The Correspondent, January - February 1997 by The Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong

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The struggle for self-determ ination in F;ast Timor Professor Jose Ramos lJorta, 1996 Nobel Pe¿rce Prize Winner

THD GORRXSPONDENT Ianr-raq,/FebruaÐ

2 TIJE

FOREIG\ c()lìRESI'()N DE\TS' CLIIB

Lettei:s Fr.oa:rr the President Time fbr Draconian flreasllres'/

I lr¡rrt¡ \lbtrl l{orrl Ilotrg Kong l';tr: lfì(rlì t()91

lclc¡rlronc: .l5.ll l5lI

Presidcrlt l¡rlttt ('r.ilììlr¡ìl l)tul lil\ ficl(l First \-ice Presideît Secorrd \ ice I'res¡der)t - Ktrirì \lrtlnrstr(;nr (

I99-

Co\.ea- Stor-J'. 'l'he stnrggle fbr selfcleter-minution in ìlast Timol'

:oÍresp()rìde¡ìl !lcnrber ( i¡rr er¡¡ ¡rs lJol) l)¡r\¡s (lntlì\ Ì[ilboür llol)in l-\ rrrrrì Iichircl -\lirckc\ Kc('s llctsclrru lr¡rrrrirrn !lirskr lìr¡lr

\l()1ilìtlì)rt Ktirh l(ichburg (.hristolllìer SlirLr!-lhtcr llul)crt \rrì [s \rL I d(t t

1". (

ìllth\

Ecul.nenicírI patriarch Pnlessr tr.lose Rttl1los Horta

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.{ssoci¿rte -\,Iernber G()\'ernors \\ illirrìì ll \rcson lohn (.orl)cLt Jìon;tltl I ing lttlirn \\ rlslì

Profcssiorìal C()rìrrnittec (.( )tu (il()r. \'lithrtcl \'l:tckcr

13-

AÌ\iIPE Challenges fìrr Er-rglishlanguage nes.-spapers in

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Flouse (-oilìoìittee ( t)ut t ilt)r. l(, 'rl.tl(l LIrg

Asi¿r

Á.Ì\IPE Four clurk sccrcts of thc Asian nlccliâ

Finance C()rrìnittee ( ()nl ctt)r. \\ illirtnì I L ,\r(sorl

tats!tì!r. lulilrr \\

AT\iIPE Freeclom of expressiorì

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Membership c()mmittcc (.r¡ttt t'ttt¡r. Ilul)clI \lI lis l.& lì rn(l Entert¿irrnlerìt Cotrmittee (,'ttr'!ttt)t ñ.| itì \l.rltìì.lt(ìtìl

20-

lVfeclia Contracts disputes

\Í ¡rll C()nìrìüne( (

A^tPE Sþeeches

'b I ).1\ i\ t'ubl icati()1ìs Cornmittee (.()ln (nt)r. Prul ll:n litkl llol) l)il\ is I crr\ l)uckh:Lrl 5:trrl I ocklÌu t Rr ¡bio I r rrlr¡tnr Kccs \lcrscllrrr flul)crt \xn lr\ t ttt

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ltt' (.ot t t'slxttttlcrl/ ¡s l)Lrlllislìed rììorìtlìl\ l)\ [:or(il-lrì (i)rr(sl)()lr(lcnts (]h¡l) of Ilonll Konl.l

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PRoDIIC TION F:l Lirtr l)<sigrt S l'r'irtlitrg l.otr th Floor I 5lì \\ (llinltton 5tr cct (,crìtrll I loìr$ Korì¡l

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at l,îL'l.ge

FCC Golf Socierr¡r Kan Sai Chau Decer.nber'

The Correspondent lcll llcscluootl Etlitr¡r 'l clt ¡rlroD< : ls5 l o+9-ì F:Lx: lS

l\4errrbers C¿urbocliiì toda),

24-

l\ufedi¿r

25-

Staff Christrrras

26-

l\Te¡¡' Yeaf's

2a-

Social

3L-

People Nerl-

16, 1996/

Jafluarl'

. 199-

Par:û¡'.

E\¡e Paftj¿

rlerlbers Hreþ)'1997

32-

FCC Faces Jol.rn Nofman

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Cor-e.r pl'roLogrzrph b)' Kees

Jâr1rLary/Fcllruíil'f

IN COS WC TRUsT t

To the editor ?*s{From Dr Brian'W. Darvell

overfrom'Vüodd'Wartr, satthere drinking

As a follow-up to Peter Finn'

FromMr George

letter

Correspondent, December '96,

I S.

Mackenzie

privileged to serve with the Gurkhas and I am very grateñrl for the adventurous and wonderfrrl life they I was once

gave me. Edward Peters (Tbe

Corresþondent

- Noueruber, 1996), alas, doesn't seem to see it that way judging by his 'chippy' memoirs. Frankly, his lighthearted yerbal confetti came across

TVte

as an

rürnece ssarily

superciïous article by a writer who owes his grounding to the Gurkhas and

what the Brigade provided him with for his present livelihood. Apart from that, it is full of inaccurate codswallop

- starting with his opening boast about being the only former Gurkha offrcer to have got into the fourth estate . To suggest that the Gurkhas have done little real soldiering for 30 years is hogwash.'What about the bad times on the Hong Kong-Sino border in 1967/ 68; Cyprus in the '70s; Falklands tù(/ar

can affirm the Singapore problem. Maybe I was more determined, but

after about an hour of searching,

frustrating enquiries of the security

guard, and seemingly

endless

wandering through the bowels of a strange topography, I found the FCAI However, this seemed to be a cupboard

masquerading as an offrce, and this transpired to be an accommodation address for the Association. Needless to say, Iwas peeved, tired, thirsty and hungry by this time. However, on my return, I simply

did not think it worth bothering to complain as I had obviously got the wrong end ofthe stickaboutreciprocal clubs. As it is, I suspect that when these

inwriting and nobody actually checked the deals were made (a) this was

physicalpresence of the so-called club; and @) who gets the better deal?'SØe do

not know how

lucþ we

are.

(the 80s); and the Gulf War, Rawanda and Bosnia more recentþ? Hardly a run

ofvicar's tea parties! His comments on the simplicity of the Nepali language and its lack of grammar, beggarbelief. It's almost akin

to saying that leaming Cantonese is a þ¡ece of ca,ke, as it only consists of monosyllabic gflrnts ifi two tones.

From Mr Bruce Maxwell Peter Finn (Tbe Corresþondent, December) seems to have struckoutin his quest for FCC reciprocal clubs. Six

blanks in England, Germany,

Thailand,

For the record, Steve Crowsley

Singapore

resigned before the Hawaü flasco, whìle George Lys is an adviser to the King of

andAustralia

Swaziland

- not an ADC in Lesotho. Ed Peters' final shot sums up,

that the list needs alittle

perhaps, why he is not 'flavour of the month' in Gurkha circles. After all, with

updating.

friends like Edward, who needs enemies?

FromMrTedThomas

You've done it againl The omnipotent Dutchman Van Es is

monopolising the Club mag azine agun. No champagne for you this month.

doessuggest

Hubertvan Es andl once successfi.rlly proposed the Palau Community Club in Micronesia. During sepamte visits we

hadbothbeenmade honorarymembers. It's still on ourbooks but alas is no more. The club was set up in a kind of cave in Koror, the principle island, and a long trestle table ran from its mouth to the water. Members, mostly Americans left

TnD CORRlSPOilDEilf JanuaryÆ ebtuaty 1997

lL3at

Bud, telling tales of their avocados and mangoes and pot plants. You knew how long theyhad been 'in-club' bythe high water mafk on their shins. We decided the FCC Hong Kong would not be imrndated by PCC people, and it was meant as a nice gesture at the time.

.*'*""* )\

But recently, due to horse riding connections, I've accidentally come across agemofaplace onourreciprocal

list, the Brisbane Polo Club. It is situated in historic Naldham

House, a National Trust-pfeserved former shipping offrce on the Brisbane river, and its appointments, cuisine and celfat are definitelyworthy of the best

,,/ a..,,*,,\.,,.i

FCC long-lunch traditions.

Goodness knows how it became an FCC Hong Kong reciprocal, and I don't thi¡k they know either. Having ascertained that we were indeed a reciprocal club, and I suspect finding it somewhat amusing to have such strangers trippingup inthe middle

of laifly

heav¡'weight business and political lunches, they really rolled out the red carpet, and we were personally

introduced to everyone from the manager down and made to feel

\ì \

s"-.-

.'..,,.,,

a ,

extremely welcome. I find a reason to lunchthere everytrip throughBrisbane now. Perhaps, rather than have some-

body go through our reciprocal list with a red pen, other members can let the board know of any 'finds' and make sure they are kept on. It could even be worth an occasional column tn Tbe

Corresþondent.

E3ã

Conon leqds the trend of outofocusing

SLR

comeros by its EOS system with stote-of-the-ort comeros,

dedicoted floshes, odvonced occessories ond the world lorgest ronge of high quolity lenses. Unique Advonced lnlegroted Multipoint Control, superb speed Ultrosonic focusing molors, eye-conlrol outofocusing

ond mony others ore Conon's innovotions pioneering the development of S[Rs. All these sophisticoted feotures reflect the commitment of Conon in fulfillinq the true needs of photogrophers, professionols ond omoteurs olíke.

ST(lLICHNAYA Letters to tbe editor are ahuays utelcome - uin yourself ø bottle of Stolicbnayøfor an

original or uíttjt lelter but resere tbe right to editfor clarity orfor reasons of sPøce. u)e

Canon WORID's NO.I CAMERA MANUFACTURER

THE BRAND TO TRUST

will be extended. The incentives

pursue special interests. For example,

HK$300. The hours have been

vary according to class of member introduced and are as follows:

what about a hiking society? Ancl

extended as follows:

$5,OOO

Laddet?

$3,000 $z,ooo $500

Just a reminder. The health corner is operating with improved facilities,

Second vice-president Karin

including a new set of free weights. There are also small storage lockers available at an annual rental fee of

members Diplomatic/media -Associate Correspondent/ioLunalist Corporate

Time for DtaconiaÍr measures? T I

nuu. alwavs wondered who the Draconianswereandwhywehate

them so much. So I looked them up.

tums out that the Draconians were not a people, but a person. Draco, a seventh century BC Athenian lawgiver, was apparently very harsh. I shudder

to think what would have been considered 'very harsh' in 621 BC.

credit card slip to cover any costs (including subscription amounts) incurred during their stay. Due to constraints in the accounting software, and limited manpower, it will not be possible to issue a statement or closing bill on request when a temporary member leaves at the end oftheir stay.

Rest assured that nothing like that is about to happen at the FCC.

