Tuesday, November 29, 2005

A call to join "IT for Universal Suffrage" in the March on Dec 4

Say NO to the “Birdcage proposal” on constitutional reform

Fight for Universal Suffrage!



A banner – IT for Universal Suffrage – will be raised! Join us to show your persistent pursuit for universal suffrage.

Since we are expecting huge crowd, IT sector will first assemble at:
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: the Fountain Plaza at Victoria Park (at the entrance of Great George Street) [the map]

Please come with your friends and relatives. See you on Dec 4!

Sin Chung Kai
Legislative Councillor (IT)


More info about the Protest: http://www.civilhrfront.org/

各位IT界朋友﹕

反對「鳥籠政改方案」
爭取普選大遊行

期望你能參與12月4日的爭取普選大遊行,讓我們一起拉著寫有「IT for Universal Suffrage」橫額,一同顯示我們對爭取普選的決心!

IT界將集合於﹕
時間﹕下午2:30分
地點﹕維園噴水池廣場(於記利佐治街入口)[地圖]

請帶同你的親友前來,一同邁步民主路!十二月四日,維園見!

單仲偕
立法會議員資訊科技界


有關遊行更多資料﹕http://www.civilhrfront.org



豪語集

胡應湘:”如果遊行爭取到民主,那是暴民政治。” (11月22日向記者說)

曾蔭權:”美國女人都要等100年才有選舉權。“ (10月27-28日訪美期間言論)

許仕仁:”實行普選,中產會逃離香港。” (11月15日灣仔區議會上發言)

全力支持政制方案的顧明均:”78歲阿伯是假的!…我其實沒有看過政改方案的內容。”"我係支持民主, 支持普選, 沒有反對民主改革, 民建聯都講民主, 人家叫民主建國聯盟, 都有'民主'两個字. 個個講民主, 民主不是空口講白話." (快週刋, 11/23/05)

曾憲梓: “我也希望有朝能見到普選…遊行是「一件好事」,代表香港可以容納不同的意見表達方式…但實現普選的過程,必須如《基本法》所說﹕「循序漸進」。“

何鴻燊: “要有更多人上街,先可以同中央爭到普選時間表。”
「睇吓十二月四號有幾多人上街,呢個好重要,若果有五萬蚊(人)以下嘅呢,我會好滿足,咁表示唔係咁墟冚。大家記得啦,7.1去到成五十萬人,怨聲好緊要,呢次希望五萬蚊,五萬人以下,就好理想。」
-- 賭王當我們是他的錢?
「若果五萬以上,佢(政府)當然會睇吓點應付。再問我生日願望,我希望五萬人以下出街。」
-- 你要達到你的願望,還是賭王的願望?]
「快啲買,(一旦政改方案通過)再飆升呀,我驚(樓市)會飆百分之二十。」
-- 驚?定係想?佢不過又係為咗佢自己賺錢!
(蘋果日報 11/26/05)

賭王押你上賭枱,你話你贏定佢輸?

林瑞麟﹕「神是創造天地萬物之神,也掌管香港前景,我們只是祂的管家。社會怎樣行不是你我的決定,是神的決定﹗」
-- 林瑞麟錯了,我們基督徒在世奉神的意旨,追求公義,豈有不爭取普選之理!
(明報 11/28/05)

「如果在專制制度下什麼都不做便等於和平,那麼墳場便最和平﹗」- 陳日君主教 25 Nov 05



75歲司徒華: 「再走20年,我們也要走下去,假如我那天不能行走,我會坐輪椅跟大家一齊遊行。」
「即使有普選,民主的政制仍要鞏固和發展,我會繼續走下去,直至心臟停頓那天為止。即使心臟停頓,假如有在天之靈的話,我也會和大家並肩攜手。」
(明報 11/28/05)

61歲資深大律師張健利: 「我今日與普選有個約會,但我等了很久,等到我變白頭。」
「如果我們不極力爭取普選,那我等到78歲都無普選。」
(明報 11/28/05)

反對鳥籠政改!
我要普選!
我不是暴民!
星期日,124,維園見!




最新互聯網資料﹕
http://www.dphk.org/cd5report/index.asp

「從不放棄」MV
http://www.rebuildhk.com/index.php?page=nevergiveup

鬼馬30秒廣告 - [呢份五號報告書掂呀 !]
http://www.rebuildhk.com/upload/rpt5_adv.wmv

爭取普選,在你的網頁掛上黃絲帶
http://www.hiradio.net/images/action/124_hiradio.html


中國政府採購市場初探

Government spending always takes up a significant proportion of any market and in Mainland China, government procurement is just beginning to take shape and still has huge room to grow. How can Hong Kong pursue this opportunities to achieve mutually benefits with China?


