No. 11 - October 2017 What’s On The Blog Parallel trading, internet addictions and more
MONTHLY
Humans of HKPASS The Asian Blueprint Interviews with Damian, Cherry, Cheryl, Beatrice
Why is Asia always featured in western fiction?
The online edition. The Recent Jailings What does it mean for Hong Kong’s autonomy?
contents 03 04 08 10 12 14 14 15 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 2
Editor’s Note Humans of HKPASS PA: Sanctions - Do They Work? SS: A Helping Hand What’s On Our Blog? High Degree of Autonomy No More? If Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right, What Does Two Rights Make? Connected Or Addicted? Introduction to Parallel Trading in Hong Kong Theme: East Meets West East London’s Growing Asian Culture Eastern Perplex And Western Enigma The Asian Blueprint - The East in Science Fiction
與茶之聚 題記：人生如一條長河，青澀懵懂的我們 曾在最清澈的年華中相伴。。。
EDITOR’s Note It is with great pleasure that I bring you the first issue of PASS-On in the 2017-18 academic year. This is the third year PASS-On has been running, and I am especially excited to introduce three new permanent columns, which include Humans of HKPASS and two columns with rotating contributors from the Public Affairs and Social Service division. If you would like to contribute, please do not hesitate to contact us at lsesusochkpass@gmail.com. As with last year, there will be a monthly theme for each issue. This issue’s theme is “East Meets West”. From English articles surrounding the growing Asian culture in East London to Chinese pieces on the maintaining of long-distance relationships across the globe, I am sure that there is some thing for everyone. Happy reading! Jennifer Lau
Publications Officer 2017-18
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Humans of H 我覺得 PASS 係一個平台俾你去 試、去發掘。 As he embarks upon his journey as the President of LSE HKPASS 2017-2018, Damian Wu is opening up to PASS On about his insights into the quintessence of leadership. Having his collar popped, ready to spice up the Colours of Life hosted by the KCL PASS; Damian turned up to the interview at Pret a Manger apologetically as his Skype meeting with the External Vice President, Rita Li, overran on this Sunday evening.
連香港人自己都未必好認識香港。 The acute agitation in Hong Kong has raised an alarm about the sanctity of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle. In the eyes of Damian, a pre-requisite for promoting the Spirit of Lion Rock (獅子山 精神) is, therefore, to enrich HKPASS members’ sense of the belonging in the hope that they can be motivated to make a difference.
我希望令到我既 members 對香港更加有歸宿感。 Damian placed an extraordinary emphasis on the fact that the magic of teamwork was never a myth. He is hoping to organise more activities to amplify both Hong Kong and non-Hong Kong students’ appreciation of the authenticity as rooted in Hong Kong culture.
每一個 under，唔係，呢個字唔啱，而係我lead著嘅人... 我都好希 望可以 bring the best out of them。 Leadership, contoured by Damian’s charismatic comprehension, is a form of service. As a Christian, Damian’s work ethic is an exquisite echo to Mark 10:45 – ‘for even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’. After all, ‘if serving is below you, leadership is beyond you’. Having ticked the second last box of his to-do list of the week, Damian left Pret a Manger with a stellar smile on his face and there he went to tick his last box. Regina Lai
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HKPASS I had the honour of interviewing the Internal Vice-President of HKPASS, Cherry Leung, a second year student studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). The first impression she gives to many is that she is shy and speaks softly, but in fact, she is the cheerful, outgoing and energetic whose face flushes bright red as she laughs. Finding the vision of HKPASS similar to hers in doing social service and digging into politics, she joined the HKPASS family last year. During this short hour of interview, the impression that Cherry gives me is not an Internal Vice-President of any sort, but a companion to walk with in the coming 3 years. As a sub-committee member of the Political Affairs Division last year, she told me that her interest in politics stems from her trips to different countries. While visiting the Terezin Concentration Camp, also known as the propaganda camp, she witnessed first-hand how thousands of Jews went with the thought that they were going to a spa town, but eventually all was an elaborate hoax and lots of Jews ends up struggling to survive behind the walls. This place has shocked her and intrigued her to discover more about the history and politics at that time.