However,

it will come as no

surprise to frequent users of the Club,

that there are locally resident people masquerading as absent members. These people are hurting all of us, who dutifully pay our subscription fees. Besides that, they are violating the Club's articles, which state thatan absent member is one who does not reside in Hong Kong. I now invite those abusers to go on active status before the hammer falls. It is sad that a few abusers haye

forced us to institute tighter controls, which may inconvenience legitimate absent members, many of whom are

returning to the Club in hopes of finding a familiar face after a L5 hour flight. These bureaucratic measures will also apply to temporary members. The Club is going to institute a system whereby all returning absent members and temporary members will be issued with a picture identification card. The use of chits will be stopped,

other than on specific occasions. Therefore, all temporary and retuming absent members will need to be issued

with temporarymembership cards on

arival at the Club. This card will work in the same way as a regular membership card. It will have aunique bar code recognised by our point-of-sale system. However, such temporary visitors will be asked to settle their bills daily by credit card on leaving the Club. The Club will also require thevisitorto leave apre-signed

._:, Devotedreaders of this spa.cemay recallthat some time ago I said thatwe were looking Tor a public relations firm to take over our membership drive. After reviewing some proposals, the board decided that this approach

was too costly. Instead, we have decided to hire a temporary membership marketingpersonto work on commission, who will work with the general manager and the membership drive committee to find new members. In the interest of making that person's job a bit easier, the board has decided to institute the

following rates:

HK$10,000 (under l0) maybe settled in full on joining, or by instalments as

follows:

. .

Associates of 30 or over HK$5,000 down and HK$1,300 per month over 12 months, making a total cost of HK$20,600; Associatesunder 30 HK$5,000

down and HK$650 per month, making atotal cost of HK$10,300.

Applicants accepting deferred

tails.

correspondents) may apply for

correspondent in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Japan, and now vicepresident of programming and executive editor of Radio Free Asia in \Vashington, sees a special mission

Theywill

be issuedwith a membership card bearing theirphotograph, with a

applicant.

Incentive scheme

-Sundays 7.00

& Public Holidays

a.m. - 6.00 p.m. (Last entry - 5.30 p.m.;

FCC p yewitness on Asia', the I-¿ detinitive FCC book is

book

post (add HK$45 for surface mail

There was a misprint in the advertisement for the book in the December issue of Tbe Correspondent. The 20 per cent discount quoted only applied to advance orders and is no longer

postage) but the Club regrets it cannot accept credit cards for these orders. A

available. For further information, please

bank draft or a cheque drawn on

contact feception.

available from reception, priced $368 tf payngby Mastercard or Visa). It is available to overseas members by ($ 37 7

Hong Kong bank is required.

from Al Kaff of the Overseas Press Club

an Southerland, a Yeteran

validity period as requested by the Young member category (associates only) Associate members under 30 on the date of filing an application for membership may join at the reduced

ing another title (or as they would say in weekly news magazine-speak 'yet another title'). Along with Terry Duckham, she is becoming Co-Dive Shark for the FCC DlVErsions Society. The society intends to operate along the lines of the FCC Golf Society and will sponsor diving trips to choice locations around the region. See elsewhere in this issue for de-

Other visitors (not journalists or

In the case of temporary members, all bills must be settled by credit card.

per cent discount off the HK$3,000 per person joining fee.

convenor of the Entertainment Committee, or Minister of Fun, is acquir-

News of Radio Free Asia

membership at the same time, they

-Daily - p.m. - 10.00 7.00 a.m. (Last enrry - 9.30 p.m.)

Temporary visitors (other than those with reciprocal rights) Visiting journalists with proper identification will be welcomed into the Club for a period of up to two weeks without incurring subscrþtion fees. Visitors forlongerthantwoweeks wotrld require a payment of HK$500 per two-week period. Maximum period granted in any one year would

temporary membership for a period of not mofe than three months at a fee of HK$1,000 per month.

a 2O

Malmström, who in her capacity

should be noted that we are always happyto accommodate groups of members who want to organise or

be three months.

will receive

.:r'

-:,

terms do not become yoting members until all the instalments have been made . Instalments , like other Club bills , must be made by auto pây.

Group discounts for correspondent and iournalist members If five or more qualified correspondents or journalists fromthe

same organisation apply for

whatever happened to the FCC Squash

for his

US government funded broaclcasts to China and Tibet. The Voice of America, also government supported, tends to beam Americancentred news into target countries, Southedand says. But his goal for Radio Free Asia is

Having a membership marketing person is fine, but I think the members

to present more news from the

rate of HK$10,000.

themselves are the best representatiyes

countries.

Deferred payment of joining fees (associates only) The initial joining fees of HK$20,000 (30 and over) and

of the Club. Therefore, the incentive scheme that was instituted last year, whereby members would receive a credit on their bill for every new member they introduce to the Club,

Established by the US Congress, Radio Free Asia started broadcasts last year in Mandarin and Tibetan, and plans to add local-language broadcasts to Vietnam, North Korea,

listeners' own and neighbouring

Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

Starting his international

reporting career with UPI in Toþo, Southerland spent 1l years wit}r TlJe CLsristian Science Monitor in Saigon, Hong Kong and Washington, covering the Vietnam war and other conflicts in Indochina; and five years as Beijing

btrreau chief for Tbe Wasbington Post.In 1995, he received the Edward

Weintal prize for distinguished reporting for his series on the Mao Tse-tung years in China. Meanwhile, a dispute over Radio Free Asia was played out in Tbe Neu.t York Times. In a December 26

despatch from Beijing, Tirues E. Tyler wrote: 'American diplomats in China joke that RFA is a 'stealth' radio network

correspondent Patrick

because few people know its

frequencies or the location of its transmitters. Those who have found the frequencies say that they are seldom able to pick up the signal. It is not that the Chinese are jamming it; the signal is simply too weak to reach much of its intended audience'.

Richard Richter, president of Radio Free Asia, fired back a reply in a letter published in the January 6 Neut York Times'.'Our signals are

tracked daily by unmanned, remote

monitoring systems in Beijing and Shanghai ... Monitoring reports available on the IBB's (International Broadcasting Bureau) web site show that the signal has been rated 'good' or 'fair' in Beijing and Shanghai. Transmission to Tibet has been rated

'excellent' since its inception on

December 2'

Januaqy'Febnrary 1997 TIIE

CORRf,SP0I\II)EI{I

condemning the invasion and calling for withdrawal of Indonesian

troops. The problem is that UN members have never ensured Indonesian compliance. One week after East Timor declared independence, Indonesia annexed the island in response, it says, to calls for support against FRETILIN, the political

civilwar createdbythe politicalvacuum

it had become the fourth largest arms dealer to Indonesia.) InMarch 1 985, at a closed-doormeeting, the UN Human Rights Commission deleted the East Timor issue from its agenda. The US voted in favour.

caused by departing Portuguese colonialists. FRETILIN still claims

During the eighth round of UNsponsored negotiations eadier last year

legitimate authority over the island The UN charter counsels that no country should intervene unilaterally

between itself, Portugal, Indonesia and East Timor, the secretary-general laid

partywhich

came to power after

brief

in the affairs of other countries.

security.

improvement in human rights. Slamming the EU-accepted compromise of a UN prografnme officer to monitor the situation in East Timor as empty, Horta notes that the offtcer still has not been accepted and the office has notyet commenced operation. But he still has faitÌr tÌrat the new ideas

Blaskett notes that Australia, Britain andAmerica allhadpriorknowledge of the invasion but did nothing to stop it. 'Had these countries been less accommodating in their dealings with Indonesia,' she wrote, 'the annexation would not have happened'. The United States,Which provided, it is estimated 90 per cent of the weapons used by Indonesia against East Timor, camied on protecting its sut¡ stantial economic interests after the invasion by continuing the supply of military equipment and foreign devel-

ProÍessor Horta tuítlr tlre Club's president, Jobn Gianrxini.

The struggle for s elf- determ inatio n

in East Timor

SEAN countries, says exiled

activist and joint 1996 Nobel winner, Professor Jose

Ramos Hofia, are paying for Indonesia's

Australia has continued to establish closer bilateral ties with its northernneighbour, culminatinginthe 1989 signing with Indonesia of the hlgttly controversial Timor Gap Treaty, dividing East Timor's oil and gas reserves between them. Although critical of its pastforeign policies, Horta says Australia has carried the embarrassment of Indonesian

R-a-rrros

Horta, NTobel Peace

Prize lxzinner in 1996, rrrade a uzkridvrzind rzisit to Hong I(ong recentl¡r, anl.d inch-rded a rrrornillg

lecture at th.e Foreign

Correspondents' Ch-rbI(arrin Jones .was there-

to question its legitimacy.

blames the continuing rift between ASEAN and the EU over Indonesia's involvement in East Timor and predicts further Portuguese vetoes of mutual agreements if the situation remains constant.

Horta questions the reluctance of Malaysia, the Philippines orThailand to

behaviour

needle Indonesian sensitivities; any pressure they exerted could not be classi,fied as iritelventionist, he said.

enough.

THD CORRXSPOII|IIENI JanuaryÆebruary 1997

East Timor

whole, ASEAN is only interested in maintaining the status quo. '"The ASEAN oligarchies and the Suharto regime in Indonesia are even conniving atmost activity against Burma because they alllear thag foilowing the

example of South Korea and the Philippines, democracy would expand into the ASEAN region," he said. Rejecting the belief that human rights are a Westem invention he says:

"It is an extraordinary perwersion of Asia's own culture and history to deny that notions of justice arc part of Asian philosophies and religions. "

In addition to ASEAN countries, Horta said that US and European

scaling down of Indonesiantroops, the

strategic interests in the region are best

ar7

protected by encouraging its regimes to move gradually but swiftly toward democratic reforms. "If reforms at the

concerning the release ofprisoners and the end of torture can be discussed in the UN with its new secretary-general. "The international climate is appropriate for the Security Council to look into the situation in East Timor," he says. WhetherASEAN canplay a significant role in securing the right for self-

political and civil level are not undertaken now in Indonesia, the economic gains over the past twenty years all go up in flames.

The Nobel PeacePnze awardedto ProfessorHorta andBishop Cados Filipe XimenesBelocan can onlyhelp in draw. ing intemational attention to the situation in East Timor and gain support for the proposals of the 57-year old politi-

cal activist: the election of a local assembly under Indonesian sovereignty and a referendum after 10 years.

for long

"Australia lost its veto in the Security

Council latgely because of krdonesia.

"'Vf'e were nerrer historically,

Vhy shouldAustalia continue uking the

traditionally or geographically part of

blame because of lndonesia's actions?" The continent now has enough credibility to demand a change in Indonesian policy toward East Timor, he said.

Indonesia," he explains. Orlegally. The UN Security Council adopted resolurions tn 1975 and 1976

determination is another question. Horta argues that, in the region as a

opment assistance to the Suharto regime.

dare

ProfessorJose

Australian academic Beverly

Peace Prize

occupation of East Timor althoughfew

human rights

release of prisoners and

Council," says Horta.

À.

situation which threatens peace and

time to contact the UN Security

down non-paper proposals which Indonesia rejected: that

monitor be established in Dili, independent obseryers to verify the

"Indonesia made no effort at the

Timor. @y 7982,

Countries are advised to consult with the UN Security Council, who will then

initiate measufes to countef any

But there is little pressure on to withdraw. Britain, for example, abstained from all from all resolutions calling for an act of selfdetermination for the people of East Indonesia

Journalìsts frantìc

for a word uítÌt

tbe elusiue Nobel Peace Príze

January /February 1.997

uinner

IED

GOIRDSPOIÍ¡IDNT

--T

EcumenicalPatriarch Bartolorneos 1, ttre spiritual leader <>f 25O rnillion Orthodo>< Christians addresses a pood¡z supported FCC h-rnch

Canon Hongkong Company Limited

AilOil

10/F, Mirror Tower,61 Mody Rd , Kowloon, Hong Kong

7/E Swire House, 9 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong

Services/Products:

Corporate Communication

C.F.