中國政府採購市場初探

  企業對政府採購市場因為存在各種困難或其他原因而忽略。筆者修讀上海財經大學 晁鋼令教授有關中國市場研究的一課,藉此分享一下中國政府採購市場的一些狀況。



  今天香港或先進經濟社會的政府採購規範,其實起源於二百多年前(1782年英國開始立法、1861年美國通過聯邦政府採購法),至1980年,關貿總協定(GATT,世貿的前身)制定「政府採購協議」(GPA),令政府採購規範國際化。

  在中國,上世紀九十年代前,中國政府各級單位自行決定購買物資,過程沒有監管,至九十年代中期後,上海、深圳開始制定採購管理,然後中央才開始立法,直至2002年中通過《政府採購法》,2003年起實施。

  所以,中國的政府採購規範國際化只屬初起步,雖然發展得很快,但仍存在各種問題;在涉及的貨物、服務和工程三大領域,正統政府採購只各佔60%、30%和10%左右,在主導的貨物採購中,60%以上集中於電腦產品。

仍存浪費現象

  中國的政府採購市場,每年都大幅增長,從2001年六百五十三億元(人民幣.下同)至預計2005年的二千五百億元,但仍只佔總國民生產和政府財政支出的0.7%和5.3%,與國際慣例各佔10%至40%的水平,距離極遠,故此中國的政府採購市場潛力巨大。可是,同時採購行為未達應有的規範,政府財政支出中的浪費現象仍然嚴重。

  其他的問題還有在地域間、部門間的不平衡、採購行為不夠規範、專業化人才缺乏,令藉政府採購協助實現國家的經濟和社會發展政策的各項目標,包括保護環境、扶持落後地區和少數民族地區,促進中小企業等,得不到全面落實。

  在資訊科技方面,硬體如前述已佔不少比重,至於軟體,賽迪資料顯示,2004年政府IT支出高達四百一十一億五千萬億元,比2003年增長17.5%,預計未來三年複合增長率將保持在16%左右。但在這些數字背後,充滿各種矛盾。

  政府藉採購支援本國軟體企業,既明顯但亦無可厚非,但與此同時還要落實維護招標的公正、公平和公開,實現擇優汰劣的目標;反過來,內地軟體企業明知不能完全依賴政府採購,但客觀結果卻是愈來愈依靠政府採購,在私人市場佔有率反而下降。

  中國與外國的貿易順差不斷拓大,也令中美貿易談判對中方壓力加大,逼使中國不可不修改政府採購條例,以採購更多外國尤其是美國的軟體,今年7月中國政府作出承諾,允許美國等非本土軟體進入政府採購市場。據美國商務部估計,市場開放之後,外國軟體在中國政府市場規模每年可高達八十億美元;另外,隨國外軟體投資中國的力度加大,國外軟體與本土軟體的界限也愈來愈模糊。

本港應爭取互補商機

  在政府採購這事上,中國與香港特區不一樣的地方,是香港已簽署世貿下的GPA,要保持公開、平等的競爭和不能歧視外商;但中國沒有參加,只屬觀察身份。就像CEPA一樣,中國政府採購市場對外的限制,能否轉化為給特區的商機?

  過往CEPA包括的項目,是從行業和生產項目出發,至今地步,已近無可進一步爭取什新項目;但港府可否改從市場角度定位,集中向中央政府建議,利用政府採購市場加強與特區經濟融合,落實之前階段CEPA的行業性開放措施,以政策增加港商在各級政府採購的份額?

  當然,港商參與中國各級政府採購,多數不能獨力為之,若藉中國政府採購的龐大經濟力量促進兩地企業優勢互補,從而加強內地各行業整體國際競爭力,豈非兩全其美?長遠而言,一方面落實香港面向內地的經濟定位,另一方面加強中國企業抵禦外來競爭的能力。

  筆者並非經濟專家,但相信如果能邀請內地具地位學者,嚴謹、學術性地實證香港在中國未來本土經濟發展,及融入國際化市場的最佳、互惠及雙贏的角色,甚至量化預期效益,應有利香港爭取納入中央經濟發展規劃,令兩地融合得到更具體的長遠支援。 

刊載於《信報》2005年11月28日

Friday, November 25, 2005

P2P vs. copyright: where should Hong Kong stand?

I gave a presentation on "P2P vs. copyright: where should Hong Kong stand?" in the Telecom InfoTechnology Forum on November 24, 2005, organized by Dr John Ure's Telecom Research Project of the University of Hong Kong. (Click here for background briefing paper)

My basic premise was consistent with my previous writing on the subject, that P2P and even BT are good, and not "bad taste" as some would characterize. While BT abusers are wrong, the issues cannot be over-generalized to be the righteous against the theives.



Although the Hong Kong court successfully prosecuted 古惑天皇, the case would only serve to set a precedence for the audio-visual copyright owners to pursue civil cases. Already, BT abusers are moving to place their seeds in China and look for other technical alternatives harder to trace. However, the case was still a positive move because it does serve as a deterrent to the bulk of the more casual downloaders, and the Government did not seek to over-legislate but used existing law to test the case.

Unfortunately, the music industry is already pressing the ISP industry to give customer data to them for civil prosecution. They have tried it for years, since the last millennium, unsuccessfully. There are still grave concern of such actions on the privacy of Internet users and potential liabilities to ISPs. When the content industry seeks court orders, will our judges know the technology implications when they make their decisions? Also, who will bear the extra cost of such actions? Certainly it should not be the ISPs.



Why don't the music industry give the customers what they want, which is music in electronic format, and not more and more elaborate yet unenvironmental packages, with more and more plastic and paper wasted? The music industry is alienating its own customers, big time.

We must also note the perceived inconsistency in legislation and enforcement between online music/movie piracy and other forms of intellectual property infringement like pirated goods, software or audio-visual content on CDs, and even cable piracy. The Government seems extra active in pursuing online piracy, yet going in opposite direction for the rest.

Case in point is the Government's proposed changes to the Copyright Ordinance to implement statutory exemption for employees and no director liability except for those with managing roles, and not to require record-keeping. Why is the Government prosecuting individual BT users with no commercial gain, while letting business infringers get away, just because they have more lobbyists in the pro-business legislators?

