The Correspondent, December 2003 - January 2004 by The Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICAIION OF THE FORE

TIlD

Thfough the Viewfinder GatorAid Asset Mismanagement UNfunded Failures

TIID Letters

From the President

Cover Story

Opinion

Harbour View: Asset Mismanagement :., '

Photography

0pinion

The world's premier law firm

Greg Davis: Through.the Viewfinder

POYA

Media

UNfunded Failures

Cator Aid - Man vs Reptile

Watering Hole

Tawi Tawi, Philippines

Around the Region

Music 'l'he Snrugglers' lìar

Arnsterdam Bangkok Barcelona Beijing

Berlin Brussels

iffordc

h ¿ur c e. c

Aspiring Wiiters' Group at the FCC Around the FCC in Pictures

Frolessronal Lonlacls

Out of Context

Btrclapest Dtrbzri Diisselclorf Frankftrrt

London Los Angeles Luxenrbourg Maclrid lr4ilart t\4oscor,v iVlunich Nerv York Pacltra Paìo Alto Hong Korg Shanghai Singapore Toky,o Warsau, Washington D.C paris pragLre Rorne San Diego San Francisco S¿ìo Paulo u,lvr,r,. cl

Shanghai FCC Elects New Board

Milestones in Jazz. The First Recording

Around the FCC

29'r'Floor, fardine House, One Connaught Place, Hong Kong Tele¡rhone (852) 2B2r 8BB8 Fax (852) 282t 8800

Philippines Cets Stormy Passage at UN

Max Kolbe Wields the Stiletto

Feature

:./

Around the Region

More powerful legal solutions

2004

onr

Gopi Gopalan Main Cover Photograph by Greg Davis

THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBIIR 2003,/IANUARY

2OO4

Hong Kong's new weekly for the sharper reader

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Email: advertising@fcchk.org Website

<ww.fcchk.org> THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 2OO3IJANUARY

www.dowþnes.com/awsj-nyul.htm or . e-mail awsjfellowship@awsj.com

and former First Yice President

That's why it's increasingly important for journalists to have a

The Correspondent

with your colleagues. Additional infn.ùiåtion can also be lound at

From Anthony Rowle¡ Absent Member

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General Mmager Gilbert Cheng

as a real opportunity for a talented

And now, more than ever, those developments are linked to events and changes around the world. Unemployment in the U.S. rises, and

rise. Companies in Europe merge, and people in Asia are laid off. America's appetite for electronics

month course that enrolls only about a dozen students, leading to a Master of Arts degree with a Certificate in Business and Economic Reporting.

The fellowship, which is being launched by the Journal in association with NYU, will cover tuition fees for two out of the three semesters, as well as provide a stipend for the student's living expenses. It will also pay for airfare to New York and some other

incidental 2OO4

costs,

such

journalist and will share the information

raise the cost of living.

calls for China to revalue its currency

Conunn: Daud. Czrcia

So as a fellow journalist with

vested interest in improving reporting standards in the region, I thought you would want to hear about this fellowship. I hope that you will view this

Greetings from Tokyo. The purpose of this message is to alert members of the FCC to the recent

launch by the Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo of an Asian Journalists Award Scheme. I have no formal connection with this scheme (other than as an occasional adviser) but because I happen to

think it is well worthy of support I am "passing on the message" to others.

The ADBI is offering quite to Asian journalists (including a special generous cash awards

category for women) who write what

are judged to be good articles on various aspects of economic development in Asia - anything from attacking poor governance or corruption to issues of regional integration,environment etc etc. The

panel of journalists will include journalists as well as at least one ADBI official. I think the scheme is well worthy

of journalists' support.

Peter

McCawle¡ the Dean of the ADBI, is

strong believer

in supporting good

journalism and journalists, and I know that he worked hard to get support.

From Suzanna Watkinson #7953

somewhat belated note I'm afraid, but I did want to thank Cilbert Cheng and his restaurant team for an

absolutely excellent evening they gave me and my company CONNECI

on Friday

December.

CONNECT was awarded Hong Kong Training Provider of the Year at the end of last year - and the function we held at the FCC was a combination of the Award and Christmas celebrations.

The room layout (Verandah), the food, the service - it was all truly

excellent, and it reminded me that the FCC really is a "home away from home". I would especially be grateful if you could pass on our thanks to Sandy and Fiona in banqueting who really managed to translate our plans for the evening into reality - and to

Patrick and his waiters for their quiet, unobtrusive and attentive service. Thanks must also go to Alan

food ol a suggestion for a new paint colour, go to Dave.

Advertise

Tony Nedderman is the Tieasurer and heads the Finance Committee. He ca¡r

in The

answer

Correspondent

General Manager Gilbert fheng of course, is in charge ofthe day to day operation of

- the staff, the service, the çality ol the lood. H you have a queslion or the Club

and reach Hong

and his team of chefs for the delicious food. All in all - a first class and happy evening - and I attach a photo of some

complaint on those issues, check with Gilben. Gihert also has been with the Club for more than 30 years, and can answer all sorts of questions about its history.

Kong's most

very satisfied customer-s.

discerning

member At <lne linle ot-aulother', every

Contact Sandra Pang

Club's menu' a h¿s harl a supgestiou for the

trrttt¡rlaitrl ulrout

the building'

for details.

a ,.r.,r¡lrlr,'lulatiorr fol a lu¡cheon speaker' problem cr¡eitiott ¿rlx¡trt Clulr policies' The is rhar lulf the tinre rttembets never bring

Sandra can be

of lhe;e rhinp to the attention of the Board (irvenms or lhe General Manager'

reached at

I fi¡5ule that often, the Board doesn't hear lhese itleas llecause members aren't

TeI:2540 6872

st¡re rvltotlt to atldress. So here's a runtlorvn on holv lo get your questions

Fax: 2LI6 0fB9

Mobile: 9077 7001 E-mail: advertising@fc chk. org

'' publicatioln, he's your man. He's also thä Boardt point man on the Photogr.apher of the Year Awards and the Jazz Festival.

Steve Ushiyama

late. What you migþt not know is that if you

C.P. and his committee members are aJways grateful lor speaker suggestions. Francis Moriarty

is in charge of tle Press

arxl the MctA ¿ue availaÌ# at the offìce. 'l'hen, you can ahva¡,s jusì e-rnäil the

lìr¿rrrl nrenrbers at fcc@fcihk.org (if it's a<khesserl to an iudividual, sa! so in the sulrjet,t line) ol drop a note or a fax (2868 ,l$)2) to the office. For specific subjects,

Committee - he keePs the Board in compliance with the M&4. If you want to recommend changes, talk to Kevin but be warned, changing the M&A can

lalk

take3or4years.

to:

the

Wall Conlnlitlee - lhat'.s the team that ottuttg"'. ft¡r nerv exhibits o[ arl in the Main Bar.

Dave Garcia organises the HouseÆood and Beverage Committee. That's the team that picks the wines, arranges special

Sentl her suggestions about

new

meals, makes sure the building is

com¡rlaints about the

maintained and deals with all menu issues. So if you have a beef about the

exhihitions,

¡ri<:tures you rlon't like.

Entertainment Committee, which orgarrises speakers for luncheons, special events and such annual affairs as the Literary Festival.

Freedom Committee. He handles such tasks as the Human Rights Press Awards and helping prep¿re the Club's public statements on such things as Article 23. Kevin Egan argues for the Constitution

llaria lltaria Sala runs

Gihert, and make sure the kitchen

penalties for people who repeatedly pay

¿rs

here's rvho to

f r ll.: (:()RRrisp()Nr)rìNT Dli(ìU]\'f llER 2003/JANUARY 2004

THE CORRESPONDENT DECEI\'IBER 2003,/JANUARY 2004

takes care of the

the Professional and

mles fol guests and the use o[ nrohile ¡rlrones (take your ctlls out in the lobb¡ ¡rlease). Copies of both the bylaws

Contrct Crorvn Relocarions at 2636-8388 or visit our websire: www.crownrelo.com.

if you haie'. something to say about this little

of Board actions. C.P Ho runs

govenìnìent, iurtì reçriretl under companies

nt¿rtleni, st¡ch

Helping you begfin li{e's ne*t ckopter.

up the Publications

The House/F&B Committee and the Financé Committee probably receive the most complaints. Everyone wants good food,'and no-one likes it when there's a problem with a bill. For questions or complaints about what's on the menu or what we serve at the baq go first to Dave. Don't go to the chef or yell at the staff. If everyone tries to tell the chef how to do his job, we'll wind up with a real mess. fæt Dave's team sort things out, working with doing what we want it to. The chef answers to Gihert. And if you have a beef about youl bill, please contact Tony Nedderman, who usually lunches everyday in the Main Bar

attswt'tetl, yottt' contplaints heard and your itleas ptrt inlo action: Sl¿ut rvilh the Club's Memorandum and r\rti<:krs of Assrriation - the M&4. This is a le¡¡al tlocrtnrenr' approved by the

larv. It lays dorvn such things nrernlnshi¡r t:riteria to horv to call

Paul Bayfield heads

Committei so obviousl¡

For anything else, come to me.

