• [030]  Town Party Secretary Raped Policewoman (11/30/2009)  (People's Daily)

"Our town party secrectary has not shown up for work since twenty days ago.  It is rumored that he was arrested by the local police for arresting a policewoman from our town police station ..."  A reader from Longxiang town, Xuanwei city, Yunnan province called us.  On the evening of November 19, our report went there and confirmed the tip.  Longxiang town party secretary Yang Deyan has been approved for arrest by the Xuanwei town procuratorate for attempted rape.

"We run a small business.  We have nothing to do with sensitive political questions such as a town party secretary being arrested.  We only heard that secretary Yang has been arrested, but we don't know why."  When asked about Yang Deyan, a Longxiang town store owner said the above.  His wife interjected: "I heard that he got drunk and raped a policewoman named Niu from the town police station.  The policewoman filed a complaint.  (Sigh)  Government officials nowadays get satiated with food and then they start thinking about other things ..."

"You don't know fart!  When a woman gets too nosy, she is the one who gets satiated with food and start thinking about other things!"  When the shop owner heard his wife talk too much, he stopped her sternly.  Then he turned a smiling face towards the reporter and reiterated: "Don't listen to the nonsense from my wife.  This is a major matter.  We can't afford to be wrong!"

The reporter checked with twelve citizens in the street, including shop owners who sold clothing, tobacco, good and regular villagers.  These twelve people with different backgrounds all said that they heard that town party secretary Yang Deyan has been arrested by the police.  Nine of these people heard something that was similar to what the wife of the small store owner said.  One of them said definitively that he personally witnessed Yang Deyan being brought back to the dormitory building in the Longxiang town government courtyard by the police to testify.  The policewoman who was sexually molested has been transferred out of town.

According to a local informed source, the incident took place around noon of either October 27 or 28.  Town police officers came to the dormitory take Yang Deyan away.  Later he learned that Yang Deyan had a few drinks too many and told the young policewoman from the police station to come over to his dormitory to have a "talk."  The sexual molestation of the policewoman took place.  The policewoman fought him and even managed to take a tape recording with which she denounced him.  Yang Deyan has not shown up at work since that day.  The Xuanwei town People's Congress chairman has been acting as party secretary since.  Xuanwei town already has a vacancy in the mayor position.  So now two cadres will have to be brought in to take the places of party secretary and mayor.

Yang Deyan's family lives in Xuanwei town.  His dormitory apartment was principally a resting place in case he does not want to go come.  At noon on November 20, our reporter went to this dormitory apartment where he encountered some town government workers who asked: "Are you a relative of secretary Yang?  Are you looking for him?"

"Ha ha, we are friends.  I have not seen him for a while.  I can't get through to him via his cellphone.  I have something important to talk to him about."  In spite of what the reporter said, the workers still alertly said that secretary Yang has been transferred to "work" in the city and that the best way to find him is through the town party committee office.  When asked which department Yang has been transferred to in the city, none of the workers knew.

The reporter went over to the Longxiang police station to see the policewoman named Niu involved in this case.  A deputy police station director, an instructor and other police officers said that they have no right to deal with a case involving the Longxiang town party secretary.  The case is presently being handled by the Xuanwei city criminal investigation division.  If the reporter wanted to find out more about the case, he will have to go to the city public security bureau.  As for policewoman Niu, she has returned to her hometown because she is emotionally upset and does not want to be disturbed.

The reporter went to the Xuanwei city public security bureau and asked for an interview.  After repeated internal discussions, the bureau decided not to disclose any more about the case due to the sensitive nature of the suspect Yang Deyan and the victim.

Through special channels, our reporter was able to verify that the city police arrested the suspect Yang Deyan on October 28; the policewoman Niu has been transferred back to work in the city.

At 17:00 that day, our reporter went to the Xuanwei procuratorate and verified that Yang Deyan was approved for arrest on November 11 for "attempted rape."  He is now being held in the Xuanwei detention centre.

"There is a common saying that nobody knows a person than the father.  I cannot believe that my son could commit such an evil thing.  There has to be some reasons within ..."  Yang Deyan's father works in a school in Xuanwei city.  When the reporter knocked on his door, he alertly brought the reporter outdoors and strolled while talking.  He said that he has been a teacher for more than two decades, and Yang Deyan is his son as well as his pupil.  He knows better than anyone else that his son is not that type of person.  He asked the reporter to check with his colleagues at school about his integrity.

Yang's wife also said that she understands her husband better than anyone else.  She knows that her husband is a serious and responsible family man.  She believes that the law will render justice.

Earlier this year in July, our reporter had the opportunity to interview town party secretary Yang Deyan over land development deals that villagers were complaining about.  Yang Deyan said that he was in the countryside and could not meet.  When the reporter returned to Kunming, secretary Yang came and invited our newspaper leader out for a cup of tea.  When refused, Yang came to the newspaper office and spoke to our editor-in-chief for more than 30 minutes to ask to squash the report.  When our editor-in-chief refused resolutely, Yang opened up his waist bag to take something out.  The editor-in-chief politely asked him to leave.

The reporter escorted the Yang out to the front door.  Suddenly, Yang took out two large envelops (later known to contain 5,000 yuan apiece) and suffered it into the pocket of the reporter while saying with a grin: "Don't publish the report.  You can take this money and treat your friends!"  Before he even finished, he rushed into his car and sped away.

At the tobacco shop in Xiongye Hotel by the Kunming North Train Station, the reporter managed to find secretary Yang who was surprised to see him.  Back in his hotel room, he thought that the reporter did not find the previous payment adequate and quickly took our more envelops.  The reporter informed him that this was a serious disciplinary violation -- unless Yang took the money back, the reporter would refer the matter to the provincial party disciplinary committee.  Before Yang even recovered his composure, the reporter returned the two envelops to him.

• [029]  Yunnan Naked Girl Advertises Herself (11/30/2009)

• [028]  Wang Yong Is Arrested -- Why?  (11/29/2009)  (Xiaoxiang Morning News)

Yesterday, a blogger wrote: "Today I returned from New York City to Beijing.  On the line through customs, I observed that a fashionably dressed young woman being questioned for a long time.  She was arguing loudly with a police officer.  Then two other police officers came along, asked some questions and took the young woman into an office."

According to a spokesperson for Wang Yong's company, "Wang Yong had been training overseas.  She returned to China on November 28.  Something happened for unknown reasons."  He also said that he did not know why Wang Yong was taken away.  "But there should not be any big problem.  We are trying to find out."  He said that the company will make a statement when they find out.

There are many netizen speculations:

(1) Was she smuggling drugs?  Probably not, because she was being taken into a room for "border inspection"?  By the way, whatever happened to the "no camera and no phone" rule in the customs area of the airport?

(2) Was this a hype campaign by her company?  After all, Wang Yong had been professionally inactive for some time.  She recently had a single released, with an album due early next year.  Was this a marketing promotion to get her into the headlines?

(3) Was it because her cosmetic surgery altered her appearance too radically?  Wang Yong was in "training" in South Korea, which has the best cosmetic surgeons in the world.  When she came back to Beijing, the immigration officer refused to believe that this person in front of him was the same as the person in the passport photo!

What do you think?

• [027]  Taiwan Police Used Facebook To Arrest Robber (11/29/2009)

(Apple Daily)

Early morning last Wednesday, a man wearing a safety helmet walked into a Neihu supermarket, held a knife against the worker and got away with NT$7,500.  The whole incident was recorded by the surveillance cameras inside the supermarket and outside on the street.  The police extracted the photos of the suspect but they made no progress because they had no idea who the person was.

According to Neihu police station detective squad leader Lin Chi-cheng, the police thought about how recent news report have frequently referred to "human flesh search" to locate people successfully.  Therefore, he asked his officers to post the photos of the suspect onto Facebook and PChome.

Within two hours, a netizen provided a tip that the suspect resembled a man who frequently patronizes a certain cybercafe.  Last evening, the police went to the cybercafe and arrested the suspect.

According to Lin Chi-cheng, the police have posted surveillance photos on the various official police websites, but the traffic is usually very slow.  That was why they decided to go to Facebook instead.  However, the police are also concerned that if they carelessly post photos for "human flesh search" and end up with the wrong person, they might be in legal trouble.

• [026]  Apple Daily (Taiwan) Apologizes For News-In-Motion (11/29/2009)

(China Times)

After the huge controversy over the sex-violence in News-In-Motion, Apple Daily has apologized to the public.  It will also not sue the Taipei city government and/or mayor Hao Lung-bin.

Here is News-In-Motion on a current international news story: Tiger Woods in a car accident.

 

• [025]  Hong Kong By The Numbers (11/29/2009) 

(Tai Kung Pao)

The Hong Kong Youth Association interviewed more than 500 citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 about their views on the constitutional reform.  The study showed that the mainstream opinion is towards moderate and rational development.  64% of the young people interviewed said that they "very much disagree" or "disagree" with the proposal to use a "five district general resignation" to force the government to implement universal suffrage in 2012.  Only 11% said that they "very much agree" or "agree" with the proposal.  55% of the respondents wants people to reach a consensus quickly and pass the current proposal from the government.