“The best thing to study abroad is not because how good LSE is, but that you are exposed to many different cultures.” Cherry shared with me her favourite leisure activity is walking through between different exhibition halls in museums, where she could learn about the history of each artefact. As a Catholic, Cherry also immerses herself in the stunning art pieces affected by Christianity, where she explores the development of her own faith. As Cherry recollects her experience last year being the PIC of the Social Service Flagship event, she advises all current sub-committee members:
“If you would like to get the most from HKPASS, I think that the best way is for you to become a PIC of any events. Once you fully immerse yourself into organizing an event, you would learn so much and realize how things actually work within the community.” These inspiring words surely ring a bell. All the best to Cherry in her studies and hope she will have an enjoyable year with us! Graphics from freepik
Colette Wong
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Humans of H This is a Friday morning. As we knock on her dorm door, Beatrice Tsang gives a superb shout – ‘Hello, coming!’ – kicking off our interview with a cheerful note. As with any other law student, this law fresher is particularly conscientious with her choice of words when speaking. Being naturally optimistic, Beatrice concedes that everything is well albeit the four formative essays that are due next week are ‘yet to come into existence’. Beatrice started her day early, unsurprisingly, and bolstered her morning with a cup of latte – not least because the free pouring is aesthetically attractive in Moreish Café Deli.
The colour of law is grey – cause’ it’s not black, not white. The wishy-washy nature of law is almost notorious and that no black-and-white thinking can have a leg to stand on in a grey world. On the flip side of the coin, this is perhaps that which renders law ever-enticing. Whilst being motivated by the love of knowledge, Beatrice decided for herself that a pure philosophy degree is far from her cup of tea. Yet, her impassioned inquisitiveness has spurred her to pursue an interdisciplinary degree in the midst of the metropolitan London.
Work hard. Play hard. Many said that the manifesto ‘Work hard. Play hard.’ is a myth. Whether or not this is a myth is not, as it were, a ‘virtual certainty’ (shout out to law students here!) yet Beatrice maintains that the only promising proof is to live it yourself.
It’s always been my brother. In the words of a Vietnamese proverb, ‘brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet’. Staring into space in an appreciative manner, Beatrice mentions how her dear brother has always been the one to whom she looks up. Indeed, this is a moment to be noted. Stunned by a sudden text on her phone, Beatrice gives a sneaky smile as her lunch meeting has been cancelled. This law fresher is then off to ‘bring forth’ the existence of her four formative essays… P.s. And there is this one little thing that Beatrice would like to say to the readers – ‘Have a nice year ahead guys!’ Regina Lai
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HKPASS “You are given this life because you are strong enough to live it.” This is the motto of my interviewee this issue, Cheryl Lau, a sub-committee of HKPASS. As a friend and colleague, I can see Cheryl living out her motto in her daily life, bravely facing and overcoming her challenges. Being a first year student in LSE who studies International Relations and History, Cheryl’s passion in history is evident. Hearing her describing different historical events to us as we walk in this classical country is nothing new. Don’t try to think that she is a nerd though. She is very extroverted. I am always glad to hear her jokes and laughter whenever we meet. In her spare time, Cheryl likes to read fictions and she even engages in horse riding for up to 10 years. The nature of the two activities are very different, mirroring the fully built personality of Cheryl. “OMG I loveee chocolate!!” Cheryl exclaimed as I asked about her favourite food. She is delighted by this topic, and agrees that she is especially in love with chocolate by-products, such as hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. Like many others, Cheryl believes that chocolate can make her happy because of their sweetness. Indeed, Cheryl also thinks that hot chocolate makes her feel warm and being loved.
