Do not trust second hand information

Years ago, when China started to open up, there were many Hong Kong companies especially foreign branches had established offices in China. Many Hong Kong managers were transferred to lead various operations.

At that time, I had been told that it was better to avoid telling truth to those Chinese local employees.

I was not one of them and I had only invited by a company to organize a four days training program in Shanghai and Beijing.

So I started to know many of them. After my co-operation with some local units for courses, I began to move around Guangzhou frequently for a number of years. Many of them were well educated young people and like to talk with me.

They expressed their envy for life in America. I understood that they were told by Hong Kong people because at that time there was no Internet and foreign news were not broadcasted in China. In Guangzhou, they could watch Hong Kong Television. But most would watch the Chinese channels.

I told them their concept was wrong. Since I might be the only one who said so, it would not be easy for them to trust. Therefore, I told them the way to know about a country was to read and see direct information, not interpreted or translated selectively by someone. As they could watch Pearl Channel, it would be good to watch CBS's 60 Minutes.

After some months, some of them told me that they now knew that every country had similar problem, not only China.

I watch 60 Minutes, 20/20 etc. for many years. Recently, thanks to Internet, I can watch CCTV too.

Of course, it may take a long time with continuous attention for anyone to get full knowledge of a country.

I believe that the TV station also found that the content of these TV program were contradict to their intention and therefore starting last year, the caption of translation in Chinese was replaced by English caption. The reason they claimed was for Hong Kong people to learn English. The hidden aim is easy to understand.

Recently, there is a follow up program about the subprime mortgage crisis. There is a statement: "Firms like Bear Stearns and Merrill Lynch sliced the loans into little pieces and packaged them up with other investments, then sold them to their best customers around the world as high-yield mortgage-backed securities, turning sows' ears into silk purses, all with the blessing of rating agencies like Standard & Poor's."

Chinese people should learn from this fact that these famous financial bodies are not trustworthy any more.

If you missed this program, you can read the written text or rerun from CBS. The web page for the text as well as comments can be found at The U.S. Mortgage Meltdown.

Remember not to take translated information; you must see the original from local source to find the truth.

多年前當中國開始改革時，不少香港公司特別是外資企業都在中國開設辦事處。不少香港的經理們被調派到大陸負責各方面的運作。

有不少人向我說最好不對大陸的員工說真話。

我不屬於這批人士，我只是被一間機構委託安排在上海及北京進行四天的員工培訓課程。

所以我開始認識了不少當地的人士。在我與一些當地的機構合作課程後，我就在那些年間經常在廣州。他們大部份是大學程度的年青人而且都喜歡與我交流。

他們都表示非常羨慕在美國的生活，我感到他們是受那些香港人的影響。因為在當時沒有互聯網，而且外國新聞也沒有正式的傳播。他們在廣州是可收看香港的電視，只是絕大部份都只看那些中文台。

我指出他們的觀念是錯誤的。由於我可能是唯一這樣說，他們不容易相信。我告訴他們了解一個國家的方法一定要看直接的信息，不是由其他人轉告或選擇翻譯。由於可以觀看香港的明珠台，最佳是收看CBS的60分鐘時事節目。

幾個月後，其中一些人告訴我他們已經明白每個國家都有相同的問題，並不是只在中國。

我多年來都觀看60分鐘時事，20/20等。近來更因互聯網的貢獻，更可觀看中央電視台。

當然我們需要在長時期不斷的留意，才可真正了解一個國家的真實情況。

我相信由於這些電視節目的內容與香港電視台的目的出現差異，所以自去年起，翻譯成中文的對白改為英文。他們聲稱是為了給香港人多學英文。隱藏的真正目的顯而易見。

最近有一個再談關於次按金融危機的節目。其中有一段話：意譯為
“像Bear Stearns及Merrill Lynch把這些借貸分批與其他投資混合成產品，有如把廢物裝成珍品，向他們世界各地的最佳客戶作為高增益的抵押借貸項目，更獲得Standard & Poors的高度評級。“

中國人應該從這個真相明白那些著名的金融機構是不值得信任的。

如果閣下沒有收看這個節目，可以到CBS的網站再看文字的報導或重播。文字的信息可瀏覽這個網頁The U.S. Mortgage Meltdown。

必須記著永遠不可接收轉譯的信息一定要從當地的信息來源來了解真相。

What difference will be if you have money

One day when something like rice cooker or TV etc. was out of order, I might rushed to buy a new one immediately.