Vlembership Committee - processing membership applications and dealing with concerns about membership status. If you need to go Life Absent, Steve's the guy. He's also the Secretary which makes him responsible for the minutes of various meetings and official records

enìerycn(:y general nleetûrg. Then rve have llre bylarvs, rvhir:h talk alnut more mundane

F orn A to B.

ent

esL

readers.

lvlowing:

çestions about the Club's financial

standing, and can resolve issues about bills.

(he's the guy with the crossword puzzle). As

most members know, we have tough

are a member in good standing, have a good

paynent track record, and have a legitimate reason for being late - you get paid on the l8th of the month or your business just folded - you should contact Tony. Often penalties can be waived. Or send a fax or

an e-mail to him and the Board of füvemors. Tony will be happy to chat with you and work things out. One final note: Mark Clifford, who was a Correspondent Member Govemor, has

left

the Board recently. Matt Driskill, an editor with the Intemational Herald Tiìbune, has been invited to replace him for the rest of this tem.'W'elcome aboard, Matt.

Kate Dawson

At the age of 18 I fled suburbia, tripping into the dusty corrupting enlightenment of the bloody Vietnam War, like an Alice in an evil wonderland, never to return. Simply put, I was sent to Vietnam to defend a lie, to destroy those (the totalitarian commie "them") who dared oppose the "greatest nation" on Earth (the free democratic "us"). In the crazy confused Cold War sixties, my home Orange County, Los Angeles - r ras a bastion of right-wing war supporters. They were a proud, murderous bunch who arrogantly supported the war. They needed to be taught a lesson; so they sent as many as possible off to Vietnam to become men, like them. Very few excuses were made by

these mad-dog keepers of American manhood

and

democracy.

The apron strings were :slasked. That white middleclass innocence was yanked from my consciousness to be replaced by crimson pools of blood and a zonked-out nomadic mind, wandering through the dangerous fetid jungles of Vietnam. I gladually became gloriously free in this dead zone and began to wage a dangerous war of protest in Vietnam. I left Vietnam never to live in Ame'rica again. This was my personal protest against America's war crimes. I made a covenant with myself to find out what was going on and why. So began my intricate journey of discovery - a journey that has often been chaotic and frequently delightful. THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 2OO3IJANUARY

2OO4

THE CORRI,SPONDENT DECEMBXR 2OO3IJANUARY

2OO4

-T-

These photographs are taken out of time. Fast time, slow time, no time. Photography is a rvay of seeing the beautiful, desolate and deadly human spectacle, bringing some cÌarity to the complicated business of life. There is a rhythm to life, a kind of dance. It is the chance encounter, that serendipitous

moment that often provides the most telling photograph. I agree with Henri Cartier Bresson, whom I paraphrase, that at the moment the photograph is taken, we can

discover through the camera the external worÌd while simultaneously revealing the internal world, the yin and yang oflife. Nothing can be measured with any kind

I have, since, largely escaped from the confinement of my birth language, culture, and religion. This is essential to my photography. It gives me the pleasure of finding things out. Liberated, I enthusiastically abandoned my previous lives. I have, metaphoricall¡ floated ever since through time past and present and future. I became a voluntary exile. This rewards me with a mirror to hold up critically against all my putative ideas. I journey between many different cultural and religious concepts oftime, taking photographs ofthe vagaries and vicissitudes of life.

THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 20034ANUARY 2004

THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 2OO3IJANUARY

2O(]4

of exactitude. Everything is constantly changing and moving. On a clear night I sit on my porch and look at ancient lights ofthe countless stars above and wonder where they are now. What I see is not what is, but reflections from the past to beyond the beginning of the life as we know it. What we see here on terrafirm¿ is not necessarily what is; in fact, is, isn't. The process of seeing alters the subjects seen. We can never measure anything accurately without disturbing it in some way. Photography can freeze the now, that ephemeral, fleeting instant.

¡t.---

not tied to a particular time but to a common experience. The clegree of evil, tragedy and pleasure that we all expelience, one way or another; may vary' but they are essentially alike. Photographs are used in the mass media to confirm the prejudice and preconceived ideas that publishers and their corporate clients entertain. This kincl of mass-market journalism ralely explores the serious complexities of disturbing controversies we face today. An informed,

ll{

The norv, the present, the'instani of being at a particular' moment is never remembered in any great detail. Memory is tlicky, as we all know. A photogr-aph does, though, give us a chance to catch in a single dirnension that rvhich alludes to a particular time. A photograph can never really tell us what it rvas like, but only hint, with some exactitude, what the sr-tbject was, then, at

educated public is, alÏer all, antithetical to the dictates of consumer capitalism. W.e are entering a dangerous Orwellian world where access to information is contlolled by the whims of porverful

corporations, the meaning

of words is diminished, and

photographs are propaganda used as evidence suppolting corrupt ideologues.

that time.

This ranclom collection of photographs focuses

ordinaly people going about their evervday business, in

Greg Davis 1948-2003

often-extraordir-rary circumstances. These photoglaphs ale THE CORRESPONDENf' DECEN{BER 2OO3I.IANUARY

2O()4

F:'

mlsman have a bloody good night, mate.

It's a lust for life that's a product of the stunning

environment. Residents like to disparage the state of SydAngeles, as some call it (with its vacuous urban sprarvl and eternal Pacific sunshine it's an apt nickname), but to anyone arriving from soot¡ claustlophobic Hong Kong, Sydney is a golden Elysium of clean air and boundless horizons.

clad in lavatory us all. A windowless Cultural Centre

Spending Christmas

Sydney, as we did, was a mixed

experience. The city was harder and more brittle than I remembered it-and I don't just mean the predictable hikes in drive-by shootings, car-jackings and spectacular gang wars' A ludicrous property bubble has effectively priced the city out of the reach of average Australians' consigning low-income groups to the baking, weatherboard tracts of the Cumberland Plain, where trailers rust in weed-strewn driveways and cheap, fortified wine is part of daily social intercourse. The cenlre is left to dual-income families or single mums, neuroticised and exhausted by implausibly large mortgages (a collapsing, two-bedroom brick toilet in a charmless commuter suburb, to give you an idea, costs upwards of HI($4 million)' Then there are the stinging shakedowns that comprise a large part ofmundane existence - packets offags cost HK$65, a 10-minute cab ride is HK$120 and the cost of a downtown drink makes you want to grasp the rapacious claw of every D'Aguilar Street bar-owner- in new understanding and gratitude.

But some things are a constant, among them the local love of a good time and damn the expense. This is the kind of place where your 46-year-old neighbour will lean over the fence, not to borrow a cup of sugar but to hand you a vodka cocktail and some hydroponic skunk. Or where you arrive at micldle-class Christmas parties to find a tanned, silver-haired guest pressing a gram of coke into your palm. rs to And the constant injunction, from anyone you

This is an uncommonly pretty city (and untler

the

overarching, electric blue sk¡ with the breeze rustling through the eucalypts, by God is it pretty). Central to its good looks is a pristine harbour and a rigorously protected foreshore that is

a victory for

common sense:

for in the middle of

unprecedented property boom, with an economy hotter lhan a Ju.ruury day on Coogee beach, all remains low-rise and laidback at the edges of Sydney Harbour. In fact, since I rvas last here in 2000, there has been only one thoughtless addition to the harbourscape - a grey block of ser-viced apafiments that mars the once sweeping approach to the Sydney Opera House' You won't be surprised, but will be depressed, to leam tìrat it was built with Hong I(ong money. To visit Sydney as a Hongkonger is to fully appreciate the extent to which we have squandered our orvn harbour environment - if we can apply the word "harbour" to the siÌted drainage ditch that Victoria Harbour is destined to become in the mid-term. Oh sure, the gushing prose of junketing travel writers will refer to it as "dramatic" and "breathtaking" and so it is, rvhen seen as an entity from lhe windows of Cafe Deco or tl.re upper bar at Felix. But when you get down to the shoreline and look at the details ... then you want to coveï your eyes and ask: lvhat have we done, man? to The litany of harboursicle foul-ups is unhappily familiar THE CORRISPONDENT DEC]EMBER 2OO3IIANUARY

2OO4

tiling' A

its way to sparlan, litter-strervn harbour promenade, winding more than a no and table cafe single tiung Horn without a scrap of foliage en route. Victoria Park is not allo'rved to come down to the shoreline, but instead is cul off from the water by snarling roads and flyovers. The nrassive Harbour City development, smack on the waterfront in lhe tourist quarter, but where the closest you'll get to the sea is the unshaded terrace of Starbucks in the Ocean Centre. The Ocean Terminal, where one of the largest stretches of open space in Tsin Sha Tsui is given over not to bars ornl/resco restaulants but to a rooftop carpark. And on it 8oes.

What, for instance, ale we supposed to make of the short but appalling walk fi'orn City Hall to the Outlying Islands ferry piers? There's the balren concrete plain in front of City Hall,

where the only place for refreshment

is not the fabulous

outdoor bar or jazz cafe that any town planner with compassion would earmark it for; but a shop (no tables or chairs of any kind) run by a vicious old couple selling instant noodles and drinks in Tetrapak.