“My dad has influenced me a lot throughout my life. He is a role model to me to be exact.” As we talk about the hero in her heart, Cheryl didn’t hesitate to reply that he is her Dad. “My dad has influenced me a lot throughout my life. He is a role model to me to be exact.” Cheryl smiled as she recalls, “Since young, he has been teaching me that opportunities do not come find you but you have to look for them and grab hold of them.” This is, as Cheryl noted, how she learnt to treasure every opportunity and become enthusiastic in doing things in life. She specifically pointed out that she would like to become as successful as her dad someday. As I concluded my interview, Cheryl also shared with me her visions in the next few years. She hopes to find a job and save money to continue with her Master’s Degree in five years’ time. May I hereby wish Cheryl the best in her studies as well as having a fruitful HKPASS sub-committee experience in the year ahead!
Graphics from freepik
Colette Wong
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Public Affairs Column Sanctions - do they work? Perhaps not the best representative of great politicians, given he did almost send the world into nuclear oblivion over Cuba, Nikita Khrushchev did have a moment of self-reflection back in 1963 when he declared — ‘Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even when there is no river’. So, empty promises. The hallmark of great politicians. Which brings me to the USA — the self-proclaimed leader of the free world. Its modern day enemy is North Korea, perhaps the last remaining member of the ‘Axis of Evil’ that George W. Bush declared prior to the misguided invasion of Iraq. The two heavy-hitters hit the news this week, and every other week, over new sanctions that Trump-led America imposed on Kim’s puppet state. Kim called it ‘brutal’, or even ‘constituting genocide’ in an attempt to convince the international community that the sanctions imposed were inhumane, or somehow way harsher on the North Korean citizens compared to their suffering under his brutal regime. Fair to say his pleas didn’t work. So for once it seems that Trump did not deliver empty promises. He did something brutal on the enemies of America. Just as he promised. He promised he would ‘build a bridge’ and he did — he imposed harsher sanctions. But that brings me to the problem — sanctions don’t work. 8
Sanctions are what politicians call ‘net effective’ policies — they deliver the greatest utility possible with limited resources. Yet, America has resources. Sanctions on Fascist Italy failed because Britain was still selling oil to them. Sanctions on Cuba failed because Castro simply sold Cuban sugar to the USSR and bought equipment from the Eastern Bloc instead. Sanctions on Sudan for mass killings failed because Chinese and Indian companies were still funnelling the government with funds from oil. Grain sanctions on USSR never worked because they could buy grain from elsewhere — it ended up harming America’s own farmers. The only time sanctions do work, is when they are backed up with concrete action. When Kennedy blocked Cuba using ships the Soviets were forced to retreat. America backed its sanctions on Iraq with military intervention in the Gulf War. Sanctions are modern day politics’ version of cheap talk. Yes, in the past ‘cheap talk’ was really just cheap talk. But in an age with astronomical nuclear power at stake, even ‘cheap talk’ was due an upgrade. Trump’s actions over North Korea does not fulfil his promise to have North Korea "face fire and fury like the world has never seen”, he’s just putting on a tough act. His persona suggests that he might actually genuinely believe he is making good on his promises, but then again, acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances. Limichi Okamoto
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S0cial Service Column
A Helping Hand (Intro of our Charity Partner) The Lonely Battle
‘Fighting a war alone’ is how most ex-offenders in Hong Kong describe their course of reintegration back into society. Talk of forgiveness and second chances is resounding, yet ex-prisoners still face immense discrimination from their community and bias from employers, hindering their reintegration. The stigma of having a criminal record can also lead to self-stigmatization which leads to the adoption of a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ strategy in disclosing their past identity and experiences. This induces lower self-worth and shame, throwing many of them into the cycle of poor choices and even crime. Aware of such issues, the Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention (SRACP) formerly known as The Hong Kong Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society, was established in 1957. SRACP is now the major Non-governmental Organization subvented by Social Welfare Department that provides a broad scope of services for ex-offenders and discharged prisoners. This includes employment development services, court social work service and psychiatric rehabilitation service. Their fundamental aim is to contribute in developing an inclusive and safe society. 10
