbishment and the acquisition of the external office.

The Club's very conservative depreciation policies have meant a formidable build-up in cash resources.

This enabled most of the office purchase loan to be repaid, eliminating interest costs for 1994-95.

"In managing our assets, we preferred to pay offdebt and increase our cash resources rather than hold more

equities or medium term bonds and CDs. Given the recent weakness in bond and equity markets, this proved correct," said Bowring.

two factors together mean that

an

increase in volume turnover should be the priority. That comes back to

offering and (not always the same thing), being seen to offer, yalue for money."

That caveat apart, the Club's finances are in sound shape thanks to the policies of most of the boards which have run the Club since it acquired the Ice House Street premises

in

1981.

E

Nguyen Tu aÍter bís arriual

from Saígon

"Nilî:î."åîïîxåï":1î.ïî; several years

-

especially since the

summerof 1991 - andl'lltrytorecap them briefly.

'VØhen we moved to northernVirginia from Paris three years ago, Tu was very active - engaged in research for a book requiring almost daily trips to the Library of Congress plus writing for variöus Vietnamese

newspapers. He had some minor

health problems as a result of his years in prison, but nothing which prevented him from going busily about his activities. However, he quite suddenly began losing control of his legs and falling. These attacks came without warning and he suffered some nasty bruises.

He went through a series of medical examinations but nothing showed up which could explain these at-

tacks. They tapered off and his life went back to its previous rhythm. In the past year and a }lralf, however, the falls have begun again and around Christmas, he lost consciousness and

spent several days in the hospital.

Again, he has undergone a battery of

neurological and cardiological examinations which, to the best of my knowledge, have shown nothing.

The whole experience has been vely frllstrating to TLl. After interminable examinations and waiting for

One of the FCC's finést hours was in la:te 1989 'when it spearheaded the drive to get Vietnafirese journalist, Nguyen Dinh Tu, classified as a political refugee.

Tu, who spent 1l years in Vietnarnese prisons and education camps, .was well known to'W'estern correspondents. From his San Yick Industrial Builcling "Prison", he.wrote to forrner colleagues for help. One letter finally reached ex-AFP Saigon coffespondentJolynne d'Ornctno it't- Paris. Soon a 'wodd-wide network of journalists honed in on the Hong I{ong governrnent and its Yietnamese refugee bureaucracy, which embarrassingly did not kno'w who orwhere Tu'was, in spite of being given the necessary nr-rrnbers.

Since his arrival in America, Tu has been líving in Alexandria, Virginia. D'Ornano has kept in touch with Tu and sent this update. the results, Tu was told there was "nothing to worry about" and the results would eventually be sent to his family doctor. This, to the best of my knowledge, has yet to happen. I offered to go to talk to the doctor but he has so far preferred to go it alone.

In the meantime, however, although he maintains that he is feeling fine now, his daily patterns have changed considerably. Indeed he looks healthy and gets around quite well but he simply doesn't go out as he did before because he's afraid of falling. In fact, his only trips, as far as I can make olrt, afe out to ouf house to stay overnight.

I suspect that in addition to his health problems, there is also a great sadness over clevelopments in Vietnam. He is having trouble digesting the lifting of the American embargo and though he knows that relations between the two countries are not far from normalization, he cannot overcome his bitterness, Understandable. BLlt not a positìve force which would help him overcome a sense of despair that I think he feels.

That is abollt as much as I can tell you and I wish I could be a little more upbeat. Quite honestly, the effect of his increasing isolation, or so it seems to me, is that his mental faculties are losing their sharpness.

During his last stay with us two

weeks ago (April), I found that I had

to repeat. So though we found him better physically, mentally there was a significant deterioration. As I had

just received the FCC's letter the day before, I told him ofyour concern ancl urged him to write. He just smiled and said I would write for him because he was too lazy.I found that very scary since he has always been very good about keeping up correspondence with friends and acquaintances. Other mutual friends have expressed their concern that he has simply cut off communication with them and turns down invitations for meetings and,/ or clinners with friends.

I will do my best to keep you posted if there are any significant changes. Do drop him a line to let him know ofyour concerns since I think it's comforting to him knowing that he is not forgotten. On the other hand, don't hold your breath waiting for a response!

My very best regards to you and all those who were instrumental in getting him out of the camps."

¡E

ADDRESS:

Nguyen Dinh Tu 7955 Audubon Ave, ^pt#5, Alexandria, VA22306 Tel: (703) 780-8851

Jtne 1994

THE coRrxsPoNItDNT

CryFreedom

reau in Hong Kong duringJanuary. The

string of US newspapers

Freedom Forum's other intemational

lishers ofthe USATod,øytabloid - the Freedom Forum was spun off from the

offlce is in Zurich.

"Anyway," says John Schidlovsky, the director of the Hong Kong office and a new member of the FCC, "where else could we put our Asian offrce?

Singapore? And, of course, we want to help provide a sympathetic intemational ear for press freedom in Hong

in dangeroars tirrres- Freedorrr of speectr and freedorrr of thought seerr1 to t>e under ttrreat at eYerY tLrfl.

Sirtz<>tz. 7-zuist<>n, I)otz:ies reports on ttre Hong l(ong repression stakes-

\ùlze lirze

Kong, which is, afïer all, the hub of Asia

with a free press and a

t|1 n. gaoling of journalists is only .l- on.signthatHong Kong, China and many other parts of. Asia are moving into an erawhere telling the truth as it happens, or articulating an idea as it occurs, is becoming a mof€ dangerous undertaking. The most insidious repression of all, the imposition of a studied self-censorship, could become a day-to-day reality.

That's why the International Press Freedom Day on May 3rd took on a newly important meaning in 1994. Alrl¡'ough all the signs were there to be seen a year ago, Hong Kong journalists didn't take the idea of such an event too seriously. June 4th 1989 hadn't been forgotten, but it had somehow been shunted to the back-burner.

However, the unseemly and increasingly bitter conflict between Britain and China, and the harsh imprisonment of a Hong Kong journal-

istfor apparentlyless than earth shattering reasons, would seem to haYe soured the journalistic environment in the territory.

Reflecting that change in atmosphere, the FCC put out an official statement onlnternational Press Freedom Day. Among the points raised was one that noted some journalists becoming "more cautious" in their China reporting.

Indeed, the imprisonment of Xi Yang - tlre Ming Pao reporter convicted ofthe theft ofstate secrets was "meant to send

a

-

strong message

to journalists not to overstep" a series of unwritten rules for reporters working in the People's RePublic.

As far as Hong Kong is concerned, said the statement, the government "has failed to show leadership in pressing law reform. The Governor, Chris Patten, speaks of the value of press freedom, but he

tremendous

-

The Freedom Forum held its first

the pub-

symposium

in 1991. Having sold its 10% holding in the Gannett Co, the Gannett Foundation changed its name to Freedom Forum. It is because of its financial independence that the Freedom Forum caî say it is "non-partisan and wi-lltake no donations from anybody," reckons Schidlovsky. group

battle to gain access to the US intelligence information on the negotiations between the US and China un-

der presidents Ford, Carter and Reagan. Another speaker was Jonathan Kotler from the University

of Southern California, who described the efforts of the American

For all its aspirations, the Freedom

media to broaden access to informa-

media community."

does not seem to be translating his

words into concrete action".

In illustration, it was pointed out that although the Hong Kong goYefnment has been reviewing its information laws, so far only three have been amended - the Televiand sion, Telecommunications Broadcasting Authority ordinances.

"There is now an urgent need for the government to amend other laws which threaten the media," said the FCC statement. The statement concluded that much remains to be done to protect press freedom in Hong Kong.

"The government needs to take the issue more seriously; journalists need to be more feadess in their reporting.and last but not least, China must show a more tolerant attitude towards the Hong Kong media. The eady release of Xi Yang would be a clear signal to this effect.

"

Meanwhile, the New York-based Freedom House reported that Hong Kong was scoring poody on its record of political and commercial pressures hampering the press. According to a

report in the Soutlt Cl¡ina Morning Post, out ofthree categories - a'free' press, 'partially free' and 'not free' Hong Konghas slumped to within one point of falling from the 'free' category into the 'partially free' designation.

The Freedom House report also asked how long Hong Kong could remain a haven for a 'free' press?

On a scale of 100, with the lowest

Sited

in the

tion legislation.

Shui On centre in

'Wanchai, the Freedom Forum offices boast a professional hbrary which can only be envied by the FCC . Stocked

Other projects include promoting visits by Western journalists to Asia to give seminars on such topics as inves-

with

media publications from around the wodd, there is also the basis of a heavyweight reference library that could become an essential stop for any media journalistworkinginHong Kong. There

tigative reporting and how to cover

are also three computerised offices for the use ofperipatetic editors and reporters who have access to databases.

Indeed, the Forum offices are Yery

seminars in cities such as Ho Chi Minh

envtonmental stories andhowto make

the best use of the new multimedia technologies.

Locating these workshops and CiLy,lakarta, Bangkok and Manila,

significant slice of the Asian regional

budget of US$l million per year

The Forum has assets of US$725 mil-

Scbid.lousky ; anytubere but Singapore

lion and an investment income of about

Forum won't get involved in individual cases. "If we did that, that's all we would haye time to do. There are so many journalists in trouble out there," says Schidlovsþ. Even so, "we will speak out about such cases as XiYang, with general reference to th€ facts of the case. 'W'e want to provide some comfort and support for Hong Kong iournalists and their problems."

us$40 million. "'W'e are, I'm sure] the largest foundation in the wodd devoted to media and journalism," says Schidlovsþ. Indeed, in the United States the Freedom Forum rates well within the top 2 5 foundations in a high-flying market .

