OrdinaryGweilo.com

Warped

Why is the SCMP still printing these tedious letters from Pierce Lam?  As well as attacking the ESF (yawn) he is now trying to defend the “designated schools” scheme: 

Why officials should end ESF subsidy

South China Morning Post | 2 April 2013

Simon Osborn rightly recognises that the English Schools Foundation's "old policy" discriminates against native Cantonese-speaking children but wrongly claims its new policy will offer equal opportunity ("ESF's new policy offers equal chance", March 25).

As the new policy gives priority to siblings and children of alumni, it perpetuates non-Chinese speakers' preferential admission.

Non-Chinese children of non-permanent residents now account for 30 per cent of the ESF's student population, but constitute less than 2 per cent of the city's population.

According to ESF CEO Heather Du Quesnay, the new system would not "reduce the number of non-Chinese students at ESF schools" ("ESF ends priority for non-Chinese speakers", February 5). The ESF's selling of nomination rights and questionable test on "parental commitment" won't moderate the warped effects of its old policy.

Betty Bownath is right about the importance of non-Cantonese speakers' "integration into mainstream public schools" and "full immersion with extension or support classes for Chinese being the fairest and best option for ethnic minorities" ("Segregation still confronts ethnic students", March 22). But she misunderstands The New York Times article of March 10 and wrongly criticises Hong Kong's "designated schools".

Under Hong Kong's 12-year compulsory education, every school-aged child is guaranteed a school place. But, as the city is demographically 96 per cent Cantonese-speaking, the average public school isn't well prepared for the special needs of non-Cantonese speakers. Designated schools are mainstream schools which have joined a government scheme whereby they receive additional funding for the purpose of implementing school-based measures to help non Cantonese-speaking students.

Ms Bownath has overlooked the encouraging experience of Talwinder Singh, a designated school student who features in The New York Times article. He said he was glad to be in a designated school and would feel alone in a mainstream school. He said his teachers knew how to deal with minority students. He is thinking of universities after graduation this summer from a "designated school" where he studies alongside the school's Cantonese-speaking students.

The government should cut the ESF's subsidy because of that institution's practice of segregation based on linguistic discrimination, and divert such funding to help more mainstream schools develop the capability of designated schools and serve all ethnic minorities, native English speakers included, equally.

Pierce Lam, Central

The problem with Pierce Lam is that he decided a long time ago that the ESF was a dastardly plot by the evil colonial administration and nothing could possibly convince him to change his mind.  So, even when they abolish the priority for non-Cantonese speakers (that he has been complaining about for years) he argues that nothing has changed. 

On the other hand, when the government claim that their “designated schools” scheme is a serious attempt to cater for non-Cantonese speakers, he is convinced that this must be true.  Because of course, the Hong Kong government can be trusted, unlike the wicked witch Heather Du Quesnay and the rest of them over at the ESF.

Here’s another article which comes to a similar conclusion as the one in the New York Times:

Racism in the classroom?

Time Out Hong Kong |  25 Oct 2011

Li Sing Tai Hang School in Causeway Bay, is one of 28 designated schools in Hong Kong that receive additional funds and resources from the government to help minority students. During the central allocation process, where the Education Bureau divvies up pupils according to the ‘school nets’ they are located in, most minority students end up being assigned to a designated school even if it isn’t located within their net. According to the Education Bureau, at present, among some 12,000 non-Chinese speaking students, about 60 percent are studying in designated schools.

“It’s racial segregation,” says Fermi Wong Wai-fun, executive director of Hong Kong Unison, a non-governmental organisation focusing on helping minority groups. Wong says up to 80 percent of minority students attend designated schools – but, she claims, some Hong Kong parents become unwilling to choose these schools for their children. “They [minority students] have been living and studying in a very narrow social circle and have become disconnected with the mainstream society. It will harm social integration,” says Wong.

But I have probably “misunderstood” this article, just like Betty Bownath did with the one in the New York Times, and really it is a fantastic scheme.

Fruit of the gloom

Does anyone really know the difference between Satsumas, Clementines, Tangerines and Mandarins?

Or the Mikan, sometimes imported from Japan or Korea?  Yes please, but they are more expensive.

Honey Murcott anyone?  No thanks, or at least not the ones from Bangladesh in Park’n’Shop.

For the last couple of years, Park’n’Shop have been importing Spanish satsumas, but this year they have been disappointing - dried up.