The industry demands more consistent legislation and enforcement for all forms of intellectual property violations.

Click here to download my presentation.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

政府插手互聯網 趨勢令人擔憂

US retains control of the Internet and ICANN gets a new lease on its life for five years, in a surprising (or not?) last-minute compromise reached before the official opening of WSIS in Tunis last week. It's temporarily relief, but the looming and growing governmental intervention from all directions will continue to be a major worry.


政府插手互聯網 趨勢令人擔憂

   資訊社會世界高峰會議(WSIS)上周在非洲突尼斯舉行,但會議最令人注目的決定,是非常戲劇性地在會議正式開幕前的最後一刻達成。

  事源9月底在日內瓦舉行的WSIS PrepCom3(世界資訊社會峰會第三次籌備會議),一批國家聯合向美國要求,交出目前ICANN(互聯網名稱與數碼地址分配機構)掌控的全球互聯網管治權,改由聯合國旗下的國際電訊聯盟(ITU)負責管理;這樣一來,恐怕WSIS大會在展開時,也未能達到一份預先同意的會議文件。

  不過,在上周二晚上當地時間十時半,各國政府終於達成協議,而結果本身大抵不算令人太意外,就是美國成功保留對互聯網的「控制權」,但一個新的「互聯網管治論壇」將由各國政府與非政府界別和公民社會共同成立,討論國際互聯網相關公共政策議題。論壇對現行相關組織,如ICANN等卻不具有任何權力。

GAC具牙力

  對ICANN來說,基本上這就是保持現狀,不會被新的機構取締,亦不會增設具執行權力的監察機構,只保留現行在ICANN架構內的政府諮詢委員會(GAC),即政府的角色,理論上仍然只屬諮詢而已。

  話雖如此,GAC有意干預ICANN,對ICANN的獨立性,已經愈來愈令人擔心,例如今年中美國政府透過向GAC反對.XXX域名申請,令ICANN受壓而「延遲決定」,這些情況已經出現,變相令ICANN的行政、技術決定,被某些國家或地區政府的政治、利益甚至以道德理由左右,這肯定有礙互聯網的發展。

  連ICANN的高層上周也公開表示,ICANN雖然從未有必要遵從GAC的決議案,但亦從未背道而馳。

  明顯地,這組織在政府壓力下,已經急不及待地自己「投降」,以求自保,GAC與各地政府的插手,恐怕只會加劇其趨勢,故此,本月中在溫哥華舉行的GAC會議,各國態度令人注視。

美國施壓

  今次美國政府的勝利,有賴其背後不斷的游說工作,加上國際大企業的表態支持,其中大部分根本亦是美國公司。

  美國國務卿賴斯在會前發信歐盟各國,雖然內容尚未公開,但有指措詞強硬,成功把歐盟拉回中間,加上澳洲等國支持,新加坡等國協力游說,「反美派」包括巴西、伊朗、俄羅斯、中國等的聲音都被壓了下來,在有限時間下,所有較極端的建議都被擊退,唯有共識,就是保持現狀。

認真檢討

  在當晚十時後達成共識的文件,一方面肯定現在管理機制,亦同時要求在聯合國之下成立論壇組織,並明確地從政府角度要求進一步參與國家代號頂級域名(ccTLD)甚至一般頂級域名(gTLD)的決策,這由各國政府主導的干預,將令人擔憂;公民社會如何參與,機制如何,都是未知之數。

  當然,這不代表ICANN的現況將永久不變。反對維持現狀的國家國家必會捲土重來,新的論壇為期五年,可以看為「停火期」。有鑑於ICANN的情況,各地的國家代號頂級域名管理機構,包括香港的.hk,都要認真地檢討自己的管治和公民參與,否則只會招惹不滿與反對。

刊載於《信報》2005年11月21日

Monday, November 21, 2005

Chinese imperial glory on show in London

Today, just before I leave London in the evening, I visited the special exhibit of "China The Three Emperors 1662-1795" in the Royal Academy of Arts. Last week, when Hu Jintao was in London, he officiated the opening of the exhibition with the Queen of Britain.



The three emperors were of course Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong. Treasured robes, paintings, printed scrolls, jades, bronzes, palace furnishing were on display. Most items were from the Place Museum in Beijing, but some were drawn from various museums in England, France and Germany, a reminder of the foreign invasion after the passing of the last high point of imperial China under these three emperors that this exhibition celebrated. Scrolls and paintings showing foreign diplomats bowing to the emperor of China -- if those were historically accurate depiction of the times, then history was certainly ironic and cruel.



It was worth every pence of the 11 pound admission fee. No better way to spend a Sunday afternoon in London, even with Christmas shopping.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Chelsea 3, Newcastle United 0

Today I watched my live first English Premiership football match! And it was with league leader Chelsea and Newcastle United in London!



Today, Saturday Nov 19 2005, I went to the Stamford Bridge early before the game to try to get a ticket. The game was sold out, and the biggest crowd of the year for a Chelsea home game. So, needless to say touters did not make it cheap for me at all.



I got a seat at the Shed End Lower, just to the left behind the goal, on the fourth row. Not a good view of the whole play, but really close to the players. Talk about the players, up close and personal! Frank Lampard, John Terry, Joe Cole, Damien Duff, Hernan Crespo, Petr Cech for the home team, and more. Asier del Horno on the side of Chelsea defense where I sat was also impressive. The disappointment was that both Alan Shearer and Michael Owen -- whose two heroic goals in the last minutes of the England win over Argentina only a week ago -- were out with injury for the Newcastle side. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was also in suspension.