2747 5214

Corporate Com

Tanya

Canon cameras and video camcorders

Assistant

Sole Distributor :JOS Consumer Electronics

Address:21lF Cornwall House, Senior

Taikoo

lirlanager

Asslstant Product l\4arketing

Place,979 K¡ng's Rd, Quary Bay, Hong Kong

l\,4anager

fulanager - Asia Corporate Communication lVìanager-

K/Taiwan/C

mun

ication Manager

- Europe/Pacific

2565 2008

Services/Products:

Wong

2565 2OO7

Hong K0ng-based international airline

Alberl

l\4s

Louise

47 5217

2747 5211

Liz

King

2747 5378

38/F , Office Tower, Convention Plaza, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Tel: 2584-4333

ax: 2824-0249 lnternet: httpt//www,tdc org hk

For Hong l(ong trade statistics, information

EiÈ(ìåR)Ë'ßRAËl

Manager

Communications

Jessica Chan Enquiry : 2564 9333

Direcl

: 2564 9309

Fax

:2856 5004

Publicity Section at2584-4333 Ext 7489.

Mass Transit Railway Corporation

Corporate Affairs

4666

Chevalier Commercial Cenlre, 17th Floor,

Corporate Communications Corporate Affairs

Clatu

Manager lrene Pun

Officer

Kenmy

Yip

Bartolomeos

I, the

Ecumenical

Patriarch, may well aid its retum to the Mainland. Choosing Hong Kong as the see for South-east Asia's first Greek Orthodox archdiocese was certainly a pragmatic, if not strategic move to this end. The Reverend Protodeacon Peter

Danilchick

sa1's

that although the

Wang Hoi Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong

Kong

Fa: 2795

9991

centLlry has been consistent with the

lel:2993

Tel: 2993 2166

someone pushes.

2842 4673

MßBetly0han PublicRdationsM¿n¿ger

Tel:2993 2929

2842 4704

Miss0laudiaHo AssistanlPublicBelalionsMarlager

Iel:2993

2276

"We believe his All Holiness has taken on this challenge and he cetainly

Ass¡stanlPubticRelalionsManager-AirportBailnay lel:2993 2136

is a source of very vibrant vision, " he

M¡nndaleung

2842 4629

lnchcape Pacific Limited is the Greater China regional arm of lnchcape, the international distribution group.

MissDaphneMak

0utside0ffiæHours

Ïel:

2175

2993 2599

said.

Leader of 25O mlttion Orthoclox Christians, the Patriarch was recently

in Hong Kong signing documents re-

fraønl

ArnPoRT AUTHoR¡TY

lated to the new venture. Afterwards, he addressed a Foreign Correspond-

Public Relations Manager Phillip Bruce 28247700 Media Relations Manager Terri Lai 2824770s Media Enquiries (24 hours) 28247152

ents' Club lnncheon. Few journalists were there to hear

shriro (H.K) Ltd.

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strict neutrality towards political ideology did not stem from indifference: "It stems from the firm conviction that

egotism and hypocrisy

are imperceptibly interwoven in every

icleological configuration of human life. " 'ù(4rether Orthodox Christians will need to draw on these lessons in future

dealings

with China is

another

question; the Church anticipates that

China will soon be politically and religiously open enough to tole'rate their worship.

Patriarch's, nothing gets done until

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atheistic persecntion is a sensitive point, he said, but stressecl that the Church's

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religion but the vision of spiritual leader

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iFlre real difficr-rlqz is that ttre Diwine Liturgy is not a spoken serwice; the szords are surag a-nd chanted It is hoped that these

churches

his vehement speech detailing the

will

Church's experiences under

those ofJapan and South Korea. Concluctiug the Divine Liturgies, or central worship serwice, in the vernacular

communist regimes (only those of Eastern Europe). But the room was not

become truly indigenous, like

composition of a beautiful, sacred piece of music. "The whole point of the liturgy is that it's an exact replication of the worship that goes on in heaven," explains Aijla. Possessing a manuscript which Russian Orthodox missionaries translated into Mandarin, circa 1850, is Professor Jerry Norman, from the department of Chinese Language and

Literature at Seattle's \Vashington University. His undertaking will improve the 'awkward literary sty'e' of the only remaìning Chinese version of the Divine Liturgies.

The few faithful who remain in Hai Bin province, says a Hong Kong-

based scholar studying Mainland Christian minorities, have preserved the Liturgies orally, but whether a

more modern written version has survived Communism is the tantalising mystery, and from Norman's point of view, the great hope. After hearing these litttrgies in an Athenian chapel in 1984, Luke Chow,

Hong Kong's only Chinese Greek Orthodox, converted. "I realised that the chanting and rhythm of the worship is the original way of getting in touch with our Lord." One 1's¿¡ later, Mr Chow and his Greek wife established the territory's first

Orthodox Church. St. Luke's was the lourge of their small Sha Tin apartment,

and draped with startlingly rich

is integral to this process. For Hong Kong, that means a translation into Mandarin and a suitably fluent bishop. Church member Matthew Aijla, who manages the task, says that pre-

pendants, looking, as one irreverent journalist muttered, like ecclesiastical groupies. It was difficult to determine

seruing spiritual dimensions and choosing between a translation straight from Greek or via the English version are

their purpose, sleeping as they did through His All Holiness's lengthy

considerations at the forefront of this endeavour. "This undertaking, which

for the past three months. And a bishop

speech.

has a significance that transcends eve-

take pastoral care of the region's exist-

ing Orthodox communities in Hong

mouthing each word the Patriarch uttered. "God and history reserved for

ryday life, has a depth of importance that is magnified exponentially." The real difficulty is that the Divine Liturgy is not a spoken service; the

us Orthodox in this century one of the

words are slrng and chanted, the

altogether empty. For touring with the Patriarch was a considerable entoLuage of ordained men, dressed in dramatic black cloth

In fact, only the speech writer at the far end of the table remained alert,

complete with a regulation-size cross. Ten years later, he says, the community has overcome the main obstacles; a church has been found and a resident priest will signal the end of services held by clerg¡'on stop-overs,

although temporary pastor George Kalpaxis has served the community was appointed eadier this month to

Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, India and the Philippines. Perhaps one day, his responsibilities will also include China. Eæ

Januaryy'FebruaÐ,

1997

THD C0RR[SP0illlENT

I I

regional business newspaper both started in Hong Kong. Nor is it iust arìother coincidence

The free flow of information has proved its value in Hong Kong by helping the government to improve its own performance ancl by contributing to the open and competitive business environment which is essen-

The media and its role in monitoring managemerrt are only one part of the story. The supply of information, its analysis and distribution, are an

thatAsian satellite television startedhere.

tial for a modern intemational service

Let me emphasise that I do not praise the activities of Hong Kong's print and electronic media because

centfe. A 'knowledge-based' economy is the foundation on which we must build our future prosperity. The last resort, to quote another great statesman, is that knowledge is 'our best protection against unreasoning prejudice and panic-making fear, whether engendered by special interests, illiberal minorities or panicstricken leaders'. (F.D. Roosevelt)

thatin advanced economies, more than half of their total GDP is 'knowledge-

It cannot be coincidence that Asia's

oldest English-language regional magazine andthe fi rst English{anguage

Freedom of expression .urr,.r.ing words on the freedom f,! I\of the press are getting rare. So what a surprise when along comes a ringing endorse-

ment of free expression from Hong Kong's Chief Secretary, and it goes almost unreported. Mrs Chan's defence of the free press is not only welcome in its own right; it also stands in sharp contrast to statements we've heard calling for 'balance' and for telling 'the right story' from others, including Mrs Chan's future boss, Chief Executive-designate, Tung Chee-hwa.

they support the government and its

policies. On the contrary, they are consistently critical of what we do. 'W'asn't it Nelson Rockefeller who said 'Reading about one's failings in

If Mr Tung does not read The Correspondher own past - who's had difficulties with the press can take a few minutes to straighten him out. ent, maybe Mrs Chan

the dailypapers is one of the privileges of high office in a free country'? Butthe rightto anaþse, comment

based'. Hong Kong

h as alr

eady joined

econoÍues: Service industries account for 83 per cent of our total GDP and for 73 per cent of total employment; Our GDP atUS$23,500 perhead is the 13th highest in the wodd, and

to both the credibility and effrciency of Hong Kong and its economy.

The media are the first and most accessible source of information for the business community on how markets are moving and how

investment prospects

tbe Press Committee

. .

are

changing; The media are the most effective forum in which business and corporate performance can be debated; The media are, in manyways, the

ideal market p-lace in which

business knowledge and concepts compete for business.

T u- grateful to ANPE tor inviting I ." to speak for two reasons. First, Hong Kong has a date with historythis year, and it is appropriate that you should have picked Hong Kong as your venue for the 1997 Expo. Secondly, Hong Kong's free and flourishing news

media have played their part in our progress from a lowcost manufacturing economy to a sophisticated and cosmopolitan community, which has become a major international business and financial centre . My theme is freedom: freedom of expression and the free flow of hformation, and how these contribute to the well-being of a modern community. There is a problem about freedom of expression.'W'e all thhk that is a good thing, but we often feel uncomfortable about the consequences. Winston Churchill put it yery well. 'Everyone is in favour of free speech,' he said, 'but some people's idea of it is THD

CORRf,

SPOtltf,

that they are free to saywhat theylike, offer the best possible business but that if anyone also says something environment. bad, that is an outrage'. . Keeping taxes low, goyernment In other words, we all want to see

'Vl'e must also be clear that the knowledge on which an information

the news published, objectively,

small and minimising bureaucracy;

exchange rates, The media must be

Promoting competition wherever

free to deal with everything that influences the well-being of society

impanially of view!

and from our own

poinf

to be heard,' he said, 'does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously'. The transition from a manufacnrring-based economy to a major international services centre over the last decade or so has been rapid and largely pairfess, and credit for this must go to

the entrepreneurs and investors who knew how to respond to the changes overtaking both this region's €conomy and the wodd's service industry.

The Hong Kong government's more intangible. Its priority has been to ensure that we

JanuaryÆ ebruary 7997

- notably in the telecommunications industry;

possible

Churchill had a further comment on freedom of expression: 'The right

contribution

has been

. Upgrading the regulation of our

financial markets to match the

society depends caffìot be confined

share quotations and foreign

and which can make or mar its future political and social issues as well as

Promoting the rule of law - a corruption-free civil serwice and

commercial policies. Are there no limits to the free flow of information and the freedom of the news media? Certainly there are, and Hong Kong does not apologise for

an accountable administration.

having stricter laws relating to

Atthe

defamation and obscenity than other pafts ofAsia. Communities are entitled

best wodd standards - without stifling initiative and enterprise;

same time, ourcommitment

to an open economyhas beenmatched

to set the standards of responsible

by a commitment to the free flow of information. I am convinced that there is a direct link between the speed with which Hong Kong could switch to a service economy and the flourishing state of the mass media.

behaviour for suppliers of information. But these standards must genuinely

the

ranks of thewodd's successful service

and repoft is essential

That said, not everFthing Mrs Chan argues is music to our ears; note her disquieting defence of some of the strongest libel and obscenity laws to be found in Asia ...