Just recently they have started importing Sunkist Satsumas and Mandarins from the USA.  No, I don’t think I can tell the difference, even though they are carefully labelled up as different products

Here are some of the fruit on display in my local Park’n’Shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here’s a lovely fresh apple:

Three Brussels sprouts for £1.20

I saw this recently in a supermarket.  I mean, who buys three brussels sprouts?  And 40p each?

TVB Pearl HD

Shows how much I watch TV…

Apparently TVB Pearl switched to High Definition back in November.  I only noticed last week when watching a Jamie Oliver programme.  It seemed very clear, but I assumed that was just because it was digital TV.  Then I saw the "TVB Pearl HD" logo. 

Here’s what they did:

Revision of the Generic Code of Practice on Television Technical Standards

In response to a joint application of Asia Television Limited ("ATV") and Television Broadcasts Limited ("TVB"), the CA approved revision of the Generic Code of Practice on Television Technical Standards which will take effect in October 2012 upon gazettal.  The revision allows the two Digital Terrestrial Television ("DTT") broadcasters to switch from MPEG-2 to H.264 as the video coding for four simulcast television programme channels around end October.  The use of H.264 coding will enhance the picture quality of the four simulcast channels and open up the possibility of providing more programme channels, introducing high definition television ("HDTV") or three-dimensional television services.  The CA also noted that TVB would upgrade the Pearl Channel from standard definition television to HDTV upon the change of the video coding.

The change of video coding from MPEG-2 to H.264 will be seamless to most viewers.  Only a small portion of DTT receivers may require minor user intervention, such as re-scanning DTT channels on the receiver, for resuming normal reception after the change.  The two broadcasters will make public announcement before effecting the change and maintain service hotlines to respond to public enquiry during the changeover period.

Winter

Hong Kong winter,  a.k.a. British summer.  Me in shorts, locals dressed up warmly because it’s “cold”.

A few cooler days, but plenty of days when it is a very comfortable 20 centigrade or more.

Here's the forecast for the next few days:

Saturday	15	20
Sunday	16	19
Monday	17	21
Tuesday	19	23
Wednesday	19	23
Thursday	18	21
Friday	19	23

That’s how it works

The South China Morning Post, of course

Cabbies now snubbing tunnel trips

There is a growing problem in Hong Kong with drivers of red taxis not being willing to cross the harbour.

I have been caught several times in Wan Chai, Tsing Yi and Mong Kok, not being able to get a taxi to take me to the other side.

Since when does a red taxi have the right to refuse to take someone across the harbour?

I have lived in Hong Kong for six years and I have noted that this problem has been getting worse in the last two years.

John Gye, Chai Wan

So… has he lived in Hong Kong for six years without discovering that there are some “cross-harbour” taxi ranks (both official and unofficial), and a few taxis driving around with an “out of service” sign to indicate that they are looking to cross back to the other side?

It’s true that some other taxi drivers will take you across the harbour if you ask, but it’s a long standing practice that most will not.  Possibly they were more willing to do so when the economy wasn’t quite so good, but that’s a general problem - if the economy’s bad it’s easier to find a taxi.

And, yes, there should be a better system for this, but generally we have an excellent taxi service at very reasonable prices.

I think they mean “pore”

Headline in the sub-Standard: Chan poised to pour over MPF fees

Flawed views

He won’t give up, will he?

Former lawmaker has flawed views on local education

South China Morning Post | Tuesday, 23 October, 2012

Cheung Man-kwong, a former lawmaker experienced in politicking for "democracy" and a local teachers' union, shows his true colours in the SCMP debate on public subvention for the English Schools Foundation (October 15).

He counsels that as "we have given the ESF a lot of subsidies and land in very good locations for the building of its schools" it should "serve the people it is supposed to serve". Whom is ESF supposed to serve?  It is mandated to serve, without racial or religious discrimination, children "who are able to benefit" from "a modern liberal education through the medium of the English language".

However, Mr Cheung defies this fair statutory provision and asserts that ESF should serve preferentially "the children of foreign nationals working in Hong Kong, or non-Chinese residents". He advocates foreigners' exclusive entitlement to subsidised international education, and objects to international schools' admission of "local children who can go to [Direct Subsidy Scheme] DSS schools" which "are intended to serve locals".