[A Newcastle corner kick at the Chelsea goal side]

It was a great day for football. Under 10 degree temperature but such a clear sunny day with beautiful blue sky. (In fact, it has been like this for the whole week I was in the UK, so lucky!) Too bad all the three goals of the game were in the second half, on the other side of the goal. But it was a great experience -- the atmosphere, the home crowd chanting and singing "That's why we're the Champions" after they scored and an overall good time.

Friday, November 18, 2005

Scientific Research in the UK

I was in CCLRC (Council for the Central Laboratories of the Research Councils) in Northeast England (20 miles from Manchester) on Friday, Nov 18 2005. It is a basic research facility, operating three world-class research laboratories, and the one I was in was actually the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire.
















The CCLRC works with other organizations in the world to undertake collaborative research, and provide access to large scale facilities. They work with more than 500 universities and higher education institutions world-wide, as well as 160 government research councils, institutes and agencies in six continents. They have a total income of close to HK$2B, from government grant-in-aid and other research contracts with various government departments, EU, universities and industry.

It is these type of advanced facilities, long-term commitment and breeding ground for scientists that not only Hong Kong or Asia do not have, it is indeed hard to find anywhere outside of North America and Europe. When we talk about scientific research in Hong Kong or even in China, we are just not talking about the same level. There is a reason for the advancement and lead of the west over the rest of the world in science, in fact, with almost an insurmountable lead.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Commission on Strategic Development appointment

I was appointed as a member of the Commission on Stategic Development, under the Economic Development and Economic Cooperation with the Mainland. Somehow it took a long time between the time of first contact for the invitation and the announcement, much longer than usual for government advisory committees. The reason for that is anybody's guess.

I will see how effective this forum will be -- to be honest I am not sure at the moment. But I will give it a chance to see if it is for talk and show, or something concrete and useful can come out (of course, I mean more than just some report).

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200511/15/P200511150128.htm
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200511/15/P200511150122.htm

Miskin Manor in Cardiff, Wales

Stayed at the pretty Miskin Manor outside of Cardiff, Wales, last night. This was the first time I was in Wales. The weather for these three days so far in Britain had been marvelous -- sunny and clear blue sky! This is not England!! But no complaints!







[Now (Nov 15 night) in Basingstoke, South England, near Winschester, the home of the IBM Winchester disk]

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

版權法修訂建議令人失望

The government's proposed revision to the Copyright Ordinance is disappointing to the software industry, sending a wrong message to Hong Kong about intellectual property protection and the development of creative industries.


版權法修訂建議令人失望

  工商及科技局工商科聯同知識產權署今年一直在研究修訂現行的版權法例,筆者7月時曾就軟件行業表達意見,業界團體亦曾向當局反映,但上周政府公布的建議修訂,卻令人依然失望。

  首先,就第一個重點「業務最終使用者刑責」之中,有關於董事和合夥人的刑責,政府從年初時的初步建議,「提議若法人團體或合夥機構的作為構成任何業務最終使用者刑事罪行,除非有證據證明該(等)董事╱合夥人沒有授權任何人作出有關侵權作為,否則該法人團體的董事或該合夥機構的合夥人在同一案件中須同樣負上刑責」,作大幅讓步,建議刑責只涵蓋執行主要行政職務的董事、合夥人或人士。

集體不用負責制

  政府指出,「部分使用者組織認為董事和合夥人難以完全知悉和控制職員在業務過程中的活動」,所以原建議「或許過分嚴苛」,改為刑責「只涵蓋執行主要行政職務的董事、合夥人或人士」。這個邏輯,完全令人費解,作為任何大小企業的董事和合夥人,竟然能就公司所犯毫無疑問地屬非法的行為,得到政府批准認可免責,此先例一開,說什企業管治都變成「講笑」而已,香港所謂尊重知識產權的國際形象,也必嚴重受損。什人才是「執行主要行政職務」?

  不僅如此,也許政府以和諧為本,皆大歡喜,實行集體不用負責制,政府亦建議更改現行條例對僱員可能負上管有侵權品的刑責,為他們提供特定的免責辯護,相信,以後有些公司將想盡辦法保證「無人駕駛」,逃避刑責,這樣做並不困難,既然如此,立法何用?作為「強政勵治」,豈容只因部分(還不是全部)用戶團體因一己私利的反對而退讓,眾多點對點技術非法下載的個人用戶,不如也向港府要求免責吧!

  另外,有關「電腦程式侵犯版權複製品的舉證問題」,早前諮詢時,軟件業要求立法規定商業和機構用戶,必須把使用的特許紀錄備存一段合理時間,以便證明相關軟件為合法使用。這與其他商業法例要求相似,例如在稅務與會計都有保存紀錄的要求,但這次政府亦因有些用戶團體反對而打退堂鼓,令現行版權條例的舉證困難問題,無法解決,進一步把版權條例的作用沖淡。

新建議近乎倒退

  當局曾經向軟件商界透露,香港社會上對軟件等知識產權概念認知不足,與實物的感覺不一樣,所以用戶不支持嚴厲立法。

  天啊!侵權者以身試法的主因,是明知不會「有事」;要對付他們,唯一方法是嚴懲,但現在政府的建議,近乎倒退,這叫以後知識產權署以致學校的老師們,如何解釋要尊重知識產權。政府一方面以公帑刑事控告個人在非商業情況對電影侵權的行為,對企業在商業上的軟件侵權卻相對「輕手」,主動加入各種免責漏洞,實在有欠公道,甚至有違公義原則。

  本地及國際業界都已詳細向政府表達意見,香港要發展創新科技,不可以說說就算,除了業界自強,政府協助策略發展,所有的配套都不可馬虎,更要顧及國際觀點,在行政主導的政制下,政府有責任在立法工作上盡責推動正確維護一切產權及公平原則,而非只在立法會數數票,捨難取易。

  各位議員亦應該看清楚那些利益團體為求自保而對立法的不合理阻撓,作出明智決定,協助保存香港這尊重知識產權的成功基石。

刊載於《信報》2005年11月14日

Monday, November 14, 2005

An Eden Project of the East?