Walk from here thlough the pok¡ low-ceilinged forecourt of the Star F".,1' - rvith its ilreadl'ul Maxim's takeaway (no

ha¡bour view) and grimy nêwsstands - and you come to a lemporaryJooking set of steel btairs that leads to one of the

sweeping views of Kowloon and the hills beyond, planners have decided to put a bus station. And that, basicall¡ is your Central District water{ront. It would be good to remember this while the legal spat over the harbour's future is in progress. Successive administrations have not only spectacularly failed to capitalise on the aesthetic and recreational potential of the waterfront. They and a cabal of pushy developers have, in effect, defrauded the people of one of Hong Kong's prime assets, which to my mind gives them neither the right nor the

qualifications

debate how the harbourfront should be

managed.

Speak out too stridentl¡ though, and you might find yourself fleeing to London for your life'

Ultimatel¡ people don't want show¡ pseudo-cultural reclamation projects and ruinously expensive Norman Foster canopies. Thày don't want a laughable, waterside Avenue of Stars paying homage to every B-list Cantopop singer or cosmetically-altered starlet that ever was. They just want to be able to get down to the water, hear the lapping waves, and enjoy a drink. In Sydney, the possibilities for this are endless. Even Circular Qnuy - which by the standards of the city's other water{ront stretches is crowded and overbuilt - comes over like a seaside dream compared to Central. There are buskers and

bars, large stretches of lawn,

world-class Museum of

Contemporary Art (not only with windows, but an outdoor cafe too), ferries chugging to Mosman and Manly and office workers eating lunchtime sandwiches in the sun' Sydney may be in the middle of the biggest property boom it has ever known, but nobody has been excluded from the water. Look upon it, Hongkongers, and weep.

cnminslly wasted

in all Asia. For here,

Re-Printed with the kind permission of SPIKE

heedless

THE CORRESPoNDEN,T DEcFtMrìER 2003/JANUARY 2004

the

(www.spikehk.com)

Photogra ,r.rrr¡

the Year

club of Hong Kong (FCC) invites the professional photographers ancl of Hong I(ong, FCC members, members of Hong Kong photographic clubs, amateur

corresp'ndents,

'.o'eign

¡rlrrt..jour.'alists for consideration in the third FCC photographer j,r,,,t,,gruph"rs and students to submit their photographic works ,,1

tlrc Yt¡at'Awards' in Hong l(ong or who are FCC members' all professional photogr-aphers who are resiclent

1,fl¡[r..si0n¡rl- open to

'llo - tlo - flo _ Co

in Hong I(ong news media' publication in Hong Kong magazine media' for taken Features - images ages taken for publication

Asi¡

tlsitt

rrsiu,

Netus

public rçJations use. corporate poltraiture etc. taken-for corporate use such as annual reports, t ./

,. jn Asian news media' - images taken for publication

*agazin"^Ê;r;;;;'-';"å;-;;;".

. ll

,r'l' r'"'"

been publishecl in local'

*?t",i'l

or international magazines'

achieve an effective control and use of digital hy an¿ Computer Imaging- images that demonstratdancl techniques' computel manipulation print or electronic and digital meclia' ages'should be enter.ecl as thåy appeared in

l) ¡rlrr _ i\ -

i-og".

Iftrllg Kollg PersPecl'ivc* l.imt it.... lræ i1."."."';;"

new touÌism slogan and that capture the unique imagesshould reflect the rheme of the HKTB's Kong' Hong of character sor:ill itlleglation, cultural heritage' energy' arts and _

it! -

Hong Kong photography clubs and all FCC members and their families' U Ñrr- l,rofr.ssional - open to members from participating and character of the Asian . \ìirnrc' of,{sir - port'aits and interp'etive images that portray the social' cultu'al and sexual role societies' rrorrt¿llt ilt Asian and international

lù.flr:r:rions ofan urban Landscape

urban landscapes in relationship - stÌong graphic and interpretive images that capture-modern

ih" *ordlrãflåtlo.t.'is

l;;;;;"-.

metaphorical and not necessarily literal'

Ir,

thr,¡rr:o¡rle *,1,"

.,u

- Lirc it... lor", it.-.-.' i""lll - images should reflect the lheme of the HKTB's irrltgrtrliorr, cultural heritage, energy, arts and character of Hong Kong'

i¡rl

r¡nl,'"-

lkrrg Kong ltelspective+

l)¡Éilrl l,hotography and Compurer

lkrng Kong l)erspcclive** - np"l, to students from padicipating schools' - Lit.t,it... lt¡t;¡tit.... S"e it!')images should re{ieåt the the-eof the HKTB's newtourism slogan and that capture the unique of Hong Kong' ".r'iirl irrlcgration, cultural heritage, ener-gy, afis and character

I''rt

"l!t'ttu k.nt l\'ts¡u'r'tit r" therti" ir,"o-spo^or"d by tlrc Hong Kong

" " 1,,¡,r,¡

l'rrr lhtrr¡1 Ktttu pcrs¡x:t:tíue" theme is

Thtrt uill lx' lrro ¡rr.int.i¡r.l arvards: .ingh' r'rrtrr irrrirgrs

i¡

co-sponsored by

(

r )RRt,..\t,(

)1.:\

Touri.sm Boaril'

the

South Cltina

Morning

Post and' the Hong Kong Tourisn Board and seeks to promote

,p[otographer of thc Ycar', and the'Photograph ofthe Year'awal'd. Category winners' both series and lxrth l,r.ol'essional and Non-prol'essional divisions, will be eligible for this award. More inforrnalion and entry folms are the

¡roilnilr. fronr thr. front uffit:c 2S2fl5ll or emai

new tourism slogan and that capture the unique

t demonstrate and achieve an effective control and use of digital photography I ttttrl/orcotnpuler.maniplmagestakenondigitalcamelasshouldnotbeenteredinthosecategories photography and/or computer imaging' have qualitiè

tl¡r,r

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poya

)t..(.t,. \ I Bl,/tì 2003/.J/\NUARY 2004

for their populations of less than 100,000 is absurd. Let's get real in the New World Disorder. Why aren't America and China jointly leading the charge for change?

The U.N. resolutions, like traffic lights in the developing countries that dominate the General Assembly are optional, unenforceable and disregarded. The 1991 U.N. cease fire resolution that ended the first Gulf War, which expelled Iraq from Kuwait and allowed weapons inspectors into lraq to ensure the elimination of its alleged arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, is a glaring example. Seventeen resolutions were passed over a 12' year period and ignored by Saddam. The ignored resolutions passed by the Security Council for Israel to end its siege of Yasser Arafat's Ramallah compound were just more millennium reminders. Any wonder North Korea will not recognise resolutions adopted by the U.N.?

The U.N. doesn't even stick to its own unwritten policies and tradition. By tradition, the Secretary General's job rotates every I0 years by region, and at the dawn of the 21st century it was Asia's turn to propose a candidate. But because Africa's lO-year term was split after Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt was denied a second

term, the U.S. endorsed Kofi Annan for a second term, giving Africa the job of Secretary General for 15 years!

Any wonder the international picture of

FCC Member Peter de Krassel argrres the fJ.N.?s time has come.

conflicts,

corruption and total disrespect for international law is spiralling out of control? The waste, nepotism, employment and promotion of mistresses and girlfriends, double-billing for expenses and failure to account for millions of dollars allocated for specific operations is well known and repeatedly echoed in the worldwide press. So why bother continuing in the New

sho

wound up and replaeed by a new Glo Couneil - based in Hong Kong.

World Order? The U.S. is justified in not paying its dues. The time, money and effort being spent to administer and manage the U.N. could be better spent winding it up

and starting a new organisation with a solid foundation and sound fundamentals that are relevant to the 2lst century.

Europe and the U.S. East Coast have had their Whenever I walk by the United Nations headquarters in New York, I can't help but wonder when this geopolitical dinosaur will join the ranks of other beautiful relics in the city's museums and become a Museum of Global Dreams. The U.N. is a Cold War relic. Now that the Cold War is dead and buried, isn't the U.N.'s funeral overdue? The high-profile public squabbles between America and "Old Europe" on whether the U.N. should authorise an attack on Iraq or give the inspectors more time highlighted the U.N.'s dysfunctional irrelevance to the world's 21st century

governing council selected by America and Britain sealed its own fate. All that is now necessary are the funeral

centuries of power. In the New World Order, Asia and the

arrangements. A Security Council comprising of five permanent members with three from "Old Europe" no longer makes sense or is sustainable in the 2lst century. The U.N. was founded on a noble vision that was to unite all nations and build a secure future in the wake of the end of World War II. 'When established in 1945,

must have their place

needs.

Soiree was dominated by the American-led West and Russia. Only four countries from Africa were present and three from Asia: China, India and the Philippines. They

The U.N. died on March I7, 2OO3, when President Bush declared the end of diplomacy and gave Saddam & Co 48 hours to leave Iraq. America's decision to remove Saddam and his weapons of mass destruction without an

delegations from 51 countries gathered in San Francisco to pronounce "an end to war for all time." The Golden Cate

l8th U.N. resolution blessing the war on Iraq with the seal of international approval was the last nail in the U.N.

were grateful former colonies of Britain and America. The rest were still colonies of the West. The concept of one country, one vote in the General Assembly is absurd in the 21st century. To think a country

coffin. A nail hammered by France with its announced veto

like China, with a quarter of the world's population,

"no matter what the evidence showed". The U.N.'s to recognise the 2S-member Iraqi

reluctant resolution

and the United States, with the world's largest econom¡ have equal clout to countries that live off international handouts THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 2OO3IJANUARY

2OO4

in the 20th century, in the sun. The major threats to global security in the 21st century are in Asia. Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Kashmir, Pacific, which were long ignored

Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, the Spratlys and Taiwan. Asia is also Islam's centre of grayity and nursery for terrorist networks. Afghanista¡,"Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippiñes, Pakistan and the various

Stans.