The Study behind Rehabilitation Usually when we see the word rehabilitation, we simply associate it with different types of counselling and targeted support groups, but there are actually many interesting studies behind it. Considering the field of offender management and rehabilitation, there are two eminent contemporary theories - the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model and the Good Lives Model (GLM). The RNR model was developed in the 1990s by Canadian criminology researchers, James Bonta, Paul Gendreau and Don Andrews. Its main principles advise that offenders should be assessed and treated differently and separately based on the risks they present, resources should then be distributed accordingly in order to reduce the possibility of higher-risk offenders impacting the lower-risk offenders. The assessments of offenders should also take into account of the eight criminogenic need factors: criminal records, occupation and education, family relationships, recreational activities, antisocial associates, alcohol and drug abuse, antisocial cognitions and antisocial personality. The RNR has been widely acknowledged as the premier model existed for determination of offenders’ treatments as findings (Bonta and Andrews, 2007) show that its treatment interventions can effectively reduce recidivism rate by more than 38%. Consequently, SRACP adopted the model and has been incorporating it into case assessments and programs such as Hotline Services and Mutual Support Groups. SRACP is currently integrating the RNR model with the emerging Good Lives Model (GLM) to improve the quality of rehabilitation. GLM has been regarded as an enhancement and alternative to RNR. Its study is based on the assumption that all individuals have similar aspirations and primary goods, such as Life, Knowledge, Excellence in Play and Work etc. Hence, the main duty of counsellors is to assist the offenders in acquiring the capabilities to actualise their personal ambitions by developing their strengths and resources. An example of SRACP putting the two theories in practical use would be their Recidivism Prevention Groups. The group leader helps the members to set their personal life goals in order to build up their sense of belonging and commitment to the group. By strengthening their skills of getting along with others and dealing with negative emotions, their risks of recidivism would be reduced. More understanding, More social harmony Aside from services targeting ex-offenders, SRACP also provides community education for the general public of Hong Kong to raise their awareness on crime prevention. As we all know, the fundamental cause of prejudice is ignorance. If the public is willing to learn more about ex-offenders, beyond the stereotypes and inherent fear, the invisible walls formed by social stigma and distrust can be torn down. Easing the reintegration process for the ex-offenders, with more employment opportunities and welcoming community will utimately decrease the rate of recidivism. A lower crime rate can then bring about a more harmonious and prosperous society. Janice Wong
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What’s On the Blog? four articles on the latest political and social issues
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high degree of autonomy no more?
If two wrongs don’t make a right, what does two rights make ?
Along with 2 more pro-democracy student
A questionable quote by Gerald Seymour – ‘one
activists, Joshua Wong was handed a
man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter’
community service punishment by the Hong
– seems to be lingering about as a group of
Kong Court for their involvement in the Yellow
senior foreign lawyers have recently condemned
Umbrella Movement in 2014 that constituted
the jailing of three young political activists as ‘a
an act of unlawful assembly. However, the
serious threat’ to the rule of law in Hong Kong. In
Secretary of Justice in Hong Kong claimed
the eyes of the lawyers, the jail sentence has
that the punishment was unduly lenient and
jeopardised the ‘one country, two systems’
sought to impose harsher sentences on the
principle under which Hong Kong is governed.
students. The Secretary succeeded as their
The restive 79- day Occupy pro-democracy sit-ins
sentences were increased to at least 6
of 2014 has, however, suggested an unfortunate
months. This led to a dramatic change not
irony – that the three young political activists are
only in terms of the students’ liberties but also
in fact ‘a serious threat’ to social harmony. In
their political futures as their sentences mean
which case, can two wrongs make a right?
that they will not be eligible to stand for local election for the next half-decade. Indeed, this
We all see the world through a prism of our own.