More than half of the young people "very agreed" or "agreed" with the government's proposal to increase the number of seats in the Legislative Council to 70 and the electoral committee to 1,200 persons.  66% of the young people think that too many arguments is detrimental to the development of democracy in Hong Kong and will only increase more internal social conflicts and waste social resources while leaving political development at a stalemate.  68% of the young people want to see "gradual progress."  Only 9% want to see "universal suffrage" as soon as possible.

More than 60% of the respondents said that they "understand" or "understand very well" the constitutional reform proposal.  80% think that constitution reform is "related" or "very much related" to themselves.

(ESWN comment: There is no disclosure of the survey methodology in this Tai Kung Pao report.  I tried the Hong Kong Youth Association website and I was unable to find out anything more.  Was this a shopping mall intercept study?  Was this an Internet survey at specific website(s)?  Was this an interactive voice system over telephone?  Was this a telephone survey using proper random sample selection?  Was this a door-to-door face-to-face personal interview?  I am clueless.  Therefore I do not accept the survey results as being accurate.  This is being presented here only because it may be the subject of discussion.)

• [024]  iPhone PK Phone in China (11/28/2009)  (Media.ifeng.com)

Apple Computer (China) website screen capture

Outdoor advertisement in Southern China for imitation Phone

Previously, China Unicom had announced the price of the iPhone in China -- iPhone 3G 8GB at 4,999 yuan; iPhone 3GS 16GB at 5,880 yuan; iPhone 3GS 32GB at 6,999 yuan.  Towards that end, China Unicom has made huge investments in advertising, in television and outdoor.  In the major cities, provincial capitals and other large cities such as Qingdao and Ningbo, they have taken up 1/3 of all bus shelter ads.  In Beijing, the iPhone ads cover more than 1/3 of all Beijing bus shelter ads; inside the third ring road, the percentage is almost 50%.

Recently, China Unicom has also noticed that there is an outdoor ad for a product called Phone in southern China.  The product is listed at 599 yuan and the creative presentation is almost identical to the one on the Apple Computer (China) website.  A China Unicom spokesperson said, "This outdoor ad did not come from China Unicom.  They stole the creative concept from Apple and they are trying to mislead consumers!  The price of 599 yuan is deliberately trying to confuse the consumers about the actual price of iPhone!"

Ever since the iPhone came on the market, there have been plenty of imitations.  There are many television ads to sell these imitations, but very few outdoor ads.  China Unicom said that they reserve the option to pursue legal action.

• [023]  Taiwan By The Numbers (11/28/2009)  (Apple Daily)  (745 persons by telephone on November 27, 2009 using interactive voice systems to call telephone numbers randomly selected from the national residential telephone directory)

In order to shut down Apple Daily's News-In-Motion, Hao Lung-bin ordered all Taipei schools not to subscribe to Apple Daily.  Do you think that this is reasonable?

59.73%: There is nothing wrong with keeping the gates for elementary and secondary school students
28.99%: It is ridiculous to deprive students of their freedom to read as well as ruin Apple Daily
11.28%: Don't know/no opinion

P.S. China News has made a collection of some of the illustrated news from Apple Daily:

Here is Apple Daily's News-In-Motion coverage of the Harbin slasher case:

 

• [022]  How To Cover Up Bad News (11/28/2009) 

(Legal System Evening News)  Beijing Guangqu Road Land Plot confirmed to contain poisoned earth.  November 27, 2009.

In June, the real estate developer at Guagnqu Road Number 15 ordered construction halted after it was discovered that dangerous heavy metal waste products were scattered on the road during construction.

On this morning, the Chaoyang District Urban Management Division gathered the developer Sinochem Fangxing Real Estate Company, the Beijing City Urban Management Bureau, the Chaoyang District Department of Environmental Protection and the Fangshan Urban Management Division to develop clean-up procedures.

Guangqu Road Number 15 used to be a Beijing chemical factory.  Within the site, 13,000 square meters of factory space was used to produced mercury chloride and mercury salt.  Another 30,000 square meters of soil at the fluorescent tube factory was also contaminated and requires special handling.  In June, Sinochem Fangxing Real Estate paid 4.06 billion yuan to buy the land.

Recently, the Chanoyang District Urban Management Division found out that the earth haulers from the construction site merely used tarpaulin to cover the earth instead of iron covers as required.

On the evenings of yesterday and the day before yesterday, the division intercepted three earth haulers during the course of law enforcement.  The urban management workers found out that the tires and bodies of the trucks had not been washed down as required.

Previously, the Beijing Department of Environmental Protection had required that the earth dug up from the site be carried under iron steel cover by trucks for special handling.  According to the Chaoyang Department of Environmental Protection, the earth had been contaminated by heavy metals which are classified as "hazardous waste."  Once spread on the ground, they pose serious danger to human health through the contaminated soil and water.

Yesterday at 10am, our reporter went to the construction site.  There were no construction workers to be seen, just two security guards.  There was a big ditch 10 meters deep about the size of a soccer field.  Two bulldozers and a construction truck were parked there.

According to manager Zhang of Sinochem Fangxing Real Estate, the company had sought opinions from experts at the Department of Environmental Protection and the State Land Bureau over the extent of contamination as a result of the long-term use of the site for producing chemicals.  Manager Zhang said that the company was very serious about the transportation and processing of the extracted soil.  The company had outsourced the project to a transportation company and the Fangshan District Ecological Island (where the soil was to be processed and buried).  Manager Zhang declined to comment on why the soil was not tightly sealed during transportation.

Captain Gao of the Chaoyang District Urban Management Division said that the contaminated soil that was spread on the road has been cleaned up and will not constitute any danger.  The relevant departments will designate a route through which all earth haulers will be required to use.  In addition, the real estate developer will be required to add iron covers on the earth haulers as well as hose them down with water before setting out.

In addition, Captain Gao said that the site will be covered up whenever wind speeds reach grade four or higher so that the soil particles will not contaminate the surrounding neighborhood.  In addition, they will be working with the Fangshan District Department of Environmental Protection to conduct testing on the soil that is brought there in order to prevent more contamination.  The Chaoyang District Urban Management Division is also investigating whether the previously contaminated soil were all sent to the Fangshan Ecological Island as required.

How would you cope with this kind of negative news?  If potential house buyers found out, would they buy there?  If you are the government official in charge, how would that affect your career?

(Bandao.cn)

<Legal System Evening News> devoted a full page to the story on <Beijing Guangqu Road Land Plot confirmed to contain poisoned earth>.  As a consequence, the city government spent several hundred thousand yuan to mobilize more than 2,000 persons to buy up copies of <Legal System Evening News> all over the city.  Meanwhile, the real estate developer Sinochem Fangxing incurred a vast amount of "public relations" expenses.

• [021]  Media Ethics Violated When The Media Manipulates Political Party (11/27/2009)  (Albert Cheng at Hong Kong Economic Journal)

...

If your memory is good, you will remember that when the League of Social Democrats first suggested the "five district general resignation," Next Media did not react and provided very few reports.  After Szeto Wah responded, the situation changed quickly.  The media big player who made a fortune by packaging "democracy" saw his opportunity and made the decision to reverse course.

The media big player thought that the Democratic Party was the biggest obstacle to the "five district general resignation."  To force the Democratic Party to get on the bandwagon required soft and hard approaches from both inside and outside.

First, it was necessary to debase the Democratic Party in terms of political morality so that the other pan-democrats can seize the moral high ground and take charge of the "five district general resignation."  With this ideological guidance, the Kam Nai Wai affair which was just a matter within the party became headline news in <Apple Daily>.  The result was a lot of damage to the moral image of the Democratic Party.

October 4, 2009
Kam Nai Wai fired female assistant
after failed love suit

October 5, 2009
Kam Nai Wai
Lying and evasive

October 6, 2009
Kam Nai Wai
Feigns to resign

Secondly, the cause of the "five district general resignation" is advanced when there is general discontent against the government.  The authoritativeness of the government must be debased.  Thus, after the Chief Executive delivered his policy address, <Apple Daily> spend more than ten days to report on the so-called energy-saving light bulb scanal and the priority that the Chief Executive's sister-in-law got in receiving compensation over the Lehman Brothers mini-bonds.

October 17, 2009
Bowtie became Ah Bian?

October 18, 2009
Groups organize to stop paying electricity bills

October 19, 2009
Hard selling energy-saving light bulbs
Bowtie made plan beforehand

October 20, 2009
Edward Yau slaps himself in order to save the Chief Executive

October 21, 2009
Bowtie worse than old Tung

October 22, 2009
Pro-establishment camp criticizes Donald Tsang

October 23, 2009
Bowtie rouses up public ire again

October 25, 2009
The Chief Executive says the word
His sister-in-law collects money

October 28, 2009
Bowtie's policy address
Loses all public support

October 30, 2009
Energy-saving light bulb coupons are over and done with

Over this past week, <Apple Daily> increased the pressure on the Democratic Party to take a stand.  From Saturday to Monday, the headlines were aimed right at the Democratic Party.  If Szeto Wah had not come out and disclosed that he was invited to a dinner where he was pressured to join and Martin Lee backed out, Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho who was already told to "stand up" would become the target of attacks and turned into the next Kam Nai Wai.

