|
KINGSPARK NEWS Club Number: 30119 2006-07 Rotary Year : Issue 15 : 4 February | ||
| This
is the biweekly bulletin of the Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong Club Website: http://www.rotary3450.org/kingspark-hongkong | ||
 | ||
| Chief
Editor : Francis Wann Club Webmaster : John Wan | ||
| Editorial
(See
How They Run) - By Francis Wann | ||
| District Website | RI Website | RI President | TRF | News Room | Global History Fellowship | ||
|
See How They Run Today Chief Executive Donald Tsang finally declared his candidacy for the CE election, just one day after Civic Party's Alan Leong. What's going to happen next? For too long, our political scene has been a non-event, and whatever party line you take, and whatever your own ideology, you don't normally see anything exciting. There's simply no political expectations in a place as dry and unfunny as Hong Kong. Over the weeks, we've seen some petty bickerings and accusations over things like allegedly misusing or abusing official resources, or taking advantage of his position in electioneering, etc. Whatever the accusations, they seldom rose above noise levels. If you care to look at their platforms, you might as well think they are one and the same candidate. Why not? They both mentioned education, more jobs, lower tax, minimun wage, maximum working hours, better infrastructure, more opportunities for the young, blah blah blah, and even the subject of universal suffrage. Yes, universal suffrge is one of Mr Tsang's election pledges. Well we all understand universal suffrage has been the Civic Party's trump card and it should be something up Mr Leong's sleeves. Why is Mr Tsang stepping into his territory? A clever move indeed. Well it does no harm talking anyway. And it certainly even does the trick if you say something like launching an opinion poll to gauge public opinions on the subject. Extensive consultation of at least a few months, that is. No one should query his sincerity of getting his job done. But we can look at the those fine prints which usually evade our scrutiny. Why is universal suffgage suddenly on his cards. We all have to marvel at the art of his political calculations. Universal suffrage is and has always been a hotly contested subject in Hong Kong, all the more so because it's something of a taboo on the mainland. How absurd it seems - at least to me - when someone told us universal suffrage is guaranteed in the Basic Law. A country which doesn't even allow fundamental human rights to its people is giving us a lecture on universal suffrage? My Foot! What's the point of all these empty talks? We don't want a manager. We don't want a chief executive who only manages to get his job done. We want a leader, a visionary leader with principles and foresight, a leader who's able to lead Hong Kong through trouble waters, and ultimately a leader who's able to stand up on his two feet. The pan-democrats are taking the lead of challenging the incumbent to a public debate, a move seen by many as the final showdown before the election. Yes if there is a debate, it should definitely be the focus of the media, and at least it would be more entertaining than watching the grass grow. As public figures, they should have no private lives. That's the price you pay. The paparazzi will be after you round the clock, and they are prepared to blow up the most insignificant misdemeanours about you. I remember in an earlier edition, I mentioned should Alan Leong have doubts and confusions about what should be in the best interest of Hong Kong, he should go back to the fundamentals of Rotary. Our Rotary's four-way test should be enough to inspire him and give him insight. Maybe our District Governor Tony should try to get the candidates to one of our meetings and show us the true qualities of a leader. | ||
|
From
the Webmaster
I was out at lunch time. The sky was blue without a crowd in sight. It was sunny, breezy and warm, a bit too dry for comfort though. It's Spring indeed. There is an oft trotted Chinese saying which goes like this,"A year's plan starts with Spring, a day's with the morning, and a life's with diligence." Spring must be an important time. I opened up the sun roof of my car and turned up the volume of the radio. My friend Rupert - I am not sure he calls me friend though - was talking about Wagner. He quickly said he is not his disciple and noted that those who adore his music often do so with a religious fervour. My friend quoted something Wagner said which is interesting and worth food for further thoughts. He said that Wagner had said that only those lonely, lonesome and unhappy people would become artists. "Give me back my youth, health, a beautiful wife and adorable children. I would then be too busy and happy to make music," he said, or something to that effect. We should be quietly happy that there were talented and gifted people all these years who were sufficiently unhappy to leave us so much fine music and art treasures that can last us for a very very long time. What is happiness, anyway? Is happiness an end or a means? Should one crave to be happy? Should one seek happiness? Why is happiness so important? These are questions that have no one right answer. I suggest they can all make ideal openers for job interviews. Another friend sent me a powerpoint presentation on happiness. Many of you could have read it, in one form or another, but let me quickly tell it anyway. A 92 years old man who just lost his wife, who was 70, went to an old people's home. He waited at the reception for over an hour before a young nurse appeared and told him what his room would be like. It was a rather simple room with little furnishings. The old man told the nurse that he liked his room very much, at which point the nurse asked why, for he had yet to see it. "I have decided to be happy with my room, and I know I would be happy," was the old man's answer. Happiness therefore does not depend on extrinsic factors or other people. It depends on oneself. It is all in the mind. Yet another friend sent me, again through the internet, something called the 90/10 Principle which he attributed to a Stephen Covey. It was rather long, but let me be brief. It says that 10% of what happen to you in life are outside your control; but 90% or the rest of your life will happen the way you decide it would happen or specifically, on how you react to that 10% over which you have no control. In brief, it tells you that you are pretty much your own master of your own destiny. For example, consider a person getting ready to work when his daughter knocks over his coffee on his business suit. He has no control over this, but he can control what happens afterwards. Scenario One: he scolds his daughter, daughter cries, misses her school bus, wife gets upset and he scolds her for placing his coffee too close to the table end, he has to drive daughter to school and wife to work after he changes his suit, he loses his temper and time, jumps a red light, gets stopped by the police who awards him a ticket, he is late for work, misses his meeting; and so on. Scenario Two: he reassures his daughter that it was not her fault, goes to change his suit quietly and quickly just in time to get back to wave his daughter goodbye, kisses his wife and drives to work happily. And the most important thing is, the man can decide on taking either scenario. It is all in the mind, once again. If you like to read the full length of it, I can email it to you. I wish all of you out there a happy Lichun, a fruitful and happy Spring and a good year ahead. | ||
|
Views in any article in Kingspark News reflect those of the authors. They are not necessarily the views of the Rotary Club of Kingspark or of District 3450. You are welcome to write to Chief Editor Francis Wann or Club Webmaster John Wan on any topic, particularly in response to articles published in Kingspark News. We would publish all contributions as long as the authors identify themselves, the contents are not offensive or abusive, and would not offend common decency or common sense. You need not be a Rotarian to write to us and you have a choice to withhold your name in the published version. Where the contents make reference to statements or policies of individuals or organizations, we would try to obtain a response from the latter for publication in the same issue if possible. | ||
|
Chief
Editor : Francis Wann The Board of Directors President
: Patrick Wong | ||
| Return to Contents | ||
| Send
a message to Chief Editor Francis Wann 2004 and 2005 Issues, Back Issues, Home | ||