is an unusual appeal by the Hong Kong
Whether or not the jail sentence was just is a
government. It inevitably leads the public to
contingent conundrum that requires one to make
wonder whether it was politically-motivated to
a judgment call. The atrocities in our history have
prohibit the students from playing any further
created a price tag for democracy where
part in shaping Hong Kong’s politics. This is
discount has no stance yet a violation of the law
especially
been
does not appear to fall within the ambit of the
continually tightening its political grip on
price tag. Hence, one must bear in mind that the
Hong Kong and declared in its White Paper
scope, sophistication and sovereignty of the law
that judges should be patriotic to their
are to be duly respected.
so
after
Beijing
has
countries. Marcus Liang
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Regina Lai
Connected or addicted? With Hong Kong’s extraordinary internet speeds and strong connection, 95% of Hong Kongers are frequent smartphone users, which is one of the highest phone usage rates in the world. Social media, in particular, is a very important aspect of mobile usage. A survey conducted by a youth welfare group has found that more than 1 in 10 teenagers qualify as being addicted to the internet. Many youngsters are unable to control their smartphone addiction and spend over 6 hours a day browsing the internet. Technological addiction is an alarming issue as it could affect our mental health, relationship with others and well-being. For study purposes and to conduct a social experiment, I’ve came up with a bizarre yet courageous idea: deleting my Instagram account, which lasted for around 4 years. I have to admit that this period of time had been tough. I found it hard to keep track on what people around me had been up to, especially when social media is our main source of communication. Some of my friends told me that I had been missing out a lot and seemed to be excluded from the social circle. Looking back, I actually quite enjoyed the whole experience and being known as “the caveman” for the past 4 years. I had much more freedom and didn’t have to stress about whether my pictures were 'insta worthy'. I could fully enjoy hanging out with my friends without having to worry about whether I’ve taken enough pictures to post on Instagram.
Using social media is undeniably one of the best ways to connect with people and expand our social circle. There is no definite line when it comes to technological addiction. After all, we are the ones to decide what works best for us. To make the most of our social media experience, we have to utilise it effectively and wisely: Set a time limit for yourself. Remove excessive applications. Turn off/customise notifications. These subtle steps can make such a huge difference. Whist being on social media can help us connect with people, we certainly have to appreciate the importance of spending quality time with our friends and to actually interact with people around us. So next time when you’re treating your friends to dinner, take the very one Instagram photo you need, put away your cell phone and enjoy your time! Chelsea Lam
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When East... meets West As a former British colony, it is no secret that Hong Kong is the melting pot of Eastern and Western culture. The living proof of this assertion can be found in the wide variety of international cuisines, the high number of foreign expatriates working in Hong Kong, the mere fact that Hong Kongers use both Chinese and English in the city on a daily basis and much more. “與茶之聚 discovers the link between Eastern and Western culture through tea leaves – it appears that the love for tea is a global phenomenon and not exclusive to a single culture. In this issue, we examine how Eastern culture has slowly spread to East London in recent years with the debut of FestivalAsia, which consists of cultural performances such as art and music showcases. Going back in time, it is observed that the West has long had a tendency to use Asian countries in their cyberpunk fictions and films. “The Asian Blueprint – The East in Science Fiction” explores the reason behind this tendency. As students studying abroad in London, it is inevitable that one suffers from cultural shock on arrival. “Eastern Perplex and Western Enigma” describes the writer’s experiences in experiencing cultural shock and learning to appreciate cultural differences. Our last article of the October issue examines the difficulty of maintaining long-distance relationships as one leaves her home country.
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East London’s Growing A Marcus Liang
Th e E as t A sia n ma y n ot h a v e fo und t h e i r p l ac e wi th i n th e polit ical s p h e r e i n th e Un ited Kin gdom y et , as t h e f i r s t B r iti sh Ea st Asia n Member of P ar l i amen t is elected o nly r ec e n tl y . H owev er, it ca n ea sily be s e e n th at th e Ea stern Asi a n cult ure ha s c o m f o r ta bl y permea ted i n t o t he e v e r y d ay L on don l if e.