Francis Moriarty, conueno4 Freedom

irícreasing economic assetintheirown right. Arecent OECD report estimated

meet the community's requirements and not form the excuse for protecting

government officials or business executives from embarrassment. JanuaryÆebruâry 1997

Îf,[

CoRRXSPoII|IDI{T

I oLlf fofeign exchange fesefves per head, second highest in the wodd. Hong Kong is already part of an emerging global'information society'.

lùØithout open and unrestricted communications and full access to the global flow of information, how could we hope to retain our clrrrent standing in the wodd economy?

. .

the government an opportuniq/ to put things right, before they develop

Singapore. Nibon Keizai Sbimburt has symbolised the emergence of

into

Japanas a dominant economic power. rù(/ith less than six months to go

serious scandal or a major crisis.

The beginning of July this year

will mark a new era for Hong Kong as we become a Special Administrative

Region of the PRC. The uncertainties of the past will be put behind us and we shall move into the next centLtry

with a new status, a new role and new

before Hong Kong reverts to China, there are understandable doubts as to whether the guarantees of the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law on press freedom will be honoured after 1997 . It is surely a positive fact that

oppoftLlnities.

these two documents governing orrr'

future acknowledge that

trading economy and the 1Oth largest exporter of serwices;

!(¡hile this is the year for Hong Kong to look forward to the future, 1997 is ayeat for this region to look to the past, for it marks several important

any other city except London or

the 50th anniversary of the

New York; we are the wodd's fifth largest financial centre and the eighth largest stock market;

independence of India and Pakistan. It is the 40th anniversary of Malayan independence. It is also the 5Oth anniversary of Japan's constitution. As we look back at the post-war

We are the wodd's eighth largest

'Sle have more foreign banks than

'We

are the wodd's second biggest

commrnication centre, in terms of the number of lax lines per head. So

what is the case for freedom of

expression and the right to

information? This right is a question of principle, of the fundamental right to know. As George Bernard Shaw arguecl, 'The right to know is like the right to live. It is fundamental and unconditional in its assumption that knowledge, like life, is a desirable

thing'. The right to know goes hand in hand with the right to lead lives of freedom and dignity. Very plainly, Asia would be far less free today if the media had not been so vigorous and oLltspoken in the past. However, this ìs no more than arguing a case in favour of toleration for freedom of

expression and the free flow of information. But this is a negative attitude which does not suit the cuffent economic and social needs of

anniversaries in Asian histgry. This is

history of onr region, it is striking how important has been the

contribution of the media -

newspapers in particular to Asia's political development. The media played amajor part in

press freedom has been an important part of Hong Kong's past success and will be an important part of Hong Kong's future sllccess, indeed an indispensable part. 'W'e must, though, recognise that

press freedom, like all freedoms, require everyone to participate ancl to share responsibility. By that I mean the government, journalists, editors,

proprietors and the readers. The government is cloing its share to uphold press freedom but all these efforts will come to nought if those who belong to the profession do not stand up for their own freeclom.

helping colonial societies to shape

I urge you all therefore to practise

their own political cnltures and

your profession after 1997 as you have always practised it - continue to write stories and editorials that deserve to be written, responsibly,

develop their national iclentities. India's road to independence, for example, could have been far more difficult if The Statesman and Tl¡e Hindustan Times had not been newspapers of distinction ancl

objectively, but without fear or favour. How well you do your job after the transitionwill, to alarge extent, decide

influence. Similarþ, tlee Straits Times

how well other freedoms will be

played a distinguished role in the emergence of both Malaysia and

protected.

swordsmen was famons for

Press Institute (IPD reported that intemationally at least 38

An address to the

journalists were killed in pursuit of their work during 1996,' a year t}rat witnessed press freedom under graver threat than ever before'. The IPI,

Let's look at the media's contribution to good management. A complex modern city like Hong

drug traffickers and criminal gangs. The IPI annual report also said that

telling his students, "You cannot profit

-A.sia

NTeuzsparper Publishers E>(po b).

based in Vienna, surveyed 15O countries and found that in addition to

IJd>an C. Lekrner, editof of

political repression, journalists woddwide were being intimidated by in China, it was made clear during the year that the role of the media was

Kong depends increasingly on

to support the state: 'As Beijing toughens its approach to its own press,

providing high quality seryices which

there are the most rational grounds for fearing for the fate of those Hong

of the administration is performing less well, the TV, radio and press will draw our attention, promptly and

ne ofJapan's legendary samurai

nJanuary 5, one day before Mrs Chan's speech, the International

the region. Instead, those in authority, whether in govemment or in business, should regard freedom of expression and information as a positive asset.

meet the public's needs. If some part

Challenges for Englishlangu age neurs papers ín Asia

Kong journalists who strive to report freely and objectively after the British colony reyerts to Chinese

forceftilly, to our ornissions. This gives fHE CORRISP0M)DNT JanuaryÆebrtary 1997

inJuly 1997'.

s]l

7lb e

Asiart W'¿llI Stre

t J<tz-trtaó¿

from small techniques, particulady when wearing full armour." English-language newspapers in Asia know what he meant. 'W'e, too, face great challenges dressed in full armour. Andas the samrrrai suggested, only bold techniques can help us. Our challenges come in a variety of forms. They include the challenges

all English-language media face in countries where English is not the native language. They include the challenges all print media everywhere face, especially competition from the electronic media. They include the challenges all Asian media face, JannaryÆebruary

1997 TUE CORRf,SPOilIlDilf

I including a political ancl cultural environment that does not always welcome open criticism. And on top of all these are the special and differìng

challenges facing each of the three types of English newspapers in Asia

the local, the regional and the international. To dwell on challenges is to risk being mistaken for a pessimist, so I

many Asians are actuall). fluent in English? Nobody really knows. The estimates vary widely. Looking at those estimates with a sceptical eye and discounting for a built-in bias towards exaggeration, the best guess is that between 90 million and 150 million Asians can read an English-language newspaper. That may sound like a broad range, but consicler

recently, it found it didn't have enough English speakers in the government to staff all the meetings. The Vietnamese government had to launch a crash English-study ptogramme for Vietnamese bureaucrats.

Air-traffic control is another example. Pilots and controllers the wodd rouncl increasingly communicate in English. As air traffic in Asia expands, so cloes demand for English. In 1998

that the estimates for the number of English speakers in the entire world ranges from 400 million to over one billion. Now in one sense, 90 million to

Clrina's air-traffic controllers will join the ranks of English speakers. They will speak to all pilots, including Chinese pilots, in English. Some have al-

trees and live wires can co-exist

150 million is not very many. It's a tinl' three per cent to flve per cent.of Asia's

readl'gone to the United States for English training, and more will in the

peacefully, in Asia and elsewhere.

three billion people. It's even tinier

months ahead. The reality is that English is likely to continue as the common language of Asian diplomacy, Asian air-traffic control andmany otherforms of Asian social intercourse. Its role may even

should clari$' that I am, on the contfary,

an optimist. I believe we have many things going for us as we confront olrr challenges, not least the likelihood of

continLled strong economic growth throughout the region. I believe dead

I believe the climate for open expression of criticism in Asia is, on

the whole, improving.

It wasn't

long ago that newspapers had to deal with leaders like Mao Zedong, who liked to tell visitors that it was proof of the wisdom of his Chinese ancestors that they had invented printing, but not the newspapef. Mao, of course, coulcl not actually read a newspaper in English. The same is true for the vast majority of Asians

considering these English readers are spread out over a vast expanse of teffitory. And for all sorts of seemingly

Engliskr is

Lt?

English is a universal language, if not the universal language. This has been true for a very long time. History tells us that when the pilgrims travelled from England in 162l to found what

lafer became the state of

expancl. And while 90 million English-

tlnilzersal lamguage,

reading Asians is a tiny fraction

if not

suffices to create demand for a fair number of English language

of Asia's total population, it more than

the universal

newspapefs.

language

today. And that is obviously one of the

main challenges for English-language newspapers. But how big a problem is

good reasons, one might assume that the number of English speakers inAsia has peaked. 'With local pride on the rise everywhere in Asia, won't fewer and fewer people care to learn a foreign tongue? Especially a foreign tongue so

anarchic in its grammar and orthography that vowel sounds

Assuming, that is, that people continue to read newspapers at all. Anyone who has visited a university fecently can testify that many young

the help of some of the native

"mood" and "wood" are spelled the

television for their news. Is the

same-oo.

Algonquin tribesmen, who taught the pilgrims how to grow corn. But how, you may have wondered,

of the English language

notwithstanding growing local pride,

newspaper an endangered species? Not really. Or at least, not 1rs1. Let's face it, college stuclents have never been big newspaper readers.

were the pilgrims able to communicate

one can make

good case that English

They're too busy reading their

still has room to grow in Asia. The more cohesive Asia becomes as a

assignments-when they're not busy

region, the more needAsian diplomats, business people, scholars and others will have to speak to each other. And most often, they will speak to each other in English.

atypical slice of society with highly specialised needs for information.

withtheAlgonquins?'VØell,

the remarkable

answer is that two of the Algonquins spoke English. One ofthem, anAlgonqtrin named Squanto, had actually lived in England. Thjnk of it: Even in 1621, tn a place as remote to England as Antarctica is to Asia today, an English speaker could affive and converse with tlre natiyes in his own language.

Of course, knowing enough English to help out a visiting foreigner and being able to read a newspaper in English are two different things. How

The Association of South-east Asian Nations is a good example. Each

of the seven ASEAN nations has its own local tongue. Yet all of the aPproximately 25O meetings ASEAN holds each year are conducted in English. rù(/hen Vietnam joined ASEAN

TIIE

GORRXSPONDDNT

JanuarylFebrtrary 7997

approach. Stitl others have

experimented with variations on these themes. But while television has forced newspapers to change over the last 4O years, it hasn't destroyed them. And it isn't likely to. Television may be good

at motion and emotion, but it can't touch newspapers when it comes to conveying complex ideas and factual detail. Who reads newspapers? Only

partylrrg, that is. Trading floors are an

tùØhere

trading floors lead the rest of us may not follow. And television? 'V(¡ell, newspapers

have had to contend with television for several clecades now. From the beginning, television left newspapers in its dust when it came to covering big, breaking

stories: wars, riots, catastrophes, stories that put a premium on motion and emotion and up-to-the-minute

regional business magazine in Tbe Før

Eastern Econornic Reuieu.t; t}re premier regional business television network in Asia Business News; and Internet versions of all thre e. Our Wall Street

Journal Interøctíae Edition,

which includes the best from all of the global editions of the Journal and much more, has been widely cited as one of the best sites available on the wodd-wide web.

