Getting the Subtle Hint

The two meetings or 兩會 (liang hui) start tomorrow -- the Chinese People's Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People's Congress (NPC) -- and delegates are descending on Beijing to voice their suggestions or concerns to the government and fellow attendees.

Hong Kong delegate Dr Lew Mon-hung plans to submit an proposal to the advisory body of the CPPCC to investigate the sentencing of Zhao Lianhai, the father who was jailed for fighting for the rights of melamine milk victims.

However, he reported last night that two mainland officials, one of them high-ranking, contacted him in the last few days urging him not to submit the proposal.

"They told me that the timing was too sensitive and that the media would stir this up," Lew said. "The theme of this year's meeting was the 12th national five-year plan and economic development and they did not want my proposal to overshadow it. They told me this in a very courteous manner," he continued. "I would not say they were exerting pressure on me, but rather advising me."

Lew had initially thought of asking fellow delegates to co-sign the proposal, but then decided to file it by himself. "I don't see any need for me to withhold it. I will file the proposal anyway," he said.

Lew is proposing to look into the responsibility of the unlawful handling of Zhao's case in Daxing District Court in Beijing where he was sentenced to two and a half years in jail in November for "provoking quarrels and making trouble". Zhao had organized a group to seek redress for 300,000 infants affected by milk tainted with melamine in 2008.

Zhao was released on medical parole in December.

It's interesting Lew told the media about his conversations with these officials he didn't identify. It just reconfirms that the "two meetings" are a public relations exercise and the government is trying to work behind the scenes to make it look as though things are going smooth as possible.

While it will acknowledge there are issues -- for example huge social problems that need to be addressed -- it will only pay lip service to them and not really tackle them head on in any meaningful way.

Kudos to Lew for speaking up about his contacts with Chinese officials and hopefully he will have a chance to speak up about his proposal. It may not be heard but at least it will be submitted in paper, in black and white for all to see.

The End of a Fairytale

Happier times in 2009 for Li and Leong with the birth of Ethan

The other fascinating news that has riveted Hong Kong people besides the fact that some six million people in the city will have HK$6,000 to spend or save thanks to the government, was the sudden split between Richard Li and Isabella Leong.

On February 26 she released a statement saying the two had gone their separate ways, ending a relationship of over three years and included three sons. A pair of twins were only born months ago.

What happened between Li, the son of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing and model-actress Leong who was nicknamed Cinderella because of her amazing fortune to bed such a guy?

Things seemed to be a dream come true for Leong after she gave birth to their first son Ethan. She got to live in the Li mansions in San Francisco and had an entourage follow her, including five bodyguards, four full-time nannies and a personal assistant.

In recent days gossip magazines took pictures of her having fun with a man in Toronto, but Leong claimed it was a long time friend. People were also wondering if there was some kind of separation money involved because of a third person, but Li vehemently denied knowing the woman named in the media or that any "separation fee" was paid.

Oh and can we go over the age difference between the two? Li is 44 and Leong is 22.

The two met through Michelle Yeoh when she and Leong were filming The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor which was released in 2008.

"Stepping into 2011, I will also step into a new stage of my life. I have broken up with Richard Li," Leong said in a statement released last Saturday. "We had a wonderful time. We will raise our children together. Our common goal is that they grow up healthy and happy. I hope this statement will end the ceaseless speculation about me."

Apparently Leong is now in Canada and she and Li have decided on how to divide their assets (mostly his) and custody of the children.

The breakup definitively ends speculation that Leong would become Mrs Li after having given birth to three sons.

The hope continues to burn bright for eligible single women in Hong Kong that they still have a chance to become the wife of the 16th richest man in the city...

Finally Listening... Sort of

Scuffles broke out at the Museum of Art with Donald Tsang at far left (Takungpao.com)

A week after the Hong Kong budget came down, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah finally listened to the people and instead of depositing HK$6,000 into their MPF accounts which they can't access until they retire, he is proposing to give the money to them now.