One day when something like rice cooker or TV etc. was out of order, I might tried to find the problem, repaired it if possible or found an alternate way to overcome the need.

The difference is simply MONEY.

Who would not like to be able to handle anything without pain? Who would not like to be able to pay without worrying?

It may be too simple about my living. When it is a country, the problem will be much greater than one can guess.

Now, everyone cannot complain the fast reaction of China government against the earthquake. Now, someone asked why this time is much better than the previous one. Even an idiot can know, it is MONEY, STUPID.

Just like America, the slow reaction to the Katrina storm catastrophe was simply MONEY. The Bush government spent too much for the wars and it was hardly to do anything instantly.

No country will not respond to any catastrophe of their people. The attitude towards foreign aids is another problem, mostly political. I do not want to confuse my topic and therefore not to cover this case.

To compare the rescue performance of the two earthquakes and deliberately or not is indicating the work for the first one was worse and it would be like pointing fingers to our beloved Premier Chou Enlai.

At that time, thirty two years ago, the economic condition of China was very bad. Even if there was no Culture Revolution, the country remained under developed.

Of course, China is not yet rich in comparison. But at least, the country can afford to pay and the people can afford to donate.

Can China be like today without Chairman Mao and Premier Chou Enlai?

Remember the old Chinese saying, "The Ancestors plant, the successors get the harvest". When you are rich, you would forget who let you have the chance to get rich.

有一日家中有用具例如電飯煲或電視失靈，我立即跑去買一個新的回來。

有一日家中有用具例如電飯煲或電視失靈，我設法去找尋如何修理或找尋代用品應付。

兩者的分別就是錢了。

誰不想有能力毫不困難地應付一切問題？誰不想有能力不用思索地支付一切費用？

我的生活問題太簡單了，以一個國家來說問題就會大到不可想像。

今日沒有人可以批評中國對地震的超級反應。今日有人問為什麼這次比上一次地震有不同的反應。即使是呆子也會知道就是錢了。

例如美國對那次風災反應較慢的原因也是錢。布什政府為戰爭花乾了錢，要即刻行動談何容易。

任何一個國家都不會對受災的人民不作出反應。至於有關外國支援是另一個多數涉及政治的問題。我不打算包括在這次的討論中。

把兩次地震救援來比較，是有意或無意地顯示第一次地震的事件是較差，更是意圖指責我們最愛的周恩來總理。

在當時，三十二年前，中國的經濟極差。就算沒有文化大革命仍然是極之落後。

當然，中國在比較上仍不是富裕。但最少國家可以付得起，而且人民也有能力捐助。

沒有毛主席及周總理，中國可以有今日嗎？

記得中國古語說【前人種樹後人收】，當閣下發達後將會忘記是誰給你建立機會。

A few corrupted guys is worse than any earthquake

Throughout history, the strongest countries at certain era must have high percentage of patriots.

No matter these countries had invaded others or recovered from loss of war, such support is the only factor.

An old Chinese saying, when country is in trouble, any man should respond. Of course, no matter how the country would face, there were some bad sheep. They might not be traitors, but they might be so selfish to care their own benefit. The most common sin is corruption.

We all know that corruption is not limited to one country. Every country in the world, developed or not, big or small, rich or poor, is not short of corruption.

This time I am not talking about why China always face unfair compliant. I shall leave it for the future.

There are thousands, millions and even billions patriots right before our eyes. Some are heroes Some are good officers.

But during recent press release events, they always asked about how to guarantee the use of funds etc. This hidden reason is corruption. I feel sad for them.

To show respect to heroes by all means or tons of medals cannot change the bad image made by a handful of corrupted officers. This is worse than any earthquake.

This year is the best time to start a campaign to fight against corruption. The root of corruption is the attitude of people.

Why? Why one wants to get money? Being rich will be respected by most people. Who would not like to be respected?

Of course, if you are a hero or a great leader, you will be respected. But it costs a lot of hard work and perhaps a lot of sacrifice.

Let all children know that if they receive anything from their parent, no matter how insignificant it will be, if the money is earned by their work, it is a godsend. If the money comes from untold source, no matter how nice it will be, it is a shame. Not only shame for the children, it is a shame to their country, it is a shame to their heroes.

Why children only? Well, the elders cannot be taught anymore. If the elders know this, they will not behave like fawningly to those rich ones.