Originally part of a foundation created in 7935 by thepowerful Gannett

TH

country in Asia is very different and

we will take a country-by-country approach."

Even so, the underþing message is that we are, indeed, living in dangerous times. The Freedom Forum is just

one way to help people and ideas survive in such a period.

@

ARTHUR HACKE.R

=ZOO

BE LI EVE

IN WHAT THI5 MAN sAYs. .,

sionally responsible press. "But each

BY

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BUT

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FREE

as

well as in Hong Kong, is akey part of the Freedom Forum's work.

Meanwhile, Schidlovsky, who spent 1l years with the Bøltimore Sun and was its bureau chief in New Delhi and Peking, says he plans to work with the Asian media to encourage a more open and profes-

impressive and, says Schidlovsþ, a former executive with the East-W'est Center in Hawaii, will help suck up a

scores relating to the freest media conditions, Hong Kong scored 30 points. It

was placed 60th in the wodd. China scored 89 points. Of the East Asian countries onlyTaiwan andJapan joined Hong Kong on the 'free press' list.

in Hong Kong in mid-

May, invitingJim Mann, an LA Times correspondent, to detail his five-year

(/î

It is that kind of analysis that led the

New York-based Freedom Forum to establish its second international buJune 1994 TRE CORRDSPONITINT

Behf,n E¿l Peters rerzieuzs the c o1-ì.tro\ze rsia-l BB C rziclecr, Lct o54c.ti : Itzsictre

lctg uzhicl-l tells of the forced lal>our in China-'s political pr-isons ancl s/as recently screenecl b1- the FCCC /c itt. c¿'s

(Ç z.t

='

a= Lu.o.)rtrtcl

Ptisotl. d Þdrl of ll.te

slts¡s7112

Starting June

l\T" sqt¡ells of plotest emmìîte(l Il ,,'.r. tire Itrnny ralrn in Happl Valle¡. prior to the screening of the

seernecl like an amateluishl)-hidden vicleo camera.

'-fhe resulting t¿rpes were like an1,-

documentary on the mainlancl's "Albeit Macht Frei" projects; no Recl snapper squeezed through the cloor to grab mugshots; and there were even seats to spare. So perhaps the NCNA conclucled that keeping mum was a better policl'than 1-elling blue murcler when that hotbecl of troublemakers screenecl

body's holiday viewing

yet another controversial programme about the Motherland. .\)(/¡ Some Mothedancl. If Har4. is to be believecl, thousancls of political prisoners are enslaved over the borcler.'With callous clisregard f'or human

the testimonl'of former prisoners. Onc spoke of an electric cattle procl being thftrst into his mor.rth. Another of being stripped and tiecl up to be bitten b1' mosquitoes. A thircl careftrlly unpacked the clothes his father -a fellow gulag prisoner hacl worn when he com-

life, the). are forced to labottr in appall-

ing conditions fbr the government's profit. This much hacl been toltted around before, so where was the evi dence? Wu provicled much of it himself.

As a youug str.rclent he hacl been rash enough to criticise Mao and founcl himself lockecl up fbr 19 1'ears as a resr¡lt. Having escaped to the USA, he has nacle it his life's work to expose the la.ogcr.i, China's political prisons.

'W'ith coluage bordering on foolhardiness, he retlrrned to China, variously clisguised as businessman ancl tolrrist, accompaniecl by his wife ancl what THE CORRESPoNDf,HT Tune 1c)94

accornpaniecl b¡' x ptofessio¡al camera te¿ìm, h-rrecl a nrainlancler to his

torted ancl not realll' giving the fi.rll '$Øere picture. the men hoeing in a fielcl actualll' political prisoners?'W'ere

the prisons not sirnpll' for olclinarl'

in his factotl-. Whirr went the camera. Scribble went the signature.

criminals? This mnch was circumstlì1l-

Gotcha!

the first direct

But what was irdisputable was

Toronto. With the fastest, smoothest journeys, three

-

mittecl suicicle. It was a clispiriting catalogue.

More startling yet was film of the clissident who had nrolrntecl a lone protest in Beijing to mark the anniversary of the 1989 lnassacre. An1,sn. rea-

soned the authorities in a fine display of doublethink, and promptl)¡ lockecl him up in an as¡'lurn. He remains there toclal', throwing awzrl his ttanqr.tilisers when he can.

Posing as a potential overseas bu1'er who hacl come to Hong Kon¡¡

to solrrce machine parts, 'Wtt, nou'

times a week. And

mentaÐ/ never clttite married up. 'lØas the point that political prisoners were employe cl on forcecl labour camps, or

service

that always makes you feel at

home. After all, no-one

the fact that thel'were incarcerated in the fìrst place? This was not really acldressecl, ancl in the closing scenes the proclucers gave wa)'to emotion

with

flights

between Hong Kong and

The two themes of the clocn-

tial ancl open to clebate.

acting like this must be cr^z)',

Cathay Pacific introduces

hotel room to sign a contract. The machine parts, it was clear, hacl been macle by prison labour. His mainland contact cleclarecl thel'had been macle

shakl-, clis-

9,

goes

further than Cathay Pacific make sure

in tears. shots of the barbecl wire aronnd Lcl 'W'u ancl a fer-v-ent wish fìom'W'u that one day his countqr qrn.,td be fì'ee. The gulag inhabit-

you

arrive in

to

better

Nü'u

shape. Call your travel agent or Cathay Pacific on 747 -7888.

ants cleservecl something more DaYs

polishecl.

of

Frighr

No

Dep

Ar

From Hong Kong

Ni¡te tr¡ nx(urctgernent: Witlt tbe air-cot'td.itir¡tting emitting þ olar ice cct,þ tenxþeratures, teleþbones chirrupitlg crttcl þeople arciuitTg uþ to

Tue, Thu,

Tue

lhu Sun

¡Two days

bcrlf cu't bour lctte, the duplication of UA Qtteenstuay apctt front the

- sntt¡ke ructflittg cigarette dantn near þerJÞct. Ed Peters

Sun

CX

828

CX

829

HKC

1400 WZ

1830

From Toronto

latel

WZ

2355

HKC 0630'

All flights are non_smoking

"t Æ

u)cts

re

.1!Ñ /ù+ilãlc

Swire Group

G ft-{

üñFmÇ

Arrive in better shape.

T Liu Heung Sbing and He Cheng Zbang of Xinbua at the recent Meet tlre Díþlolnats

nigbt

Ieft to right. Udo Nesch, Chris Minter, Emest Low and Mike Smith

= E

OIdFCC hands

s E

Images from the past:

inLondon

Wedding Bel/s.' Kees @4etselaar) and Vaudine @ngland) gave a small cocktail parry at the FCC on May 5th to celebrate theirweddingwhichtook place on May 2nd. Amongst the guests were the usual freeloaders and invited guests.

It has taken

meeting venue for Udo Nesch, Chris Minter, Ernest Low and Mike Smith recently. Udo sold his Red Baron pub last year and is looking at

Elegant made a flying visit to the FCC a few weeks ago. According to the

or Cyprus for a possible new venture.

Chris runs market research for Read.er's Digest and plans to marry his young(er) artistic friend Lynda, in July. Emest, returned from architectural pursuits, is enjoying London life. Mike is on the first leg of his 'round the wodd via South

America' iaunt, retruning to Hong Kong in August'95.

Zoo nigbt

Euro Song Contest One of the Club's most distinguished members celebrated a birthday akin to his 90th last month.

Witlr 25 good friends gathered together, Rhagavan was presented

with a book of tips for

Derek Davies, one of those voices from the past, writes regarding the figure above. "What is HughVan Es doing in the Euro Song Contest? I'm also surprised that no one so far has printed a pic of Michael Portillo captioned Philip Bowring and vice versa, demanding we be told of any relationship."

while to get reported,

but former Club president Robert

Spain

ffio"

a

Soho's Coach & Horses pub was an appropriate

now distinguished novelist, the journalism game has changed, oftenmuch for the worse. "In my day," said the former Neusweek correspondent, "people went into journalism for adventure and idealistic reasons. Now they join Greenpeace and Amnesty International." Robert had another glass of Australian white wine and left for his English manor house.

Care und Attention Means 0nly Crown Pacilic Entrusting Crown Pacific with your family treasures is the only move an executive family should make.

future reference.

Have you

ffieda

Cranboufne yet?

Introduced on May 6th: The Cranbourne named, of course, after Ray Cranbourne, the FCC's cuddliest photographer. It sold out in hours. The recipe? Vodka, ice, a lemon twist and cranberry juice. But in what combination? "Lethal," says Uncle Ray. "Afair descrþtion," another member, who wished to remain anonymous because he/she was supposed to be out of town, concurs. $21.50 a drink. Try it and see for yourself.

q

Protect your art, antiques and the sentimental items you simply can't replace. Get high quality pacl<ing, careful handling and trouble free door-to-door service.

Why should you settle for

|ess?

For Moving Thíngs You Really

Cue

About,,.