Just as the League of Nations became obsolete, so has

the U.N. The U.N. was established to ensure peace globally, primarily in Europe. Today, the biggest threats to peace and world security are in Asia. Cambodia, Korea,

Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Iraq are reminders that the end of the Cold War does not mean'the end of local and regional conventional conflicts. Even nuclear conflicts between India and Pakistan, Israel and its Muslim neighbours are possible. Major threats to global peace involve China and its rebellious province of Taiwan, THE CORRI,SPONDENT DECEMBER 2OO3IJANUARY

2OO4

Vietnam and the other claimants to the oil under the Spratly Islands. North Korea is itching itself raw and giving hives to China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Aceh's and others, regional drives for independence from Indonesia are further potential flash points. To meet today's threats, the successor to the U.N. has to be located in Asia, renamed and restructured. Il has to revise its purpose if it is to be relevant in the New World Order. If America is to continue being a major player in the New World Order and not follow in the footsteps of earlier lost empires, it should take the lead with China to restructure and relocate what remains of the U.N.'s noble managed misperception to Hong Kong. The new global successor of the U.N. should be named Global Security Council (GSC). The GSC should be

headquartered in Hong Kong, the apolitical civilisation crossroads of the world. Hong Kong was founded as a commercial trading centre and has deliberately kept politics and religion out of its daily life. English and Chinese'áre the most numerously spoken languages in the world. Mandarin is clearly the largest language groúþi ,with more than 835 million native speakers. English is a distant second, with 470 million, followed by Spaú;sh with 330 million. French should, along with the U.N. bureaucrats, join Latin on the

geopolitical linguistic and institutional garbage that belongs in New York sanitation trucks. It should be replaced by Chinese.

Just as the U.N. building was built on the rubble brought over from lhe London Blitz, the Global Security Council building must be built in Hong Kong on the rubble of the World Trade Center at the world's trade centre. GSC membership should be limited to the core states of

each civilisation with rotating membership for the civilisations that do not have a core state. The members of this body would be America, China, India, Russia, with representatives from the Muslim world to be determined by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Europe to be determined by the European Union, a representalive from Africà to be determined by the African Union, a representative from Southeast Asia to be determined by ASEAN, and a representative from Latin America to be determined by the Organisation of American States. The United States will have to abstain on the Americas vote. Each major civilisation would have an equal say and vote

in the

GSC.

The GSC of the 21st century must have a rapidly deployable military force from a mission headquarters. A multinational force modelled after NATO that is made up of military units from the countries and core civilisations represented on the GSC. It would be a Peace Force interventionist army that would prevent starvation and persecution based on race, religion or gender. An army that would also enlist and train

exiles from target countries, like the U.S. did with Iraqi exiles. The Peace Force must not be limited to soldiers' It should also include doctors, teachers and retired

professionals willing to help a country rebuild and modernise. Global Peace Keepers Without Borders, a Clobal Teachers Corp that will replace the missionary teachers that instil religion instead of education and knowledge that is essential to grow and enter the 2lst century with a functional purpose. Peace keepers and teachers without religious strings attached from member countries. Participating volunteers would be exempted from compulsory military service in their home countries and university students who participate would receive academic credit for their time and service. The 21st century wars

in Afghanistan and lraq

Ø/-.n' rg þ,2

MORTGAGES & RE-MORTGAGES

(from)

1.29'6þa.*

show

global military force that will be established to enforce the GSC's resolutions. The rebuilding of post-Saddam lraq can be the seed to germinate the GSC. A body representative of the geopolitical reality of the 21st century's reawakened civilisations contributing the best they have to offer in the rebuilding of a global Garden of Eden - a cradle of fused 2Ist century civilisations brought together - in Hong Kong.

/u/u

UK PROPERTY

that a determined effort can bring about regime change. The removal of political leaders that are a threat to the world could be openly and honestly debated. Enforceable sanctions could be imposed. The Kim Jong-ils and Robert Mugabes of our world could be isolated and removed by a

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Things did not go well for the Philippines from the start, reports absent member Nick Demuth. The Tunisian Chairman of the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC), meeting in Geneva in October, slapped Manila on the wrist for its tardy reporting which had arrived late indicating, he said, that "the Philippine Government did not respect its reporting obligations."

7th November 2003

The 225-page report on the human rights situation in the Philippines, presented by Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez, sought to paint an encouraging picture, said Bobby Tuazon of the University of the Philippines, who covered the event for Philippine Graphic. Also there as obser-vers were members of several NGOs, including Karapatan (The Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights), which was particularly active in $isputing soìme of the statements put fonvard by the Philippine delegation. Gutierrez claimed that her Government espoused a strong civil societ¡ the rule of law and flee enterprise. Acts of torture were considered crimes and laws are in place for the prosecution and punishment of officers inflicting torture. Referring to reports by independent human rights groups, UNHRC members raised many questions about reporls of

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lvolkers as well as the death penalty. A statement that the killings of human rights worker Eden Mancellana and peasant leader Eddie Gurnanoy are "now 2OO4

THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBE+ 2O03,i.JANUARY 2004

being tried in the Regional Trial Court in Calapan, Mindoro" prompted the General Secretary of Karapatan , Marie HilaoEnriquez, to label the report as "a blatant lie". "The Philippine government is feeding the international community wrong information about the miserable situation that exists in our countr¡" she said' Karapatan also reported on the increase in the number of

journalists killed today compared with

previous administrations. These reports have also been submitted to other NGOs.

On the subject of capital punishment, the Philippine delegation said as of October 1, there were 970 death sentences meted out by the couïts, I47 of them, which include women and children, have been affirmed by the Supreme Court. Seven Filipinos have been executed since the

death penalty was re-imposed during deposed President Estrada's term.

The UNHRC said that although the State Party has done what it could, more information was needed for the committee to thoroughly monitor the situation in the Philippines.

(stí-1é tó

) n. pl.

STILETTO sti'let.tos or sti.let'toes A small dugger with a slend at, tapering

blade. Something shaped like such as a dugger. A small, sharp-Pointed instrument used for makitg eYelet holes tn needlework. [Itali ãn, diminutive of stilo, duggcr, from Latin stirus, stylus]

In Cambodia, which passed the mantle of ASEAN chair to Indonesia after a successful 12 months as host, there's a free press and all the major wires are staffed by expats and a bevy of local journalists who worked feverishÌy on the

logistics needed for lhe hundreds of coÌleagues who entered the country to cover visiting heads of state and their foreign ministers. The last group of photographers and journalists I knew working in Laos were locked up on bogus murder charges after covering a niggling little civil war that no-one \¡¡ants to talk about. The Cambodian-based press reptiles, meanwhile, have their own problems. They are seething at the latest antics of the FCC in Phnom Penh. Yes, I know it's not a real club, but the tourists arenrt

Instead he wished the pair, a Russian and a Nepalese on student visas and high on yabba, a happy and lengthy

involuntary stay in Bangkok. Dan's on the mend with doctors estimating three months to a full recovery. We trust his trade and the business of reporting will do likewise 1n 2004. And a final word on Paul Ruffini, the sub's sub who has returned to the South China Morning Post after a year in his native Australia. If you are among the many who have forged a relationship with Paul based on beer and pizza, then watch out-he's a changed man. Contact Max at maxkolbefcc@yahoo.co.uk

any the wiser when quaffing a chardonnay while overlooking the Mekong. The faux hacks' bar has left

Cococabana

members of that country's Overseas Press Club (it's a real club, it has members) cringing on too many occasions.

,{l fi'esco dininrt in Mo Tat Wan

Picture this: On the first floor balcony of the grand old colonial building housing the FCC Cambodia sit about a dozen Eastern European tourists. Below them are the Khmer rank and file who -- when lucky enough -- make US$30 a month. Those tourists are generous sods, in fact they almost caused a riot by tossing loose cash to the hordes below

where one-legged beggars, children and cyclo-riders scrambled for the loot, providing a hearty belly laugh for all who were sitting in the bar above. Bravo! Little wonder expat scribes are more likely to be found at the Cantina, just up the road on Sisowath. It's a Mexican hole-in-the-wa11 bal established by recovering journalist Hurley Scroggins. If you think the politics associated with regional press

clubs can get ridiculously bitchy then check out the

for stating the obvious in East Asia, where journalists have endured one of the toughest years in No prizes

memory, covering wars, disease and financial woes even as

tight-fisted managers deploy legions of accountants to screw nickles and dimes out of their overworked charges. But the bellwether for media across the region, Hong Kong, is seeing some signs of life, some hiring - and there's Spifre, a refreshing addition to the local stands. It's a good read for the most part, mixing schoolboy humour with liberal doses of original wit and intellectual rigour. I expect, though, that Spike will have to contend with the same merchants of gloom pontificating over its lack of a

future which has bedevilled the Far Eastern Economic Reuiew - along with other Hong Kong-based publications amid the economic nightmares of recent years. Bets are already being taken on how Iong Spihe will last but according to an independent mole at Dymock's book store in Central "SpiÀe is selling very well."

economic climate hasn't stopped one group of from also bucking the photographers in Southeast Asia photo agency that will focus new a off ir"nd urd kicking The dismal

solely on the region' The launch is imminent -- although at the time of going remains confidential -- but there to press their base-country from photogs, and if I was applause of round a should be I'd be watchful of the agerrcy photo league running a major in the archivaì particularly up-and-coming competition, stakes. A creeping question, as one news

editor in Hanoi put it,

that's beginning to haunt editorial meetings in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore is how are the thousand-ocld journalists going to cover the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting once Laos takes over from

recently published book on the FCC in Tokyo. One of the delightful anecdotes recounts how Club Administrator Richard Hughes was sacked while on a holiday home to Australia by an American-dominated board in the early years after World War

II.