Personally, however, I think newspapers have a lot of life left in them. rù(/hen that dream tablet finally amives, as it inevitably will, no doubt it will be very popular. But when will that be? Remember that in the eady

Now comes still another new medium posing a challenge to dead trees: live wires. Some visionaries maintain that within a few years, the Internet and other new media will

there, too. The philosophy of Dow Jones, the majority owner of The Asian Wøll Street lournal, is that we will provide business news and information to our customers whenever, wherevet and through whatever medium they wish to receive it. 'W'e're a content

small. Another challenge is other English-language local papers.'W'e see this especially in coun-

tries with large English-speaking

face, the quality of local Englishpapers in Asia is improving. They're offering

People.will

ttreir neszs frorrr.

a l2ortal>le screen

reported and edited. And some of them are making money at a rate that fills

their vernacular competitors with envy.

For the international English

no bigger ttran a_

Yet despite the challenges they

their readers more comprehensive local coverage, more professionally

get

papers, like tl:,e Internøtìonal Herald Tribune andthe Fínanciøl Times, t}re

ffragaztlf-e

challenge is local relevance.

International newspapers haYe to Remember, too, that television did

not make radio obsolete. The two technologies turned out to complement each other. In a similar

charge top dollar to cover their costs. How much growth will there be in the number of Asians willing to pay top

dollar for in-depth coverag€ of, say,

vein, it is interesting to note that in just three months earþ last year, 600,000

European politics and business? There

people signed up to use our new Internet edition, yet during that same period all three of the Wall Street Journal's global print editions experienced significant increases in

essentially the same editorial contents

circulation.

clearly will be some. By offering in Asia, Europe and North America, these newspapers give readers the comfort that they know what their colleagues and competitors overseas know, and that is something many

But what of the peculiar challenges facing EnglishJanguage papers in Asia? In one way, it's an impossibly broad question. By my count, there are more

Asians want. At the same time, though, all the

than 4O English-language papers in

increasing Asian intra-regional trade and investment, growing Asian selfconfidence and pride - suggest that Asians will, increasingly, want to read more about Asia.

pr€senting business news. 'We will design the very best

task, let's discuss three types of English

they may. And that's exactly what we're doing. InAsia, forexample, Dow Jones offers, in addition to Tbe Asian Wøll Street Journal, the premier

lar press is strong and the number of English speakers

of science-fiction writers.

Asia, east of Myanmar. rñ/hich means that, in fact, there are more t}jran 4O

medium and let the chips fall where

coLlntry like Japan, where the vernacu-

populations, like the Philippines. Other challenges include finding, training and retaining good journalists:

company. 'W'hat we're good at is gathering, selecting, analysing and

product we can design in every

most severe in

1970s, many visionaries assumed that we would all be travelling in space by the tum of the millennia. Science never seems to move as fast as the imagination

the people who matter most, the people who make the most important business and political decisions. Fact is, the wealthier and more powerful someone is, the more likely he or she is to read, and to read newspapers.

simultaneously. Should newspapers fear this brave new wodd? Some may. I don't. For whenever technology finally delivers this dream tablet, I know my newspaper will be

at fifst but eventually survived with

might call this The Wøll StreetJournal

multimedia dream tablet offering moving pictures, text and sound

those in the words "flood,"

and

tried to mimic television with colour sound-bites in print. Oversimplifying, we might call this t}re USA Today approach. Others have turned away from coverage of events and toward analysis of the social, economic and political trends that drive events. 'We

information that drives fast-moving bnsinesses is screen-based. Anyone

different

Yet despite the devilish difficulties

newspapers have long since changed their approach to news. Some have

out on to the trading floor of a securities firm knows that more and more of the

Massachusetts, they had a tough time

updating. Recognising tll.at,

render n€wspapers printed on paper obsolete. People will get their news from a thin, light, wireless portable screen no bigger than a magazine, a

people don't seem to read newspapers any more. Anyone who has wanderecl

who has looked at the statistics knows that vast numbers of people rely on

different challenges. To narrow the newspap€rs in Asia - the local, the regional and the international. For the local English papers, ver-

major trends shaping the region

soaring Asian economic growth,

These trends should be good news

for the third category of

English-

language papers, the Asian regionals,

nacular-language papers are one chal-

including The Asian Wøll Street

lenge. The seriousness of this challenge varies from place to place. It's

Journø|. And they are. But that doesn't

mean these papers don't face

JanuaryÆebrua4. 1997 TÃj,

C0RRDSPONI¡ENT

significant challenges. For one thing,

while Asia is becoming more of

region, it is still many years away from

really coalescing into a single region

with a strong regional identity.

Information needs still significantly vary from country to country; providing a mix of Asian stories that is equally relevant to reaclers in Japan ancl readers in Singapore is a juggling act of the first order. The region's business orientation also complicates the lives of regional newspapers. The region is so big that it is extremely difficult to be a morning

newspaper in every major city in the

region

- yet few people want a

business paper in the evening. Still another challenge is the small size of the aclvertising-revenLre base. It

may sollnd paradoxical, but the advetising spend for Hong Kong local

newspapers alone is significantly bigger tlìan that for the Asian regional print market as a whole. And while the revenlle base is narrow, the cost base

is huge, To cover the news that the region wants - Asian business news requires having alarge network of

reporters in the region. The Asiøn Wall Street Journøl lnas 60 reporters

and editors in 15 Asian cities. It's an expensive undertaking. So is building the netq/ork of printing plants fequired

to distribute in the morning without unacceptable sacrifices in late-breaking news. But the final and greatest challenge

is one that regional English papers have in common with local ancl international ones - the challenge of winning readers' trust. Cynics think sensational headlines that gloss ovef the facts are what sell newspapers. Maybe in the short run, they do, but in

the long run a newspaper

information, not entertainment, and the paper that cannot be tnlsted cannot be sold. If you accept my premise that trllst

is inherently critical for newspapers, then the question becomes: does one go about winning the trust of Asian readers any differently than one wins tlÌe trarst of 'W'estem readers? Is there a special Asian voice, a special Asian style, a special point of view that's the key to Asian readers' trust? Perhaps. We'll know soon enough.

For many different papers

are competing to win Asians' tfust using

many clifferent approaches. So the market will ultimately give us the answer. Papers that win tmst will thrive

and those that fail to win

it will

flounder.

Style and viewpoint aside, I'm betting that the secret of winning Asian readers' tmst will ultimately be found

in four timeless and universal journalistic values: accLlracy,

every person and institution mentioned to get their side of the story It means insisting that people with specific accusations make them on the recorcl, and not hiding behind the cloak of anoul'¡1ity. It means printing letters to the eclitor responding to stories as long as thel'are to the

point

ancl

the'SØest.

What do I mean by theçe things? Let me elaborate a little on each. Accuracy and intellectual honesty

not accept gifts fì'om sollrces or become too close to the people they cover. It means maintaining a stfict

are two sicles of the same coin. Accuracy means not only getting all

wall between the church of news and the state of advertising, so that ad salesmen have no choice but to tell their clients that they have no power

eventllally prevail, in Asia

well

-. ach.ertising spend for Hong -

t(ong,.. - is significantly bigger than the Asian regional rnarket

truth

c1o

to influence the paper's

news

coverage, regardless of how much business the advertiser gives the paper. It means keeping news ancl eclitorials

separate. It means not sLlppressing unpleasant news just because some people, even powerftil people woulcl prefer that it be supptessed. A newspaper that tries hard to do all these things will still occasionally make mistakes. But readers will feel

the cletails right, but being willing to print corrections if the details were wrong. It means checking printecl information with original sources. Blurring into intellectual honesty, it

confidence that they can believe it. They will tmst it.

means identifying sources cleadl', not

This is the kind of newspaper Tbe

only who the sources are but

Asian Wall StreetJottrnøl tries to be.

disclosing, when relevant, Llnder what

Other editors may have other ideas about how to wfur Asian reaclers' trust. 'We are not missionaries, trying to win Asia over to our creed.'We are content

circumstances they spoke and even

what their possible interest in the outcome of a contfoversy might be. It means, when presenting a subjective

view, admitting that other points of view exist and explaining why someone might hold them. It means giving enough background and context that eYents can be seen in their tmest light. It means asking tough questions and tr¡'i¡1g to get to the

bottom of assertions rather than

assurecl that these mistakes are honest,

will come to read such a paper with inadvertent and exceptional. They

to be allowed to run our own paper the way we think best, ancl let others do as they will.

But I cannot help my strspicion that the best editors in Asia - not to mention the smartest aclvertisers know that I'm right. Yes, perspectives may cliffer from region to region. Yes, some values may be indigenous to

accepting the word of so-called experts

pa1'ticLllaf regions. But the

on faith.

fundamentals of good journalism are tmiversal. Kipling was wrong in his old saw abollt East and'W'est and the twain never meeting. \üØhen it comes to basic journalistic values, the twain

Fairness means giving someone

who is going to be criticised in a story a genuine chance to comment, and comment at sufficient length to answer

the allegations. It means making

repeated and sustainecl efforts to reach

E><cerpts fr-orn Lai See's spe<=cìe t<¡ ANPII

by Nury Vittachi

in good taste.

Inclependence means printing the as the newspaper sees it even if this offencls advertisers or soLlfces or governments. It means making sure repofters ancl eclitors have no financial or political interest in stories, that they

intellectual honesty, fairness and independence. I believe papers that make these their religion will

Four dark secrets of the AsíaÍr rnedia

can and do meet.

The hurnour in Asian newspapers

is not found in the funnies. It is found in the classifieds. In tlre pets column of tl:.e Soutlt Cbina Morning Post: 'For sale: Two

policemen seized one kilometre of

clian elections peaceftil; only 5 killed in violence'.

heroin on Tuesday night'. Headline on Tbe Times ctf h'tdia: 'Gol't conmitted to eradicate literacy'.

4. There's pfess.

From the Cbinø Døíly:'Hong Kong

Lorikeet Paffots with cages. Bright green

They seem to have started at the

expat owner'.

newspapef.

In the job

ads section

of the

Hongkong Standørcl:'Vantecl: Assistant merchandiser: Must be neither sex'. Inthe Kansai Flea Mørketof Japan eadier this year: 'Free desk table for a lady with thick legs and wide drawers'. From the travel pages of the Japan Times: 'For general information about tlre US Virgins, call 800 372 8784'. From Tbe Manley Daily ofAustralia: 'For sale: Chinese carved solid teal altar table from the Ming Dysentry'.

proportion ofwhatwe in tl'.e Asian press print is probably not true. 2. A.slzeabLe

A Hong Kong newspaper intended,

I think, to publish ap4ragraph abolrt

raid by 'uniformed cletectives'. Unfortunately, what was printed was an afticle about'uninformed defectives'. There is a difference, albeit small. Headline from th.e Døiþt Neus oïSrÌ Lanka: 'Plantain carrying motor cyclist dies in collision'. Story from tlre Netu Straits Times'. 'Zaini suffered a fivecentimetre cut on his right hand and an eight centimetre wound on his lefl. neck'. \Vell, they say two heads are better than one. Frcm Tl¡e Aduertiser newspaper of

South Australia: 'Two yoLlng lovers become tragic prawns in a political and religious conflict'. Tlre Manila Bulletin said that the Muroroa Atoll in the South Pacific was the scene of a 'Frenchunderwearnuclear experiment'. Interesting. This news comes from the crime coltrmns oT the Vietnøm Nerus: 'Ãt ll am the next day, about 100 videos were

seen leaving the office aboard ten motorbikes'. Jolly clever those video machines. Must have beenJapanese.

lot of fiction in theAsian

is a maryellous piece in Soutlt Cbina Morning Pctst of Thursday lr/.ay 2, 1946, under the

Myfavoudte

tJae

3. It is evident thatAsian joumalists write headlines and re¡xrrts without realising what they are saying: From Tbe Mariønas Vctriety, a

headline: 'Self Government For HK'. The text: 'The annorncement that

newspaper in Micronesia: 'A car crashed headlong on a DFS van making a left nrm to the DFS Galleria along Beach Road

residents of

yesterday morning. Unfortunately, no one was hurt'.