I arrived in London Heathrow early morning on Sunday, November 13. After taking a shower and resting in the “revival center” of Virgin Atlantic in the airport, the limo supplied by the airline took me to my hotel in Taunton in the Southwest of England – an almost two-hour ride – where the business promotion program I will be involved with this week in the UK will start on Monday.

Well, simply said, it was in the middle of nowhere. Sheeps and cows and horses on the green English slopes. And it was before 9:00am so what am I going to do on this Sunday? Fortunately, I ran into Mr CK Teo, who works for UK Trade and Investment in Singapore, and he suggested that I could join him to visit the Eden Project.

Sundays are usually the time for railroad repairs in the UK and with a lighter train schedule than normal, it can be a challenge for travelers. We needed to go in the direction toward the southwestern tip of England, to a place called St. Austell. I had no idea what the Eden Project is, but what the heck, how am I going to spend the day in a country manor hotel anyway?

We had to take a train from Taunton to Tiverton Parkway, change to a bus to Plymouth (because of track repairs) and then get back on a train to go to Plymouth. It was an almost three-hour journey in one direction. We reached St. Austell just around 2pm, but we had to get back on the train before 3:30pm. But, the one-hour or so we had at the Eden Project was well worth it and we only wished we had more time.



So what is the Eden Project? Physically, from the external view, it is primarily made of a group of greenhouse domes. According to its own description, it is:
- an international visitor destination
- an extraordinary educational facility
- a pioneering foundation, inspired by the conviction that the future holds the promise of a better world for us all.



The project is owned by the Eden Trust, a registered charity, with money raised by the Eden Project used to further their work in education, research, conservation and sustainable development.


[A waterfall inside the biome]

We visited the Humid Tropics Biome which houses a rainforest of plant life from tropical places like West Africa, South America and Malaysia. The Warm Temperate Biome housed the plants from the Mediterranean, South Africa and California. The Core is an educational center opened in Summer 2005 that includes exhibits and other educational facilities.


[Inside the Core]

Last June, the “African” portion of Live8 was held here in the Eden Project. The story went that when the organizers planned for concerts in London, Philadelphia, Toronto, Paris, Tokyo etc., they overlooked the presence of the artists from Africa, the very continent that the organizers were planning to help. So at last they put together the Eden Project concert on the same day, with that lineup filled by primarily African artists, plus some of the stars like Bono and Bob Geldof flying in from the London concert by helicopters.

Having been to the Eden Project, it made me think, wouldn’t a project like this be a great thing for Hong Kong, for a variety of reasons: conservation, education, tourism and more. Such a similar project would be a great addition for Lantau, and it may be the kind of development that environmentalists and conservationists can be engaged, rather than fought against.



Will it be too expensive? Well, the Eden Project is funded by the lottery fund in the UK, and also some funding from the European Union. With our Jockey Club and the money the Government will make from damaging our environment with the reclamation in West Kowloon and Central/Wanchai in the Victoria Harbour, I can’t believe that we cannot have the money for such a more meaningful project that putting polar bears in Ocean Park for a more simply them-park atmosphere.

There are so many good ideas around the world that we can learn from, and I was so pleasantly surprised by an accidental visit to the Eden Project on an otherwise sleepy Sunday in England.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Two Thumbs Up for Virgin Atlantic

I was a first time flyer on Virgin Atlantic on Saturday night, November 12, from Hong Kong to London. For the first time for myself, I arrived at the airport without my passport, only an hour and 45 minutes before the plane was scheduled to leave.

First of all, may I say that with the advent of the electronic air ticket and ticketless travel, you don’t have to remember to “bring your airline ticket” anymore because there is none. So, I would blame my forgetfulness on the fact that without an air ticket, I tend to forget to bring my passport either. I don’t know if it holds true for anyone else.

So, would I have to pay extra and leave the next day (night) instead? I was fortunate that I have found a group of very helpful ground crew from Virgin. The lady in charge of the check-in counter suggested – at 10:55pm – that if I wanted, I could try to rush home (no one was at home to help bring the passport to the airport for me) and get it and back by 11:00pm. I live on Conduit Road, and I knew it was an almost impossible task, but I thought, I must give it a shot!

I hopped on the first taxi I could in the stand, and I was lucky to get a great – fast and safe – driver who managed to drive me back and forth the airport and Mid-Levels in record time. I remembered we left the airport at 10:03pm, and we reached my home at 10:30pm, and we started off again around 10:40pm to the airport after I fetched my passport from my apartment, and arrived around 11:10pm.