As a result, brother Aussie Denis 'Warner swore he would never set foot in the Cltrb'again and still hasn't, signalling quite possibly the longe¡t feud in journalism history. Denis is currerltly livinq in retirement outside One chap who deserves u'f"* bro*rlie points is a Thai fixer who was hired by two thugs to get them out of jail after they beat English photographer Dan Vy'hite to a pulp outside of a Bangkok bar. Dan is one of the few genuine pacifists I know and a gentle man in a trade that needs a

few more like him.

Jakarta as host next Year?

going to be a logistical nightmare'

photographer and told them he had fired

TFIE CORRESPONDENT

DECEMBER 20034ANUARY 2004

licsco dinirrg

and grciìt pflrtics.

l-ocllcd ahrost 0n tlìr'hcaclì. C'ococabenit ot'lcrs I ]aid

0ul c\0tic

sr.nrsct

c0cktitils lrnd balcoltv dilllnq sct ¿t{.lttillst

thc soli soun(l of \\'¿ì\'cs. For rcscrt ations plcasc cirll 1328-l Tirnctablcs. Iloat

in hospital to check out

the damage and was so horrified by the injuries, especially to Dan's face, that he contacted associates of the beleaguered

It's never been done out of Vientiane before and it's

llong Kong's rnost bcrrutifìtÌ t crtuc lirr

back \'lctlrtcnltrìr'an stvIc ['ursinc irnrl atrrrosphcrc. F.rrjoy

Melbourne.

The fixer visited Dan

Conrc to \40-[-at \\i an on Lanula lslantl alrd discorcr

THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 20Q344ì\UARY 2004

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hearts of the people of Hong l(ong. But let's

hope it remains single, chaste and shy. Otherwise, as the situation in Florida shows, when man and reptile compete for an ever-shrinking habitat the outcome is dire, reports Dan White. encroachment of man, so the alligators - relics flom the age of dinosaurs - encroach on the suburban habitats of the only predator they have to fear. That's us. For those unlucky enough to find a giant gator making itself at home in their back garden or swimming pool, there is only one answer. It is time to call Ricky and Lee Kramer.

The arrival of this father and son team usually puts a dramatic end to the territorial ambitions of Florida's most

the watery *iltl"'n"." ri,ú". öi".gtua". is diminished by the ïl{Ë, (:oRR}:st{)\l)ti\

THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 2OO3I.JANUARY

2OO4

l. r)t.cEìvtBEn

zooá4¡lvu¡Rv

zoo,t

toothy and unpredictable residents. As an alligator catcher, licensed by the State of Florida's Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Lee I(ramer has been hauling giant, thrashing gators by their tails from puddles and ditches for 30 years. Over 5,000 of them to be exact. If thele is an alligator that

Lee and or animals' then is deemed to be a threat to humans shoot,it

h";ìiï;;lnd

Ricky are licensed r" earn their money by ."I;;;;t

*tîtit-*il:I"¿

i::u I1:l

ts skin and flesh' Alligator

casting process again, Lee goes for broke and hangs on. As Ricky casts again at short range, he is up against the clock. He misses and the gator takes his chance. Finding reserves of strength from somewhere, he thrashes and jerks. The remaining hook is worked loose and the giant gator plunges to safety.,Lee and Ricky are tired, but resigned.

line.from his rod marksmanship comes into play' Lee casts a he winds the into tt" Iake and over the alligator's back' As the reptile' of skin scaþ the on catches fi"" i", the hook

features break r"¿r'""t', Lee's leatherv love the

,"iltt'ilì"iiil"u 'Î'L ladies

into a sly srin as rt" the alligator-man loves alligator-man, and truth ¡" tot¿' thå head them in the alligator. It's just o*ri"i"i;;-';;; 'steád

oflettin'

"Is he gonna come back?" asks the fat lady.

" do 'em free. I truly

"Yep," replies Lee.

ïespect the alligator."

^Wh"n

we Pull uP at

lhe

a curbside of a suburban home in

Ricky and Lee look aT each of other wiih just the faintest hint remains a smirk. As poor Fido's are hauled báck from the murkY

iJ;:::i:"

high

"Nope, that's horse shit," replies Lee. "Most folks just zig when they should be zagging and run back right into the jaws ofthe gator. Best thing to do ifyou are bein' chased by a gator is just to run like hell." Our last port of call is back to the suburbs to fish a gatot out of a swimming potrl. This is done with blasé efficiency in a matter of minutes. While the family dog barks at the reptile from behind the safety of the French windows, Ricky grabs the gator by the tail. This is a nippy customer and the gator twists on its own axíC and tries to remove Ricky's left

"Bastard ate her dog!" howls Ricky.

legs as the gator'góes for each one in turn. He deftly slips the noose over its jaws and the fun is over.

"Jeez! I love the gator!" answers Lee.

As the sun $oés'down, Lee and Ricky take the day's catch off to certain execution. I, for one, have seen enough to make sure that I give a wide birth to anything in Florida that resembles water. It's dangerous out there.

The next call is just as bizarre. A gator has found its way into a pool at the end of a paddock in the grounds of a high society polo club. The gator has been behaving badly ... you

huu" b"tt", hearing than bats and

gauge

the position of

the

alligator from the Pulls on the

alreadY in place. After the eighth or ninth àtt"-pt at dragging a hook through the water and into the flesh of the animal RickY feels tension and then a Pull' He has

single line that

hooked him.

The trick now is to let the panicked gator twist, turn, dive and move in an attemPt to throw off his captors. The gator men

will let him do this, giving him enough slack so that he won't

break the lines. After half

hour or so the gator should have worn himself out and be short of

air. Then

it is time to reel him

Slowly, slowlY theY reel in' soon be alli8ator' would she carries on squawking' the contemplating

and miles away with ear ti"Li't"' t* ""tîÏi'tnr, time Lee and Rickv seem to oî^Ï t"u'andn out n tr'"'ürt" îoâir

eyes of malevolent

hundred yards . .".ry Uá"r. break the placid sur{ace :lT|'"' u

'kinrur

of expert i:i: gu'" or ""p"'t

know the kind of thing.... snubbing the chairman's wife..... drooling on the canapes and taking a pop at a tethered horse. Greeting us at the clubhouse is a man kitted out in jodhpurs and a cravat. " If this reptile so much as scratches one of my members I am finished," he enunciates in plummy tones.

"Y"p........ It's a small bit of water. I reckon that gator just took himself down a dead end. I think your members are gonna be fine," drawls Lee. 'We approach the pond on tip-toes in order not to frighten away the culprit. It is there, static on the other side of the pond. Lee gently kneels at the banks. He cups his hands over his mouth and makes a strange croaking sound. It is the mating call of the alligator. It works. The interested gator glides towards Lee, giving Ricky the chance to cast and get a line on him. The gator dives,.but Lee moves faster and is on his feet casting the second line. This is a shallow pond and it takes only two attgrñpts to hoòk the reptile. The gator erupts in a frenzy of thrashing an&squirming but soon tires. Lee and Ricky start to reel him in. As he nears the bank, Lee'passes his rod to a local boy and wades into water roiling and boiling around his ankles.