He alleges that local and international schools offer different curricula to prepare students for different examinations, without explaining why they differ. In fact, local and international schools are comparable, and the results of different public exams are recognised by foreign and local universities for common admission purposes.

Local students prefer international education because the public exams taken by international schools are easier in content and grading compared with local exams. In 2008, Britain's National Recognition Information Centre rectified the unfairness and recognised that a Hong Kong C grade was equivalent to a British A. When Mr Cheung represented the education profession in the legislature, he was complicit in the injustice of making local exams unnecessarily harsh.

Does Pierce Lam really believe that if he repeats this often enough it will become true?  It’s parents who make the decisions, and they do NOT choose international schools because exams are easier.  Anyway, ESF schools use IGSCE exams rather than the oft-criticized UK GSCEs and the IB Diploma rather than A levels. 

I can’t find any published statement from Britain's National Recognition Information Centre comparing Hong Kong examinations with UK exams, but Pierce doesn’t tell us which exams are being compared - and I doubt that it is an IGCSE.   

He rails against international schools' long waiting lists, which reflect great local demand for international education, but he also incongruously asserts that "the public will be upset to see international schools built for locals".

Mr Cheung treats local students as captive customers to support local teachers' employment. He wants difficult exams to give local education the appearance of a high standard and needs stringent grading to facilitate allocation of local universities' limited places. His crony democracy renders him unable to consider measures to raise local teachers' standards. He is blind to the need for fair competition in education.

Pierce Lam, Central

Back in February the very same Pierce Lam was apparently defending local schools (it’s often hard to tell what point he is trying to make, but the SCMP sub-editor titled his missive “In defence of the local system”), yet he is now claiming that Cheung Man-kwong “wants difficult exams to give local education the appearance of a high standard.” 

I am fascinated by the concept of “fair competition in education” and look forward to hearing more about that.

A moral and legal limbo

Possibly the Letters Editor of the SCMP deliberately publishes Pierce Lam’s increasingly hysterical letters in their unadulterated form so that we can get the full beauty of his unique literary style.  Or maybe he’s an idiot.   

But introducing the James Bulger case into a debate about one boy injuring another boy in a football match does seem a little heavy-handed.

Explain refusal to prosecute

Your report ("No case for soccer boy over kick to head", April 17) raises grave questions of ethics and law.

Jim Hackett, head coach of the English Schools Foundation's soccer programme, said the boy who kicked the other boy's head instead of the ball "did not do anything wrong". He must explain his stance.

Uploaded to the internet, the head-kicking evidence is now in the public domain, available all over the world for viewing. It prevails over ill-advised censorship attempts to support the public's legitimate demand for a fair account.

It is disturbing that the police, after seeking legal advice, unconditionally released the 10-year-old boy previously arrested "on suspicion of kicking a 12-year-old in the head".

The James Bulger case in Britain shows that doli incapax and the availability of evidence for public review and comment cannot preclude criminal prosecution. If the authority had other reasons for non-prosecution, it has refused to disclose them. Such a refusal has put the city in a moral and legal limbo and caused suspicions of partiality and incompetence.

For every prosecution, the court will give detailed reasons for its decision. Every decision not to prosecute bears judicial significance as it denies the public from getting, and pre-empts the court from making, a judicial decision.

In the US, grand juries and not bureaucrats decide whether to prosecute.

As representatives of the people, juries do not give any reasons for their decisions. Bureaucrats aren't the people's representatives. They shouldn't shorten the due process of any case of great social significance without giving reasons.

Consider the Hong Kong Standard circulation case.  Elsie Leung Oi-sie, then secretary for justice, honourably gave three reasons for her much respected departure from doctrinaire tenets and made public her department's account for not charging Sally Aw Sian.  Apparently these three reasons - allegations about the authority's bad faith, its improper considerations, and public comment on publicised evidence - also apply in the head-kicking case.

Would her successor act likewise and account for not pursuing the head-kicking act?

No school can afford not to give all who witnessed an alleged violent incident a fair account. Hushing up would corrode the city's moral fibre.

Pierce Lam, Central

Here’s the original report.  As you will see, the father of the injured boy seems considerably more reasonable and rational than Pierce Lam, though you do have to wonder whether Jim Hackett really said that “the boy did not do anything wrong”. 

No case for soccer boy over kick to head

Cheung Chi-fai chi |South China Morning Post | Tuesday 17 April 2012

Police will not prosecute a 10-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of kicking a 12-year-old in the head during a soccer match last month.

