Quote of the Day: Are You OK?

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun with Mitu, the company's politically correct mascot

Lei Jun is the charismatic CEO of Xiaomi, really cheap android smartphones that seem to want to be the Chinese version of an iPhone, others think not.

Nevertheless, one cannot criticize Lei for trying to innovate ways in developing the smartphone business. His company's philosophy is to listen to consumers and try to follow up on their complaints or suggestions, while tweaks are constantly added to the newest Xiaomi phones that are shipped once a week.

While some believe Xiaomi's phones are improving very quickly, others still dismiss Lei as a "counterfeit Steve Jobs", from introducing items like the MiPad, MiCloud, and MiTV, and trying to dress similarly to the Apple co-founder with jeans and dark shirts, and having presentations that look very similar.

Nonetheless, one can't fault Lei for having the guts to stand in front of an enthusiastic audience in India and speak in English when it's not his forte.

He was in New Delhi last Thursday to launch Xiaomi's first product for the international market, and he came on stage dressed in a blazer, shirt, jeans and runners.

"Hello, how are you?" Lei asked the Indian audience. "India Mi fans, I'm very happy to be in China," he said. Then quickly realizing his mistake he corrected himself and said, "to be in India."

The crowd laughed, but ultimately clapped and cheered him on.

Then he announced that everyone in the audience would get a free gift -- a Xiaomi smart wristband. Thinking he had to get them enthused, Lei said, "Are you OK? Are you OK?"

Mitu and his various incarnations with Xiaomi products

The audience was already excited by the prospect of free stuff, but Lei seemed unable to gage the response and said, "You like? You like?"

Or maybe he meant to say something else?

At this point one can't help but squirm in his seat listening to the bad English, but at the same time admire him for having the chutzpah to say it anyway.

The video of his short presentation was uploaded onto Youku on Monday and garnered 440,000 views within 24 hours.

While Alibaba's Jack Ma was an English teacher in his former life, Lei, like most nerds focused on computer science; the same goes for Lenovo's Yuan Yangqing, who learnt English as an adult after the company acquired IBM's PC business 10 years ago.

Lei has been upbeat about the attention over his English, taking it in stride.

"In China's education system, we actually studied English from middle school all the way through college," he told the Wall Street Journal. "My English test scores were all very good, but it turns out it was only very good in tests."

He later posted on Weibo: "I never imagined the video would go viral in China and the whole nation would be laughing." Some commented by jokingly asking, "Are you OK?"

Lei then updated his post. "Now there are more and more international Xiaomi fans. Indeed, I should learn English well and not let you down! Cheers!"

Now that's the spirit!

China Changes Tune on Li Ka-shing

The tycoon used to be lauded on the mainland, but now China thinks less of him

Hong Kong's "Superman" Li Ka-shing used to be the darling of the city, but in the last few years, particularly during the dock workers' strike in March 2013, things got ugly, tarnishing his image.

People also grew tired of his companies that are so ingrained in our lives (Park 'n' Shop, Watson's, Fortress, Hong Kong Electric, Cheung Kong, and venture capitalism with Horizons Ventures), that residents grumbled under their breath for him for having such a big stake in Hong Kong.

However for the longest time, China held him up in high regard, mainly for his investments and donations on the mainland, and the government told its people this was the man to emulate.

No more.

Last week Li announced he would be restructuring his businesses and re-registering them in the Cayman Islands, which will boost shareholder value more than anything else.

This did not please Beijing one bit, with state media launching a negative campaign against him.

In the last few years Li started selling his assets in cities like Beijing and Shanghai; this caused the Chinese media to brand him as a speculator, and warned him to balance his business vision and his love of the motherland.

Last week Global Times ran an editorial, saying the tycoon is no longer an ideal role model for the Chinese, and that instead people should learn from the younger generation, such as Jack Ma Yun of Alibaba and Lei Jun of Xiaomi.

"In comparison to the huge size of the Chinese economy, Li Ka-shing's total investment in China is now like a drop in the ocean," the editorial said.

Definitely a sign of belittling the businessman despite his previous contributions to China's economy.

One mainland columnist went as far as to describe Li as a "big tiger in the property market", alluding to Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive of "catching tigers and flies".

Now that Li's influence in China is waning, perhaps he has been downgraded to a "fly", but in any event, he's not welcome with open arms to the motherland anymore.

Not that Li probably cares; he's only looking out for his own interests.

And that may be the only point that Hong Kong people and China may agree on.