1n.

a small audience of Floridian

society watching events from a safe distance. As the van pulls away a round of polite applause sends us on our way. The man in the jodhpurs looks relieved. Half-an-hour later and a few miles down the road, the gator has recovered some of its strength and that's when it starts banging against the side of the pick-up. Weighing up the possibilities of the gator's escape I ask ifthe best thing to do is to heed oft-repeated advice and run ín a zigzag pattern.

knee cap. Howling with laughter Ricky starts kicking his

householder with an imPortant snippet of information: alligators

Ïi'i:"f"""'.:äii:ïffil!",

been chasin' that gator for five

before Lee and Ricky collapse in fits of uncontrollable, laughter. They have to stop the car until they

Bastard killed mY dog."

years. This is the second time I've hooked him. Never been closer than this. The other bank is all swamp. He can come and go as he wants. You better watch out for the puppies if you are lookin' to get yourseÌf a new dog. You got my number. You give us a call now if he shows his head around here again." Leaving her pop-eyed with spent adrenaline we get back into the pick-up and are only 10 seconds out ofher driveway

with nothing but air. By now there is

Despite gator exerts an incredi íik" lo.gbo*s. Slowl¡ shallows. Lee prepares to 1um This is one lucky gator. T

his

exhaustion, the bending

into the Too late' snaPPed'

of Joubling the weightln the first line' Given the choice whole hanginfon or giving some slack in order to start the THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 2OO3IJANUARY

2OO4

Leaning over the snapping jaws with a noose attached to a stick, he lassoes them shut before grabbing the gator by its thrashing tail and, with a yell of "got ya peckerhead!" yanks it onto drv land. By this time Ricky has jumped on the reptile's back, dodging its flailing tail to hold it steady as Lee rapes up its jaws with gaffer tape. With one quick movement the gator is lifted into the van, its tail still thrashing but making contact THE CORRESPONDF,NT DECEMBER 2OO3IJANUARY

2OO4

Photo Gatalytic Oxidation (PCO) in FCC The Essence of Clean Air

ccording to Environmental Protection Department and Health Department from united Kingdom, united states, Hong Kong, china, etc. lndoorAir euality is 3 to 10

times more polluted than outdoor ambient air. Just add number of hours every day you spend indoor, at home, work, school, traveling, restaurants, cinemas, etc. over 70"/o of your day!! A normal grown-up breathes over 22,000 times a everyday which comprises of both biological and chemical contaminants, such as formaldehyde, benzene, bacteria,

viruses, fungus, etc, are all proven to be hazardous to our health. This is why diseases are mainly infected and spread out in indoor environments. Maintaining indoor air quality acceptable and comfort level is an impodant task for building owners who are responsible

R ecently, three Photo-catalytic Oxidation Air Sterilizers have been donated to the FCC for improving the indoor environment to all members, serving The Bunker, The Workroom, and the Health Club. lt is different from other traditional ventilation systems for its ability to decompose disease bearing viruses, bacteria and fungi in the air, preventing outbreak of pathogenic infections.

P troto Catalytic Oxidation (PCO) technology was developed by the EPA, Sandia National Laboratories, US. Department of Defence, US. Department of Energy, and National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) in the late eighties for protection against biological and chemical wadare. Highly reactive HYDROXYL RADICALS and SUPER-OXIDE IONS are generated during the Photo-Catalytic Oxidation reaction which are capable of destroying volatile organic compounds in deadly air and ground water effluent containing carcinogenic compounds while attacking the DNA of airborne viruses, bacteria and fungi.

1;ii'i,':ti)

irsopure@ is the first US company to commercialise PCO technology for civilian applications in a revolutionary way, through which Photocatalytic reactors may be integrated into new and existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

'[]

Airsopure" PCO reactors have been tested and accredited since the commercialisation in 1997 by GD Air Testing lnc., Southwest Research lnstitute (USA), Technology Transfer and Services Centre (Taiwan), City University and Kwong Wah Hospital (Hong

l ' r:r

¡'v, 'rl¡ r rÍ; C i: t: ,':;':: rl

A f'ew years ãgo, before most tife insurers began wiiii*gr,'p,olicy

Kong), Southern China Environmental Protection Department (China).

li;r i,l,g:,,1

¡tn¡n a few days of installation, FCC" employees and some members noticed the pedormance of the 3 PCO". Most recognisable

result is in the Workroom and the Bunker seems to have felt the slightest difference. Why same machines produced different results? Room Design and Layout; Air Distribution; Pollution Source and Location of PGO.

exclusions for it, Ken Jackson and his wife, Al'ytblíi ttok a hohääy"trip to ):;.'l¡" Tâwi Tâwi in the Phitippine Sulu Islands'

he Workroom is a small enclosed area where air quality is affected by chemicals emitted from laser printer, furniture, cleaning products, printed materials; microbes from carpet, water stains and human. The PCO is placed on a table top in the middle of

the office; Air Change per Hour (ACH) can be maintained at a relatively higher level resulting in better air purification pedormance.

n contrast, the Bunker is an open area with more people turnover. The PCO is placed behind a sofa in a corner; contamination sources such as tobacco (from the main bar) and food odour, chemicals, etc. are consistently generated. All these factors will affect the performance of the pCO.

lndoor Air Quality (lAa) is proved has released Guidance Notes and

awareness of the impoftance of

it is also complex from is an on-going

oxloÆþN PowEì

to be a major health issue and Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department a Certification Scheme in September 2003 to promote public

ot v'Qþur

onuù^rc

aailß

lAQ. lndoor Air Quality is not only technically complex, administrative point of view. Maintaining lndoorAir Quality process and air purification systems play an important

George Woo

*'.*

*ü

PrinciPal Consultant Green Building & tndoor Air Quality

Airsopure@ will offer a 157" special member discount to all FCC members f rom 1Sth January to 28th February 2OO4. Please contact us for free advises on lndoor Air Quality issues at 9428'5440'

The tourist industry hadn't fully developed when we visiterl. The only accommodation we could find' the Sot¡lhern Hotel, was above a grain storage facility on the rlttsly rnain street of the island's only population centre, Bongao.

Our guirlebook's descSiþtion of tlìe Southern set a new slatrtl¿rrrl for the word "basic". 'The'bath was not en suite' Il

Yes, Lord.... 'We came to call this nameless cafe "The Smugglers'Bar"

it became our refuge from the Southern Hotel' The Smugglers' was packed at 1:00 PM the day we found it. From the number of empty San Miguel bottles stacked on the

and

tables and spilt onto the floor and into the road,

had

rì()[ even etl, hôtel. The tollet could have featured in the

apparently been packed for hours. It was filled with local fishing types and soldiers from the

Jotrrrral of Entomology: "Enolmous Green Cockroaches l)ist't¡r'ererll" The most interesting aspects of the hotel were lhe s¡rray painted graffiti on the bedroom walls and the fact that the orrly cloor to the building was padlocked from the

nearby base. Only a few guns were in view but almost everyone wore a knife. We had no trouble making the immediate life-long friends one might expect when a blonde female and a guy willing to buy rounds walk into such an

t¡utsitle at night.

environment. The most friendly person was a tall good-looking soldier

w¿rs

After freshening up in our new quafiers, we decided

ex¡rl.rt.. prirnar.ily, we decided to explore the possibility of tliffererrl r¡uarters. We eventually gave up this fool's errand when rve happily stumbled upon a pleasant looking open-air l¡alttl¡r¡t¡ urlrl thatch bar on u s-ull, palm-fringed cove. 'n lË (;()RRt'sr'()NntNT

DEcEMBER 2003/JANUARy 2004

named Sgt. Ali. He decided right off that my wife would enjoy a long ride on the back of his motorcycle. Maybe it was his honest looks, or maybe it was just his Ml6 but neither of us really saw a problem with the idea.

Duling her- plolongecl absence, I discovered The Smugglers' had a kitchen. Mole accurately, it had waterboiling facilities. It specialised in two types oÎhaute cuisine: Maggi Instant Noodles With Egg and Maggi Instant Noodles

Without Egg ("Egg Maggi" anri "Plain Maggi" to the initiated). It also had an old tape deck, but whatevel they were trying to play on it was drowned out by the free-flowing discourse in ideas among the patrons. After several hours of pleasantries, evetyone at our- table except Sgt. Ali announced they had to take a boat that night

to the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo. One of them explained they woukl be wolking on a forestry project there for two weeks. Whereupon, they all stood up, more or less in unisou, leaned toward the beach and disappeared. A few minutes later we saw them pianing the sudace of the water

in an open boat powered by four

massive Evinrudes' Hunched into the wind, wearing balaclavas, they pitched brown glass ballast into the sea as they surged by. By then it was nearly dark and our tri-shaw driver had been waiting for almost five hours, so we r-eturned to the blight lights of Bongao. The next morning, after being released from the Southern, we went off in search of a sightseeing boat. Initiall¡ we wanted to find one to take us to the last island in the southern Philippines - Sitangkai' Sitangkai is another of those "Venice of the Easts" that guidebook writers seem to locate everywhere. After sitting on rice bags at the local congressman's warehouse drinking tea and interviewing boatmen for an hour, we cletermined no

available boat was fast enough to make a day-trip to this place that had even less accommodation selection than 'We Bongao. settled for a boat tour of the nearby Bajao tribal

drink with us and if you talk with us. But, my friend, if you mention the boat again, I will hurt you."

V/ell, that sort of thing can be

a real

conversation

stopper. I decided to change subjects while my wife decided to change tables and renew a meaningful friendship with Sgt Ali as far away from me as possible. We eventually backed out of The Smugglers', found our tri-shaw driver and returned to the comfort of our padlocked hotel. The next morning, Alyzon began oul last full day on Tawi Tawi by asking me that timeless travel question; "Oka¡ Jerk. Where's the fucking beach?" It was true we hadn't seen â proper one, so we flagged down a tri-shaw ddver to whom she repeated her quer-y. He thought Boracay might be the nearest, but sensing a volatile situation, he took us to a spot that had somehow escaped oul notice. Beyond a mangrove was a desolate sheltered curve of white sand with overhanging banyans and water so cleal Evian might try to bottle it. Schools of fish glistened in

fluorescent

colour. And there were no

people...no

people...no people.... We'd found the bath the Southern had forgotten and we soaked and we swam until Huppy Hour at The Smugglers'which for me meant after "My Special Friend" had left for Borneo.