The Virgin crew called me while I was looking at the clock in the taxi and thinking, could I make it or not – and reassured me that I could make it. By the time I reached the departure floor of the airport, Mr Lai of the Virgin ground crew was waiting to personally take me in to the departing gate. Fortunately, boarding was only then just started, and Mr Lai even kindly and most considerately offered to me slow down and take a breather as “we had time.” He even helped me sign up to Virgin’s frequent traveler’s plan.

Such was the kind of “beyond expectations” type of service that I never thought an airline would give. Imagine the anxiety for a traveler without a passport at the airport an hour and a half before departure. The help they offered meant the world for me and saved my whole trip from being ruined from the start.

Small things can mean a lot. It was my first time flying on Virgin Atlantic, but even before my flight started I have already been sold on their exceptional service level. The on-board service was also among the best business class services I have had on any airlines. Although I did not get the massage treatment I signed up for – like for most people, that really doesn’t matter anymore.

Thank you, especially the ground crew of Virgin Atlantic in Hong Kong. You deserve my big thank you.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Chris Patten's return to Hong Kong

Former Governor Lord Chris Patten made a triumphant return to Hong Kong, I guess one can say that. He had a packed schedule of making speeches and book signings in the University of Hong Kong, Foreign Correspondents Club and many bookstores, where he demonstrated his usual wits and intellects – a real, live lesson for politician wannabes here. He even had time to join the opening ceremony of a new branch of his favorite “egg tart” pastry shop. Everywhere he went, he was mobbed by hundreds of people, or more.



Hong Kong people had fond memories of Patten for his five years’ time in Hong Kong, much as deep down inside, most people still had good things to remember about the British rule, if not a preference. Patten can be remembered by many for things including many reforms during the last days of British rule, including direct election and opening up of the functional constituencies, only to be rolled back by Beijing in 1997. The Brits can be blamed for not doing these earlier, or even said to be hypocritical of only making these changes in the closing years of its colonial rule. But nonetheless, I think most people should agree that it is better late than never. The contrast between Patten and the miserable personality and ruling record of Tung Chee Hwa only highlighted why the friendly and affable Patten, known as “Fat Peng” for locals, is so popular in Hong Kong.

What is Patten doing now? He is now the Chancellor of Oxford University. What does a chancellor do if the Vice Chancellor is really the one doing all the operational work? In typical Patten humor, he told us you need to have a Chancellor so there can be a Vice Chancellor. He is no longer in British or European Union politics anymore, but even without holding a post in these governments, Patten simply cannot be counted out. To some, he remains the best or smartest political mind in Britain that has not held a Prime Minister position.

This predicament must have to do with the fact that Patten is on the liberal, pro-Europe wing of the Conservative Party. While this sort of “contradiction” often makes a political figure particularly appealing or even popular, sometimes it also makes them less electable or harder to gain full support or consensus within their own party. This I think is also a side of Patten that much of Hong Kong’s middle class find in common: while we want to demand more democracy and direct participation, we find it difficult to condone to socialist or pro-labor policies of much of the pro-democracy camps.

While in Hong Kong, Patten made repeated references and supportive statements about Hong Kong’s democratic political development. He believes Hong Kong people are mature and ready for full democracy – Hong Kong is a perfect example of a liberal society but not less than democratic system. He even admitted that the British should be faulted for not giving Hong Kong more democracy or sooner while they were in charge.

To many Hong Kong people of my generation, who had our interests in politics started by the June 4 massacre in 1989, and later developed during the years of Sino-British negotiation about the 1997 handover, Patten will always hold a sentimental place in our hearts and minds. I still keep with me a copy of a “standard letter reply” from the then Governor Patten in the mid 90s of the 20th century, when I wrote him from the U.S. (where I then worked) to demand for more democracy for Hong Kong. In short, Patten is a part of the political “growing up” for those of us now in our 40s – the prime group of next-generation political leaders for Hong Kong, one hopes.

I just wish Lord Patten the best for his future. At a young and active 61 years of age, I must believe that there will be more to him than writing and signing books, making money and enjoying a good life. Will he become a future British Prime Minister, or probably even more interesting for him, a future Secretary General for the United Nations – even though such positions are more usually chosen basis on geopolitics, nationalities and colors rather than ability.

Chris, I wish you the best. I know you will surprise us.

Monday, November 07, 2005

劉德華,請珍惜羽毛!

It is grossly immoral if and when cigarette merchants circumvents advertising bans by infiltrating scenes in movies. Did it just happen in a recent Category I movie "suitable for children" in Hong Kong?

劉德華,請珍惜羽毛!

  筆者已很久沒有進電影院看戲,不是因為有DVD,更非因網上下載,只因太忙。難得兩周前與家人興之所至,進場觀看了一齣「I級」(兒童適宜)的電影《童夢奇緣》,以行動支持本地電影業;可惜,片中的部分內容,令筆者感到非常失望,甚至不安。

  本來,《童夢奇緣》主題健康,演員稱職,拍攝流暢,是一部很不錯的娛樂性電影,不過,片中對吸煙行為的處理,就令全片蒙上污點。

  電影講述主角光仔由十二歲的小孩,變身成為由劉德華飾演的成年人,而在數場大人版光仔與黃日華飾演的父親相會的重要戲情中,身為教師的父親與林家棟飾演的副校長,竟然煙不離手,在一幕戲中,小孩光仔的大人身軀,竟然向父親成功索取一枝香煙,最後雖然沒有點起來,但象徵意義已完全表達。

吸煙劇情並非必要

  片中的為人師表者,離開學校後都是煙民,他們對吸煙的最正面行為表達,僅在於有一幕拒絕一名中學生向他們索取香煙。作為一部「I級」電影,必定有很多兒童觀看,甚至可能在沒有家長陪同下,這樣的劇情處理,為害可以極深。