S

TEE CORRXSPOI|I¡II{T

June 1994

Jrne I)94 THx GoRRISPoIYIIDNT

Dictionary of

Saul's Swan Song

Digestibles

lfhe forrner Pr-rblications Cor¡zerror S¿¿ttl Lc>c:kLt¿zrt peîs a- fesz thor-rgtrts ort 7llce (l<>rceslrora(Zetzt anld the people ttrat rna-ke it possible-

In his raes/ rnonttrly cohrrrrn, Clul> ÍrLan¡rag,er, JetVsrc> Lee-A4ctlcor.eJ), e><pands on the rzagaries of catering for a lirzing. ì;

b à-

years, through three production

Mooney and Bayfield, serve on the committee and also pllt time in. Our FSTLine production team, Ian Hading and Katie McGregor, clock up the hours trying not only to produce 'a magazine' with the convenor, the editor and the photo types all in different

houses and as many editors, either

places (we consume a

B*nn:í:Ëfiîï:i:;::å'J

well ensconced and I will be a

'has

been'.

I

have been working on

Tlce

Corresþ ondent lor live of the last seven as

convenor or Deputy convenor or

a

member of the Publications Committee. That's a long time by anybody's atlacus. ìùØhile caressing a mug of the amber fluid at the bar the other day, after

paticulaiy rough time trying to push the material through the production a

cycle in ordef to move up our publishing date, I moaned to David Thurston, himself a former Publications Convenor, that I reckoned this office re-

quires the most time of any officer, with the exception of President and Treasurer. David of course concurred.

So did ex-President Paul Bayfield who meandered by and is in the unique position of having served on seyeral Publications Committees before and after his elevation to the throne.

As anyone in publishing can attest, it is not a one-man (or woman) show. However much we felt sorry

for ourselves, we agreed we did not put in as many hours as the editor, currently Simon Twiston Davies. W'e also agreed there are people whose association with the magazine is unnoticed and unknown, except to those of us working closely with it. Photographers Hugh Van Es and Bob Davis currently handle, and have handled lo these many years, the photo side of things. (And Bob isn't even on the

committee any more.) The Pauls, THD CORRÍSPONDDNT

Iune 1994

lot of phone

and fax time), but to improve the product itself. And I mustn't forget to mention Karen En and the rest of the office staff who end up doing thankless chores for the convenor.

At every AGM, some wit waffles on abont how the Board does not take advantage of the "expertise" available at the bar. You all know the sad saga of our former manager. It took that crisis to bring members forward to 'volunteer' their seryices. (And what a fine joþ they clid!) Er¡ery year, the new board members take note of the wafflers and invite them to join a committee. PLlt up or shut up, so to speak.

Of course no one ever 'shuts up' in the FCC, but then I can'trecall many non-board volunteers either, with the

exception of the afore-mentioned.

That's one of the reasons I'm leaving the board. I hope that the 44 people nominated for 17 board positions in this year's elections did not put their names up purely because of the politics, the bar side referenda, if you will.

Perhaps some

will actually care and

work on a committee, any committee but of course I'm plugging the

Publications

- evenif they did not get elected. That should be a Committee

good test. The July masthead will tell all. We'll see how marìy new names, board members or non-board members are on the various committees.

.SØe

have, and have had, many

contributors, columnists and photographers. Some, as you would imagine, mostly professional (i.e.

Correspondent and Journalist members) with some non-professional (Associate members). But we need more - enough to fill 11 issues a yeaf.

Ifyou're reading this in Hong Kong, put your thinking cap on. The Letters page is always wide open for your views, p1'o or con.

Anotherexample. If you're abroad and bump into another FCCer, record the occasion with a photo and leave a pic, plus caption, for Simon in Tlce Corresþondent box. Longer stories are wanted too - the frivolous and the serious. ìJØhy not call Simon and bounce a few ideas around.

Last but not least, a final plea this time about advertising. Iü/e can't

publish tl;ie magazine without advertising. Many FCC membefs control advertising budgets or are in a position to advise or recommend media to their clients. Subjectively speakingyet again,

I think we have a good product.

Though we only print 3,000 copies, our circulation here and abroad goes beyond the confines of the FCC membership. Tbe Corcesþondent is not only a good place to tout a product, it is an excellent platform to increase or polish

youf lmage.

That's it folks. End of lecture. I look forward to receiving my magazine in the mail and being surprised at

the contents. To Simon, Ian, Katie, Hugh, Bob, bothPauls, Karen... many thanks gang.

E@

U

s t

ì Jethro Lee-MaboneJ,t: not d Berni boy

he fact that some people actually choose to make their life's work 'Catering for Others' is perhaps a little bizarre. Even more bizarre is the fact there are those who enter the wodd of hospitality without actually realising the dictionary definition of the word'cater'. The new, expanded

third edition of Collins English Dictionary gives its definition on page 255: "to provide what is required or desired", ì(zhy is it, then, that when I ask a caterer if I ma1' þ¿vs a side-salacl, orwhatever, instead of Mongolian rat's intestines, or somesuch, I invariably get a response which is firmly in the negative?

I understand that a menu provides the cLrstomer with information as to items which are supposed to be in stock and what dishes the chef thinks he's good at.

(Sorry, "menu: a list of dishes served at a meal or that can be ordered

in a restaurant." That's according to Collins. Note the use of 'can' as opposed to 'must').

I recall that in Britain during the Sixties and Seyenties therewas achain of eating-houses, (I'm shying awayfrom

using the word 'restaurants' because of the damn dictionary), called Berni Inns. The earþ Berni Inns were guilty of many crimes against the palate including serwing plastic-bagged sherry

in Elgin glasses, the largest size of which they named a Schooner the most inappropriate glass for sherry imaginable. For years the general public thought sherrywas supposed to taste like that! One couldn't go to a wedding reception or a funeral without a black-and-white clad pensioner threatening you with an Elginladen tray and bellowing, "Sweet or dry, dear?"

It was impossible to get a variation-on-the-theme in a Berni. You had a carefully weighed, band saw-clrt piece of meat with half a tomato, a set number of french

fries, (we callecl

them chips in those days), together with a set number of peas and mushrooms.

May your God help you if you didn't want the peas ordecidedto do without the

so to do, did not darevary from the menu. A technique was born.

Here in Hong Kong,

whenhe, (foritwas amale andthat's the only clue you're getting), ordered W'on Ton Mein without the noodles.

Yes, you've got

the-menu. Personally, I'm surprised that he didn't go off-the-deep.end.

As far as I'm aware, Berni has gone the same way as 'W'atney's

One couldn't go to a qzedding reception or a fr:.rreral xzitkrout a black-and-vzhite clad pensioner tkrreatening ¡rou uzittr an Elginladen trasr anrd bellouzing, "Suzeet or dry, dear?"

(one scoop). You had to have it, it was see? It was all measured.

The great Portion Controlideahad come to Britain with a vengeance.

Some bright spark had told the staff

thatany vaúation from the computerised stock levels was proof-positive that the Great Train Robbers had been on the premises. The staff, not widely known for its ability to think, nor paid

Red Bar-

rel and Pony, (remember? The little drink with the big kick! That was sherry too, only no-one realised it at the time). It, or they, just didn't go soon enough.

SØithregardto

the service of food, it has always

been my thought that if we've got it - we can sell it.

The newmenus at the FCC aim to satisfy as many re-

ice-cream

included,

it; he just wanted

W'on Ton Soup and foolishlywent off-

catefully measured apple pie

with

it is ru-

moured that in an unnamed establishment a member was charged extra

quirements

as possible, bearing in mind the limitations of the ancient, distant and ovedy-warm kitchen.

It may just be possible that we can

satis$zyou, but beware, whatever it says you can't have an omeon the menu

-

lette without the eggs and you can't have a sandwich without the bread.

Bon Apetit.

@ J]l'ne 1994 THE coRRxsPolfItENT

At something like

It's A Dope's Game

Cannes, you

begin to realise how seriously the rest

of the wodcl regards the entertainas you battle for space back home. Trade magazines, Variety, Screen Internationøl and Mouing

ment inchlstry

lfinsel ()r tor:tLrre? Fionnur-¿la Halligan gives ttre inside st()ry <-rn rv<>rking3 the Asiar-l eratertainrnent treat.

Pictures International produce vast daily editions printed in Nice during the 1O-day festival - with the volume of advertising comparable only to Saturday's Soutb Cbina Morníng Post.

But, of collrse, the entertainment industry is America's second{argest ex-

port business and Holll'wood earned more than US$18 billion in total revenues last year. \ùØithinterviews finished by about

p I

ellow journalists seem to labour

under the misapprehension that writing about entertainment in particular, movies

-

-

is the gravy

train of hackery.

Perhaps that would be true if I wrote for a glossy Americ an magazine or tllc I-4 Times.Indeed, I wish it was.

But working from Hong Kong, yotr tend to spend most of your time persuading publicists why it is important for their oh-so-hugely-famous clients

in Asian publications. It is

to

not^ppear always an easy sell.

Once you've cracked it, you stand

to gain a T-shirt with a naffmoyie title on the front (I have a beautiful denim

one colleague domineers with technical questions.

This is a dope's game. You're go-

ing to end up with the exact same profile as every other news agency in the wodd, and the word 'puffer' tends to come to mind as you put the final touches to the result. No, the personal

audience is preferable where at all - or the film festival, a mecca for movie writers. If it wasn't for the possible

festivals, my bank balance would be a much sadder affair.