Novembger 21, 2009
Pan-democrats call on the Democratic Party
Strive towards universal referendum

November 22, 2009
Mrs. Chan: General resignation may be considered

November 23, 2009
"Albert Ho, stand up!"

The aforementioned methods of using news to frame events did not begin today.  The media big player began his business this way and is very familiar with the ways.  After June 4th, 1989, he saw the tide of democracy was unstoppable.  Therefore, the media big player packaged "democracy" with his media outlets.  He was able to deceive the people and profit greatly with a rare commodity ...

The media is a public tool.  In Hong Kong, freedom of press and speech forms the foundation of prosperity and stability.  The people of Hong Kong must value it in order to maintain their advantage under "one country, two systems."  Media can have political positions.  There is no need to conceal political positions.  It is enough to express one's viewpoints in the columns and editorials.  But if someone uses news (or even fabricate news) to control events, or uses the power of media to force political figures or parties into submission, then they have acted beyond the scope of media workings and violated media ethics.  They are acting no differently from how totalitarian regimes control freedom of press and speech, and that is undesirable.

Comments from HKEJ reader 'pacificbriefing':

Dear Mr Cheng - your reaction was uncalled for. Surely you could not have expected anything but a purely academic discussion in a loosely moderated internet forum such as the HKEJ?

The substance of your argument is nothing novel. For years, many have complained about the state of journalism and media. For years, many have decried the delivery of 'info-tainment' (information as entertainment). For years, many have lamented the death of fair and objective facts and the race to the bottom in ‘knowledgeability’.

Yet, all this has nothing to do with one state – the US and the UK have had the same fears for years – or one newspaper, in particular, Apple Daily. I am not a reader of the said newspaper or an apologist. But Apple Daily is a tabloid and there are existing government mechanisms to regulate the media as well as penalties that have been enforced for breaches or derogations of rules. Its holding company is also a publicly listed stock which must answer to shareholders. All of this may not be ideal, but unlike state propaganda mouthpieces, there is some accountability, even if minimal. Conflating the two types of media bodies - one for profit and the other for indoctrination - is dangerous and intellectually dishonest.

The picture you paint is one about the power of the media. That is a fair argument. The reason why readers on this forum are attacking you for disingenuity is because, once upon a time, you too used the media to project your power and influence. You are no stranger to this game – you were a willing participant as well as a beneficiary. It is not preposterous for readers here on the HKEJ to doubt your bona fides and question a possible hypocrisy.

Moreover, the fatal flaw in your argument is that you merely bunch a number of issues and problems together, and attempt to run a single thread through them all. I believe your argument as to the pan-dems being held hostage to the whims of one man – Mr. Lai – is nothing more than rhetorical. You could just as well say that they – both the newspaper and the politicians – are held hostage to their base: a right-wing fringe group of ‘democracy chest-beaters’. Your theory, speculative at best and conspiratorial at worst, justifiably attracts the criticism and skepticism of readers on this website.

There is one thing you suggest but do not make explicit in your argument. That is the potency of tabloid newspapers in Hong Kong is because journalistic ethics are so low, investigative reporting so rare and an informed populace so wanting. An argument about a real problem would have attracted more favorable reviews than one that repeats old arguments about the wickedness of Apple Daily and the stupidity of politicians.

• [020]  Hong Kong cracks down on Facebook (11/27/2009)

(The Standard)  Schools on Facebook mass suicide alert   Nickkita Lau  November 26, 2009.

Cyber cops in Hong Kong are trying to track down the creators and users of a Chinese-language internet site called "I Need To Practice Killing Myself" on which 188 people have pledged to a mass suicide on December 21.

The site was set up on the Facebook network and has encouraged people to commit suicide. The fear is that the sinister cyber tentacles from the site have already clamped on Hong Kong youngsters.

The group has been blamed for the attempted suicide earlier this month of a secondary schoolgirl in Hong Kong - an incident that has led secondary school principals in the SAR to call for more of a focus on cyber dangers.

The present status of the December 21 death-pledge group is murky: it has been disbanded, according to one report, but a "suicide team" is believed to remain active.

The suicide attempt that set off alarm bells in Hong Kong involved a Tin Shui Wai secondary student. She looked set to jump to her death from the roof of her school but was stopped by other students. In a session with a social worker later the student revealed she had joined the death group featured on Facebook.

Yuen Long's police commander, Kenneth Li Kin-fai, noted that the internet is unlimited and people linking themselves to the mass-suicide plan could come from any part of Hong Kong or outside the territory. Still, he said, the Commercial Crime Bureau's Technology Crime Division is determined to track down its initiators. He also warned that aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring the suicide of another person is a criminal offense punishable with up to 14 years in prison.

(SCMP)  Police trace mass-suicide group o Facebook as more emerge.  By Clifford Lo and Martin Wong.  November 27, 2009.

Police have tracked down the internet user who started a mass-suicide group on the social networking site Facebook, while a similar online group with about 100 participants surfaced two days ago. An investigating officer said the force had identified the creator of the first Facebook suicide group, named "I want to practise suicide" in Chinese, set up this year. It called on its nearly 190 members to kill themselves on December 21.

The case came to light after one of its members, a 15-year-old schoolboy, had attempted suicide a little more than two weeks ago. The group was shut down on Wednesday after extensive media reports.

The officer refused to reveal how the creator had been traced, but said the person "is a local teenager and did it for fun. Investigation shows that those who joined the group are also youngsters". Another officer said the first group had been attracting more people to join since April, and that one of its members had posted a mobile phone number asking others with the intention of committing suicide to call.

Even as the old group was removed, another emerged on Wednesday night - also registered in Chinese characters - and named "I have to (practise) suicide". Ninety-seven people had signed up. In its description, it said: "What is the meaning of life ... my beloved is in love with another ... while everything adults do is right, what we do is all wrong ... no one knows we exist, why don't we all commit suicide."

(The Standard)  Another suicide site opens on Facebook.  Nickkita Lau.  November 27, 2009.

A second site promoting suicide has appeared on Facebook, telling those disagreeing with its ideology to back off. The group surfaced on the popular networking website after police announced earlier this week they are tracking down the founder and users of a closed Chinese-language Facebook group advocating mass suicide.

The Commercial Crime Bureau has taken over the investigation. A computer expert said tracing Facebook users is difficult because only a personal e-mail address is needed for registration.

The site reads: "What is the meaning of life? The person you love is in love with someone else. Being isolated by friends. People make fun of small mistakes to make you feel so ashamed. Everything is our fault. The adults are always right. We are always wrong ... Why don't we just die together?" However, several other websites telling people not to join suicide groups have been set up over the past few days.

• [019]  Apple Daily says, "Martial law is back in Taiwan" (11/27/2009)

(Taipei Times)  'Apple Daily' pulls controversial videos.  By Loa Lok-sin.  November 27, 2009.

The Chinese-language Apple Daily newspaper yesterday apologized over the controversy surrounding the new “News-in-Motion” section on its Web site and said it had removed videos containing controversial scenes.

“We apologize for upsetting the public because of certain content in our News-in-Motion video clips,” Apple Daily editor-in-chief Jesse Ma (馬維敏) told a news conference after meeting representatives of civic groups protesting outside its headquarters in Taipei. News-in-Motion is a new feature on the newspaper’s Web site that gives detailed descriptions of news items using film and animated videos.

“To show our sincerity, we immediately removed video clips with controversial content,” he said. “From now on, the News-in-Motion section will refrain from presenting possibly controversial news items in an overly realistic way.” However, Ma said the newspaper would retain the feature and urged the public to respect its innovative presentation of news items.

[...]

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said yesterday that Next Media Ltd (壹傳媒集團), publisher of the Apple Daily, would be fined an additional NT$500,000 for continuing to offer sensational content. The city government on Wednesday fined the Apple Daily NT$500,000 for violating the media classification regulations in the Children and Juveniles Welfare Act (兒童及青少年福利法). Hau said the city government would ask all schools in the city to cancel their subscriptions to the paper, as it contained a code enabling free downloads of News-in-Motion clips to cellphones.
“We will continue monitoring the situation and hand out more fines if the situation does not improve,” Hau said.

Executive Yuan Spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) encouraged people to report any inappropriate News-in-Motion content to the government. Su quoted Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) as saying government officials should integrate their efforts to bring the controversial feature into compliance.

(Apple Daily)

Martial law?
Hao Lung-bin bans <Apple Daily> from schools

The Taipei city government took major action yesterday to ban <Apple Daily>'s News-In-Motion.  After imposing a fine of NT$500,000 on the day before yesterday, the government imposed another fine of NT$500,000 for old news that appeared three days ago (note: there were three News-In-Motion reports on "University students in three-person sex," "Monster dad rapes young daughter" and "Murdering the wife with an iron spade").  The total fine of NT$ 1,000,000 was the highest ever in the six years since the Children and Juvenile Welfare Act was enacted. 

Taipei Mayor Hao Lung-bin also ordered all 300 schools in Taipei not to subscribe to <Apple Daily>, all 56 city libraries to give access to <Apple Daily> only to persons age 18 or older and all schools and libraries to ban the IP address for the website of <Apple Daily>.  A school principal who wishes to remain anonymous said: "What era are we in to still restrict the freedom of reading for students.  Democracy is going backwards."  A Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School student named Peng said: "I am free to read whatever newspaper I want to.  It looks like Taipei city is under martial law again."