   筆者無意以道德判斷干預創作自由,但片中吸煙行為對劇情並非必要,要表達成年男人困擾不安,難道只能以吸煙代表?即使電影保留吸煙行為,但同時向兒童灌 輸正面意識,實仍有很多方法表達吸煙行為不當,例如,小孩角色可以在成人吸煙時積極地表示不滿、咳嗽或指父親衣服氣味難聞等;但片中只以一個短訊內的「少 吸煙」交代兒子對父親關心,實在不足夠,與男主角之前向父親索煙行為,兩者亦成為矛盾點,明顯地淡化了對吸煙行為的任何的負面評價。

  更令人不安的是,雖然香港根本沒有容許設在街上的自動煙包售賣機,電影卻利用一部煙包售賣機,明顯在主角背景定鏡展示某煙草品牌。筆者不知道以上香煙品牌是否曾對電影提供任何贊助,但若然如此,煙商藉此法繞過媒體包括互聯網上廣告限制,在「I級」電影內出現,變相向兒童賣廣告,極不道德,電影商若容許此做法,亦為不當。

條文不禁吸煙場面

  筆者曾就此向影視及娛樂事務管理處香港吸煙與健康委員會反映,前者表示,由於《電影檢查條例》《電影檢查員指引》均沒有任何條文禁止電影中出現吸煙場面,故檢查員未能以此評定電影的級別,但該處將考慮檢討《電影檢查員指引》中類近的條文。

  事實上,筆者亦不完全贊同以條文規管吸煙場面,並以此評定電影的級別,以免過分僵化,影響創作空間,若然《鄧小平傳》也要禁煙方可作「I級」,肯定會被指政治不正確;所以最佳辦法,還是要電影界自律。否則,要控制煙草業間接宣傳,只有透過立法全面控制煙草商以任何形式作間接廣告,看來已別無他法。

電影業已很「得寵」

  話說回來,電影業作為一個製造較少就業數字、業內利益較集中的產業,近年已得到政府和社會上大力支持,包括成立電影發展委員會委員,以公帑刑事檢控網上侵權者,已經比其他版權或品牌擁有者行業包括軟件業,更為「得寵」。電影界將來若以民事起訴網上侵權者時,亦將要求互聯網供應商依法合作。我們支持保障知識產權,但這亦是時候,電影業應表現多些社會責任,對此,筆者仍抱希望。

  作為電影商品中心人物的劉德華,他的個人努力、公益事務、正面態度,筆者一向十分欣賞,他也是娛樂界中少有的正面角色模範。筆者甚至認為,要出現香港版朗奴列根或阿諾舒華辛力加,不作他選,希望他能更小心保持公眾形象,無謂因小失大。

  至於煙草業界,就無話可說了。利用法例的漏洞,運用電影滲透鼓勵吸煙訊息,甚至以兒童為目標,這些無論如何都是不道德的。筆者完全支持一切禁煙立法,煙草業界的任何藉口,都難以自圓其說。

刊載於《信報》2005年11月7日

Friday, November 04, 2005

H5N1 Watch

As the world gets ready to face the threat of the avian influenza pandemic, you can find more scientific facts and safety tips from these sources than from rumors telling you to smell boiling vinegar. See:

Avian Influenza (Hospital Authority)
Prevention of Avian Influenza (Hong Kong Government)
WHO on Avian Influenza
CDC on Bird Flu (USA)
Pandemic Flu (USA)



Is nature getting angry at mankind?

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

知識是權利也是義務 維基百科

知識是權利也是義務 維基百科

如果你突然需要翻查一些有關某些人物、地方的事情,甚至學術的資料,你會怎樣做?如果上網找Google、雅虎或中文的百度這類搜尋引擎,也許你會找到很多的相關網頁,但只怕是太多了,而且雖然這些資料相關,但又未必全面,更很難肯定這些資料的準確性。如果是筆者小時候,可能會選擇參考大英百科全書,但時至今日又有誰會仍然有百科全書這歷史文物在家,即使有,恐怕資料也不可能實時準確,以達到現代人在互聯網時代對資訊的要求。

不過,告別大英百科,歡迎來臨維基百科的世界!維基百科(Wikipedia.org)完全免費,但維基最特別的地方,是知識屬於所有人這理念,不單止任何網民都可以登入維基百科,查看至今己多達超過776,300篇的資料,而且任何網民都可以透過某些已定機制,為這網上百科貢獻內容,換句話說,知識的自由擁有是獲取(take)也是付出(give)的。

人人都是編輯

維基百科始於2001年,最初只有英文版本,與電腦軟件世界的開放原碼﹝open source)潮流相似,旨於開放參與,免費使用,但當這開放概念放進資訊百科世界時,一個有趣的問題就立刻出現:究竟對任何事物的解釋,例如一宗歷史事蹟,是誰有權决定?如果有愈多的人參與核實內容,資訊豈非能達到最完全、最準確無誤?

如同開放原始碼軟件社群,集體協力為軟件除錯,維基百科理論上也是借助社群人士自我監督的集體力量,維護文章內容的正確、豐富。經常地,社群中人一看到某部份維基內容有誤,就會迅速更正,而過去事實證明,這個理念在運作上是可靠的!