Bedin, Cannes, Venice and, for the Asian topspin, Toþo, are practically indispensable for the humble en-

a big star (up to 20 journos firing questions at the same time), or a set visit.

lfhere is a- lirring to l>e rnade gn-rbbing around in ttre stars' slipstrearrr

it straight from the there are no junkets to American movie sets or star interviews for Asian journalists. Youhave to getyourself to the US, stand in line, and make ingtatiating phone calls. And if the journalist from the Odando Bee drops

tertainment hack. The day usually starts

out, it's down to the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles where all the stars of the film will be closeted in

with a morning screening of a film in competition - 8.30am - followed by a press conference with the film's

different rooms. You are assigned to a group, and sheparded in and out of the suites every 20 minutes. This breeds

your questions in (grab that micro-

But let's get

start

down the Croisette, Shibuya or the Lido, making urgent requests for personal interviews or attending conferences for films outside of competition (often these are the bigger, American films). The people you want to

interview tend not to trayel abroad

with their usual army of personal publicists and managers, so the chances are higher of being awarded an audience. So-called art directors, like Peter Greenaway, Gus Van Sant and J ean-Jacques Beineix actually go

to be said for covering the 'big events'

like the Oscars, or the MTV Video

-

-

that didn't include his chauffeur.

In short, it ain't a gravy train. You have to love movies, especially to do a Holly.wood set yisit where threesecond cuts are rehearsed exhaustively, and chances are strong you might not even see the star going

through his single line of the day.

get their own room backstagewith the

Hong Kong picture s are the complete

winners led from room to room until everybody is satisfied (the same happens with the \MAs, except the winners tend to be dirtier and drunker).

Forget about 'dropping in' on aftershow parties too; passes are also

opposite - blink and you miss the entire plot.

But there is a living to be made grubbing around in the stars' slipstream. There's plenty of opportuni-

awarcled to these events and pole positions are allocated months in advance.

directors, an experience far more satisfying than talking to their stars. And most importantly, the chance to see films which never come here - and sometimes even watch them being made. Occasionally, you feel you're dancing aronnd the edge of an extremely cynical industry, but it really isn't always like that.

Entertainment, and particulady movie journalism in America is heading back to where it used to be in the Thirties and Fourties - a highly-protected star system with favoured journalists of the studios granted exclusive audiences. There are blacklists for hacks who ask the wrong questions,

ties to meet the wodd's foremost

@

-

Cannes Film Festival. That may seem

like a ludicrously large figure, but when you consider that French television station Canal Plus alone sent 300 hacks, it begins to make sense.

!íhen it's that big, and tlrat

crazy,

even out-of-competition press conferences are by specialinvitation only, like those with Mickey Rourke, Kevin

Kline and Meg Ryan this

year.

phone and don't let go), and you have a story before lunch. For a two-week

and actors, and irritability in hacks as

festival like Venice of Cannes, that's 1 4

beach).

June 1994

grand scheme of things Cannes is a copy mecca, followed by Venice, with Bedinlaggingfar behind.

Toþo is a giftfor the Asian film writer.

Apart from the festivals, a lot has

The Oscars is a magnificent event 600 press and about the same number of stars who stop for every single camera crew on the way in. Print and radio

VMA rehearsal with a personal entourage of six - publicist, manager, tpvo assistants, agent, studio rep and

photography nalists - radio, print, and television attended t}re 47tlt

exhaustion on the part of directors

0oRRESPoNIIEI{T

In the

who take a week to return your calls - I-{ operates on a strange pecking order of return calls and if you're not important (i.e. an Asian hack), they'll deliberately phone back at lunchtime when they hope you'll be out. If they bother at all.

directors who answer their own phones and have never heard of a personal publicist. (I once saw Christian Slater make an appearance at a

This year, an estimated l,OO0 jour-

(Mickey's was not to be missed; somewhat punch-drunk, he spent ten minutes talking about the size of his appendage and then ran out in the middle of the press conference onto the

TIE

less what I did when I slashed Like Water For Cl¡ocolate ftommy diary at Toþo). Two weeks of this, andyou're fit for the retirement home but you leave with enough copy to keep you in Carlsbergs at the main bar of the FCC for tlvo or three weeks.

in the suitcase. The place is a Freudian nightmare of self-publicising publicists

orprint unappealing profiles, and once on them, you'll never get off. I can handle the LAsystemfor about aweek before the bullshitometerhits red and itls back to Hong Kong and our owrl

out of their way to meet journalists from far-off climes, the sweeties.

jacket with Dennis the Menace embroidered on the back, if anyone is interested), and a shared audience with

features in the bag, give or take a few for the more obscure titles nobody in Asia is interested in.

The afternoon is spent legging it

6pm, there's plenty of time to attend one or two evening screenings - the most difficult thing about any festival is making the coffect choice of films to see, or else you'll end up missing the 'sensation' of the week (more or

MusicAwards (VMAs). These are exercises in sheer professionalism on the part of the organisers, allowing journalists rota-like access to everlr 5¡¿¡ who appears. But nerrer, ever go to Los Angeles without your interviews arranged and your press passes safely

stars and directors. Be brash and get

The magnificent Oscd.rs

uith tbe

60O

press in glad-rags

J]une

1994 TtrE

00RRESP0NDEI{T

"AreYouA I o Diners Club Cord.

Member of the Communist Pafty?', Or-rtspokere pro-Beijing p olitician lf sang yok_sing shared tris rzieqzs o11 sino-Etritisrr rela.tio's .,ver a May l'.ctr at the FCC- -I?e:x E. Ettis v\zas tkrereTsetng Yctk-síng

one wag coÍmented, the FCC was lucky Lu Ping didn'r call up Tsang Yok-sing on the Thurs<lay he was in town and say "let's do lunch,,. That would have disrupted the FCC scheclule and deprived members of an insight s

Hove you reolly looked ot your wollet recently? You probobly hove so mony credit cords you con borely keep trocl of which feoture goes with which cord.

But os o Diners Club Cordmember, you never wo¡.ry becouse your Diners Club Cord gives you oll these benefits:

Unlimitcd Bufng power No pre-set spending limit, on interestfree repoyment period of up to eight weeks ond the obility to get cosh

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ot

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Acceptonce ot more thon

esloblishments

2.8 million

in more thon I 25

counlries, exclusive oirporl lounges throughout the globe, o world-wide emergency ossistonce hotline ond o free trovel occidenl insuronce plon of over HK$2.3 million.

Alwoy: By Your Side A 2A-hour holline for personolized customer service, lost cord proleclion ond free cord replocement within 24 hours.

ßlo¡e lhon Ju¡t A Cord

A world-wide purchose proteclion progrom, o Club Reword bonus point system lhot gives you voluoble free gifts

ond frequent flyer miles, photocord security ond priority booking privileges for the best seots ovoiloble ot cuhuiol,

your entronce fee.For further detoils, coll Diners Club 24-hour Customer Service ot 8ó0 I 888.

Dinars Cluh Intema!bru4"

sporting or entertoinment events.

Diner¡ Club So if you wont it oll, get o Diners Club

Cord. Aoply now by phone ot 823 3201 during office hours ond

receive your Cord in lhree doys with priority opprovol, ond we'll even woive

[et the resl conform.

as-

into the thinking of a man perhaps

their theories.

"My colleagues and I in the DAB don't believe rhar Chha is cloing its wofst to stop democracy in Hong Kong. They have promised (democ_ racy) in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law and I think it is the job of

member

IHAN ANY

democracy in Hong Kong. China

sumes the British want to leave Hong Kong in chaos. Tsang said it's equally difficult to get both sides to abandon

uniquely positioned in the great Hong Kong altercation.

The timing couldn't have been better. In the week Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Director Lu ping was artending the first Hong Kong gathering of the Provisional Working Committee (PìØC), the club heard from rhe man considered by many as Beiiing,s stalking horse in the terçitory.

Tsang Yok-sing is a member of the Pï7C, and Chairman of the pro-Beijing Democratìc Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong. He's also a Hong Konger, active since the Slxties and well aware of grass foots concerns.

W.ith easy access to both sides, Tsang feels he probably undersrands Hong Kong govemment thinking better than Chinese officials and understands people in Beijing better than clo many in Hong Kong.

That still doesn't put Tsang in context ideologically. Question: "Are you a

,IIORE BENEFITS OÎHER CARD.

facts, so creating the cnrrent deadlock.

The British assume China doesn'twant

of the Communist

party?,,

Tsang: "No. I go round telling people that I am a Communist. I'm more Communist than perhaps many Communist party members in China. I believe in Marxism. I make no secret abollt that.,, Tsang implied he is not a party member because he's not preparecl to subject himself to parry disciptine.

His point was that China and the United Kingclom drew totally opposing basic assumptions from the same

people in Hong Kong to make sure the

promises enshrined in the Basic Law are kept. rùØe should not start on the assumption that the Chinese are not going to keep their promises.', Tsang said talks with Lu ping, or even Hong Kong NCNA chief Zhou

Nan, don't give him the impression the;' ¿¡s against'Sl'estern style clemocracy developing in Hong Kong. "\Ve're going to have universal

suf_

frage. Our legislature ancl the Chief Executiye will be elected by a oneperson, one-vote system. That,s what we think democracy should be in Hong Kong."

Tsang revealed the reaction of some in the pro-Chinese camp when the Sino-British talks broke down last November. They said ,,now that the talks have broken downwe can throw away the Joint Declar.ation. 'W'e can

tlu'ow away anypromises made before because the British have broken their. promises. So why do we have to keep ours? Let us appoint all legislative coun_

cil members jn 1997. Let us do away with direct elections altogether.,, To counter this, rhe DAB has told

latlrre must be elected

formitywith

n

1997 in con-

the Basic Law, which srates

the Legislature will have to be constituted by elections.