The Ministry of Education deputy minister Lin Tsung-ming said that he does not preclude the possibility that all elementary and secondary schools in Taiwan ban <Apple Daily> subscriptions or otherwise begin a boycott campaign.

Yesterday evening, our reporter went to the Taipei City Library and saw that <Apple Daily>'s place on the newspaper rack has been replaced by a notice.  The workers there said that it was the first time that any newspaper was treated in this manner.

(Apple Daily) 

National Communications Commission (NCC) deputy director Chen Jeng-cheng said that while the word outside is that the government wants to block the website of <Apple Daily>, "the NCC does not feel that it is appropriate.  Only a certain portion of the website is unacceptable.  It would be violating the right to consume and the freedom of press to ban the whole thing.  Therefore, the NCC has asked China Telecom to study how to block violent/pornographic content on the Internet/mobile phones.  "This is not directed against News-In-Motion per se.  This is about the issues raised by News-In-Motion."

Chen Jeng-cheng said that China Telecom will study whether mobile telephones can use the "Pornography Gatekeeper" software that is used to filter websites.  Access could be blocked unless the user applies to have special services and the provider approves.  Whether the blocking will be partial or complete and how personal identification can be made is still subject to discussion.  The NCC does not preclude the possibility that the government will subsidize universal access to the "Pornography Gatekeeper" software.

The NCC also intends to make a finer classification of websites.  For example, any web page not suitable for non-adults will be clearly marked as such.  They will also study how to enter personal identification or membership codes to establish that the user is indeed an adult.

 

• [018]  Dwelling Narrowness (11/26/2009)

 

 

(Xinhua)  Young Chinese watch home-owning dream soar out of reach.  November 25, 2009.

In the hit Chinese television drama, "Dwelling Narrowness," one of the main characters becomes the mistress of a government official in order to help repay her older sister's mortgage. The 35-episode series, which stars actress Vivian Wu (Wu Junmei), has touched a raw nerve in its audience, who sympathize with the characters' moral dilemmas.

The story follows the trials of two full sisters struggling to buy affordable apartments in an unnamed big city, believed to resemble Shanghai, where house prices have soared beyond the lifetime disposable incomes of most people.

"I was deeply moved though I don't think it was the right decision," says Beijing office worker Zhou Yuan of the younger sister's decision to become a mistress. But the characters are simply mirroring the choices that many urban Chinese are facing everyday as the booming real estate market erodes their dreams of becoming home-owners. "They epitomize a large group of urban young people tormented by material desire and anxiety in daily life," says Professor Zhang Yiwu, of Peking University. "Just like snails carrying a heavy shell."

Relevant Link:   Hit TV Series Strikes Chord with China’s “House Slaves”    China Real Time Report - WSJ.  November 26, 2009.

Dwelling Narrowness is also drawing Internet attention because of the high degree of openness and explicitness in the dialogue.  Here are some examples (China News, Chengdu Commercial News):

"I have repaid my sentimental obligations with my body!  From now on, I will begin to become a professional mistress!"

"A woman needs to treat herself better, by drinking better, eating better and having more fun.  If something unexpected happens, another woman will spend the money that you saved, live in the house that you paid for, sleep with your husband and beat your beloved child."

"A woman longs to be unfaithful just like a every man wants to have a virgin.  It is an irrepressible idea."

"When a woman has a child, she is no longer a woman anymore.  First of all, she becomes a mother.  Next, she is a female wolf."

"Anything problem that can be solved with money is not a big problem."

"A person can have financial debts, but not sentimental debts.  If you owe money, you have a chance of repaying it.  If you owe a sentimental debt, you will feel guilty all the way until the day that you die."

"Everybody around you is talking about buying houses, speculating on houses and accumulating houses.  If you don't have a house, you will feel marginalized and you will have a sense of fear."

"I am a mad dog."

"I have repaid the sentimental debt with my body."

"It looks like a small cannon."

(CRI.cn)  November 5, 2009.

<Dwelling Narrowness> was shown in Shanghai in July this year and achieved high television ratings for its 35 episodes.  However, certain "negative" details were excised when the series came to Beijing this month, with the series being cut down to 33 episodes.  In the original series, the character Song Shiming was a corrupt government official, who was the embodiment of all the desirable qualities that a girl can dream of.  When he died, he left a huge sum of money for his mistress who was able to go overseas.  This led people to question the educational value.

In the Beijing version, there were fewer scenes of the intimate relationship between Song Shiming and his mistress.  At the end of the show, Song Shiming died in a car accident which may or may not be suicide.  The mistress managed to go to America, but she suffered a uterine injury so that she can never have any children of her own.

(DWnews)  November 25, 2009.

On November 18, Beijing TV's Youth Channel began to show <Dwelling Narrowness> at 22:00pm at two episodes per day.  This went on for five days.  On Monday November 23, the audience who waited in front of their television sets saw instead a different show coming on.  When they called up the television station, they were told that it was a schedule re-arrangement.  There is no news when the remaining episodes will be shown.  They denied that there were any orders from above to stop.

People are speculating about this stoppage:

First, people think that the show touched upon sensitive topics such as high housing prices, mistresses and government corruption.

Second, the netizens have gathered the more daring dialogues (such as "I'll treat you to a lollipop") and passionate scenes to show that this was not suitable for immature audiences.

Third, the story was said to be identifiably set in Shanghai including the cases of senior government officials being arrested for corruption, a life lost during a forced relocation, etc.

At this point, the evidence is inconclusive.  The show is also being shown on Shanghai Satellite TV without being pulled.

• [017]  Sima Nan on Southern Weekend as American propaganda tool (11/25/2009)  (ACCN.com)

• [016]  Hong Kong By The Numbers (11/25/2009)  (Hong Kong Research Association)  (1,101 persons age 18 or over were interviewed on November 19-24, 2009 on telephone by interactive voice system)

Q1.  The National People's Congress Standing Committee decided: The current Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government may attempt to change the ways in which the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council are chosen in 2012.  Do you accept this decision by the National People's Congress?
63%: Yes
24%: No
  6%: Don't care
  7%: No opinion

Q2. The consultation paper says: The goal of the current Hong Kong SAR government is to democratize the 2012 elections within the framework of the National People's Congress in order to pave the way for universal suffrage.  Do you agree?
70%: Agree
25%: Disagree
  2%: Don't care
  3%: No opinion

Q3. Do you think that the proposals in the consultative paper is consistent with the gradual democratization of Hong Kong?
56%: Yes
35%: No
  3%: Don't care
  6%: No opinion

Q4. Do you want the various sectors of society to reach a consensus about the proposals in the consultation paper in order to propel Hong Kong towards universal suffrage?
79%: Yes
16%: No
  2%: Don't care
  3%: No opinion

Q5. If the 2012 constitution reform proposals in the consultation paper are vetoed, do you think that it will affect universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020?
60%: Yes
34%: No
  1%: Don't care
  5%: No opinion

Q6. The consultative paper recommends: In 2012, the Chief Executive election committee will be expanded from 800 persons to 1,200 persons.  Do you agree?
53%: Agree
43%: Disagree
  1%: Don't care
  3%: No opinion

Q7. The consultation paper recommends adding five more functional constitueny seats coming from the District Council constituency.  Do you think that this will add more representativeness to the functional constituency?
57%: Yes
31%: No
  2%: Don't care
10%: No opinion

Q8. The consultative paper recommends that these five additional functional constituency seats be elected from the directly elected District Councilors.  That is to say, the appointed District Councilors cannot participate.  Do you agree?
52%: Yes
40%: No
  2%: Don't care
  6%: No opinion

• [015]  Is News-In-Motion News?  (11/25/2009)

(TVBS)  November 25, 2009.

In Taiwan, Next Media (Apple Daily) has viewable/downloadable news 'videos' for the Internet and mobile telephones.  But because the "news-in-motion" has elements of sex and violence, they are stirring up controversy.

Today, Taiwan's National Communication Commission chairwoman Bonnie Peng was questioned in parliament.

Question: "Have you seen Next Media's news-in-motion?"
Answer: "I have seen it.  I have seen it."
Question: "Why are you so timid and whispering?"
Answer: "News is news, and there is no issue of mobile versus immobile.  The basic standards are objectivity, fairness, balance and taste.  By my definition, news-in-motion is actually not news ... they are not broadcasting on satellite television.  Therefore, they are not doing television broadcasts ... if they should ever begin testing on satellite television, there isn't any regulations about test broadcasting either ..."

(UDN)  November 25, 2009.

News-in-motion can be downloaded onto mobile telephones, but the servers reside in Hong Kong.  Therefore, this is beyond the jurisdiction of the National Communication Commission for the moment, unless new rules, regulations and laws are introduced.