From The Mongctl Messenger: Japanese asses to fly over Ulan Bator'. Should be quite a spectacle.

From the Pbiliþþine Daily Inquirer:'More female police block

the British Government hacl under considerationthe granting to Hong Kong a flrller ancl more ttsponsible share of the management of their own affairs was made by the Governor, Sir Mark Young, at the 1'estoration of civil goven]ment )'esterday... '....One possible method, he said, would be the formation of a Municipal

Council constituted on a fully representative basis'

Yes, flrll representational

delnocracy

heads coming'.

for Hong Kong in 1946.what

Opening of a Bøngkok Post story on November 2O:'Traffic police are to enforce the law dudng December 1 to 20, Metropolitan Police Deputy commission ML Chalonglarp Thaweewong

imagination those journalists had. I-et me finish with this point. People talk about the power of the press, but it needs to be kept in proportion. An Australian journalist called John

a vivicl

said yesterday'.

Philp arrived in Hong Kong from

Headline in Straits Times: 'Car distributors splurge on spanking showrooms'. They're not really so conseryative down there as they are

Australia and decidecl to sta)/. He tded to

paintecl. ln theJ akartøPosf, August 2 8, 799 5,

it was reported that volLrnteers were

cash in the return part of his ticket. Singapore Airlines confirmed that he was entitled to a refund and then told him to go back to Australia to pick it up.

Butif hewentbackto Oz, hewould

penetrating north Jakata's Hooker Ciq',

have to use the ticket for which he was seeking a refr.urd, and ... well you see his

Kramat Tunggak, to organise health

problem.

information cotuses for the 1,860 young women working there. Quote:'Some of the vohlnteefs even spent nights at the

column.

brothel to get to know their future

Philp.

pafticipants'.

'My Gooclness, the power of the press is incredible!' he enthused.

I don't make this stuffup you know. This headline appeared three weeks ago in the Korean Economic Weekly: 'Korea Green Crosswins exclusive rights to dian'hoea'. Remember that, next time yon have some.

Headline on the Sbønghai Star: 'More local women wed aliens'.

I wrote about this pt'oblem in my I then got another letter from Mr

'After that newspaper item, the airline officials sent me my cheque. And it onl¡' took two years.' So muchfor the power of the p1€ss. Ntr.ry Vittacbi is Associate Eelitor of tbe So]ot]û Chin¿ Moming I'ost

From Tbe Manila Stanclard: 'In.f

antrarly'Febflrary 1997 IHE

GORRf,

SPOllIlElllT

going concern, it had plenty of over the first six months it was profitable and also the ad people were working very hard and their bookings lor 1997 were excellent, including some high profile advertisers, so the books looked excellent. \Vhy the decision was made, I don't know, but it came straight from the top, from SallyAw, so what motivates her I've got no idea." a

so staff could type out CVs, use the

ads and

computers, make phone calls so it

it was

Prang of four

E* I'

by Edward Peters

Asked about his own plans, Bayfield said: "The publications area is a bit dim at the moment, it seems to

Is tkris ttre beginning

be contracting. ReLlters is going to Singapore in March, so there's a lot of pfessufe on the market. I',ye been around a bit so maybe it's different for me but generally speaking it's fairly tight, even though it's a good year for advertising. A lot of magazines are getting fairþ good ad sup-

of ttre end

for English-la"ngLrage pr-rblications in Hong l(ong?

port which

wasn't a case of everyone being told to piss off. "We had about 30 or so editorial staff; I gather some of them have found new jobs, some are freelancing, some

left town. "T.S. Lo was m every sense an extremely decent employer. Once

"I think it got distorted to some extent with the Ectstern Express because you had a flood ofpeople coming here which artificially inflated the market. In the end there is not that much English-language market" Summing it up, Tim Hamlett said: "I don't know if the market is contract-

ing or if it's just

coincidence. Credit card magazineshave come and gone in droves; dogs

of six

he got the hang

it. After

always pee in

months ot a yeat it dawned on him

the same place and someone

thebestwaytoget

a decent

else will l¡:ave a go next year. Windora of

maga-

zine was to leave

people alone to

course was always a unlque

produce it.

what it's all about in the

and personal publication - it

end."

Forecast'97 ...and Beyond

Edmond

nthe morning of

December

additionto the closures, Reutersis shift-

Exþressíon staffers report that they

1996,T er esaMachan, assistant editor at Holid.ay, was sending a fax when editor Peter Morgan interrupted her. "Don't bother," he said, tersely.

ing to Singapore this March while Stønd-

were warned in September that the magazine was under tlrreat, then finally told by American Express that it was folding for reasons of 'restructur-

Ten days eaflier Marnie Mitchell, assistant managing editor at Expressíon, was about to fly on vacation to Canada when she heard tlre magazine was to fold. Paul Bayfield came back from a Christmas break to discover that Executiue, t}re magazine he edited, was closing. End of story. And last Noyember David Porter, of Window, felt the winds of change blowing and by the beginning of the following month he too }aad vacated the editor's chair. Hong Kong has a reputation for English language publications arriving with a certain lanlare (viz. the trusty Eótstern Exþress) and then disappearing with a strangled squeak, but the end of last year saw four stalwarts fade from the scene. Some 40 editorial staff, the majority ftom lVindout, lost their jobs in the process, and numerous freelancers were left with the cold comfort of kill-

wastage' and that replacements would be considered 'very carefr.rlly'. The reasons behind each closure vary. Holidøy was not pul-ting in the advertising, pure and simple; American

fees and the prospect

of trying to

place unpublished stories elsewhere. The English language media market in Hong Kong seems to be undergoing one of its periodic contractions. In

ørd staffers are talking about impending job cuts. EditorTerry Cheng denied

this trut said that there was 'nattral

Express and the Manager Group, which

produced Expressíon, are at some variance on the causes for their split; Windotu was politically motivated whlle Executiue's disappearaîce

shortly after being bought by SallyAw conundrum. Nobodyfrom Sing Tao would venture a comment on remains

its dernise. The outlook for EnglishLanguage journalists is hardly bursting with good health and the days of being able to walk into a job in Hong Kong's media

are surely limited. Tim Hamlett,

ing and financial considerations' . Gary Knell of the Manager Group told A&M it was due to 'a change of direction' by Amex. Ian Marsh, Amex's general manager Hong Kong and China put a different spin on it, blaming a'misquote'by the Manager Group. "We will not be working together onExpression," said Marsh. "We will have a card member communication just a question of the format. 'W'e -it's are running research on that to find outwhatis the most effective manner.

If you end up producing a magazne that doesn't get read it ends up being a waste of paper and money. "Not every financial goal that we

would have liked to have

seen

accomplished was accomplished, but we

associate professor at the Hong Kong

felt the qualityofthe magazinewas good. "

Baptist University's Journalism

Asked if the publication was too

Departmentsaid: "It's goingto bemuch

expensive Marsh said:

more difficult because of changes to visas and work permits, and we're probably looking at the end of the road of coming out, working in the Bull and Bear, doing a bit of freelance and scraping into a full time job

comment further."

that's going to getmuch

if not impossible."

THE GORRESP0ilDf,NT JanuaryÆebnary 7997

more difficult

"I can't

The end of the line for Paul Bayfield

was rather more abrupt. "I just was informed that as of that day they were discontinuing tlre magazine - there was no explanation," he said. "Sing Tao bought it mid-l996 and myfirst issue was August. It's puzzling,

Chan, managing

director of the

was nevef 1fl the market really (I thought it was a rather

line

IPLgroupwhich published both the Hong Kong

magazine,

possibly because it was a genefous em-

and Singapore editions of Hoh-

ployer if you

cløy, informed

wefe contfibuting to it) the

staffbyletterthat

- it fact that

IPL had taken 'a

strategic deci-

closedhasnoth-

sion to focus on

ing more to do with commer-

its

stfongest

niche market business travel, to aggressively develop and strengthen this arm of the company'. Peter Morgan commented: "The magazines wef en' t making money and

they were spending more than was coming in so they were unwilling to keep funding it. "You could see it coming - and I had my suspicions when the publisher, Vijay Verghese, jumped ship in the middle of last year." Someone else who realised the end was nigh was Davicl Porter. " l had a fatÃy good suspicion in the

couple of months before Windou closed at the end of November," he said.

"Everybody got paid

off pretty

generously, plus the office stayed open

cial considerations any more

than when it opened.

"Things llke Holìday

Certainly

there was a political agenda from the start. I

come and go all the time, They try these

believe the prob-

if things they don't work they

lem always was that although he was great on the

editorial side he never really did un-

derstand l;ow magazines worked from the marketing and promotions point of view. There was no advertising at all - he felt if he lasted a certain period of time people would naturally advertise anryay." Porter added that Hong Kong had always been, "a weird sort of Englishlanguage market aîryvøay.

don't work. Small magazines are a Yery precarious business. And I'm surprised that Executíere closed. "The only thing that strikes me

a permanent loss is the move of Reuters in March, which is a lot of bodies and there is going to be no natural replacement for that."