Nightfall brought us back to Bongao for our farewell dinner. Around midnight, stuffed on mackerel and Maggi, walking back to the Southern, we saw Sgt. Ali for the last time. He was listing slightly in the middle of the road with his machine gun, a full bandolier, a vacant smile and a distant stare. Thankfully, his motorcycle was elsewhere.

areas.

The Bajao are often called Sea Gypsies and they have a serious downside. They are nomadic fishermen with access to explosives. The mounds of sun-bleached shattered colal washed up throughout the Sulus testify to the destructive consequences of that combination. We saw a few Bajao in their long wooden boats with squid and octopus drying from the stern. Thev seemed friendly and as care-fi'ee as anyone who doesn't yet worry about living near a dynamited coral leef.

With that depressing thought, we returned to The Smugglers' and discovered to our amazement that the "forestry" boat gang had returned and were sitting in exactly the same spot they had been a day earlier with at least as many empties scattered around. They had made the 150 km sea journey without collecting even a trace of sawdust' I might be pretty naive, but it didn't take much to guess that these guys had nothing to do with trees. They were in the Duly Free Shopping Business.

This looked to me like the answer to the day-trip to Sitangkai. It was half the distance they'd just travelled and I could pay enough. So, we started talking about the boat ancl how fast it was and eventually I asked the potentially fatal moronic question: "Where is it moored?" At this, a man with a black bandana wrapped around his head and a world-class facial scar carne up from another' table, sat next lo me and quietly spoke. " My friend, I do not mind if you sit here," he said. "I do not even mind if you

*:*${$"%*x":"*#,y..",: "The last tfune I had somethittg ruineld at the dry eleaners wa,s úen year.s ago. Thatts when ope,ne,d Goodwins

London!t'

To exúend the life of your eloúhes leú Goodwins úalre eare of úhern. O Fresh, clean chernieals o Dxperience in stain renroval o Sensitive pressing O Genúle wash laundering O Household furnishings*Rugs o R'epairs x Alúer.aúions * Re-weaving o Home piek-up/delivery o Frierrdly, eourúeous ser.viee o Affordal¡le priees

Shop G27, Central Building, l-3 Pedder Street Central @ Great Food Hall, LGf (by valet parking), Pacific Place Shop 43, Level 2, The Peak Galleria, ll8 Peak Road, The Peak Shop A, 2/F, Dairy Farm Shopping Centre, Beach Road, Repulse Bay

TeI: 2Al2

24OO

emâil: drycleaning@goodwinsoflondon.com THE CORRESPONIJENT DÌiCEMBE,R 2003,/JANUARY

2OO4

TRepresentative. We are still looking for volunteers for the positions of Membership VR Media Representative, and Community Liaison Officer. Other issues raised at the meeting were our status as an organisation. As an unofficial, unrecognised organisation, PRC law precludes our assuming a higher profile or having our own clubhouse. Although some organisations, such as the various Chambers of Commerce of different nations, have their own facilities despite the lack of official status, official sensitivity to foreign journalists' activities makes us wary of being too public. In 2004, the SFCC expects to continue expanding its membership and activities. We hope to hold more fun and social events including trips and tours. We plan to recruit bars, restaurants, shops and hotels to give discounts to card-carrying membeis. We plan to reach out more to other parts of the expatriate community, including other organisations and consulates, and to continue to hold regular, low-key interaction with Chinese journalists. We look forward to another budy, successful year in 2004 and our Hong Kong colleagues are-always welcome to join us at events. For a schedule or .more information, please visit our

held an average of two to three events per month in 2003, including tours, lectures, happy hours and parties.

For 2004, we decided to expand the Board and introduce new positions and responsibilities. The SFCC Board now consists of a President, three Vice-presidents charged respectively with arranging events, membership and information, a membership coordinator overseeing the logistics and administration of the member list, and a treasurer. A community liaison officer helps coordinate

with other organisations in Shanghai, and

international liaison officer keeps us in touch with other FCCs around the globe. Associate and Media members each have a representative on the board.

At our Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 4 November 2003, at M on the Bund attended by over 20 members,

we implemented the new structure

and

inducted a new Board. Kerstin Lohse-Friedrich of ARD is the new SFCC President. Crystyl Mo (Shanghai Tatler and freelance) is Vice-President of Events and outgoing general VP Lisa Movius (also freelance) is Vice-President of Information. Paul French of AccessAsia is Treasurer, and freelancer Olivia Edward is Membership Coordinator. Outgoing Acting President, Alysha Webb of Automotiue News, is International Liaison officer and John Van Fleet of the Malshall School of Business is Associate

EW úr

SPCA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION & DONATION FORM

o Ic E

Yes, I

Please help them to find a loving home

through SPCA's adoption program.

The past year, 2003, was a

full and busy year for the Shanghai

want to join/rejoin as a SPCA member

O O

$2,000 as a Life Member $300 as a Family Member

Yes, lwant to help Hong Kong's sick and homeless animals by makÍng a donation of

HK LD. No.

a handful of events, efforts were made to O

formalise things in spring of 2002. By the end of 2002, the Club had

Enclosed is a crossed cheque for the amount of HK$

Visa

Master

Card Expiry Date

events each month. In the following year, the SFCC continued to grow, but our expanding membership and ideas were curtailed by a shortage of organisers and a high turnover on the board. The risk of relocation is a major occupational

hazard. As a result, we curtailed membership

Cardholder's signature

Cheque Payment should be made to "SPCA (HK)". Please send to Membership Services, SPCA, 5 Wan Shing Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

recruitment activities in order to focus on better serving existing members, but nonetheless ended the year with a respectable B0 members. We changed the structure mid-

year, creating a Media membership category

total amount of HK$ O AE Credit Card No.

Please debit my credit card for the

expanded to 50 paying members and was holding at least one to two

O $200 as an Annual Member O $60 as a Junior Member

Name (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms)

Foreign Correspondents' CIub (SFCC). After many years as an ad hoc

group organising only

website at http://wwwlfccsh. org.

Tel2802 0501 Fax 28027229

accommodate expatriates working in the local media. We THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 20034ANUARY 2004

THE CORRTSPONDENT DECEMßER 2003,{ANUARY 2004

Absent member and Jazz musician extraordinaire , IViclt Demuth, looks back at one of the seminal moments

the first recording.

to is close, night life in frantic. The age of the flappers nars ap¡lloaching but the popular music of those days was As \\brlrl Val

rvas drawing

Anrerir:a rvas becotning tnore

Ra¡¡lirne, a r'¿thel sedate form of dancing music. In l9l6 an all-rvhite band in Chicago was getting together

untl

rv¿rs

ex¡rclirnenting rvith the "new" music that was

starting to ¿ìtlract attention in the city with bands that went on tr¡ fealulr, ¡rla1,t:rs such as Joe "King" Oliver and Louis

I fl

PROFESSIONAT CONTACTS

rnrstrrng.

Unrlel tht¡ leadership of cornet-playing composer Nick La lìtx'<'a, tlre Oliginal Dixieland JazzBand decided to make a recorrl ¿rnrl in t9l7 rvent into a recording studio - with <lisaslrrlus rtsults.

TheProfessionalContactspageappearslneachissrreofTheCorresþondentandontheFCCwebsiteat

>httþ://wuu.fcchh'org<.Lettheworldknowwhoyouafe,whatyoudoandhowtoreacþy9¡.Therehasrtel'er a minimum of a three-issue listing, and are billed srart at just $100 per issue, wirh Listings time. been a better account' painlesslY to Your FCC

ln those carl1, ¡l¿ys of recording only one microphone was userl. Pì¿rcerl loughly in the centre of the studio, the nrusi<:iarrs gatherecl r.ound it in a semi-circle. This worked rrell rlith sirrgers ryho rvere accompanied by string orchestras r)r rìrol. o[lt.¡r lrr ir piarro. Vhen tht. ODJB carne into the studio, chaos broke out. '[hc trarlition¿rl jazz line-up of cornet, clarinet, trombone, piano atr<l rllunrs, tlre instruments had different tones and

became an internátiänäl sensation. The only problem was the Original Dixieland Jazz Band was neither aJazzband nor particularly original. Their music was what would today be dismissed as Mickey Mouse stuff. It included whistles, car horns and other comic effects. Nevertheless, it caught the public's fancy and the band became a success. On leaving Chicago, the did a session in New York and then went on to London where they proved equally populaq appearing at the London Palladium, including a command per{olmance for l(ing George V. After a spell at the Hammersmith Dance Hall, they had to make a hasty exit from the country pulsued by a gun-carrying member of the aristocracy after the blood of one of the musicians who had seduced his wife. By the time they got back to the States, the music scene had changed and the band never managed to get it together. Even a reunion in the 1930s failed but theil initial impact had establish ed Jazz as an original American art form. It is interesting to note that had the ODJB been formed by

black musicians it would not have had entry to the places they did

flcoPY attached

3lines @ $150 l4lines $200 2lines @ $100 fl per issue x 6 ú Smail box @ $300 per issue x 3'k / $250 @

Cl Large

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@ $600

per issue x 3* /

issue $550 per

* Minimum of 3

contet (rvhit.h <:ar.ried the lead) was given

¡rosilion.

pang and May email Sandrz For more information

Man at <advertising@fcchk.org>

prominent

Robinson on piørn and, Tony Sharbaro (Spargo) on Drums.

g9 01 '

THE coRRTsPoNDENT DECEil,TBER 2003/fANU'\RY 2004

even as big-spending customers.