What is the fuss over Next Media's news-in-motion?  You need to see an example.  On this day, there is a shooting in Taiwan and the news-in-motion report is 鬧市殺人 四惡煞連轟11槍.  For those inside China who cannot watch the video, here are some screen captures.  The concept is that of a video story with news videos, still photos and animations.  The news video and still photo portions are usually taken after the fact, such as the gun cartridges on the ground long after the shooters and the victim have been removed from the scene.  To make the story work, the animations recreate the actual shooting.  By the way, news-in-motion is not just restricted to portrayal of violent acts; there have also been news-in-motion reports on rapes, domestic violence, child molestation, etc.

Artistic illustration of victim lying on the the ground

Video of a pistol and gun cartridges on the ground.

Animation of three men trying to kidnap the victim.

Animation of the shooter firing shots at the victim.

Video of the distressed mother of the victim at the hospital.

Relevant Link: Next Media under siege, fined   Taipei Times, November 26, 2009.

• [014]  Hong Kong's Own Gang Of Four  (11/25/2009)

(South China Morning Post)  I was wrong: Martin Lee in U-turn on resignations.  November 25, 2009.

Veteran Democrat Martin Lee Chu-ming yesterday made a surprise U-turn and admitted he had been wrong in pushing a proposal by pan-democrats to resign and create a de facto referendum on universal suffrage.

Lee said that despite his original vocal support of the plan for one pan-democrat lawmaker to resign from each of the five geographical constituencies, he now believed he had made a mistake. "Perhaps I was wrong," he said, admitting he had been too rash in pushing for the proposal, which has been strongly opposed by many of his party members. "We cannot allow the great cause for democracy to be destroyed in our hand," he said.

Lee said he originally believed that through the resignation proposal, which should have the support of all major pan-democratic parties, the public would be given a strong voice in demanding universal suffrage. But with his party opposing the proposal, while the Civic Party and the League have vowed to go ahead with it, Lee said: "They cannot win even one seat without the participation of the Democratic Party."

Lee said what the Civic Party and the League should do now was "rein in the horse" and halt the resignation proposal, while the Democrats should first discuss it at a general party meeting on December 13, without voting on a final decision. "It is time for everybody to cool down and discuss how to do things together in unity," Lee said, adding that instead of resignations next month the proposal could proceed in March to allow time for discussion and mobilisation.

...

Party veteran Szeto Wah, one of the fiercest critics of the proposal, said: "I know him [Martin Lee] well. He knows nothing about politics."

In other Hong Kong newspapers, the emphasis was instead about a dinner that took place more than two months ago.  Nothing about it was mentioned in this SCMP article.

(The Standard)  Lai led 'gang of four'   By Scarlett Chiang.  November 25, 2009.

Media mogul Jimmy Lai Chi-ying was yesterday revealed as a driving force in an effort to have leading lights in the democracy movement quit the Legislative Council to put the administration on the spot.

The revelation about the role of the Apple Daily boss came from Democratic Party veteran Szeto Wah, who said he vetoed the scheme when he went to Lai's home about two months ago. Arriving there, he found Democratic Party stalwart Martin Lee Chu-ming, former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang, and Liberal Party founder Allen Lee Pang-fei - all former legislators - along with Lai. They tried to persuade him to back a plan for one democratic legislator from each of five geographical constituencies to quit and then stand in by-elections on a platform of universal suffrage.

But Szeto said he is against the Democratic Party being part of such a move. He criticized some pro-democracy parties for trying to occupy the moral high ground in order to force the Democratic Party to join them. "We can discuss our differences but they should not force their opinions on us." Szeto also said on a radio program that he did not go public with what had been said at Lai's home as he believed it was a private discussion.

And Martin Lee has now backed off from what appeared to be his position at that meeting. Also speaking yesterday, Lee called on pan-democrats to seek a consensus before any legislature-quitting action. "Take a step back and reflect," he said, urging pan-democrats not to be extreme.

Lai's position in the power play became clearer in a Cable TV news program, with Szeto saying Lai invited him to a meal at his home about two months ago and sent a car to pick him up. Chan and the two Lees were already there, he said, and after they talked for nearly two hours: "I clearly said I did not support the plan."

(Oriental Daily)  November 25, 2009.

Allen Lee, Anson Chan, Jimmy Lai, Martin Lee, Szeto Wah

... When asked whether his longtime ally Martin Lee applied pressure on him too, Szeto Wah said directly that Lee did not look after the Democratic Party's interests: "I am not disappointed in him.  I have known him for a long time.  He does not know much about politics."  But Martin Lee leaked to some members of the press that people should "pause and reflect" on the matter to see if the resignations should proceed.  He also said: "Ha ha ha, I don't know anything about politics at all."

... Within the Democratic Party, the mainstream opinion is still to oppose the resignations.  But Martin Lee, who has the nicknames "Chinese traitor Lee" and "Hong Kong's Lee Teng-hui," has ignored the overall interests of the Democratic Party and applied pressure on numerous occasions on the party through Jimmy Lai's <Apple Daily>.  He was ready to break with his longtime ally Szeto Wah.

The Democratic Party will hold a general assembly on December 13.  The more than 700 members will vote on the basis of one-vote-per person to decide whether to participate in the five district resignations.  It is expected that the likely outcome would be NO.  But Martin Lee and Jimmy Lai have not given up, and they are working with Anson Chan and former Catholic cardinal Joseph Zen to apply pressure on the Democratic Party in the newspapers every day.

(Sing Tao)  November 25, 2009.

Yesterday Martin Lee was interviewed by our reporter.  He thought that the League of Social Democrats, the Civic Party and the Democratic Party may be going "too far down the road" on the five-district resignations so that the democracy project may be "ruined in our hand."  He did not believe that there are absolute rights or wrongs in this matter, and he called upon all the party to reflect: "Could I be wrong?"

Martin Lee said that the worst case scenario would be for the League of Social Democrats and the Civic Party to proceed without the participation of the Democratic Party.  "I wouldn't want to look at it."  But he did not think that it is irreversible as yet.  "At least, the Democratic Party has not decided yet, and the League of Social Democrats and the Civic Party have not tendered their resignations."  "Everybody has a responsibility in this matter.  Nobody is absolutely right or wrong.  We should give ourselves some space and we should be humble enough to consider carefully."

Democratic Party whip Szeto Wah said that the pressure from the League of Social Democrats for the Democratic Party to declare their positions is like "holding someone under duress."  "They stated their position without any consultation with us.  Isn't that like holding us under duress?  This is not a democratic attitude.  This is using this opportunity to attack others."

Szeto Wah warned that a de facto referendum is not going to extract concessions from the Hong Kong SAR government and the Central Government.  In 2003, 500,000 persons marched in the streets, but the Article 23 legislation was still passed by the Executive Council.

He also said that the resignations is no way to bring international pressure on the central government.  "If you think that this will force them to yield, you are underestimating the Chinese Communist Party!  ... the struggle in Hong Kong cannot depend on international aid.  It depends on our own efforts.  How much international influence do you think that this will stir up?"

Szeto Wah said that the road to democracy is long and winding, whereas the five-district resignations are a single bet that represents "escapism that is seemingly leftist but actually rightist."  If the pan-democrats lose the veto power in the Legislative Council, the government will be able to march right through.

Allen Lee thinks that the pan-democrats have been fractured by the five-district resignations, and so are their supporters.  At the stage, the five-district resignations are "useless."  He thinks that it is time to "fold the shop."  There is no need to discuss the resignations any further.  There is no point in demanding universal suffrage in 2012: "When the National People's Congress has rendered its decision but you still want to demand universal suffrage, then this means that you have no interest in dialogue."

He thinks that the focus should be directed towards the road map to universal suffrage.  "If the League of Social Democrats wants to proceed, they can go kill themselves ... the Civic Party does not need to cozy up to them.  They should not be led by the nose."

On radio yesterday, Allen Lee admitted that he tried to lobby Szeto Wah several months ago to support the five-district resignations.  But things have changed since as the pan-democrats are nearly divided.  "The League of Social Democrats had been criticising the Civic Party.  Now they are criticising the Democratic Party.  I have advocated that the League of Social Democrats should do whatever they want to do.  But they have now succeeded in dividing the democrats ... the central government has been hoping that the pan-democrats won't cooperate with each other.  Now the pan-democrats have done it themselves."

• [013]  Four Newspapers Sanctioned For Reporting False Data On Wealth Inequality (11/24/2009)  (Xinhua)

In 2006, <Shanghai Securities Daily> published an inaccurate report about how wealth was concentrated in the hands of a very small number of rich people and children of senior officials.  In 2009, <Era Weekly>, <People's Political Consultative Daily> and <Youth Times> continued to cite or re-publish this inaccurate problem.  In so doing, they seriously misled their readers and created bad social influence.  The General Administration for Press and Publications recently dealt with these four publications sternly.

On October 20, 2006, <Shanghai Securities Daily> printed an article based upon data that were fabricated by hostile anti-Chinese overseas websites.  In June 2009, a certain expert cited that data at a conference: "An overseas research organization estimated that 0.4% of the richest people in China control 70% of the wealth."

The <People's Political Consultative Daily> reported these fake data on June 19 without verification in a report titled <Adjusting income distribution is not robbing the rich to feed the poor>.  In addition, they changed the "overseas research organization" to "authoritative Chinese department."  On June 26, <Time Weekly> commented on <The dangers of rapid increase in wealth inequality> based upon the data in <Shanghai Securities> and <People's Political Consultative Daily>.  This report was subsequently re-published by <Youth Times> as well as certain websites.