"Our basic belief is that the safest and surest sû'ategy is to stick to promises which both governments have already made. Those are promises accepted by Hong Kong people.', As Tsang spoke, Lu ping was still studiously ignoring Chris patten. The DAB believes this can't go on. \Øhile there are people in Beijing who woulcl be much happier if Patten was sent

back to London tomorrow, Chinese officials realize it is unlikely he will be recalled.

Tsang believes a different patten approach could have avoided the confrontation. He feels an agreementmight have been reached with alarge pat of the Patten package intact if the governor had taken it to the Joint Liaison Group forftlll consultation, resulting in

some adjustments and revisions, before tabling it in Legco. But all rhat is entircly hypothetical now. The reality that both sides seem to be going their own way. To Tsang that is the wrong is

strategy.

"I still believe that in the end there

will have to be co-operation between the two governments. I think Chinese officials in Beijing realize they simply can't cut all their contacts with the Hong Kong govemment, the British govemment, and pretend that there will be smooth transition without British co-operation at all."

That's the message from Tsang Yok-sing and the DAB. Is anyone listening?

the Chinese government the newlegisJrme I

E

Pressing

from the front line

Messages

Issues

New Membership Directory Out

Re.x E. Ellis reports ola a- speech b¡z

There are times when we're absolutell,certain that the quill pen - and probably still is - fasrer than the conìputer.

Regardless, after many technical problems, the new FCC Membersbip Directorlt is now available for collection ar the office. Any memtrer who is not posted is entitled to onefree copy. The seconcl and subsequent copies will cost you $50 each. The membership com-

Europe's top nlarl in Hong I{ong, Etienne ReLrter.

was

mittee has taken this opportrnity to

review the status of all Correspondent andJournalist members. Those ofyou affected shor.rld have received a letter i¡formingyou ofthe change.

Verandah Kitchen The Club has recently become subject to new legislation tnder the control of the Ciq¡ and New Territories Administration (CNTA).

An unfortunate result of this is that we are required to cease the

operation of the kitchen situated on the Veranclah.

Therefore, with immediate eÊ fect, all meals served in this area will be supplied from the main kitchens.

As members are aware, these kitchens are situated three floors below. It is not expected that there will be any deterioration in service.

However, your consideration for any slight delay which may occLlr as a result of this change in supplylocation would be appreciatect.

Club Thesaurus Stolen tùØill

the selfish #@%$&* who stole the thesaurus from the librarl' return it so that other working journalists ma1, have the pleasure of nsing it.... before we are forced to take action.

ïHE CoRRf,SpoNDEilr June 1994

Etienne Reuter

he Europeans have their China priorities right. Forget the SinoBritish dispute over Hong Kong, French arms sales to Taiwan and European restfictions on Chinese expolts of toys and footwear. It's garlic that is poisoning the atmosphere and leaving a nasty taste in the mouth.

One of the major issues souring relations between China and the Euro-

pean Union (Et) is the amount of Chinese gadic Europe imports. The livelihoods of farmers in Spain, France and Germany are threatened.

The authority for this is none other than Europe's top man in Hong Kong, Etienne Relttef, who opened the first European Union office in Hong Kong in October. He made it clear he is a

strictly neutral diplomat and the EU does not take sides in the discussion on how Hong Kong is going to be run.

Reuter also emphatically dsç1¿..¿ ¡. has no role to play in Enropean inyestments in the region.

So what is left? Nothing less than a

new European Asian policyfor which

Europe has evolyed a three-pronged approach: greater European unity in dealing with Asia; greater cltltural openness and exchange; greater European eflort to understand Asia.

Reuter said the first idea is one of cohesion. "'We have to make the most

of our internal market with a

Reltter then strode firmly into the East-W'est culture clash, noting Euro-

peans have "some difficulty" in winning understanding on icleas like human rights, tolerance and cultural exchanges. "W'e must be able to explain to people in Asian colrntfies why our

public opinion, ollr yollng people,

at-

tach importance to things like democ-

racy, like human rights. This is not tÐ'ing to convince someone else that

our recipe is the best. It is abollt sharing the concept that our people have feelings too."

Just the same, Reuter conceded Europeans mllst accept thatAsian wa).s are different. "Europeans have to make a special effort to understand Asia, to see the different cultures here, the different traditions, the differences between countries big and small."

In six months, Reuter has learned the basic Hong Kong lesson. He pleased the few associate members among the small audience by saying Europe should pay more attention to the business community, "'We must

become much more open to wlìat business might feel about issues and

what kind of interests are at stake,,, he aclvised.

The European Union's man in Hong Kong advised his continentfolk to come as explorers who can

con-

return home rather than missionaries

sumer base of 35O-million when we negotiate here. '$Øe have to be prepared to lock shoulders rather than let governments here pick off the Europeans one against each other as we have seen so often in the past."

who end up buried in places like Macau. "Europeans should come here

with the eyes and ears of Marco polo rather than the spectacles of Francis Xavier,"

@

New IGds in Town

iflre staff of a nelrz str_rdent's Írra"ga.zine could teackr sorrae old-tirners a- ttring or ts/o, accordirrg to A4i<;b ¿te I A4ct<:kej,,.

emories

of student news-

papers are of squabbling with contemporaries to get a few hundred words in a cobbled-together newspa-

per that was read by no-one except ourselves and occasionally, proud par-

ents. Occasionally.

In my day, these were

a

badly-put

together collection of opinion, gos-

sip, concert reviews, polemic and 'news', the term being used very loosely. The staff of suchpaperswere not much better even when sober, which was a rrery rafe occurrence.

Such problems seemingly do not effect the student newspaper or to be more accurate, magazine - put out by the students and staff at- Hong

Kong's Chinese University. In fact, their product, entitled Varsity, is an accomplished-looking magazine a sound financial basis.

with

advice onwhentopull a says, is "usually followed".

Mostofthe staff are

most are also lemale explain the feminist

-

lot of the writing.

Accordingto Mclntyre; standards that would put professional colleagues to uses words like "feadess" they are "more high-minded American students. They h

tch

strong social conscience a over backwards to be fair." '$7here they are limited is that they do not have much of an understanding of international affats, although that could change with age and with some of the plans that Mclntyre has for t}ee magazine to go regional.

for help. magazÍre

financially independent within 18 months.

Tlre magazine' s staff don' t get

Vice-Chancellor's

secretary.

Mclntyre's students disdain such trivia. Sexual assault, sexual harassment, inheritance rights in the New Territories, gigolo bars, interviews with prostitutes, not to mention a sidebar on how to use a condom properly, are the topics covered by his protégés.

All the stories have come from their ideas from the bottom up, says Mclntyre, insisting he only offers t}re magazine staff who generate

THE CoRRESpolutENT

June 1994

aid

who adds that they are "very conscientious about cutting costs. Better than I am."

@

It

has a full-time business manager and a gùafaîúeed budget from the University as well as the advisory services of a university lecturer with a track record in journalism.

However, Bryce Mclntyre, a lecturer at the University's Depaftment of Journalism & Communication insists, "the students do all the writing, design and layout up till the disc goes to the printers." And what a pfoduct they procluce.

Many IØestern student journalists' idea of controyersy is probably stiffing the muddy waters of student politics and possibly annoying the

p

for their labours, reports Mclntyre,

AlexartrJra W'<>rtg, the rrranaging editor of Varsitjt and a, ttrird year student in ttre Dep artrnent of Journalisrrr & Cornrmrnica_tion at tfie Chinese lfnirzersity, -v\za-s ttre onl¡z respondent to a, c.a,l7 for student \zier\zs ola Horrg l(ong's press freedorrr after 1997:

"D::#:;',T,?iä.î,î:J;

freedom after 1997 , the confidence

of the people of Hong Kong

has

been shaken. The public were disil-

lusioned with China's restrictions on journalists who wanted to cover the Qiandao Lake tragedy. These

incidents imply that the Chinese govemment is stretching its promise in order to deter press freedom and to hush up Hong Kong's news media.

Meanwhile, hoping to survive the 1997 handover, some of the press are either siding with China or becoming more and more selfcensored. The rest are keen on

competing with each other for profit by providing amusing and sensational pieces to the public and ignoring the political debate.

It is difficult to pfedicr the future, but one thing is sure : there are many hurdles ahead on the

rocþ

road to press freedom. Before the clock strikes 1997, Hong Kong news media have to keep a watchful eye over the Chinese government and be a forum for dissident voices.

It is time for them to be united

By now you probably know that when you fly Virgin

Atlantic's Mid Class to London, you enjoy superior economy class service... with features like separate check-in, priority baggage and a bigger, more comfortable seat in an exclusive cabin. Plus, your personal video screen with a choice of 76 channels.

All this for the price of a full economy fare. \)V'hat you might not know is that we are now offering Mid Class passengers the use of an Avis car (Group C) for three days. And if travelling with a partner, you can double the driving pleasure by taking off for six days.

FIow much does this cost you? Nothing. Except for the petrol, of course.

For details and conditions, cezll your Trauel Agent, Virgin Atlctrttic on 532 6060, or Virgín's Cctll Fczx seruice on 1783, Virginfax code 88608.

and strive for the ideal of press freedom. Otherwise, pr€ss freedom will be just a mirage just as a democratic and open country will be."

@

atlantic

Díal D for Data A4ark JctZtrzs<trz descril>es the on-line inforrrration sen¡ices anrailable to ttre territory's ior.rrnalists.