Januaryy'February

@ 1997

THD CORRESP0NIIDNT

Conttacts disputes

Libel serninar

Freelancers in tlae lJnitecl States are up in arrrì-s orzer nesz coratracts being offered- Report frorrr Arrrerican Society of Jor-rrnalists and Authors. magazine is introducing a I contract clesigned to make freelancers happy. The new standardagree-

lZannee

ment letter from the 700,000-circulation New England regional will have separate compensation for each right acquired:

. .

one-time print use for the basic afiicle fee; limited W'eb use for an extta 20 pefcent, with renewal options to

be negotiated; database use for a share of the royalties eamed by the work. Managing editorTim Clark explains: "Now that we're looking to ptrtYønkee articles on the'W'eb, we want to do it the right way, dealing fairly with writers as

well as protecting orrr own interests. helped us understand some of the ramifications of this new and complex situation. Everybody hates dealing with these issues-most editors aren't trained for it, and they don't feel comfortable arguing the details of contracts. But we have to startpaying attention ifwe want to attract and keep good writers. And it goes both ways-writers have to watch out for their own rights." An agent reports another little flexASJA

Globe mverled a work-made-for-hire contract dictated by the legal department in NewYork, the paper has again written to tell freelancers they must give up ownership of their aticles and allow th;e Globe to 're-use them with no additional pa1'mçnt being made to 1'ou'. In an odd attempt to paciSz outraged con-

tributors, the letter writer, .managing editorfor administrationAlfred S. Iarkin, Jr., offers:'In instances where you have

an opportunity to resell an article to another publication, please call my office at 617-929-3160 and we will be happy to license the rights back to you for those purposes'. ASJAfax machines have been busy

section editors, some writers who try that have been told no changes are allowecl; others have been invited to send in a reclraft for consideration by higher-ups. Meantime, in an informal version ofwhat's happening inBoston, some writers are connecting byphone, fax and e-mail to trade reports and urge colleagues not to sign. Unusual hap-

penings for the Courant, where relations with freelancers had been fine until parent Times Mirror stepped in. And freelancers are also saying no

to t}:e Cbicntgo Tribune, apparently in numbers that matter. In freelance circles, memos were flying this week

with word that the

Sunday paper's

receiving copies of the letter and contract from writers who say they'll de-

WotnaNeus section is suffering from writer drain because of reaction to its

cline because tlre Globehasthings backward; freelancers license to publishers,

rights grab attempt. WomaNeuts is said to be scrambling to replace freelancers who are reftisingto caveinto contractdemands.

not the other way around.

ingatThe Neu York Times: A contract

The Harford Courant annoyed manyduringthe Christmas seasonwhen it sprang grossly offensive contracts on contributors and demanded signanrres by year's end. The editor declined to say much about the flap to Contracts Watch, insisting that he and his staff woulddiscussmatters'one-onone' with 'individual, legitimate freelancers'. Ap-

for a travel piece, while including the

parently depending on the attitude of

paper's mandatory electronic-rights-forever clause, was changed to declare: 'The license fee shall be deemed $X for print use, $Y for electronic use '. [n this instance, the e-rights fee was about 15 percent of the whole.Just amonth ago, a split with 10 percent for e-rights was

reported in a similarArts & Ieisure section deal. Both sections are among those that long ago stopped insisting that free-

lancers accept work-made-for-hire status, a de management is still trying to impose at some sections where either the writers or the editors apparently are considered iess than important. Elsewhere in the newspaperwodd, a mushrooming ofpublishers' demandsforfreelancers' rights has produced a wave of resistance: T]¡le Boston Globe, owned by the Times, is still trying to follow in footsteps its NewYorkparenthas largely abandoned. In Boston, months after the THX CORR.ESPOI{DEIIIT JanuaÐ'Æebruary 7997

And photographers (who also have been offered aTrib dealworth discarding) arebuzzing about how pressLue to sign over extra rights is separating freelancers into those who meekly accept abnse and those who don't. ASJA

web site: http://v/ww.eskimo com/-

brucem/asja.htm

BY ARTHUR HACKER

TH E ZOO

IF MY CONTRACT

@ /'TtN

1Ì?

lxl

RFCRUITING BOARÞ

rtrTD

-TER^^INATEÞ

WITH EXTR,EAAE

PREJUDICE DO I^ GET A PENSION./

ff,]!

Is litigation prohibitivel)z it ç1r-raliflz for Leg-al Aid?

e><pensi'rze, or shol ld

by Michael Mackey

T ibet," said one of

rhe

about him and his business activities.

Compared to this the panel's other

I-rparticipants. Geoffrey Miles

Had that not happened, maybe the pltur-

speaker, Ying Chan, admitting to feeling

of Haldanes, "is an untr-ue statement

clering of his employees' pension fi.rnd

abollt a person to their discredit.

to prop up

"privilegecl....I've been hitwith only one flibel stút] ". One though can be enough. Ying Chan is a snall blrt not demtue

He had by his own admission edited

falling stock price would

not have happened.

out the sexism - and it goes without saying that libel is much more than a

Steve Vines who was talking gener ally and not about lris own recent situa-

simple shr. It was that great blue yonder

tion had other concerns. One was the cost. With libel actions in Hong Kong requiring resoLrrces in excess of 1 million clollars it is, to quote Vines, "almost theoretical" to defend yourself.

that the FCC in conjunction with the Freedom Forum began to deal with in the first of, it is hoped, an occasional series on the topic. As stafts go, it was fairly auspicious. Geoffrey Miles looked at the legal issues,

and was followed by Ying Chan who uncovered the links between Taiwan's Koumintang and America's Democratic Party and Howie Severino who has eight lawsuits against him in the Philippines. Miles's basic thesis, woven into what was averythorough exposition of how the current legal position had evolved and what it meant in day to day terms, was that there is "no evidence whatsoever (that) laws in Hong Kong stifle the

Miles agreed saying that Vines was

"quite right" and that legal aid was not available. Reassuringly for those of us who cannot clefend ourselves, it's "not the law but the general cost of litigation in Hong Kong". It seems Llnusual to say that the libel laws cannot be misused in an oppressive way when as Steve Vines pointecl out there is "one litigant in Hong Kong who has 30 to 4O outstanding writs." Whilst all this might weigh hea\T on the shoulders of some, Howie Severìno

pfess. "

is one of the Philippine's top

IØhere there was a divergence of opinion, a sharp one as it was to tufll out later, was when Miles said that histori-

it, has eight libel suits outstanding after a series of articles which exposed

cally the laws have not "scared off"

corrllption by senior environment

ambitious or cmsading joumalists. The evidence he gave was charm

officials in the Philippines. Harassed by libel? "The least of m¡'

merchant extrordinaire and Imran

wories"

Khan's father-in-law, James Goldsmith, whose vendetta against the English satirical magazine Príuøte Eye was ultimately not a success.

leagues in Bosnia and A-lgeria when comes to lile expectancl'.

This is of course all true bllt as Steve Vines was to point out when the meeting was opened Llp to qllestions from the floor, Miles had left out the example

of the greatest litigant of them all Robert Maxwell.

For those lucky enough never to have heard of, let alone met Robert Maxwell, abrief history. Maxwellwas a leacling British businessman, newspaper proprietor and flamboyant personalify. He was also an incredible egoma-

environmental joumalists and to prove

said Severino. His stafting point is more basic, namely that joumalists in

the Philippines are just beneath col-

Forry have been killed in the past ten years with criminaliq' and not politics being the culprit. The Filipino press "would welcome libel suits as a way of seeking redress," said Severino.

Under those circumstances who

wouldn't. That saicl, Asia's freest and probably most vigorous press is not immune to the clead weight of libel and the

threat of it.

niac and a crook. A major one. For the best pam of 20, possibly 30

Severino admitted thathe had "been silenced" mentioning seconds later "the financial costs of my defence". This had

action and the tll'eat of legal action to stop lotunalists writing

leagues".

1'ears, he used legal

also had "a chilling effect on my col-

woman with few unminced wotds. She çrickly branded American politics cormpt and said the Taiwanese government had worked with organisecl crime to femove opponents. Withollt going into the latter, fascinating though it is, she tolcl her story. She is the first repofter to dig into the

connections between the ruling Kuomintang ((MT) partyof Taiwan zurd the Amerjcan Democrats, exposing in

the process the dubious role of top Democrat ftind raiser,John Huang. She and her editor are currently being sued by the KMT's chief financial offìcer and could face Lrp to seven )/ears in jail. Tellingll,, the magazine that ran the articles has not been suecl. Like all great scoops there is afatll, heÍty tranche of the munclane involved. It was at one point so mtndane she said, "we almost killed the stoly." Ultimately though the evidence accumulated and even Ying Chan admitted to being surprised at the consequences.

"I never expected this. I'm just

reporter, it's interesting," she said of the 'Whether story. or not she feels the same way about the legal ftiss is hard to tell as her style of delivery is laicl-back, slightll' disorganised, seemingly indifferent. "For me the worst is that I stay in the US," she said of her plight at one point, to ironic laughter. But she has not been

intimidated and has created het own website which documents the case ancl has her own open letter on it. Even there though, whilst she has iaken a great many hits, the law in all its compleit)/ is not far behhd. In response to a question fiom the floor about how

libel laws impact on

cyberspace,

Geoffrey Miles said it was "an evolving area.....American lawyers, as yolr can imagine, are following it up." Ying Chan's website is http://wws'.yingclran.com

@ JanuarylFebruary 1997 THE

C0RtrESP0NDEI{T

Cambodia's press flourishes by Hans Vriens

f] I

oUowing the signing of the Paris

Peace Agreement in 1991, a United Nations force called UNTAC, virtually took control of Cambodia. It

Mattbeu Iee, president

oJ"

tbe FCCC

was more than peacekeeping. It was a kind of post-modern colonialism. The 'United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia'was sent to create anew Cambodian society.

Its aims were to rehabilitate the economy, set up a civil adrninistration, promote human rights, stage free and

fair elections, repatriate

400,000

Cambodian refugees who were living in camps along the border in Thailand and last but not least, encourage a free

press. The expectations were high. Too high. Despite the fact that the Khmer Rouge reneged on the agreement and refused to disarm or allow UNTAC into their territory, the elections were an overwhelming success.

Despite the fact, UNTAC and the elections were a disaster for Pol Pot cum.suis - theirpresent disintegration is a direct consequence of the peace agreement - there has been quite a discussion in the media lately on whether the most expenSive mission of the UN - it spent more than $2 billion was a success or a failure. To declare it a failure seems the easyway out. True Cambodia has not become the model democracy some naively thought possible. It is also true

thatthepresentpolitical situationwith two competing prime ministers trying to run one government is not a model oflong-term stability. And itis also true that four journalists have been killed in the last few years. "Despite these setbacks UNTAC was able to introduce some of the institutions of civil societyin a country

where no such concepts had ever existed," writes William Shawcross in the New York Reuieu of Books. "For the first time Cambodian human rights groupswere allowedto organise and a

free press began to flourish."

The return of a lree press was

till 1989, in France

optimist: "The

set up a joumal-

freedom of the press is improving.

ism school in

is an

These days I can accuse the

government. People should

understand it is only three years ago UNTAC left. Journalism is new to us.

Most people working for the 30 newspapers and magazines in Cambodia haye never been trained as journalists or had any other training." Worse, theyhave no ideawhatthe role of the press is in a civil society. Some papers are almost totally devoted to extofting moneyfrom people. Many reporters do not understand the need to check facts and sources. They just write sensational stories which often don'tmake anysense. They even don't understand that a story needs to haye some logic. "The two most popular papers are exclusively devoted to crime stories", says Pin Sam Khon, who also is also the

publisher of the Khmer Ekareach is publish€d once aweek and has a circulation ofa 1,000 copies. The Cambodi anlanguage press has indeed provided plenty of provocation.