The detailed story is at 91% Of Rich People Are Children Of Senior Goverment Cadres  August 6, 2009.

This brings us forward to the latest report in China Daily.

The number of millionaires with personal holdings in excess of $1 million is expected to cross 450,000 by the end of the year, with assets under management hitting $1.73 trillion, surpassing the country's pre-crisis levels, said the report released by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) yesterday ...

However, China's wealth market was not immune to the financial crisis. Wealth in the country fell by 2.3 percent to $3.41 trillion last year, as the country witnessed volatile stock markets, plunging exports and fluctuating property prices throughout the crisis.

The study also showed the country's wealth was very much concentrated in certain individual groups and regions. Millionaire households represented only about 0.1 percent of all households in China, but held nearly half of the total wealth. Most of them are located in Guangdong, Beijing, Shanghai and other coastal provinces ...

Whereas the October 2006 <Shanghai Securities Daily> said that 0.4% of the richest people held 70% of the wealth, the BCG report said that 0.1% of all households held nearly half of the total wealth.  They are virtually the same.  So if GAPP has issues with the four newspapers, they will have something to say about China Daily eventually.

Could the data actually be accurate?  In my comments at 91% Of Rich People Are Children Of Senior Goverment Cadres, I said that such data could not exist.  I gave technical reasons about how such data are immensely difficult to obtain.  I would be curious to see how BCG got their estimate of "0.1% holding nearly half of the total wealth."

• [012]  The De Facto Referendum for Universal Suffrage in Hong Kong (11/24/2009)

(Apple Daily)  November 23, 2009.

The pan-democrats called on the Democratic Party to join in the resignation/re-election
"Albert Ho, stand up!"

Yesterday, the Democratic Party marched to Government Headquarters.  Afterwards, Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho got on the dais and spoke.  When it came to the subject of the five-district resignation/re-election, Ho said that it will be decided by a membership vote on December 13.  At that point, a male supporter yelled aloud: "What kind of big brother are you?  Don't you know how to blow a whistle?"  Ho ignored him and continued to speak.  This caused the supporter to yelled again: "What kind of big brother are you?  Isn't it because you don't have the guts to resign?"  The main was escorted out by Democratic Party monitors.

With respect to a general resignation of all 23 pan-democrats in the Legislative Council, Ho said that the Democratic Party will not support such a measure.  The total withdrawal of the pan-democrats will not force any concessions from Beijing and the SAR government.  "This is not viable."

Leaving aside the issue whether an entity such as the Democratic Party should have the most important decision made at the say-so of "big brother", what are the concerns here?

(South China Morning Post)  Concessions made on move for 'referendum' on reform    By Ambrose Leung and Albert Wong.  November 24, 2009.

The Civic Party and the League had proposed that one lawmaker from each of the five geographical constituencies would resign, triggering by-elections to create a de facto referendum on democracy.

...

In recent days, the Democratic Party leadership has become more inclined to opt out of the resignation proposal, amid intensifying pressure from its two allies for it to be included in the strategy.

The Democrats' reluctance was highlighted by a survey of 832 voters conducted on the eve of the publication of the government's reform proposal last week. The survey, conducted by Professor Michael DeGolyer of Baptist University, found that 43 per cent of respondents said they would oppose the resignation plan even if the government proposal did not lead to the abolition of Legco functional constituencies, while 38 per cent supported the resignation plan. Asked whether all 23 pan-democrats should resign from the legislature, 47 per cent said no and 27 per cent said yes. The survey carried a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan said while a final decision would be made at a party general meeting on December 13, his preliminary position was to oppose the resignations. "This is not a referendum, we will not be bound by the result, we will not be held responsible for losing seats even though we will try to help in canvassing," he said. Citing the Baptist University poll, Ho said he was concerned that as well as a lack of support among the public, the referendum proposal along with the Civic Party's call for all 23 pan-democrats to resign as the next step would give people the wrong impression that the party was withdrawing from its position of seeking change from within the establishment. "If the Democratic Party had pulled out of the establishment anytime in the past 20 years, Hong Kong would have long become Macau. We cannot take any rash actions to damage the democratic movement," Ho said.

A Democratic Party leader said it would be almost impossible for the party to muster any meaningful support for its two allies in terms of votes in the by-elections. "Do you seriously believe our supporters will vote for the League or the Civic Party? They will help with canvassing, but half-heartedly."

Civic Party leader Audrey Eu Yuet-mee recognised Ho's concerns and said her party was willing to drop its plans to ask all 23 pan-democrats to resign from the legislature as the ultimate step. She said it was never the party's intention to embody the spirit of withdrawing from the political establishment. Responding to concerns that the veto power of the pan-democrats over constitutional reform would be lost if some lawmakers failed to be returned in the by-elections, Eu said: "You have to ask yourself, do you believe in democracy or not? If you do, then you have to let the people decide."

• [011]  White Tiger  (11/24/2009) 

Yang Xianyi, translator of classics, dies at 94  Joel Martinsen, Danwei

November 23: Sina Book Channel learned that noted translator, scholar of foreign literature, and poet Yang Xianyi passed away today at the age of 95 [Chinese reckoning].

...

Yang was born in Tianjin in 1915. He went abroad to study at Oxford, where he met his wife Gladys, with whom he later translated classic works of Chinese literature for the Foreign Languages Press.

Their translations included Selected Works of Lu Xun and a complete English version of A Dream of Red Mansions, which the two began in the early sixties and finished in the following decade after a spell in prison during the Cultural Revolution.

Yang published his autobiography in English as White Tiger.

...

What about White Tiger?

(Pandemonium)  Interview with Mr. Yang Xianyi.  By Dai Ping.  January 6, 2008.

....

The interviewer brought out a copy of his Chinese-language autobiography which had been originally written in English.  Why didn't he write in Chinese?  He said: "Oh, an Italian friend asked me to write it."  This implied that if not for this friend, the book would not have been published.  "There were many excisions in the Chinese-language version."  He was referring to his vocal support for the student movement in 1989.  He said that there was no alternative.  "I am so old already."  He explained.  When asked about his opinion of the book, he said that he had omitted many things so that this book was just only part of his life.  "Many things happened in my lifetime.  For example, the things that my teachers taught me when I was little; my relationship with my teachers;  the many friends and fellow students who wrote poetry with me at the Christian school; my relationship with my father; etc.  There were more stories in the England portion.  I have been to many places: Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, India, etc.  I did not write any of that in.  My Italian friend was not interested, so I didn't write it."

...

What was excised from the English-language White Tiger for the Chinese-language version?

(Chinese University of Hong Kong Press, 2002, p.291)

I was full of helpless rage and grief. At midday the BBC office rang me up from London and asked me what I thought of the massacre. I was still in a towering rage and through the phone I denounced the people responsible for the crime, calling them fascists. I said that there were a few die-hards in the top échelon of the Party who could not represent the whole Party. I repeated what I had just heard in the morning and I said that these people were worse than the northern warlords in the early days of the Republic, and worse than the Japanese invaders. Even those earlier fascists had not committed such a heinous crime like this, though this group called themselves Communists. Some days later I heard from friends that they had heard my denunciations through the BBC loud and clear. Many people even made copies of my outbursts. It had made quite a strong impact abroad and I was glad.

• [010]  Woman Battles Demolition Squad (11/23/2009)  (MOP)

On November 21, the CCTV program <Economy 30 Minutes> showed the program titled <The battle between a woman's Molotov cocktail and the government's bulldozer>.  Here is a quick and incomplete translation:

The woman on the top floor is named Pan Yong.  She lives in a four-story building with a living area of 480 square meters in the Minheng district of Shanghai.  Both Pan Yong and her husband Zhang Qilong were born in this district.  In the 1990's, the couple went to study in New Zealand and obtained citizenship there.  In 2004, the two returned to China.  Zhang renovated the rural house of his father and moved in there.  In 2008, Pan Yong received a notice of demolition from the Hongqiao Airport Traffic Centre.  This disrupted the tranquil lives of this family.

According to the notice, their house lied within a construction zone and therefore they must move out because their house will be demolished.  It was calculated that Pan Yong will receive 761 yuan per square meter for relocating the house and 1,480 yuan for land acquisition.  In total, Pan Yong was going to receive a total of 673,000 yuan in compensation.

Pan Yong said: "I told them that I will give them 700,000 yuan and they are supposed to buy a house that is more or less like mine.  I told them to buy one for me.  They said that it was impossible."

Pan Yong lives in the Minheng district near the Hongqiao airport.  The current housing prices in this area is as much as 15,000 yuan per square meet.  Pan Yong's house should also be able to fetch 4,000 yuan per month if rented out.  Therefore, she thought that the compensation did not meet market level.  The family decided that they will not sign the agreement because they won't accept the assessment.

Pan Yong said: "You can't take away my lamb and hand me back a chicken.  You can't just say that the chicken looks handsome and it can lay eggs, and expect me to take it.  I don't want it.  This is unacceptable."