PLEASE

NewsNET

PATRO N I5 E

THESE

Bull & Bear

AmistartBf;Âès

Asia

sUPPORTERS

FCC

Come and join us at one of Central's favourite pubs Opening Hours: 8am

Y

till

Happy Hour 5-8pm Hearty English Breakfast served

Buen Vino or journalists, data services provide fast and efficient ways o[ doing research and staying on top of the news. These days, there is a, stag-

gering range of on-line information available in Hong Kong.

Services like Compuserve , Telerate, Reuters, Genie and others

with news, financial hformation, e-mail service and other features. They allow journalists to do instant research by searching databases. They can also provide inor real time news stantaneous are packed

-

-

and linancial information. '!7ith a computer, a modem and

some communications soffware like

Procomm or Telix, journalists have instant access to almost any subject imaginable.

Most services are dial-up, which

tin board system (BBS) aimed squarely at journalists. The bestpiece of news is that it's free.

The BBS can be reacheil by callinç 984-9534 with a modem. The NewsNET office number is 533-9569.

never been done before and, hope-

Inquiries on how to hook up to NewsNET should be directed to the

These messages can then be read by journalists using NewsNET and, if they are cooperative, could message back

office number.

fully, raise the quality of journalism in Hong Kong.

A reporter doing a story on property, for instance, could write a messag€ on NewsNET seeking contacts.

Focusing on Hong Kong and China, for the moment NewsNET's main service is as a dial-up press re-

useful tips.

It's the same

lease distribution centre. This is espe-

porter has access to the whole journalism community.

Another possibility is the sharing

cially useful for freelancers, most of whom do not receive press releases.

To those of us who receive stacks of them each day, that may sound like a blessing, butfreelancers canfindpress releases a valuable tool for geîerating story ideas and doing research.

as

calling colleagues

for leads, except this way the re-

paper were to contribute stories to NewsNET, a massive database could be compiled. To protect the interests of each publication, these stories

NewsNET stores press releases in can dial up and enter a single word like

would only be available to journal-

or "telecom" or "property". All files related to those subjects would then be listed and the user simply s€lects which files he wants and then downloads them.

yours" basis.

Though not presently available,

only have to pay the connection

Presto. Instant research.

photos on-line. This would allow them

charges. It is a netv/ork of computer databases that offers free information, e-mail services, discussion areas calle d newsgroups, and games. Connections

are available locally through Hong Kong Internet & Gateway Services and the Hong Kong Supernet. One drawback to the system, however, is that information is often difficult to find.

Intemet computers are mostly USbased and carry mainly American in-

formation. Not a problem if you're writing on the United States, but obviously most of us in Hong Kong write about the territory, China and other Asian countries.

One service providing local news and information is NewsNET, a bulle-

"Shenzhen"

But NewsNET will not just be providing press releases its goal is to serye the needs of journalists and tie the journalist communitytogether.

Services will include e-mail, journalism resources, contact lists ofpeople in government, industry associations and non-governmental organisations, classified ads with jobs listings, lists

of freelancers and their areas of exother se rvices.

A freelancer looking for work could leave a notice that would be read by editors whilst editors could leave "help wanted" notices. Important issues like self-censorship and

pe rtise, and

freedom of speech could be discussed with other journalists. In short, it will

link the journalists in a way that has

June 1994

Special

\.-

Central, Hong Kong. Tel: 525 '7 436

WYNDHAIUI STREET TEL: 8775472

¿ù

s'&].,m-

*"1"o-."

awaiú you'"

CE,hTTR,A.T& beer in a rtlaxing and friendly ahnosphere' HAPPYHOURS-ALLDAYS AY AND 6 - 8 PM & I I - 12 PM EVERY NIGHT

Great food, wine

GÆ., ON HING BLDG. (UP THE STAIRS, oppos¡te ULOFT" lN WYNDHAM ST.) CENTRAL. BESEBVATIONS: 8101162

South Chlna Butlding, 1-3 \Tyndham Street Tel¡ 526-5293 Fax s01-5006

THE GODOWN

Close Encounters of the Exotic lndian Kind

-WHERE THINGS REALTY TAKE OTF-

The Ashoka llrelù.st.rur.rrt ¡\l{ot¡lEourtrcttlelite¡rurilsvou,\\'itlì\/,ìllll'.rrliitrgStrrite (;:rlll

I

Dì - lrll){l I' nì

)

l¡ker\rr¡\s'Arlt'liciot¡sltrtli¡nlntlttlgetr.e bLtr\('('n ;:lltl

l1

Dì

'

\\/t'tl¡livt'rthelìltltrlS('rì.ct(r(ì,

l(l:()tl p nì

\!r,¡restrll thcrc,rt6T-59\\'yntllt,ùnSt,Cr'trtr¡1, llK,'lrl 52+9(r2..Ì,524;719 ¡nrl ¡lso ¡t our [rr¡leì nerr' ¡-ì,rce rt (ì/li(onnnußlìt Conìnìcrcial l]trilLlin¡, lrìi \\'¡n.'h¡i lìtr¡|, I I K, fol ¡lel ¡ì9¡J1,8()l 5tì51

ists. Basically, this would be done on an "I'11 show you mine if you show me

()l'l:N ¡\f

l-

D,\l'S ()lr ll ll: \\'l,l:K

r()fùr,rl.¡ b\ t rìrl",l

lìÍ.\r.rr'

:

l

lnl.nì,rlrùfrìr

photographers may also get help from

NewsNET in the near future via a software that allows callers to view

to keep alibrury of their photos online. An editor looking for a picture could look through the NewsNET photo llbrary and, finding the o¡ehe/ she wants, could order it directlyfrom the photographer or through

,%t .Øt;rø4.Øttt Å 7r.;;* ¿- 7***l t6rZ,%#. -Øøz ØÇ /u n f-'.t

D

GO

W N

NewsNET.

Though it doesn't offerwire services or real-time financial data or the range of services that Compuserve and others have, NewsNET does have

the advantage of being local, geared toward journalists and, best of all, it is free.

LUNCH, DINNER & DANCING -PRJVATE ROOM-

FOR RE.SERVATIONS

MarkJobnson ís a. þattner in tl¡e Hong Kong NeutsNET organisøtion.

E

B-13

GROUND FLOOIì HONG I(ONC

supper

Frida¡ Saturday

- LUNCH - DINNER LI\T, PIANO AND AMBIANCE AFTERDINNER

-

CALL A661 166

THE GODOWN, ADMIRALTY CENTRE, TOWER 2,

ttlts late arrd had a bi wenighthaverrft from l0 Late

-

A SHORTTAXI RIDE FROM THE FCC HAPPY HOURS 5-7 PM, 1 1-12 MIDNICHT

t{tnm 58-62 D' Àguilar Street Lan Kwai Fong Central Hong

Oall Kong

\lo

On Lane, Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong Telephone 5265965

l¡r,l ¡ì\;E

12 a.m.

and eve's to public holidays.

An Elite Concept

THD GoRRISPoNItDNT

10:30 am Mon - Sat

We Iook forward to seeing you!

Ground Floor, Hutchison House (next to Furama Hotel)

Good. foodl t,,'d.

of stories. If each magazine and news-

means calling the remote computer over the telephone, rather than having a full-time link. There is just one problem with these handy services; they can cost a fortune.

Amongst cheaper alternatives is the Internet system for which you

a database which means usefs

3l

till

Traditional Pub Grub, Daily

s B¡.n p I

2am, Monday - Saturday,

Noon - Midnight, Sunday

Tel: 845-5577

lll 'lll!

5l'l -7¡-ì$¡ì i.rl" cl¡ì.1ììs

ArrdNowFor

before I even arrived. My host said he had to make a dry run to all the places

\üÇ'orking, as a foreign journalist in C Howrzerzer, long and hard-earned e><p .wza)r's to slide through tkre labl.rinttr ;zolrr sarriûy. A4icVtctel C<>stellc> prese sunzir.al in a l>urear-rcratic jungle-

really believe him. We spent quite

t'r tto woncler so many Hong Kong journalists feign ignorance about the need to go through the Xinhua News Agency before setting

we were going to visit so he would know where we were going. I didn't down highways and streets, often right past the entrances to the factories and

government offices he had supposedly checked out just a few days before. I now ask a lot of questions first.

press approval in about one week, but

"OK" from Xinhua. They never check

My request to yisit

to see if you got the official one any-

off on areporting trip to China, preferring to slip in quietly on their own.

Guangdonghas nowbeen sitting on someone's desk for close to three months.

This is why it is best to ptrt in more than one request atatime, whichcan also be aproblem. One colleague did this and Xnhua scheduled him to be in two cities

way and you can then hang around as long as you like.

Once you get approval, be prepared to dig deep into your company's pockets. Upon arrival, your personal "barbarian" handler for the week will present himself in your room, itinerary under arm, with a list of the dam-

Those who play by the rules in China have only themselves to blame.

If you are like me, however, and

cannot bring yourself to do anlthing dishonest, the following tips might come in handy.

First, you will be required to send in your resume and some recent clips

to the friendly boys at the Xinhua News Agency.

Xinhuamay even askyou on occa-

don't believe

it.

on the same day. And they got

aîW

when he said he could not not possibly be in two places on the same day.

You will eventually get your iour-

nalist visa, giving you exactly the number of days you need for your itinerary, with no allowance for the fact that some inland cities have just one flight in and out a week, and

sion for a free subscription to your publication so they can more easily keep tabs onwhatyou arewriting. This is to be stricly ignored. It seems they

unfortunately not on the day your visa expires. But then, theyfrequently don't

subscribe to no publications at all.