Making its debut in mid-2015, FestivalAsia set its scene at Tobacco Dock in East London – a short walk from the Tower Hill Underground Station. Taking place over a span of three whole days, it is often said that the Festival is truly one of its kind. This is because it showcases the whole spectrum of Asian cultures. Anyone involved in the Asian community is warmly welcome and indeed those who are interested in discovering more about the continent will find this Festival a particularly rewarding gem.
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A visit o r can expect t o find art , fashio n and music per fo rmanc es like t he d rago n d ance, acro bat ic s , t aiko d r umming, peking o per a and Bo llywo o d d ance at the Per fo rmance St age; d emo nst rat ions o f t he ar ray o f mart ial art s d isciplines at it s o wn Mart ial A rt s St age fro m Shao lin Kung Fu and Wing Chun t o Kar at e and Taekwondo and a Spirit ual and Cult ure Room feat uring Co nfucianism, Jad ism and Bud d hism fo r t ho se who pr ef er a
Of course, one would also be amiss to not try the Vietnamese, Nepalese, Cambodian food or perhaps Chinese, Japanese and Korean if you are feeling mainstream. All in all, this Festival is the Asian continent packed into East London and promises to cater to the young and old alike.
Asian Culture Y o u m ay w on der wh a t is bri n g ing t h e A s i an cu l tu re to lif e in L o n d o n . An a rti cle f rom the L o n d o n i st sa y s ‘f or sta rters, an i n c r e as i n g ly v oca l gen era ti on o f B r i ti s h E ast Asi a n s a rtists w ho w an t to b r i n g th ei r v oi ces in to t he m ai n s tr e am by pu tti n g ou t more w o r k .’ I n a n in terv i ew with the ar ti s ti c d i r ector of Y el low Ear t h t h e atr e c o mpa n y , Ku miko Mend l c o m m e n te d th a t ‘wh en th ey see themselves and th eir l ives r e f l e c te d i n th e media , on stage an d o n s creen i t giv es th em a se n s e th at th ey ma tter.’ In d e e d , h i s ref lecti v e opin io ns an d ac ti v e con tribu tion s a re a lso e c h o e d b y S imon L y , a ma n a ger o f t h e P ap e r g a n g T h ea tre: No one’ s r e al l y g o i n g to h elp u s i f we do n’ t help o u rsel v es, so we’ r e i n c r e as i n g ly motiv a ted to make o u r o w n o pportu n i ti es — i n t he ar ts an d b ey on d.’
This co uple o f pr o d ucer s s t riv e t o d efeat t he Asian st ereo t ype. T h ey d o so by po r t raying t heir v iew s of which are bro ught t o life in f ront of t he mainst r eam Br it ish audienc es ‘ wit ho ut selling o ur selves as ex ot ic curio — in o t her wo rd s t o b e t h e pro t ago nist s in o ur o wn drama witho ut pand er ing t o perc eiv ed no t io ns o f o rient alist o bscu rit y’ in t heir ver y o wn plays and nar rat iv es .
Und eniably, st ereo t ypical lab elling has no place in t he Unit ed K ing dom wher e a massive 40% of t h e po pulat io n ar e no n-Whit e with A s ian t aking up 20% o f it . It is sub mit t ed t hat t hese cult ural event s not only pro mo t e so cial co hesio n with in t h e Asian co mmunit y, but t hey als o shed a new light o n what t he loc als believe t o be ‘ t ypical Asian’ .