The construction project had to proceed even without a signed agreement.  Another notice was sent to Pay You to move out within 15 days.  After the period expired, the government took action to demolish the house.

Pan Yong said: "At around 7am or 8am that morning, I heard the loud noise of machines.  I was wondering if the Wenchuan earthquake had hit us.  I looked outside and I saw the machines coming over.  They were heavy machines.  I said, 'No, they are going to demolish the house'."

At 8:15am, the demolition began.

Pan Yong said: "Those people moved up.  They threw rocks and they cursed me.  The first bulldozer came up and ram through the burglary-proof gate on the first floor.  Then the people came up to the third floor.  But we had another burglary-proof door on the third floor.  So they could not get in.  They were screaming and jumping outside the door."

With respect to this matter, Pan Yong does not regard herself as a "nail house person" bent on stopping the construction project.  In her view, she was only demanding fair market value.  But in the many negotiations, she found that she could not procure any different price other than the original one.

From the verandah on the fourth floor, Pan Yong shouted at the people outside.  She demanded that the people produced a court document.  Without that court document, the house still belongs to the family and it should be protected under the law.

According to the government official Gao Baojin who was in charge there: "A certain number of people so far insists that you are breaking the law.  You show them the documents.  They still stay that this is illegal.  They can't turn their heads around.  It does not matter what you say because they just won't turn their heads around.  I don't get it.  I have show them all the laws and regulations regarding the relocation and demolition.  They just cannot get around.  This is a small number of people.  Out of 5,000 families, someone is going to fail to understand.  It does not matter what you say.  You can talk to them more than a hundred times and it won't make a difference.  This is how it is."

At 9:15am, the bullzdozer began to drill into the outside walls of the building  The verandah on the first floor was demolished, causing the building to lean.  At that moment, Pan Yong and her husband began to throw petrol bombs.  Actually, Pan Yong was aware that she was breaking the law.  She said that she was very scared.  "I was very nervous.  I was very scared.  I went and drank a nearly full glass of whiskey to give myself crouage."

By 10am, the petrol bombs continued to be thrown down but the demolition continued.  Pan Yong said: "At first, the bomb did not hit the bulldozer.  But the bulldozer withdrew and I thought that they were going to stop.  But they called in a fire truck as if this was a war.  The firemen began to use the water cannon against us.  The bulldozer approached again.  We got concerned and we tossed another petrol bomb down.  The fire engine put out the fire and then directed the water cannon against us.  We got wet and we withdrew into our room to change into dry clothes.  My son was crying because he could sense the vibration underneath him."  With this, Pan Yong gave up and the house was leveled.

In retrospect, Pan Yong remembered her actions as if they were a dream.  Pan Yong's husband has been charged with interfering with public business for using illegal methods such as throwing petrol bombs to stop the demolition.

 

 

• [009]  Unification/Anti-Unification TV Ads (11/22/2009)

(TVBS)

First there was a mainland Chinese television ad for facial tissue.  In this ad, the mainland children say, "Do you what is on the side of the ocean?  It is our precious island Taiwan.  So why won't the young friends of Taiwan come over and play with us? ... Let us use facial tissue to soak the ocean dry and then they can come over and play with us." 

 

Taiwan netizens say that the ad reeks of unification propaganda.  So they made a spoof version. In this alternate ad, the children are replaced by adults and the facial tissue is replaced by a female sanitary pad with the brand name of "Sponge Number 7" (note: a word play on the movie <Cape Number 7>.   "Damn kids, do you know what is on the other side of the ocean?  Who knows?  It's mainland China.  Let us use sanitary pad to soak the ocean dry and they can come over and play."

 

• [008]  How Not To Sell Real Estate (11/22/2009)  (Tianya)

The Oulong Real Estate Development Limited Company recently developed an estate in Zhenjiang city, Jiangsu province.  The company began to take reservations in April this year.  The initial price was 4,400 yuan per square meter.  A small number of people got the number written into their contracts but most others received verbal promises.  During the waiting period, people asked the company if the price might change and were told categorically that the price was fixed.  In mid-November, the company informed the 170 potential owners that the price will be 5,400 yuan per square meter.

This is an increase of 1,000 yuan per square meter.  A typical household would be paying more than 120,000 yuan more, and the real estate developer stands to reap in an extra 20 million yuan.

In order to forestall trouble at the office, the company gave a detailed manual of instructions to its workers on how to deal with angry clients:

Stress your good points, evade your weak spots.  Change the subject.  Talk more about future trends for housing prices.  It is useless to wrangle over the original 4,4000 yuan per square meter.  In Jiangshan Mingzhou, the price is 6,000 yuan per square meter, at Charisma City, it is 5,900 yuan per square meter.

This is a contest between our clients and us to see who can will persist to the very end.  We will do our best not to give up and get the client to sign the contract within five days' time.  We will conduct psychological warfare against the client over the five day period.  We try our best.  As long as we do what we are supposed to do, the rest is up to God.

None of this is our fault.  We must not have any sense of guilt.  It is not totally the fault of the company.  The mistake was created by the market.  The government manipulated it this way.

They all thought that the company was crazy.  The clients were also angry and made a scene.  But in the end, they all bought in.  This shows that the clients can withstand a lot, especially if you tell them if they don't buy now, the price will be even higher later on.  When the market is going crazy, the clients can really withstand a lot.  We must have confidence in our clients.  Therefore, we must have confidence that they will sign.

Learn to handle your own clients and make sure the clients don't get together as a group.  Take your client to meet at a separate table.  We must be humble and resolute.  We must be gentle and subtle in tone, but we must speak decisively.  We must not give the client the idea that they can get a concession if they scream and yell.  We have to gently convey the message to them this is the price if they sign within the next five working days and the price will rise up to market levels afterwards.  Prices hikes are likely because the estates around us are going for 6,000 yuan per square meter.

How did that work out?  Look at the results after some clients held meetings with the workers:

• [007]  Hong Kong Boy Over-indulges In Masturbation? (11/22/2009)  First, there is this news report dated July 20, 2009.

(Wen Wei Po via ChinaNews.com.cn) 

A 3-year-old Hong Kong boy mistook a bottle of cyanide-laced electrolysis water used for jewelry preparation for mineral water.  As a result, he landed in a hospital for poisoning.  After three months, he was allowed to go home.  On the morning of July 19, he lapsed into unconsciousness at home.  He was taken to a hospital where he died.

(yz68.com aka Knowledge Universe) 

Pornography is rampaging in this world even as supervision is lacking.  In the Tuen Mun district of Hong Kong, a 4-year-old boy waited until his parents were asleep to start watching his father's collection of pornographic videos.  It is suspected that he masturbating all night.  Since the boy is only four years old and his scrotum is still undeveloped, he was unable to ejaculate.  The extensive period of erection caused the soft tissues to explode.  The parents heard the screams from the boy and found him unconscious and bleeding while the computer was playing Japanese adult videos.  They called for help.  The body was taken by ambulance to the Tuen Mun Hospital emergency room.  Since most of the tissue of the penis are already in a state of necrosis, the doctor decided to surgically remove the penis.  The boy is in stable condition under observation at the hospital.

Bonus:

When the father heard that his son's penis was cut off, he broke down and cried: "How will my son ever get married and have children?  Why didn't I hide the discs?"  The mother said that her son was obedient, did well scholastically and enjoyed watching cartoons.  She cannot imagine that the son has just a hobby.  The parents may consider letting the son go through a sex change operation.

Hong Kong University Department of Urology director Chen Jiankong said that young children are not yet mentally mature and should engage in more outdoor activities instead of being obsessed with pornography.  Masturbation at too early an age may make the scrotum shrivel and the penis tissues die.  At the least, the person may become impotent; at the worst, the penis may break and has to be severed.

Hmm, is this type of fabricated story intended to drive fear into the hearts of people and stay away from wanton sex?  Hardly.  Here is the row of photos at the bottom of this 'news' story:

• [006]  The Unexpected Wooden Posts (11/22/2009)  (Southern Metropolis Daily)

On November 17, a netizen posted at Sohu.com to say that wooden poles had been planted in front of shops on a street in Changsheng town, Qingwang county, Heilongjiang province, thus causing a lot of inconvenience.  "I learned that the reason was because certain residents have not paid their road maintenance bill.  As a result, the wooden poles were planted in front of the doors!"

Our reporter investigated and learned that a road in Changsheng town had indeed been repaired about two months ago.  Five shops had these poles planted in front: two photography studios, two grocery stores and one steamed bun restaurant.

Our reporter called up the owner of the photography studio . He said that the town government demanded that they pay a 3,000 yuan deposit plus a brick fee (at 60 yuan per brick multiplied by the number of bricks in front of the shop).

The villagers were not sure what the 3,000 yuan deposit was for.  The grocery store owner named Li said that the town government did not explain what the deposit for.  "Anyway, you are supposed to pay.  If you don't pay, they will plant wooden poles in front of your shop.

Could it be that these are illegal buildings for which fines were due?  The grocery store owner named Li said that his own building has been there for more than a decade and all the papers are in order.  He also said that the temporary buildings further down the road paid the fees and therefore did not have wooden poles planted in front of them.

Several villagers aid that many town government leaders came down to collect the fees.  The first time, they dug a hole.  The second time, they dug a ditch.  The third time, they planted the wooden poles.  They have not been back since.