Next comes a request for a list of questions to be asked of each person

lfkre handler later reported to Eteijirìg tkr.at I had rrlrade ant unautkrorised rzisit to a restricted rural atea

youwant to interview. Neverput down anysensitive questions. This is grounds for automatic refusal. Just make up the questions and then you can ask what you want during the interview. I send in the exact same list of questions each

time, regardless of who

I

am inter-

viewing.

You can now expect to wait a minimtrm of one month and in some case - foryour two to three months approval as yorrr story becomes obsolete and is done repeatedly by competitors who skipped Xnhua and went in on their own. Finally making it to one inland city after months of waiting, I was su4rrised to runinto acolleague who simplyphoned up a prominent Hong Kong investor just a week eadier who called the mayor and arranged his trip within a few days, all fees waived. He met with exactly the same people I did.

Xinhua says that to

time you can now apply directly to the Shanghai and Guangdong foreign affairs offtces for exsarze

THD CORRESPONDENT

June 1994

give approvaluntil

a

day ortwo before

you are supposed to arrive at your destination, making it impossible to get a seat on the weekly flight anyway as all the seats are sold out one month in advance.

An added bonus in playing by the rules is a latge letter J written on the last page ofyour passport. This guar-

ages. Places like Shanghai can command a hefty Rmb 2OO aday. This is a

lot of money when you consider that your man makes a paltry Rmb 200 a month. They say it's to cover the cost of making affangements, faxes and long distance calls, but it is difficult to imagine that your Lrip is seen as anything more than a chance for the local foreign affairs office to get their hands on some foreign exchange.

tfanspoftation, hotels, and meals. Furthermore, each city has its own foreign affairs office, and you will likely have to pay for that person's serwices

well.

Hiring of vehicles also requires a sharp mind. $Øhile you will frequently

as

be driven aroundin a government car, insome areas there are none available, so your hosts will arrange a private car. Government or private, this never comes cheap, usually several hundred renminbi a day, unless you go outside the city, whichwill require

a

surcharge.

Once when visiting a distant border area, my hosts neglected to tell me that there was a train to the area. I was

reporting. Use a generous dab of TippEx to cover the illegal marking in your passport, send it back inagain, and no

Rmb 4,000.

will be the wiser. This is one

r€ason why many journalists never apply for official visas, appþing for a

tourist visa after getting the official

Foreign affairs representatives will frequentþ suggest a hotel for you to stay in, saying that it is close to their office and so more convenient. This is usually an uncomfortable state-owned hotel, on occasion owned by the Min-

istry of Foreign Affairs, with prices equal to, if not higher than, the five star Sino-foreign joint venture hotel which has better service and facilities.

Likewise, your personal guides sometimes also seem to

see

youf

ar-

opportunity to supplement their meagre salaries. On one occasion my guide insisted I change my foreign currencywith her - although and at the official, not this is illegal the higher black market rate offered rival

as an

And if you visit more than one city, your host will follow along and you will have to cover the cost of all

thatyouwill not get that tourist visathe nexttimeyouwantto go in on a holiday or for some unauthorised antees

one

bit

of time that week wandering up and

f

Ibased

a

later presented with a úavel bill for

For a l5-minute drive from the airport to the city, a Rmb 20 taxi ride, I was hit for a fuIl day use of the car

ahefty

Rmb 200. And when examin-

ing my bill at the end of the trip I was charged for one day use of the vehicle

outside on the street. This was the

who came prepared on my departure day armed with two same person

receipts, asking me if I wanted to take the receipt charging me for two days more than I had spent there since my company paidall the expenses.

Then, there was the host that refused to accept China's foreign exchange certificates, insisting payment - some US$700 - in US dollars. This was because they had to pay for the two or three long distance calls to me

in Hong Kong in foreign something

'When

exchange,

I had never heard of be-

fore.

I reftised, saying that I only had their official Chinese play money I made a major blunder. The handler later reported to Beijing that I had

made an unauthorised visit to a restricted rural area, one reason, I suspect, why several requests to visit

China

in recent months have gone

nowhere.

Making matters worse the people you want to see sometimes clisappear up to Beijing the weekyou arrive. And the Sino-foreign joint venture factory that you drive three hours to reach,

invariably tums out to be what the Chinese call

a

"false foreign devil"

factory, actually a Chinese company pretending to be a Sino-foreign jointventure company just to get special concessions given such companies.

It is not difficult to see why so many people steer away from official visits like the plague . The only advantage is that they are usually the only

way you can get that interview with local decision makers.

China could do well to take a lesson

from Taiwan. I¿st month I applied to Taipei's Hong Kong ofÍìce for

a

joumal-

whichlwas able to pickup onMonday. Andwhenl arrived in Taipei on Tuesday I was presented with an itinerary that included interviews with everyone I wanted to see as istvisa on

a

Saturday,

well as an uffequested.meeting with the spokesmanforthe oppositionDemo

cratic Progressive Party.

I eagerþ look forward to the distant day when a kindlier and gentler Xinhua caî arraflge visits with the same speed and efficiency, throwing in an unexpected interview with Wei Jingsheng to

boot.

@

J "Mike" Turner I(eith Strakespeare tells of tkre life amd tirnes of tris friend and FCC rnerrrl>er Nfike lFr-rrner szho died in lMarctrMike Turner died on

3

1

st

March

in Boston after a short illness. He was 62. Although not a frequent visitor to the club, he was certainly a regular user, noticeable for a head of flowing blond hair which belied his years, and clutching a whiskey & water.

Mike was a civil engineer and

came to Hong Kong in 7969 to work on the first cross harbour tunnel. The Orient certainly made an impact on Mike, and on completion of the tunnel, he joined the Hong

building of the Mass Transit Railway, and an honour it was to work with him. The same working relationship continued again when we met up later on the construction ofthe Eastern Harbour Crossing. His efforts over

those long and exciting years did not go unnoticed, and onNewYear's Day 7990, he joined the illustrious ranks of Sinclair and Hacker, collecting his MBE from the Queen the following

summef.

marathon. With such an active life, Mike inevitably met a lot of people and made a great many friends. The standing room only sign at his me-

morial service on 19th April at St John's testified to this.

As well as being most articulate, Mike was also quite the ladies'man, and although he neyer maried it wasn't for the lack of trying. Many broken hearts were left in his wake.

Mike was working in Boston as a consultant on the new harbour tunnel there when the illness struck

Kong Government where he spent

Mike was also a very busy man outside the office, belonging to numerous clubs including the Ladies'

with the High-

Hash where he achieved considerable

funeral was in the town of Bevedèy

of his other achievements in the sporting field included several trÞs across the China Sea to the Philippines and the first Saigon

in his beloved Yorkshire on 13th Lprll1994.

the next

2l

years

ways Department.

It was ]n 1976 that

I met him when he was my counterpart in the Mass Transit Office during the

success. Some

suddenly before Christmas. The

Farewell Mike.

@ Jlune 1994 TUE

GoRRf,SPoNDENT

É

he settin¡¡ was the Sher¿rton Hotel in Manila u'here the welconring party for all participants of the Cadsberg media Golf Classic

The poolsicle reception was a wet affair, in and out of the water, ancl once agnin tl-re kicls of the Kaibigan Ermita Olrtfeach Progfan-ìme entef-

ravines and tropical veÉÌetation.

On the first da;- sixteen flights of fcltrr golf'ers attacke d the south collrse

was about to get r.rnclerway.

It just so happene<l (believe it or not) that it coincided with a welcome part)' arranged by Philippine Aidines

tainecl

u,'ith some strolrg and heart

Carlsberg/FCC Scramble trophy. The

team lecl b1' Emy Arcilla of the Phillipines along with two journalists

share the poolsicle location with us but common Sense prevailecl, and

rendering so1lgs.

The biggest ever assemblecl fìeld for the Classic witll 64 participants heaclecl down the South Super Highwa)- towards Canlubang Golf Course, home of the Meclia Classic in Laguna Province and roughll'a two to three beer journe¡. from Manila Designecl

thel' ¡so¡ the lobb-v.

lryRobemTrent

It must have seen like the openirg of Planet Holll'wood for tesidents of the hotel...76 moclels of the finest and

Jones this 3é

for all contestants of the 1994

Miss

Universe Peagant.

Originally the beanties from all corners of the globe were preparecl to

r.rs

of Canlubang for the

coveted

from Malal'sia ancl a gnest from Hong Kong took the scramble title.

As usual everyone appeared in gre at shape and with a goocl two to ten hotrrs sleep behind them we were reacly for the big one.

holegolfcotuse

incorporates

64 athletes tlrned to the minute. all

man-rnacle

nncler the same roof.

lakes, gaping

honourubllt it1 the disþ.tlcl)es for uearhtg the sillíest

,i¡ñl

THI

CoRRXSPOMIEI{T

hrne 19c)4

. I

Prcsentdtiotl. tiut.e (L to R) Robín )Iq)er, Sþencer Robirtscut (ouerall tuinrter), Chctrl.íe Sntítlt, Derek Cttrrie arul Fletni.ng Witlt-Seidelin

CRtSp FULL FLAVOUR AND ANYoNE cAN TELL. CARLSBERG BREws A BEER

hobabfy the best beer íntfiewufd.