The incident, which angered parents and the coaches of both the teams involved, was filmed by a spectator and uploaded to the YouTube website, where it was seen by thousands of people before being removed.  The boy's parents have been informed of the decision. The family of the victim will meet Justice Department representatives tomorrow to discuss the case.

'After seeking legal advice, the arrested person has been unconditionally released,' a police spokesman said yesterday. The force would not say what advice it had sought.  The boy was arrested and released on bail last month. He was asked to report to the police yesterday.

The injured boy plays for a Kitchee Escola team. He was kicked in the head during an under-12s Hong Kong Development League match against the English Schools Foundation Lions at King George V School in Ho Man Tin.

Philip Poon Hung-wai, the father of the injured boy, said the outcome was not a surprise. 'I feel a little bit disappointed, though I had never wanted police to prosecute the boy. There must be a reason why the police released the boy unconditionally,' he said.

Poon fears the incident will send a message to children that violence will be tolerated. But since his son has fully recovered, he is not prepared to pursue the case further on his own.  He hopes to meet the parents of the 10-year-old boy, and even organise a friendly soccer match for the boys, in the hope of reconciliation

Jim Hackett, head coach of ESF's soccer programme, would not comment on the possibility of reconciliation, saying he believed the 10-year old boy had gone through quite an ordeal already.  'The boy did not do anything wrong. I still feel sorry about the boy, as thousands of people looked at the incident on You Tube,' he said.

A spokeswoman for the ESF said it was relieved at the boy's release.

Despicable foreigners (again)

Is the SCMP really so short of letters to publish that it can always find room for the incoherent ranting of Pierce Lam?

This time he seems determined to make a more general point about a single incident in an under 12 football match.  You won’t be surprised to hear that the player who committed the foul was Caucasian and playing for an ESF team. 

Probe kick incident thoroughly

South China Morning Post - Mar 31, 2012

Your editorial ("Adults must set sporting example", March 21) prevaricates and is clearly partial.

To provide a context for the attack [at a schoolboy soccer game], it referred to circumstances not captured in the video, by referring to emotions that swelled on the losing side - the players, their parents and the coach who were losing hope over the game.

Overenthusiastic parents and coaches are not uncommon in all kinds of junior competitions that take place all over the world every day.

The main issue that your editorial sidestepped is why such a common experience of immense pressure to win resulted in such unusual violence in Hong Kong.  The comment about "parents rushing onto the pitch and getting into a shoving match with the coach" after the assault is misleading and irrelevant.

Why is it misleading and irrelevant?

It was imperative, and not just sensible, that concerned parents intervene in an unfair game that had turned violent, especially as neither the referees nor the losing team's coach commanded confidence. All along, Kitchee Escola played a graceful and very respectable game.

Was Pierce Lam there at the game?  Or has he just watched a video on You Tube that has been edited to highlight the fouls committed by the ESF team?

The culpable English Schools Foundation Lions boy was a scapegoat if, as your editorial alleged, he "paid the penalty", although he "would not have harmed a fellow player and gained notoriety had those around him set the right example". Who are these real but unpunished hidden culprits?

Surely the SCMP meant the parents at the game.

Ben Lam Chan-bun, a spokesman for the league to which the two teams belonged, tried to wrap up the horrific incident, saying that Kitchee "only wanted an apology" and that "we don't want to cause any trouble with the ESF; we know they are good schools" ("Shock at head-kicking in boys' soccer match", March 13). This is a grossly myopic and irresponsible attitude.

The parents and members of the winning team demonstrated remarkable self-restraint, and we must ensure that we will see justice fairly administered in the head-kicking case.

The kicking incident was not a private issue between two boys or two teams.

Really? Oh yes, because Pierce Lam hates the English Schools Foundation (ESF) and wants it closed down.

Both Hong Kong and the world at large are concerned about the question posted in the headline of Jamie Spence's letter ("What is root of violence in junior sport?" March 16).

I don't think a similar kicking incident would happen in Singapore, Tokyo or Shanghai, so why Hong Kong? To prevent a similar incident from happening here in the future, the concerned parties must investigate the case thoroughly and report their findings to the public.

Pierce Lam, Central

Does Mr Lam have any evidence to support his assertion that this would not happen in Singapore, Tokyo or Shanghai?  I don’t think so.