Koolhaas goes to HK

In the news today the Dutch architectural firm OMA headed by uber cool designer Rem Koolhaas will be moving its headquarters from Beijing to Hong Kong.

It claims the territory has more of the talented professionals it needs to handle its slew of Asian projects. The firm denied the move had anything to do with the controversy over the CCTV tower or "trouser legs" or the fire in the building next to it, which was supposed to house the Mandarin Oriental and apparently held most of the archive footage of the Beijing Olympics.

"We will still keep the Beijing office," said David Glanotten, who started the Hong Kong office and is partner of the company. "We just want a stronger presence in Asia and Hong Kong provides a convenient platform." He added that the firm receives "positive comments on the CCTV design."

The Hong Kong office opened in 2009 with 12 people in the architectural team and since then has grown to 45, when OMA pitched its design for the West Kowloon arts hub. It now wants to expand its staff to 60, making it the second-largest branch after its headquarters in Rotterdam.

"It's a change of strategy. We don't aim for the China market only, but the whole of Asia," Glanotten said. "Hong Kong by far is the most convenient platform for hiring both mainland and international talent. It provides a good mix."

He said architects from the mainland were imaginative and those from Taiwan were pragmatic, while those from Hong Kong were more rounded, adept not only in design, but also engineering and technical skills.

OMA's retreat from China is understandable; many people there didn't understand the design or appreciate it at all, and when the building next to it caught on fire in February 2009 from fireworks, the debacle created even more derision. They felt the government had wasted their hard-earned taxpayer yuan, only to see it explode into flames.

Koolhass will probably be pleased with making Hong Kong his Asia headquarters. It's a vote of confidence for the city, considering many top executives are considering leaving because of the worsening air pollution.

At least Hong Kong will look better.

Manufacturing Praise

President Hu Jintao talking to "low-income" families in Beijing

On December 30, Chinese President Hu Jintao did a humble thing and went to visit some low-income families in Beijing to wish them a Happy New Year.

This was because housing problems was "a great matter weighing on the President's heart".

Of course the whole event was covered by CCTV and the video clip is here complete with subtitles.

Hu went to visit a compound called Lijingyuan (丽景园) and went to see a low-income family that had a woman named Guo Chunping (郭春平) and her daughter.

The following is the exchange between Guo and Hu:

Hu: When did you move in?

Guo: I've moved in over half a month now.

Hu: Oh, half a month, I see. How big is this apartment?

Guo: It's 45 square metres in all.

Hu: 45, huh. Two rooms?

Guo: Yes, two rooms.

Hu: How much rent are you paying for this apartment?

Guo: I pay 77RMB ($11.68) each month.

Hu: 77RMB each month -- are you able to cope with the rent?

Guo: Yes. Secretary-General, I just wanted to say a big thank you to the party and the government. We are so touched to have been given this fabulous apartment to live in!

Hu: The party and the government are very concerned with the people's daily livelihoods. We've taken up a series of measures to further improve your daily lives. Well, we're so happy to see that your lives have been improved here!

Guo: Thank you! Thank you! Our country is really improving day by day. We never dreamed we would be living in such an apartment some day.

Only 77RMB to rent an apartment? Where can we get one of those?

Young people who are part of the "ant tribe" (蚁族) have to pay 200RMB ($30.44) for a bed in a cramped room shared by several other people, while those who are in the "rat tribe" (鼠族) live in underground rooms for 500RMB ($75.86) for 8 square metres.

Her answer infuriated viewers who immediately went to check out if rent at this Lijingyuan was indeed 77RMB per month, or to see if Guo was for real. For subsidized housing, Guo's family would have to have a total monthly income of 580RMB.

There are unconfirmed reports that Guo is actually a civil servant who works with the traffic police in Chaoyang District in Beijing. Neighbours at Lijingyuan say Guo doesn't live there, but actually rents it out. And the going rate for renting a place in that compound? Two thousand RMB ($303.44).

Sounds like Guo has come up with the new catchphrase of 77RMB, or how about her lavish praise on the government for giving her such a wonderful apartment to live in!