Iarty Iondon

lvlay 12

Six-Under-Par

Derek Currie

(handicap3-shots)

þlus the ki.ds ol Hans Anderson CIub, donating tbe

Bunners-up

Four-Under-Par

uinn¡ng

RajanEtickan(l/lalaysia) Wong Sai Wan (Mataysia) Bill Brindle Dave Stewart (Thailand) Alan Tayl0r (Thailand)

The lvlan in Banel

Three-Over-Par

Frank Faulkner

Best Dressed

Team

the Award

(handicap3-shots)

ten byAllison & White. Tl:'e prize of a million Pesos was to go to the winner's choice of charity. NeilMcGlone came within an exciting 4 foot of the hole but the prize was unclaimed.

'When it came to announcing the winner of the Classic, it was found that a splendid 40 points by Spencer Robinson has won the trophy with Ian Findley and David Bateson, tied on 37 points joint second. These exceptionally good performances were

Emy Arcilla (Phillipines)

John Charlesworth (Thailand) Mike Howard (Thaitand) Robin Moyer (Phillipines) David Allison John lVlaloney lan Findley Owen Conigan Geoff Miles

þríze.for 1993

The highlight of day 2 was the charity hole-in-one event, underwrit-

,d-

Carlsberg F.C.C. Scramble

(FM Select),

Winner

¡/lartynStewart

Spencer

Runners-Up

lan

Robinson

Findley

StablefordPo¡nts

Baleson

prize.

Despite the soaring temperatures throughout the three-day sortie itwas found that the per head from ^løerage gone 60 last year lrrad only up to 72 bottles per head this year.

Best Front

I

Best Back

I

Ashton

/o

BANYAN TREE

/6e ßonyon

IN

For tunher

ioform¡tion

or r6edarlonsr plae ca.ll or fu numbere lisrcd below.

frnn a)ì/,6

BANYAN TREE NASUGBU EVERCREST OPENS IN JULY 1994

Tinworth

Longest Drive Hândicap 24 or Handicap 25 or

6 I

Neil lvlcclone Flemming W¡th-Seidelin

under

over Shortest Drive Hole 1 Shortest Drive Hole 10

@

40 (18-22) 37 (15-22) 37

David Stableford Points (18-19) [/]ark 22 Stableford Points lvlike 20 Stableford Po¡nts

Nearest the Pin Hole Nearestthe Pin Hole

Not bad I suppose for probably the best round in the world !

eo*n

SPA RESORT

A MeDbù Ofsel.d Hot.l' è Re¡otu l¿¡ñat¡oz'l

SEPTEMBER 1994

StablefordPo¡nts

had an amazing 47 points but playing as a guest was ineligible for the main

LIXURY

TREE

PHUK-8,T OPENS

Carlsberg Media Golf Classic May 13

slightly overshadowed by ä magnificent round of 69 gross by Jonathan Thorpe, a bar-owner in Manila who

il?

BANYAN

David Stewart Ron Fitzpatrick

BAI'{YAN TREE

your rtfn an{

BINTAN OPENS IN NOVEMBER I994

BANYAN TR¡E

MALDI}TS Paul Strahan

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June 1994

A stay at the Banyan Tree does not require an extensive wardrobe. The truth is, you may not need any clothes at all for every

Stu W¡lliamson chose Elinchrom. ãËjtÊlElÞiäìEfl*It

Æ 501

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villa at the Banyan T¡ee, is a world unto itself. Your days might begin with breakfast in bed. And end with a gourmet

dinner by candle-light beneath the stars. And your cares, should you still have any, will be soothed away by the pamperings of our personal spa services. All manner of exotic massages in which to indulge yourself. \Øarm body masques to nourish your

skin and relax you from within. And relaxation and meditation to restore your sense of equilibrium and improve your

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Jetlagged?

You Will Be

THERE'S ALWAYS

HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

I{arl W'ilsc,¡n yrishes he ha-dn't botkrered reading À/Iictrele NTa¡zrrran' s Jetlotg, l2ublished

by Serpent's lfail, London. 2141>pimon, our esteemed editor, was emphatic when he handed this book by Michele Nayman to me: "I think you will enjoy it," he said. "It willmake a nice breakforyou overthe weekend and it does have some relevance to Hong Kong."

"Like what?" I asked.

"It mentions the FCC and one of the main characters is a journalist."

I took the book and wasted a perfectly good Saturday afternoon labouring through itwhen I couldhave been next door helping my neighbour kill a

cobra.

It

has to be one of the most

excruciatingly boring books of the year ancl if it doesn't rate a mention in next

year's Bulwer-Lytton Fiction contest for lousy literature, I'll walk to the moon and back. Jetlag is a good title since that is exactly how you feel af[er reading it.

"Michele Nayman captures the fierce costs and the fleeting consolations of this

with grace, insight and compassion. She is especially adept and sharp-s1'36[ in conveying the nuances of malaise amongrVestern enclave s ofjournalists, diplomats and business people in

vagabond existence

Äsia,"

so writes someone called Janette

Turner Hospital. Is this the name of a real person or a joke?

Briefly, the book goes something like this. The year is 1982 and our central character, Laurie Michaels, is

peering over the wall

of a rooftop

garden inJardine's Lookout. Here , at a

flat-warming, she is introduced to Steven Reid who works for a computer company called ORION. W'e assume they become lovers because they move in together later on but we are denied any graphic details ... do they kiss? Do they hold hands? Do they...?

The book is peppered with riveting dialogue like the following:

"I

A STORYAT THE

stumbled into an MBA course,"

Steven said, dipping

a mint into his coffee.

"You don't mind if I do rhis, do you?" "Get

" "Too bloody - I'm an Äustralian right, mate," he said, and grinned "Yott mimic m¡, âccent too bloody well," I said . He leaned forward. "I love pushy women." awa)'

'With a line like that I guess the hairs on the back ofher neck stood up and she was putty in Steve's hands.

The FCC, apparently, was comprised of Sixties nostalgia buffs who thought nothing had happened since 1975. In the eady part of the book Steve expounds his view on life while Laurie listens and wonders why her friend on tlre Melbourne Age, Susan, hasn't answered her calls.'We find out later she is in a psychiatric hospital. (I knew things were tough on tl'rc Age back then but not that tough.) laurie proves to be an adept j oumalist. Take this interviewwith Cathay Paci-füc's new deputy managing director:

Boredomfactor 10

Laurie is blonde, blue eyed, slim or podgy. Is she attractive? Or just ordinary. V4rat about Steve? He obviously has no other interest than work. Ok, that can be true of many expatriate men in Asia but they do have extra curricular activities such as getting laid, drinking and sport ... usually in that order.

Laurie, for her part, excels in her new job and is in love with Steve. At

used to have five-;'s¿¡ plans," he had re-

least that is the impression we get. She must feel something for him when she says: "Airports. So many of my memoat airpotts." Good ries of Steven ^rehave been happy to God, she should see the back of him. It takes l2O pages for Laurie to confront Steven with the

plied.

line: "Do you love me?"

"How does the question mark hanging over 1997 aÍlect Cathay Pacific's longrange planning?" I had askecl him. "Cathay "\ùØe

cut that bâck to three. Beyond

Laurie gets accepted into Colum-

years two and thtee, you're in dreamland

\Ve're conscious foufteenyeârs

of 7997, of course, but

bia but Adam, the rat, offers her the

particularlyin

wodd and she stays with, you guessed

is a longtime

,

Hong Kong."

An1-way, Laurie

is enticed

bY

Steve's boss Adam to desert her profession and become a flake for ORION. At the same time Steve is slashing his way to the top of the company. Steve

and Laurie split. She retums to Australia with ORION and Steve continues knifing his colleagues ... he is an ambitious little person. Steve, in fact, tums out to be a boring prat andLaurie comes a close second.

There is no attempt to develop characters beyond inane dialogtte. For

example, we have no idea whether

it, ORION. Steye turns out to be one of the last romantics when he utters the memorable line, "Love is only chemicals". Nice one Steve.

In the end Laurie goes to Columbia, graduates with honours and hooks

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

o mojor force in world trode you'll find we've olwoys got o good story to tell: no podding, no puff ond bocked by occurote, up{o-the-moment figures ond stotistics, Nexltime you receive one of our press releoses, give it o good once-over, You'll soon see whot we meon Or contoct us if you need detoils on ony ospect of Hong Kong trode,

a job with a respectable business magazine in New York. Steve, Adam et al at ORION sell out and become millionaires. tetlag, with a boredom factor of 1O is a must for insomniacs and people who love soaps. Otherwise, it can be found in the libraries of most good psychiatric hospitals.

@

Hong Kong Trade Development Council We Creole Opportunilies

HeodOffice: 3SlhFloor,OfficeTower,ConventionPlozo,4HorbourRood,Wonchoi,HongKong. Tel: (852) 5844333 Fox: (852) B2A02Aq TIIE

CORRESPONIIEI{T

Iune 1994

A montbly portrait of FCC irreplaceables

Arthur Hacker Memtrer Since: Age:

Occupation: Nationality: Interests: Description:

(Sutherland House) Mid 1968 Born before God was a boy. "It was the same year as Elizabeth Taylor."

Cartoonist, illustrator, historian, gatherer of obscure facts.

British, of course.

"Good gossip. Good women. Gosh, isn't it your round, old boy?"

The man with impeccable clothes taste.

Pltotograpbed by Bob Dauis

THE CoRRf,SPotltDNT

March 1994

Trm BEsr Pnnr¡rensHrps Lnsr A LmErn¿p.

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