Patten's Foe Passes Away

Those were the days: Chris Patten and Lu Ping, verbal sparring partners

Lu Ping, Beijing's top official who oversaw the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, died on Sunday night of cancer. He was 87 years old.

He jointed the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in the late 1970s and became director of the office in 1990. Lu also served as deputy secretary general of the Basic Law Drafting Committee from 1985 to 1990, which is now Hong Kong's mini constitution.

Lu was best known for calling former governor Chris Patten in 1993 a "sinner for 1,000 years" for tweaking the electoral system to allow more Hong Kong people to elect lawmakers.

However, 15 years later, he reversed his judgment on Patten, by praising him on Phoenix TV, calling the former governor a brilliant and resolute politician.

He retired as HKMAO director days after July 1, 1997, but still closely watched what was happening in Hong Kong.

Many locals were annoyed with his pro-China comments, saying things like, "Those who do not recognize they are Chinese should look at what is written on their passports, or they should renounce their Chinese nationality", criticizing those fighting for Hong Kong independence.

Nevertheless in a 2009 interview, he said Hong Kong should stop relying on Beijing and improve its competitiveness.

Six years later he is still correct.

Did no one in the Hong Kong government heed his advice?

Electoral Reform Push: Strike 2

Dr Ko Wing-man loses his temper when arguing with a senior yesterday

Oh boy. More senior Hong Kong officials with egg on their faces.

It's a tough job having to sell electoral reforms and encountering dissent along the way.

After Chief Secretary Carrie Lam last week, the latest victim was Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man, who visited a public housing estate in Ngau Tau Kok yesterday.

Last weekend's bus tours were not working, so this week officials made unannounced community visits.

Ko spoke to a boy about the electoral reform and said, "I hope you will support us", when a senior came up to Ko and yelled, "Can 1,200 people represent the whole of Hong Kong?" The man then turned away.

He was referring to the nominating committee that would choose the two or three candidates who would run for chief executive in 2017.

Ko went after him and said, "Mister, don't go. I don't like people who come shouting and leave right away."

The man did stop and criticized Ko for "fooling the children". The proposed election system would only produce undesirable candidates like a "white-haired witch", he said.

"I disagree with you. the words you use are a bit of an insult," Ko shot back. "It's fine for you to have your own ideals, but you shouldn't impose them on all other Hong Kong people."

"That's exactly what you're doing!" the senior retorted.

The war of words continued with the old man insisting Ko was cheating and the doctor shouted back, "Objection!"

Ko then went left with his colleagues.

Considered one of the more popular government officials, Ko later addressed the media, saying, "To be frank, I'm just an ordinary person. I only hope there's room for discussion. I was unable to control my emotions. I hope the public will understand I have tried my best."

Our observations so far have seen many seniors who are picking up the mantle to actively protest against the government's push on its (or rather Beijing's) version of "universal suffrage". One directly confronted Chief Secretary Lam last week at a Federation of Trade Unions event, and then yesterday's incident with Ko.

Perhaps we can add here that Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung addressed diners in a restaurant and an old man began to vomit. So didn't hesitate to help by handing him a plate.

For Ko to say he's "an ordinary person" immediately sparks frustration and eye-ball rolling by Hong Kong citizens, much like Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah likening himself to being in the middle class, as they like to drink coffee and watch French movies...

They aren't going to get any sympathy points.

Most telling is Ko's wish, that "I only hope there's room for discussion". What discussion? Has the Hong Kong government really taken into account people's opinions of what they want universal suffrage to look like?

Instead of an earnest attempt to give the appearance of listening to the people, this public relations exercise appears to be a desperate campaign to indoctrinate the public on the government's version of electoral reform.

And unfortunately for Leung Chun-ying's administration, it's not working...

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!

Hong Kong's Polluted Air Persists

Hong Kong's air quality can go to extremes like these pictures show...

Well what do you know! Us living in Hong Kong are breathing in air that exceeds the World Health Organization's standards for over 280 days last year.

The black spots are Des Voeux Road in Central and Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay.

"The overall picture is worse than we thought," said Simon Ng Ka-wing, chief research officer at Civic Exchange, a think tank that worked with the University of Science and Technology on the research.

"Our government must make it a policy priority to improve roadside air quality in major urban street canyons."

It's interesting Civic Exchange says this when its founder Christine Loh Kung-wai is the Under Secretary for Environment...

The WHO daily air quality guideline says PM2.5 should not exceed 25 micrograms per cubic metre. But in the Hong Kong study conducted between March last year and February this year, Central and Causeway Bay exceeded the standard by almost 280 days of the year.

In districts like Western, Admiralty and most of Wan Chai, the air quality standard was surpassed by over 200 days, while it was 150 days in North Point.

Des Voeux Road in Central was the most polluted at an average of 55 micrograms per cubic metre -- far exceeding the WHO guideline of 10 and the local guideline of 35.

It was followed by Hennessy Road, between Tonnochy Road and Yee Wo Street in Causeway Bay, and King's Road in North Poing.

Professor Jimmy Fung, head of HKUST's division of environment, said areas with good ventilation and lower buildings helped disperse pollution.

He said the government should devise a long-term strategy to improve wind and air dispersion in urban street canyons through new developments and urban redevelopment opportunities, as well as policies to decrease traffic emissions.

Ng says hundreds of thousands are exposed to roadside pollution on a daily basis, and a recent University of Hong Kong study says a high PM2.5 concentration led to a higher death rate among the elderly by increasing their risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

It's shocking to find the PM2.5 levels were so high considering over two months in that study period the Occupy Movement shut down major thoroughfares and supposedly decreased air pollution... or so we thought.

In the meantime, Fung says the government should consider pedestrianization schemes and low-emission zones in locations where roadside air quality is really bad.

But will the government earnestly try to do something about this? With the task of trying to sell the electoral reform package to the people, air quality probably doesn't have as high a priority...