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the asian blueprint THE EAST IN SCIENCE FICTION 24
Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction in a future setting that tends to focus on a juxtaposition between high technology and breakdown in the social order. It’s one of my favourite genres, not only because of the questions it raises about modernity, technology and humanity, but also because of the cyberpunk aesthetic. What’s not to like about dark skies, neon lights, and hyper-futuristic architecture? But sometimes you get thrown for a loop when a wet market pops up out of nowhere. Isn’t this supposed to be mid-21st century Los Angeles? Why on earth does this look like the wet market ten minutes from home? The answer is simple. It’s supposed to! A number of cyberpunk films take Hong Kong and Tokyo, among other urban places, as inspiration for their settings, and for good reason. Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai – these Asian cities are (or were) at least a decade ahead of their Western counterparts in terms of technology. Korea, for instance, had 4G phones back in 2006, and has the fastest internet speed in the world. Japan, the robotics capital of the world, has been researching the field precisely for the purpose of building androids that will replace people in certain jobs like elderly care. East Asian corporations, especially Korean and Japanese ones, also have a megalithic structure, interwoven with the state and society as a whole – if that’s not a recipe for a dystopian future, I don’t know what is. As for Hong Kong and Shanghai, even though they weren’t quite that far ahead technologically, they still have the right aesthetic, mimicking the two technological giants – towering skyscrapers, neon lights everywhere. These cities are cyberpunk, in the objective sense of the word. But at the same time, these places retain traditional elements that seem a little out of place against the backdrop of hyper-technology. Hong Kong has gleaming skyscrapers existing alongside dark, damp alleyways, huge, meticulously ordered shopping malls contrasting with the Kowloon Walled City. Tokyo has the Shibuya crossing and hundreds of little temples, huge LED screens and traditional art right across the street from each other. These Asian cities are therefore simultaneously synonymous with the familiar speed and flow of the modern city, yet are tinged with a distinct
exotic “otherness” because of how far they push modernity to the limit while retaining distinctly traditional elements. Seen as sprawling and chaotic, these cities seeth with a boundless energy that its streets struggle to contain. To outsiders, they often appear alienating, perplexing and impenetrable. The juxtaposition of clinical hyper-modernity and technology with exotic gritty elements fascinates the imagination, while it also disturbs. This central representation of an Asian hyper-modernity as typified by the Asian metropolitan cities gives rise to the selection of these cities as the blueprint for fictional settings, typically futuristic yet dystopian as exemplified in the cyberpunk genre. Blade Runner (1982) and its sequel (2017), and Cloud Atlas (2013) have settings that are modeled after such an image of the East. Blade Runner, for example, draws inspiration from Tokyo and Hong Kong. Los Angeles’ dazzling cityscapes weave together the futuristic and the traditional, as well as its paradoxical delighting of the eye through an emphasis on urban squalor. Other aspects – hybrid architectural spaces, crowded and damp markets, mishmash city-speak, the chaotic proliferation of neon billboards above futuristic shopping arcades – all point to multiple parallels between the Los Angeles of 2019 and Hong Kong on a particularly chaotic day. Metropolitan Asia’s juxtaposition between modern and traditional, between progressive and backward, works to bring out the darker, more dystopian undertones of the futuristic world filmmakers want to create. Cyberpunk’s locations bring together East and West in a fascinating, yet unsettling, way for both sides of the world. It pushes the Western model of modernity, of technological progress, to the limit in the form of the Asian metropolis, while keeping certain traditional elements alive. This hybrid is at once familiar and alien to the West; it may ring a few more bells for the East, but the prospect of being closer to a potentially dystopian world is disturbing all the same.