只要登入維基百科的任何一條資料,你可在網頁上方看見有關「討論」、「編輯本頁」和「歷史」這幾個超連結,任何人都可加入成為維基的會員,協助編寫,修訂或增添現有內容,從「歷史」超連結用户可查閱本頁過去內容被更改的版本詳情。維基的宗旨,是意見中立,而在核實新增和更改內容的程序中,基本上亦以「民主」方式,少數服從多數而行,貫徹互聯網的基本開放、平等精神。

維基百科從英文版本開始以外,至今已有七種語言版本擁有六位數(以十萬計)的資料篇數,包括德、法、意、日、荷蘭、波蘭和瑞典語,另有廿三種語言版本已有五位數(以萬計)的資料篇數,當中包括保加利亞、希伯來、韓語,亦有中文版,現有超過四萬篇資料內容,在各語文版本中排名第十一位,雖然與英文版相差甚遠,但亦已有超過三萬位維基人參與貢獻,達過百萬次集體編改,和擁有數十位負責的管理員。

維基百科的集體編輯理念,經已對傳统傳媒產生影响。最近,Esquire雜誌作者A.J. Jacobs在撰寫特稿一篇有關維基百科的文章,特地把錯誤百出的草稿貼至網上,讓維基人任意修改,而12月號的Esquire雜誌將會刊登修改前及最後版本

結果,該文發表後,首廿四小時之內就被修改了224次,次日又改了149次。最後的版本在9月23日定稿,原文長709字,最後的定稿總計771字,含15段,但文字修飾、表達流暢,都明顯比原文更好、更生動、更有趣;實驗證明,維基方法能集中群眾力量,更趨美善。

執戰主流出版業

Wiki一字,在夏威夷土語是「快」、「加速」的意思,而現今亦有當作”What I know, is”(我知者,是也)之意,而今日wiki的意義,是代表這種以群眾自由編寫修訂內容的行為方法,亦指其背後的協作式軟件技術。維基運動從百科開始,現已成立名為維基媒體基金會的非營利組織負責,「領導」全球為數超過五十萬個曾貢獻內容的維基人;從百科全書起,幾個較新的維基媒體都已經形成。

維基語錄(wikiquote)包含各種語言的名人名言以及諺語、維基新聞(wikinews)沿着維基百科的路線,是個「你可以親自撰寫的新聞來源」,維基詞典(wiktionary)就是個具多語文版本,由眾多用户編纂的字、詞典,而維基物種(wikispecies)更嘗試把所有生物,包括動植物、真菌、細菌、古菌及原生生物等品種分類,編輯成一切生命的總目錄。但筆者認為除維基百科之外,最具潛力的,應該是維基文庫(wikisource)維基教科書(wikibooks)

首先看維基文庫。維基文庫的參與者,在網絡上收集公開版權、可免費分發的內容,例如古典文學、政府或歷史文件等,文庫中文版本現存九百多篇文檔,包括詩經、道德經、三國、西遊記等,內容尚未算足夠,但假以時日,必可成為中外古典文學的電子藏經閣。

維基教科書就更有趣,也更具有「破壞力」。維基教科書計劃,目標是建立一個從幼稚園到大學的免費、可任意發佈的課程知識庫,自2003年七月啓動後,至今義務的維基人已經建立了超過一萬一千本電子書目,涵蓋範圍科學、數學、電腦、工程、語文、藝術、教育、文史等。

維基教科書帶來的效應,與Linux和開放原碼對改費軟件的衝擊,實有異曲同工之妙,直向全世界教科書的主流出版業者挑戰,而成敗關鍵,就是寄望世界各地的網民有識之士,肯義務無償地加入幫忙,編寫及核對內容。例如,十月的本月推介書,就是一本教中文普通話的網上書,這本「書」中英對照,但一開始編者就「表白」:「我們需要您的幫助!如果您了解中文,請参與本教科書的建設!」

實現知識共享

原來,不單止在香港,其實全世界各地都面對教科書價格昂貴和經常改版的問題,像維基教科書這種技術服務,其實最適合教育界採納,老師可選擇適用資料打印出來給學生使用,除了省錢更比較環保。當然,維基教科書仍處起步階段,大部份內容相信尚未達較成熟的狀態,但長遠來說,學生為什麽每個學期初都要買書?若有一個同等質素,同樣準確的網上書,但價格較便宜,甚至免費,豈非學子之福?

筆者一向提倡,與其每年投訴教科書商無良,倒不如由官立學校帶頭放棄印刷式教科書,利用集體議價能力,向少數書商要求以全校有限授權(limited site license)電子版形式,降低價格地開放內容的電子版給學校,而校方則在不牟利情况下向學生平均收取版權使用費;老師可在電子教科書加入筆記,而學生則可以電子證書登入「只讀版」(read-only)的網站無限次閱讀,有限次數容許下打印以方使個人使用。筆者深信,就是在訓練學生正視版權這方面,都已經很有價值。

只怕,學校、老師態度保守,政府教育部門不會肯牽頭,家長雖然埋怨書本昂貴,但要取消教科書就必恐有所失,結果,既得利益者教科書商有機可乘,只苦了學生擔着沉重的背包,和繼續斬下更多的樹。只要不印書,書商成本借口只然失去,如果再跨前一步,像維基教科書般全民佳師,把我們的知識從書商取回來(take back our knowledge),也應該是教育改革的重要一環;妄想一下,如果能利用像維基這種科技概念,改變中國人倚賴威權,寧願被別人控制思想與荷包的劣根性,那就功德無量了。

刊載於《CUP》2005年11月第46期

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