HU JINTAO WILL STEP DOWN AS MILITARY CHIEF TODAY PAGE 2
CITY IN FEAR
Friday, November 16, 2012 Volume 6, No 45 www.thestandard.com
MTR INCREASES FARE AGAIN
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SUSPECTED ‘SARS’ CASE CONFIRMED
Sharon Chan
A 65-year-old man Chan Chi-wai, who had travelled to South Asia in October, has tested positive for SARS, making Hong Kong the second city after Kolkata to announce a confirmed case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) , the Department of Health reported yesterday.
- Gregory Hartl, spokesman of the WHO, has issued an alert to Hong Kong. Flickr The man, who had developed fever, breathing difficulties and dry cough – the symptom of SARS – was “50 isolation wards were prepared in 3 different diagnosed a week after his return to Hong Kong on hospitals for the emergency measure.” The controller November 8. His 58-year-old wife and 36-year-old of the Centre for Health Protection, Thomas Tsang son, also showed symptoms of the respiratory infec- Ho-fai announced. “We will also have a close contion, have been sent to Hong Kong Sanatorium & tact with the WHO to share the latest information.” Hospital placed under observation. Their test results The Hospital Authority would call a meeting of all of Novel Coronavirus, the virus that evoke the Severe Respiratory Disease, will be released tomorrow. public hospital for discussing the countermeasure for dealing with the situation, he added. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued Awareness has been raised since the first confirmed an alert to Hong Kong since the probable SARS case case in India with doctors and WHO’s alert. “We was found. “As a confirmed case is discovered in Hong Kong, Hong Kong needs to take serious emer- should not allow the second disaster happen again.” David Hui Shu-cheong, the chair professor of respigent precautions.” said Gregory Hartl, spokesman ratory medicine department in Chinese University, of the WHO. “Adequate isolations of the suspected claimed. “The public should be aware of personal patient and victims are must-do.” hygiene. If related symptoms appear, they should go to doctor immediately.” A major symptom of this deadly virus is fever, which could reach higher than 103 Degree Celsius at the onset of illness. The germ commonly spreads in air; with higher chance in animal-to-human transmission – the most common one is through civets, one of the cat species. Among 774 known deaths in 2003, 299 of them were from Hong Kong – which makes it the second most severely affected place around the world. The WHO expressed their high concern and recommended travel restrictions to Hong Kong.
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Editorial
Friday, November 16, 2012
Hong Kong Government should keep the means test for old age allowance The government’s proposal for an old age living allowance of HK$2.2 thousand a month for all people aged 65-year-old on the condition that they pass a means test is justified. However, some part of the society claims that the means test is unfair and the old age pension should be available for everyone. As people are living longer and getting older, we believe that the means test should be retained. If the means test is dropped, majority of the taxpayers, the working class, will surely be burdened. Do all the old people need this living allowance, even the tycoons? Why do some of the ‘poorer sandwich classes’ need to pay for the ‘richer senior citizens’? According to the Census and Statistics Department, there are now 680 thousand elderly in Hong Kong, who are over 70-year-old. The number of aging population is expected to soar continuously to 920 thousand in 2020, occupying 12% of total population; and to 1.51 million in 2030, which is 18% of total population. Government predicts that 60 – 80% of people can take both ‘fruit money’ and old age living allowance. As the means test stands now, both schemes will cost about HK$ 82 billion a year; if it is ceased, it would require extra HK$ 35 billion. Lawmaker Wong Yuk-hei pointed out that additional annual expenditure for this scheme in 2039 would be HK$ 262 billion, without calculating the inflation. If there are 3 million taxpayers at that time, each of them will need to pay HK$ 8.7 thousand of taxes. HK$8.7 thousand could be enough to sustain a small
family for a whole month. If the means test does not launch now, the government may need to reset it again in the future. So, why not just promote the plan with the means test now? Many critics also mention that implementing a means test would oppose the original principle of the ‘fruit money’, which is meant to act as a respect for the aged people. However, the government has already suggested that if people, over 65-year-old, are not qualified to take the old age living allowance, they can still get the ‘fruit money’. There is no contradiction between the two. ‘Fruit money’ is still ‘fruit money’; the pension will also be distributed to them if they pass the means test. The main difference is only that: ‘Fruit money’ is for respecting the elderly; ‘Old age living standard’ is actually for poverty alleviation. On top of that, if they really have any financial difficulties, comprehensive social security assistance can help also. The government has to stand firm and not make any concession on the means test. Paying for everyone is unsustainable, especially for those who are not really necessary for the old age allowance. The means test is the bottom line to protect the taxpayers, and should no doubt be launched to allow better resource allocation.
Email: editor@thestandard.com.hk
Friday, November 16, 2012
Feature
For Cantopop singer and actress, Denise Ho Wansze, being famous may not be as good as it seems. Realizing that she was a lesbian when she was twenty, found that Hong Kong might not be as ‘open’ as she thought. Under the impact of the media’s spot light, she knew that it is difficult to hide her true sexuality. In the recent Hong Kong Pride Parade, she finally decided to ‘come out of the closet’ to reveal her ‘secret’. “God creates everything: all truths, all definitions and all lives.” 35-year-old famous artist, Denise claimed in a radio interview. “As a devout Christian, I knew that homosexuality was a sin. Yet, now, I realize that I cannot hide my identity anymore.”
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- Denise Ho, left, performed in the drama, Butterfly Lovers. GCP
‘Coming out of the closet’ Hong Kong Singer, Denise Ho, shares her experience of being a lesbian in Hong Kong
The turning point in her decision to come out of the closet happened in 2010, when the media began to publish rumors about her sexuality. She was so upset and depressed that she almost quitted her caAs she has never felt comfortable of herself hiding reer in the entertainment industry. This had aroused this ‘secret’, she decided to use the recent opportupublics’ awareness. “As a celerity and role model, nity, the LGBT (Lesbian, Gays, Bisexuals, TransI should be honest to my fans.” Denise said. “Howgender) campaign on November 10, to speak out her ever, keeping silence was the only way to protect me real ‘identity’ and finally bring her ‘true self’ to light. and my family. The conflicts in my mind had an“I wanted to ‘come out’ for many years. Actually, I noyed me for a long time.” think that suppressing it is also a sin.” She added. Then, a surprising incident happened in 2011. An “That’s nothing wrong with being myself. At the acting opportunity was given to her. She was invited same time, being a public figure, if my declaration to take part in a homosexual-themed drama – ‘Butcan give a boost to this campaign, my concerns are terfly Lovers’, a tragic Chinese love story. With 100 negligible. I can in fact use my power to encourage percentage attendance level in 5 shows, not only her and support all those others in Hong Kong who feel popularity, but also her boldness was increased. the same pressure as me.” Denise Ho was one of the most famous female singers in Hong Kong. Her show business started in 2005. By then she already knew she was a lesbian. However, in order to protect her own image, she determined not to show her ‘true self’ to the public.
Denise Ho: “I hope to help the LGBT, including myself, to fight for the fairness.”
“People could obviously affirm my sexuality in my audacious performance.” She said. “Realizing that they are actually supporting me no matter who I am and gaining supports from my parents, I determined to display my secret to them.” The opportunity came in November 2012. When she realized that the society still had discrimination towards the LGBT, she felt that silence was no longer a choice. Therefore, she delivered her coming out speech on stage.
Denise Ho Wan-sze still insists on what she believes. “I still desire to work in the music industry but I determine to show the real Denise to my fans. From now on, I hope to help the LGBT, including - Denise Ho delivered her coming out speech on the Hong myself, to fight for the fairness.” Kong Pride Parade.
TVB