The almost 180-degree turn was welcomed by people on the street, pleasantly surprised by the news. Interviewed by a TV station, some said they'd spend the money, others save it, while some working poor said the cash injection would definitely help them with their daily expenses.

Tsang said that instead of the original proposal, this cash handout would benefit more people, including civil servants, housewives and retirees. It will cost the government about HK$3.6 billion.

He also proposed a one-off cut in salaries tax in the coming year, which could amount to almost 75 percent in some cases.

Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan said the financial secretary had bowed to pressure after protests by the people. However Ho didn't think it was enough as there were no amendments to help fight rising property prices.

"So I appeal to people to join the protest on March 6 to express their concerns," Ho said.

Meanwhile the other Tsang, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen is literally feeling the hit from protesters when he was hit in the stomach by someone yesterday before the opening of an exhibition at the Museum of Art in Tsim Sha Tsui. There was lots of chaos and shouting when a protester rushed towards Tsang and security detail tried to stop him. The footage looks like a security person may have hit Tsang in the stomach with his elbow and not the protester, who was later arrested for common assault.

Tsang went to the hospital to get himself checked out and is fine, apart from being shaken up.

His right hand man, Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen condemned the violent protests today.

"We strongly condemn violent behaviour. This unacceptable behaviour [has] spread from the Legislative Council chamber into the community. I believe it has set a very bad example for our students," Tang said.

Yes, violence should be condemned. But the Tsang administration should pay heed to public discontent after its numerous blunders in recent days -- a financial secretary who seems completely out of touch with the middle class, not allowing former Tiananmen leaders to pay their last respects to Szeto Wah and now an arts chief who quit because of "health reasons" and now has another job.

Who wouldn't be angry?

Hong Kong's Cultural Debacle

When I used to live in Hong Kong over nine years ago critics used to complain Hong Kong was a cultural desert. While the government did bring in arts groups and exhibitions into the city, not much was done to nurture the local arts scene.

 

It was either high-brow stuff like the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the Hong Kong Ballet that got decent funding, both of which were not bad, but not exactly world class either. At the other end of the scale was the Fringe Club in Central and the Fringe Festival that invited small amateur groups to perform and present off-the-wall events.

 

Now that I'm back it seems Hong Kong has a better electic mix of the arts, with independent galleries with strong shows, but also more venues that are more affordable for all kinds of people to do interesting things.

 

The government is finally trying to make Hong Kong more of an "world class city" by creating the West Kowloon Cultural hub, an area that isn't much to look at right now. Three architectural firms have vied to develop the space, including Rem Koolhass of OMA and Sir Norman Foster of Foster + Partners.

 

While the selection process seems to be taking forever considering how fast developers can build things here, another debacle is blowing up in the government's face.

 

Last August an Englishman was selected to head the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority to much fanfare, as he was the former artistic director of the Barbican Centre. Graham Sheffield was going to give direction and vision to the project and help lift the Hong Kong arts scene to a new level.

 

Instead the 58-year-old went back to the UK in December for a holiday and said he wasn't coming back due to "health reasons" and even got his doctor to write a note, saying he was "unfit to travel to Hong Kong alone".

 

And now we find out that Sheffield has landed another job as the British Council's arts director.

 

Thanks for deserting us, Graham.

 

An insider anonymously revealed that Sheffield had trouble adapting to Asian culture and the Hong Kong lifestyle despite having an army of staff that included two executive assistants, a personal secretary and a director of the chief executive office.

 

How difficult could a job like that be?

While it might be mostly bureaucratic, surely the handsome salary would have made up for it.

 

But more importantly his ex-colleagues at the West Kowloon Cultural project are incensed that he didn't have the professional courtesy to inform them of his new job.

 

So was he really ill? Or was he just trying to get away from the job?

 

People are demanding an explanation of what happened and why their taxpayer dollars went to a man who clearly had no vision of staying in Hong Kong.

Sounds like a lawsuit is in order, which means we probably won't hear the end of Sheffield or his "doctor".