Thn Original Dixi,eland, Jazz Band,feøtured. Ni.ck In Rocca on cornct, lnrry Shields on clarinet, Edd,ie Ed,ward"s on tromboræ, Henry Ragas and, then I. RUssel

issues

or ca' 2540 6g72 or fax

None of the band members survived beyond 1963. But Jazz is now an international art form and all the great players that followed owe a debt to the Mickey Mouse players of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

O Slines @ $Zfo

per issue x colour @ $700 perissue x3* /$600 Cl Large box w/

in lhe Jazz world

lb:

(:()RRusr\

)Nr)r,:N

l)ltcEÀ,tBER 2003/JANUAR\, 2004

Happy New Year 2OO4

at the FCC By Zoe Dauth Ho, the Writers' Workshop got off to a

and can be trusted to sPend at least some lime and money in Promol"ing a

lively start in Bert's Bar in October

new wrrter.

Under the chairmanship

C.P.

and set a cracking pace with questions

A number of existing

writers'

groups were represented.

and answers.

It proved quite conclusively Hong Kong has a lively

that and

Ted Thomas, convener of The Guild of Professional Writers and

enthusiastic core of writers and poets. Half-a-dozen published writers at the top table fielded questions from the 50

Broadcasters and a committee member

or so aspiring novelists, short story

which would meet regularly and

writers, historians, and the odd poet or two who face the age old problem of how to get their first work published.

Dockstader, a leading light of Women in Publishing, added her supPort. The FCC was represented bY C.P'

Opinions varied about the efficiency of self-publishing versus the never-ending search for a

Ho, Chairman of the

publisher who will give a square deal

of The Hong l(ong Press

Club'

endorsed the idea of a combined group Sue

Professional

Committee. Sever-al smaller- groups agreed to support the new grouping.

It was resolved to launch

occasional newsletter,

schedule

meetings with established and aspiring writers and to invite publishers, editors, promoters and other interested parties lo address the group.

Operating initially under auspices of The Cuild of Professional Wliters and Broadcasters it is expected thal the fledging writers circle will expand to become a self-supporting entity rvith

its own identity and organization to be known as Scribes Asia. For more information contact the

Genelal Secretary of the Guild of Published Writers and Broadcasters:

Tel; 25277077 Fax: 2866

678L

Email: writers@colpcom.com.hk

Diplomatic Gocktails

Jose G Burgos Jr

(re1l -2003)

\,,t

rvas 62' Jose G. Burgos Jr., leader of the "Mosquito Press" during the Marcos years, died in November of cancer. He journalist by the honoured The founder of the WE Forum, Malaya and Tinig ng Masa, Burgos rvas the only Filipino International Press Institute as one of the "50 Press Freedom Heroes of the Century". His passing was recorded, with respect, by all Philippine newspapers, the President and othel narional leaders. -

Left:President Kate Dawson rvith Secretary for Justice, Elsie Leung, Top: Joe Kainz and Francis Moriarty.

Nick Demuth THt: (ioRru.tspoNt)t:N.f

TI'IE CORRESPONDENT DECEN,IBER 2OO3IJANUARY

2OO4

t)ticEMBIR 2003/JANUĂ&#x201E;Ry

2004

.ong

PeÌ

^ë

'nive

Reptiles on Reptiles.

ËRÊl

Australian croc catcher John Lever describes the hunt for the elusive Yuen Long Crocodile.

Outgoing British Consul-General Sir James Hodge spoke of his times in Hong

Sir James "call me Jim" Hodge. Photo: Hugh van Es

Kong. Few of his adventures are suitable for family consumption. Contact Phil Whelen (left) for the gory details.

SpiÀe staffers,

Congratulations to Kit Sinclair

now Dr

Kathleen Allred Sinclair following the awa'-d of her PhD by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in November. Photo: Kevin Sinclair

contributors and

associates are forced to don fancy dress in honour of the magazine's launch. Left to right: Jay Templeton, Steve Procter,

Philip Bowring, Jon Marsh and Ewen Campbell.

A small gathering of ex-FCCers occurred in Cairns, Queensland, at the home of John and Jenny McDougall (left, front and back rows) to celebrate Cybille (nee Sybil) Campbell's (centre in the green and gold Wallabies jerse¡ with husband "RT" back row right) switch from Pommie to Aussie on the eve of the Rugby World Cup final between the two nations. Saul and Alison Lockhart (right) came up from Sydney for a naturalisation ceremony and a celebratory sail aboard Dreamtime, the Cyb and RT's 38-foot {loating home. Photo: Saul Lockhart

Member Robin Howes casts his expert'äye over damp-proofing work on the building

CLARE HOLLINGWORTH BOOK LAUNCH

Live at BERTS Photos: Hugh van es Guest performer Melissa Escobar

Guest Band Mind Your Head

FCC doyenne Clare Hollingworth adds her signature to the many buyers of her latest book "Captain if Captured"

Jason Cheng (piano), Skip Moy (guitar), Paul Canderlaria (bass) and Anthony Fernandez (drums)

Guest drummer Gary da Silva

Guest guitarist Paul Ponnudorai from Malaysia

THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 2003,4ANUARY 2004

THE CORRESPONDENT DECEMBER 2003,{ANUARY

2OO4

professional contacts

FREEI-A,NCE PHOTOGRAPHERS

BERTRAND VIRGII-E SIMON Editorials and corporare brochures Tel: 2526 4465 F-mail: info@reddesert.com.hk Website: WWW.RED-DESERT.

COM.HK

RAY CRANBOURNE Editorial, Corporare and Industrial Tel ,/ Fax; 2125 7553 F-mail: ray_cranbourne@hoûnail.com

BOB DAVIS Corporate/Advertising/Editorial - Website: www.BOBDA\{IS-photographer.com Tel: 9460 1718 HUBERT VAN BS

News, people, travel, commercial and movie stills

Tel:2559 3504 Fax:2858 1721 Þmail: vanes@netvigator.com

MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES MARILYN HOOD Write and edit correspondence, design database and powerpoints, report proofing and layout, sales and marketing, event and business promotions. Tet (852) 9408 1636 Email: mhood@netfront.net SERVICES

Rosemary LEE

Acupuncture (Member - British Acupuncture - 0952 F-mail: rosemary_kao@hotmail.com Council) Tel: 9171

APPLE MACINTOSH COMPUTERS. Troubleshooring, Interner, Upgrades, Networking, OS X training and Broadband sharing (including PC). Experienced Apple - Trained engineer. Call Vince Loden 94256871, Email: vloden@mac.com More Details and Forum at ht¡p2 / /i\celoden.dyndns.biz:8080

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out of context

Jonathan Sharp talhs to Gopi about his return to the FCC (and Hong Kong)

Stay aheadbf t¡

Pacific P{tace ng Kong

Live in thtrHu

r t

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There was a sombre day a couple of years back when FCC stalwart M.P. Gopalan "was retired" (his words) fuom Hong Kong Bwincss ma¿azine, the monthly publication for which he had worked for 20 years, most of them as its proud and dedicated editor.

füpi, who

his

devoted to Hong Kong and China. So is the loyal stable of freelancers - including this writer - that he has built up over the yeaß. Gopi frets that his magazine's "Iimited resources"

believed that

Kong Btuiræss meant he had seen his last monthly salary and regular job, spent the next months travelling,

contributors in pay terms as he would

all said: 'No

he kept a base in

problem',

because lhey know that their

copy is well-run in the

Hong Kong.

His successor at the helm

like.

"'When I told them these are the resources I have, they

including to his home in vitally

a phrase

- means that he has had to cut down on his permanent staff and he cannot be as generous to his

departure ftom Hong

India's Kerala state. But

he uses often

magazine." He relishes the freedom

Hong Kong

Business, however, didn't have Gopi's

that his publishers give his

staying power and C,opi, during a chance meeting with his former bosses, was asked if he would like his old job back, at least for a yea-r.

magazine, whose writers have continued to air their vigorously independent, and

critical, views during an for Hong

uncertain period

He didn't hesitate. "I

Kong when some others have

said: 'Sure'. And once I am back I tend to like working for

inclined towards

the

Unlike some of his FCC colleagues who have tried their hand at different fonns of journalism, 68-year-old

magaztne more and more." That one-year trial deal has now been extended, and asked how long he wants

to stay, Gopi says

simply:

Gopi has been

"Indefinitely."

am happy

that I am pally with them, but if I write a letter to them, seldom do they deny me an interview." Gopi is not the only person glad to be back steering what he describes as Hong Kong''s only Englishìang)a4emagazine totally

ma¿azine

man for his entire career since arriving in Hong Kong

because

with the magazine I am able to meet some of t}e people who make and break Hong Kong, especially in the world of business. Not

self-

censorship.

in L96L He has particular respect and affection for Dick Wilson, the former editor of the Far Eostem Ecotnrnfu Reui,ew, who still contributes to Hong Kong Busirrcss. "The best thing

in my working life is that I

have had

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