Passionate Democrat Passes On

Early this afternoon Szeto Wah passed away. He was 79.

There had been a death watch in the last few weeks as he was deteriorating from lung cancer.

But people in the pan democratic camp didn't want him to leave and still made him the figurehead leader of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Democratic Movements in China until his death.

He started his career as a teacher and primary school principal, and then became politically active by organizing the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union into one of the territory's most powerful unions.

But when June 4 happened in 1989, Szeto was greatly affected by what happened in Tiananmen Square along with most of not all Hong Kongers. He even helped some of the Tiananmen protesters escape China, for which people like Wang Dan and Wu'er Kaixi are eternally grateful.

Szeto formed the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Democratic Movements in China and every June 4 it hosts a candlelight vigil in Victoria Park demanding the Chinese government apologize for its actions. The party is a key advocate for human rights activists in China and voices its demands for justice and democracy.

He never married, and his term of endearment Wah Sook, or Uncle Wah shows how long he has been active in fighting for what he believes in, as it has led to the establishment of other political parties pushing for democracy, as well as encouraging the public to be more aware of their rights.

Szeto was a founding member of the United Democrats of Hong Kong, which later became the Democratic Party.

However last year he was greatly criticized for backing the Democratic Party's decision to vote for limited reforms for Hong Kong's half-elected legislature that were endorsed by Beijing.

Nevertheless, his achievements greatly overshadow his faults and will be sorely missed.

Beijing Wags its Finger at HK

Hong Kong is trying to practice "one country, two systems", but it gets more difficult when the master keeps changing the rules.

The latest development is the new man Beijing appointed to look after Hong Kong affairs, Wang Guangya who warned the city not to interfere in the mainland's judiciary.

His statement came after it was confirmed by three Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) that tainted milk activist Zhao Lianhai was freed on medical parole. However, Zhao hasn't actually surfaced so it's hard to know for sure if he has his freedoms again or is under house arrest.

While Zhao's exact whereabouts are another issue, it was mainly Hong Kong deputies as well as the people who protested against Zhao's sentence of two and a half years in jail. These political representatives spoke out about the issue and 28 of them signed a letter to the Supreme People's Court calling for Zhao's release.

Responding to the criticism, Wang said most countries like China maintained judicial independence. "Others should not interfere," he said. "Moreover, I understand that this incident has already been properly settled."

When asked to clarify if the Hong Kong deputies' letter amounted to interference, Wang gave a classic Chinese official vague response. "It depends on the way of expression. Under 'one country, two systems', well water should not intrude into river water."

So if Hong Kong is considered well water, does that mean it's stagnant? While China is a flowing body of water? Does he mean Hong Kong has bad feng shui?

Wang was also repeating an expression first used by then President Jiang Zemin on the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre, saying Hong Kong should not meddle in mainland politics.

However, Hong Kong deputies felt they were not interfering but rather doing their job.

"I believe he was talking about 'one country, two systems' as a general principle," said Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, who initiated the petition. "In the letter we stated that we did not know the details of the trial and would not comment on the judgment. It was very clear that we were not trying to interfere with judicial independence. We were only pleading leniency."

Another deputy, Priscilla Lau Pui-king said they were exercising their duties as NPC members to be a "check and balance" in national affairs. "The judicial system is among the state organs we watch," she said.

Ip Kwok-him, who also signed the letter said, "As members of the nation's highest power body, we should be certainly be concerned about the matter."

While it was heart warming to see Hong Kong deputies doing what they felt was morally right and express their strong opinion on the issue, it's also sad to see how naive they are about how mainland policies work. China does not want any kind of criticism, especially from those in Hong Kong who may not realize NPC deputies are only interested in promoting their own interests and hardly ever criticize its own.

It is probably correct that NPC members should be the "check and balance" of what's going on in China, but is the leadership really interested in seeing any kind of dissent? But by the same token, if Hong Kong is to be ruled by "one country, two systems", then China should respect these different and concerned opinions and understand the city is trying to drag the massive country into following rule of law.

It seems the two solitudes are still far apart.