Could these poles be part of a "green" project?  The villagers said that it was impossible, because the poles were construction material and definitely cannot grow green leaves.

Yesterday afternoon, our reporter contacted the Changsheng town government.  The worker confirmed that wooden poles had been planted but he declined to comment on whether this has anything to do with fee collection.

Our reporter contacted the Qingwang county government office.  The worker was surprised to hear about the 3,000 yuan deposit.  "What deposit?  Pay what?  No, no."  The worker said that the various towns in Qingwang county are repairing roads now, but they have never taken a cent from the people.  "My hometown is in a rural village in Qingwang county.  They are repairing roads there.  I have never heard of any deposit or brick fees."

• [005]  Excellence Journalism Award (11/22/2009)  (Ta Kung Pao) 

It was last December that KMT legislator Chu Yi had his wig yanked off his scalp by the Tainan Friends of Chen Shui-bian Club president.  A news photographer managed to capture that moment on film.  At the time, Chu Yi said: "It was like being stripped naked in the middle of the street."

In Taiwan, the Foundation for Excellent Journalism Award has given an award to this particular photo.  Although it has been almost one year, Chu Yi still minds very much.  He said, "My pain, your award."

「太扯了」聯合報攝影記者曾學仁

Here is the TV news report:

 

• [004]  A Very Complicated Story, But It Is Really Very Simple (11/22/2009)

When American president Barack Obama came to China, he had a brief interview with the weekly newspaper Southern Weekend, which is well-known to have a liberal stance:

• The interview is translated at Malcolm Moore's Telegraph blog
• Then came the story of the missing front page and the large in-house advertisement at the bottom of that page for those who are lucky to receive it (see Danwei and also China Real Time at The Wall Street Journal).
• Then came the story of how the Central Publicity Department banned the Southern Weekend interview from being carried on the major Internet websites (see China Digital Times).

But here is Li Ping at Apple Daily (HK) to continue the story with more 'insider' information:

The White House released the entire transcript of the interview of President Barack Obama by Southern Weekend.  Surprisingly, it is basically identical to the contents as published in Southern Weekend.  That me,ans that the Southern Weekend report had not been purged of discussions about human rights and news as rumored.  Therefore, the potential diplomatic storm between China and America over this special interview appears to have been calmed.

But the questions asked by Southern Weekend are just too naive and unlike its daring style.  They did not publish the note from Obama.  Furthermore, the Central Publicity Department ordered mainland newspapers and websites not to carry the Southern Weekend report.  This shows that the Central Publicity Department has made fools out of America and Obama.

The American side asked to arrange for a special interview of Obama by Southern Weekend.  Reportedly, Chinese Communist Party Secretary-General agreed.  But the Central Publicity Department knew full well that if they ordered Southern Weekend to delete sensitive contents after the fact, it would lead to American dissatisfaction and a diplomatic storm.  So they took pre-emptive action by preparing a "question list" that Southern Weekend had to use.  Although Southern Weekend is daring, it cannot bear the responsibility of diplomacy.  So it had to submit to the tsars of ideology.

It was rumored that senior officials of the Central Publicity Department were present during the Southern Weekend interview.  But the American embassy in China clarified that nobody from the Central Publicity Department was present at the hotel where Obama was staying and where the interview took place.  This was yet another tall trick from the Central Publicity Department which forced Southern Weekend into submission while creating evidence of absence at the scene.  So the Americans were tricked and even said good things for their victimizers.

If Southern Weekend followed the instructions of the Central Publicity Department to ask the questions and write the report, why did the Central Publicity Department forbade the mainland newspapers and websites to carry the report?  This is likely to be another trick employed by the Central Publicity Department against America and Obama.  They want to make America and other important foreign figures see that all reports that overrides its authority shall be restricted.  They want to show the ugly face of the Central Publicity Department: if you want to express your views through the Chinese media, you must get past me!

• [003]  What Is To Be Done?  (11/22/2009)

(My heart's in Accra ...)  From compassion to action, from action to knowledge    November 19, 2009.

...

Here’s my question: does it matter if action is effective or ineffective if we can demonstrate that action leads to more interest in a topic and more knowledge acquisition? I’ve been making the case for years that Americans (and likely people in many developed nations) don’t get enough information about the developing world, and that this lack of attention has consequences for developed and developing nations. If Americans don’t hear about an economic boom in Ghana, they don’t invest… which slows the boom, costing Ghanaians growth and costing Americans business opportunities in a growing economy. Similar dynamics apply around aid, humanitarian and security intervention, export of physical and cultural products.

A couple of years back, I realized that this was a supply problem, as much as a demand problem – journalists want to write about the developing world, but they and their publications have little evidence that their audience wants to hear these stories. Without evidence of reader interest in the developing world, it’s hard for most publications to support the research and travel that goes into creating these stories. If action (useful or otherwise) and newsseeking behaviors are linked, starting a movement may be a way to aggregate demand for a story, and encourage more reporting like Urbina’s story.

So get pissed off and start a Facebook group. Launch a Twitter hashtag. Translate compassion into action. But realize that the most effective action probably involves aggregating and disseminating information, building knowledge and awareness that’s an asset even if it doesn’t lead directly to political change.

• [002]  Mass Incident At Snail Bay (11/22/2009)  (China News via ifeng; Daqi)

Snail Bay used to be a small village in southern Kunming city, Yunnan province.  In 1989, it was set aside as a wholesale market for daily products.  It eventually became one of the ten largest distribution markets in all of China.  It now has more 10,000 businesses which employ almost 100,000 persons.

On the morning of November 21, as many as 1,000 persons blocked the streets around the Snail Bay wholesale market.

Our reporter arrived there at around 10am.  More than 1,000 persons had already gathered there.  Traffic control had to be imposed on the two main routes.  Several hundred police officers maintained order at the scene.  There was no physical clash yet.

There had been light snow in Kunming this morning, but nobody here was in the mood of enjoying the sight of snow.  Occasionally people in the crowd chanted slogans.  According to a protestor, more than 1,000 persons were gathered from 8am to protest at the gate of the Double Dragon Mall.

According to a Snail Bay businessman in sold suitcases at Snail Bay: "We had no choice now.  There are more than 10,000 businesses here employing more than 100,000 persons.  The government was to force this market to be shut down before November 30.  Each business has invested an average of 550,000 yuan in rent and other expenses.  But the government is offering no compensation to us.  We cannot accept this.  We refuse to move."

"The Snail Bay market auctioned publicly a collection of stores with 10 year leases.  The average price was around 2,000,000 yuan.  At the time, most of us put in all our family savings into this.  But now the government was to tear the place down without compensation.  They said that the landlords can refund the rental fees.  However, the market must be torn down immediately by force.  Where is our compensation?  We have to live."  A businessman who began to operate at Snail Bay in 2006 complained.

At 12:10pm, the assembled crowd began to move towards Longsheng Gate in Snail Bay.  Then a disturbance began.  The engineering vehicle parked there to repair the underground water pipes was vandalized.  The steel barriers were pushed away.  At 12:50pm, someone began to throw rocks at the police.  Several police officers were injured.  The other businesses which were operating normally began to shut their gates. 

At 1:00pm, the police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.  The police arrested 24 persons on suspicion of organizing and leading a crowd to create a public disturbance.  A loudspeaker vehicle began to broadcast the message to the protestors: "All Snail Bay business people can proceed to the Wuhua Sports Auditorium.  Kunming city government officials are there to speak directly with you."

According to the Kunming public security bureau, "this was a preplanned incident organized by a small number of businesses."  On the day before, more than 200 business people had gathered in the morning and walked to the petition at the Yunnan province people's congress to present a signed document with 230 signatures requesting that they not be displaced.  At the afternoon, they met again and decided to assemble the next morning.

The government's position is that they will attempt to protect the legal rights of the landlords and the business operators.  They will see that the landlords return the rent and also participated in the new Central Business District project so that the businesses can move to the Snail Bay International Trade City in an orderly manner.

At 2:00pm, the reporter went back to the scene and saw that traffic has reverted to normal.  At 5:00pm, the reporter observed that the market has resumed business and the crowd was bustling.

• [001]  Teacher-Student Gate (11/22/2009)  (fcyr66.cn)

A junior high school female student posted her intimate photos with her teacher on the  Internet, including a lot of text.  This post became hot instantly on the Internet.  Many netizens were shocked and also called the female student "brain damaged."

Text:

I am a junior high school student.  My mathematics teacher is handsome and gentlemanly.  I like him very much.

Although he is already married, he is very good to me.  He buys the condoms.  Sometimes, I got careless and became pregnant.  I went to the hospital on her own to get an abortion.  I have gotten five abortions already, including three times in the first six months of this year.

He said that when I get to high school, he will divorce his wife and marry me.  I am very happy.  Let me show you my teacher.

He is 3 years older than my father.  I will love him my whole life.  Everybody wish me happiness.

Because of the photos of intimacy, my family has found out about this affair.  They objected to what I am doing.  After quarreling with my parents, I ran away from home.  I don't know what those two old folks think.  I am never going home again.  I believe that my teacher will marry me."