Janice Leung 9th November, 2017 25
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與茶之聚 黎曉晴 在這肆意繾綣的下午，那淡淡的茶香襯托著微醺的餘韻；而這千絲萬縷的詩意亦不 禁油然而生。 近至炎黃子孫，遠至歐美洋人，「茶」香味宜人的本質都好叫人如痴如醉。中國雖 堪稱為「茶」的搖籃，但要追溯中國茶史的起源卻毫不容易。這是因為唐代以前只 有「荼」字的記載，並沒有「茶」字。順帶一提，「茶」字最早見於唐代 「茶聖」 ，陸羽，所寫的《茶經》－ 陸氏將原為的「荼」字減一畫成「茶」字。 說到中國十大名茶，源起於安徽的祁門紅茶不得不提 。 細嚼祁門紅茶色澤烏潤的茶 葉，那獨特的氤氲不但頓顯祁門紅茶馥郁持久的香醇，更喚起格雷伯爵茶的共鳴。 其濃鬱且甘甜的滋味乃是讓譽為紅茶的表表者 － 祁門紅茶 － 與格雷伯爵茶結緣的原 因。以祁門紅茶作為基礎茶，格雷伯爵茶呈濃豔鮮明的褐紅色，但帶有濃稠的澀味 和佛手柑油的芬芳。祁門紅茶貴為世界四大紅茶之一，而格雷伯爵茶則深受歐洲上 流社會的愛戴。這樣看來，貌似純正的格雷伯爵茶與我們東方亦頗有淵源。 茶，憑着它清淡幽雅的精髓，儼然成為融匯中西文化的翹楚。它秉承的不僅是我們 歷代先祖對茶道的一份執著，更是一種蘊隱於茶水中的愜意。倘若做人也能如紅茶 － 內斂而不失雅致 － 這不俗不凡的氣質豈不是我們夢寐以求的修行嗎？ 細細綴飲下一杯香茗時，勿忘自己「沏的是茶，品的卻是人生」。
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題記： 人生如一條長河， 青澀懵懂的我們曾在最清澈的年華中相伴。 這一場友情得來不易，珍之、重之、惜之。 黃海垚
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東與西，如南與北，一直站在對立面。古有東晉替代西晉，亦有東漢與西漢之分 。東西之間，猶如一條鴻溝，使兩者永不得相連。東、西並不能於相鄰存在，然 則，這世界總是會善待萬物。世界為這兩個遙遠的方向築起了一座橋，雖然這座 橋比不上牛郎織女的喜鵲橋浪漫感人，也比不得中國蘆溝橋的鐵血丹心，卻勝在 獨一無二。 每天清晨，旭日在東方冉冉上升；每日之終，又於西方徐徐而落。這一個周而復 始的自然輪轉如一條無形而永恆的橋樑，由世界之初已在這無垠的邊際上演，隨 著雞鳴把人們於悠悠夢中喚醒。遙遠的東與西，以日珥作橋，縱使千里迢迢，卻 從不孤單 。 東方和西方，就如現在的我們。隔著九千六百零六公里的距離。由中學升上大學 ，短短幾月時間，我已遠走西方，留下你們在東方那片閃耀著的彈丸之地。當初 在操場奔跑時同沐浴的一片陽光，還在不在？看著兩個月餘依然寧靜得可怕的通 訊群組，無奈。原來畢業，就等於分道揚鑣。 那佈滿足跡的校園，那分甘同味的午飯，那共同拼搏的晚上，我們經歷過的歡樂 低谷、爭吵淚流在何時被距離磨滅得一絲不剩？東方和西方尚有太陽伯伯每日攀 山涉水的維繫，我們的友誼卻能靠甚麼來延續呢？十五年的同窗生活，此際煙消 雲散，活在幸福裏的我原來是如此的後知後覺，到盡頭了才覺悟那是我最美好的 時光。驀然回首，發現時間是如此催急，我編成的這首激亢纏綿的交響曲，竟然 沒有留下喘息的休止符。 寫到此處，惟留下一絲嘆息。東、西這些虛無的方向是永恆的，可人與人的情誼 卻總有完結的一日。無論東與西的距離多遠，人們也會自然的把兩者拿出來比較 一番；但兩個人若是疏遠了，又有多少人能記得這年少舊情？ 如果命運註定我們只能是對方的過客的話，那麼，你走你的陽關大道，我也走我 的陽關大道吧；我們誰也不要走獨木橋。太孤獨了。但若果身處東方的你突然想 起身處西方的我了，想要一個可以傾聽的耳朵、一個明智的頭腦、一個可以哭泣 的肩膀，在清晨時告訴從東面出發的太陽，讓他傍晚時轉告西方的我。我還在。
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The ďŹ rst step towards change is awareness. - Nathaniel Branden
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