Newspaper. It

Newspapers have called the nation's co-primeministers, Hun Sen andPrince

Ranariddh, 'rats', 'dogs', and 'pigs'. Depicting Hun Sen's wife with the face of a pig violates Khmer culture. The double-headed government

with a new press law which curtails some of the freedoms of the

reacted

press. Hun Sen, a one-eyed excommu-

nist who is not known for his loye of liberal democrucy andthe media, is trying to crack down on the KhmerJournalists' Association. "The govemment doesn't like us, because we are an independent organisation. Theyaccuse us of working for foreigners," explains Pin Sam Khon, who gave amoving speech at the annual Freedom Forum\FCC conference last year. The KJA is sponsored by the Asia Foundation, UNESCO and the Australian goveÍrment. A Danish non€oyeffrmental organisationhas even

of Khmer Rouge rule and the

Tbe FCCC

Vietnamese occupation, which lasted TEE

CORRXSP0IIDf,

IIT JanuaryÆebrtary

1997

Sam

Khon: "It is our duty to improve thequalityofjournalisminCambodia. \Ve have to

help to develop the country." Last Novem-

ber the (fA organised a two days seminar with the title: 'The Role of the Media

Neus-stand doutntoun Pbnom Penb

Religion, Culture and Devel-

opment'. The seminar, held at the premises of the FCC in Phnom Penh, was addressed bythe Minister oflnformation and his colleague of Culture and Religious Affairs. Among other topics, the seminar looked at the role of the press in countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Pin Sam Khon views the English language press in Cambodia as an

example to follow: "They set a, very high standard." Not everybody outside Cambodia

will

StuÍÍ of the Phnom Penh Pos\ in tl¡e middle KatLsleen Hayes

aged to surYive," says president Matthew Lee, correspondentfor ABP, tlte Far Eøstern Econornic Reuíew andBBC'Wodd

Service. Paradoxically, the FCCC is expanding while at the same

Pin Sam Khon, þresident oÍtbe Klrmer Journ

list s' As s o c iation

time the number of foreign corre-

agree.

howeverremarkable thatafter

the civil and military administrations of UNTACIeft , Cambodiastillhas athriving

spondents keeps on falling.

Matthew Lee: "At present there are about 20 foreign coffespondents left in Phnom Penh. " A number which

English language press which is somehow able to get five English language papers published - the respected Pbnorn Penb Post (a fortnightþ, t}re Cambodiø Times (a

will go down even further, he predicts: "Once the Khmer Rouge has gone Cambodia will get as much media

goveffrment mouthpiece), c arub o di ø Today, Cambodìa Daily and even a sort of econo mic papet, Business Neuts. They are all for sale at virtually every street comer in the capital.

Sisovath.

!íhether they will survive in

small a market seems unlikely. Even the Pbnom Penb Post, the most serious

of all, isn't making anry money, according to Kathleen Hayes, its managing director. Tlee Post lrlas a circulation of 5,000. Ithas subscribers in 40 countries; the FCC among them. It is published out of a colonial villa just behind one of the villa-fortresses of the paranoid co-premier Hun Sen.

remarkable. Pin Sam Khon, president

of the Khmer Journalists' Association (KJA) says he knows of only 10 Cambodians working as journalists ltow who were working as journalists before 1975 when the Khmer Rouge conquered Phnom Penh and set up their murderous regime. Pin Sam Khon who spent the years

Phnom Penh.

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Cambodia (FCCC) has thrived since the departure of thousands of UNTAC officials. .W'e are one of the very few

coverage as Bangladesh." Part of the success of the FCCC is its location at No. 363 BoulevardPreah

A charming colonial four storey building overlooking the Mekong, two minutes walk from the royal palace. The latest extension of the FCCC is the roof which is being converted into a terrace. The reason behind the continuing success of the club despite the virtual disappearance of its correspondents is thatis has been able to attractaloyal

following among the representatives of the over 300 non-governmental organisations still active in Cambodia. "That is whywe make a lot of money", says Matthew Lee Ha.ns Vriens

Far East CorresþondentÍorHet

Algemeen Dagblad

establishments in townwhichhas manJanuaryÆebruary

1997 TEE

C0RRDSPOIì|IIENT

Kau Sai Chau also visit other

courses plus the

regular

overseas

trips. We will also be visiting Guam in March. New members are welcome and may contact me by fax at252l t978. M e mb

ership

cards for. 1997 will be issued shortly. In-

b S

deed, by the time you read this you

December 16, 1996 tfln. last game of the year was held I in gr.;, weather ar the putrtic golf course in Sai Kung. The Jockey Club has done

fantastic job in devel-

oping what must rank as one of the best golf facilities in Asia. We played the South course , the 'easier' of the two collrses, although that did not stop us from losing a lot of balls in the long native grasses. There are some spectacular holes and the views are stunning. Mark Ashton looked like he was going to be a clearwinner ending the turn at just one over, but in the end scored J6 points and was just beaten into joint second place withJames Fu (also on 36) by Patric !Øeill with 37 points. Mark Ashton took the longest drive and Mervyn Owen, nearest the

pin. Paul Strahan and Mitch Davidson

shared the nearest the greenkeeper

prize.

'We

may akeady have received yours, All

current members have been sent

membership update form. If you have notreceived one, please letme know.

Janrrary 21, rggT

around in dense undergrowth finding everyone else's balls exceptyour owlì - unless no one is looking of course, in which case your own ball

mysteriously appears on top of a convenient tuft - typically to be drilled straight back into the rough. Some of the par threes need a nerye of steel or alternatively several beers and closed eyes. Yours truly neady got a boat in one on the spectacular 14th where the only option other than to get on the green was the South China

Sea.

The winner on the daywas Stella

Ng with 32 Stableford points. Ken Bridgewater was nearest the pin on the 7th. Humility prevents me from writing thousands of words on the longest drive on the par five 10th suffice it to say that having driven

After playing the South course in f)ecemtler we moved on to the challenging North course for ourJanuary game.'W'e setoff bybus at 0700 andfor survivors of the Mission Hills game last

year I'd like to say that this was the second time in a row that the bus turned up on the right day - which gives us a 66 percent success rate. John Schidlovsky however still doesn't trust me and chose to come the long way roundvia Melbourne. For once he not a good advert didn't win a p rize Pacific. The weather was for Cathay perfect and this course must be one of the best courses in the region.

For those not content with the perfect fairways, the local grasses provided endless hours of fun for those of us who enjoy scrambling

returned to Central by junk, which took only a bit longer than the bus would have taken and was aYery relaxing way to finish the day. W.e have already booked our place back at Kau Sai Chau onJanuary 2I for an ascent of the North course. This year we have played at Mis-

W'inner Stella Ng

about 300 yards, pnt a six iron next to the pin and sunk the putt for an eagle

the rest of the game became irrelevant - which was useful since I ended up well into three figures. I'd be happy to talk more about this hole just let me with anyone interested know! In view of the Chinese New Year holidays we wori't have a game in February so the next game is Guam in eady March - details for which will be distributed separately. After that wewillhave a couple of local (i.e. HK/ Macau/China) games inApril andMay and then a handover special game back at Kau Sai Chau onJune 16.

sion Hills, Clearwater Bay, Fanling, Macau, Lakewood, Kau Sai Chau and have had tours to Manila (Canlubang) and Thailand. Next year we will play more ofilen at Kau Sai Chau, but will THI

jubilantJulían Walsb after bis

magnifícent eagle

CORIESPOII|IIDNT JanuaryÆebruary 7997

Julian'Walsh Secretary FCC GS

Photographs by Kees and bert van Es

@ with

FCC members and friends greeted the NewYear a fine measure of frivolous fun, mad merriment

and extravagant style.

Many thanks to Bob Sanders for the big band sound of Soul Commotion,Art House for the festive decoยก and the FCC staff for making it all happen.

/ยก Pictures by Terry Duckham/Asiapix

Sue Girdwood's

'We'll keep a

farewell

welcome... Tbe Welsb Male Voice Choir apþeared at tbe Club s

bort l'y b efore C hr istma s

Box offi.ce

Clockuíse

from toþ left: Sue uitlr Mitch Dauiclson and

Ricbard Gocber; Sue

uitl:

Tony La.urence; (Left

b rigbt) Sue,

Tony Laurence, Cl:afles Weeûherill and Neua Slsau

Philippíne hero's centenary atthe FCC

Cbarlie Stark was

tbe

first to buy a colv! oÍ Eyewitness

Stefan Reisner and. Kal Rescl¡ke look on, along

on ,{.sia- Publisbers

uítb Hu aan

Es.

Alice Lee end. colleague, Don Kboon, þt'eþare tbe NeØ Year's Eue party

Íor

The centenary ofthe death of Dr. Jose Rizal (1896 -1996), an event that inspirecl the birth of the

Philippine Republic just two years later, was celebrated in the FCC's

main dining room on December venlre ro honour 30 , 1996. ^fitting a great patriot who lived and died for his country's freedom. Pictured here with a bust of Rizal and

plaque cornmemorating

the anniversary of his death are Secretary of Broadcasting, Culture and Sports MrJonathan McKinley,

Minister Counsellor Zenaida Ìrngara Collinson, Philippine Centennial Commission Art Quebal, Consul General Estrella Berenguel, Century Square's David

Yu, Century Square Building Owner Ms Clara Chan and Executive Secretary Antiquities and Monuments S. T. Chiu. Ttr[

CORRESPOIIIIIEI{T

Jantrary/February 1997

Yes, Terry

does have a

mother! Yalda Duckham's 70th birthday celebration at the Club (Left to ríght) Aira Conøn, Teny's sister L),tt, tbe m.an bimse$ urccutiue cbef Alan

Cban, Tery,'s brother, Tony a.nd Va.lda Dtt.ckbam (seated).

Jantrarl'Æebruary 1997 fHX

C0RRXSPOIIIIDNT

Old boys

New members

FCC plunges

Lunch at the Mosman Rowers, Sydney

to greater depths Just when you thought it was safe, the Club's Entertainment Committee has formed another 'sub' committee. Not your coûrmon-or-garden variety, this one will

Corre spondent l\zlerrrl>ers Katharine Mortor.r

.lim Gilclrist

Robert Poe

Sabille Heigaertner'

encoufage members to reach new lows. And we don't mean pub crawls through back-alley Wanchai dives! For years, we've suspected that most members are certifiable. 'W'e've also noticed they have a knack for

ûõ .?

travelling the region in search of liquid pleasures. Now there's a society which caters for both tendencies. Within the next few months, Society Co-Dive Sharks Karin Malmström and Terry Duckham will be conducting in-depth research to locate suitable yenues where our submersible meetings maybe convened assured.

Geflùîo

Thomas Corporation

So, makeit ofûcial. Take the plunge, get certified.

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sociate lVlerrrl>ers Nicholas Reed

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In due courseJ exotic excursions will be offered to both experiencedfinfans aswell as those who have never taken the plunge. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Club for those ready to temporarily forsake bar diving in favour of discovering the delights of the deep. What's this new sub-committee to be called? Diving and excursions - it's the FCC Diversion Society of.course!

The Village (Indian) Restaurant For Curry Lovers

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ExpERtENCE !*,W),r;#"

THE C0RRf,SP0NIlElrlT JanuarylFebnrary 1997

January/Februaq,

1997 fHE

GORRESPOII|IIENT

NÍkon rP90x

A montbly portrøùt of FCC örrepløceøbles lloweuer Good You Ate, You Can D0 Bettet ,,,

John Norman Member since: Age:

Profession:

Nationality: Least likely to say: Most likely to say:

Before finding fame in BBC's 'Hong Kong Beat' At least lrall that of Ted Thomas on a good day Steely-eyed Oriental Crime Fighter Dubious Cockney/Kowloon crossbreed 'Working at Interpol HQ in France was the worst posting I ever had Long lunches are the secret to 'The Meaning of Life'

Pltotogrøpbed, by llubert uøn Es

sp.ns.red

bv @ fr'å1ïJïËffiï:î'-'

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