I use to say such manner is worse than a prostitute. A prostitute offers her body to one who pay and that means she have exchange for money. Those behave fawningly to rich one have no money received and that means they offer their soul, their dignity for nothing.

在人類歷史中，最強的國家必定是在該時代有高比率的愛國者。無論是侵略其他國家或是在戰敗後重建，這是唯一的原因。中國的古訓有說【國家有難匹夫有責】。當然，無論國家的情況如何，也必定有一些壞份子。他們未必是叛國，但他們是極之自私只為個人的利益著想。最普通的是貪污。

我們都知道貪污並不是在某一個國家。世界上所有國家無論是發展與否，大與細，富裕或窮困都不乏貪污的人。

這次我不是談中國受到不公平看待的問題。我會在將來討論。

這次在我們眼前的是千千萬萬以至億計的愛國人士。有些是英雄。有些是好官員。

但在最近的發佈會時，他們總會被問及如何捐款用途的保障問題。言下之意絕對是認為有貪污的機會。我為他們的遭遇感到難過。

向英雄致敬或無數的獎牌都不能改變少數貪污官員做成的壞聲譽。這些傷害比地震更甚。
今年是推動消滅貪污的最佳時期。貪污的根源是人民心態。

為什麼？為什麼一個人需要金錢呢？有錢就會受大部份人尊敬。誰會不喜歡受到尊敬呢？
當然如果你是英雄或是一個偉大的領袖，你一定會被人尊敬。但代價是相當的努力甚至不少犧牲。

告訴所有兒童如果他們父母給他們任何事物，無論是如何渺小，只要是父母工作得來的錢，都是極佳的愛。如果錢的來源是不明不白，無論是如何貴重，都是他們的羞恥，都是他們國家的羞恥，都是對他們尊敬英雄的羞恥。

為什麼只對兒童呢？成年人已不可教了。如果成年人明白，他們就不會見到有錢人時變成那麼奉承的像子。

我經常說這些奉承有錢人的行為比不上妓女。妓女向付款的人獻身但她們收到金錢作為交換。奉承的人沒有錢收而獻出他們的靈魂他們的尊嚴。

The earth will not change because of human

Our Premier Wen Jiabao cares for Chinese. Every one knows. Recently he met with specialists and urged for quake prediction technique against similar disaster in the future.

Certainly we all hope that one day we can have this type of technology.

However, not only such technique has not been developed and even Japan that faces the most frequent threat of earthquake is still far from predicting exactly where and when will happen and how big.

Just the other day, the CCTV-1 had invited a Chinese specialist and asked her about the natural signals like ants and birds etc. She said all such signals were recorded and studied. She was asked why not gave notice to people. She said that there was no sure date and could not say which area. By announcing this forecast, it would only create panic and chaos.

That is what I have said on May 18, the more advanced we are, the more difficult we can react, something like exceptionally over-weighted.

Just think about going to do such forecast.

When it is announced, it would like "There will be an earthquake in Sichuan from a few days to a few months from now. Everyone should prepare and avoid staying at home or any building."
People in Sichuan would ask which location and how big the earthquake.

Then scientists may have to say "It may be between 6.0 to 8.0. It may be the northern or central part of Sichuan."

Then local officers will ask for whether people in all these areas have to move out. If so, what date should we move?

Now, there is a difficult time for specialists or the government. Can you say to-morrow? Can you say three days after? If earthquake does not happen for a month, who will pay for the loss.

Nowadays, it costs so much a day in term of production. The cost of evacuation and the cost of feeding thousands if not millions for a month will be hard to face.

It may also happen that after a month, when fund is over or people have lost their patience and demand a return.

Can anyone guarantee the return will be safe?

All these problems cannot be solved by anyone.

Can we build all houses that can stay firm with the highest level of earthquake? Just check California. According the TV program of National Geographic, only the Town Hall has the base rebuilt against earthquake. In the program, the question of why not all the other buildings is money. The cost for the Town Hall project cost over two hundred millions. The simple fact is no country in the world can afford to build all houses with such standard. Even if such houses were built, the price would be too high for anyone except the billionaires.

About my saying about development, just refer to the tsunami of Indonesia in 2004. A village with about a thousand people had escaped unhurt. They have knowledge inherited from ancestors so that when the elder chief watched the color of the ocean, he immediately ordered the whole village to move up the mountain. Their livelihood is fishing; no building except simple huts that can be built again easily. All their precious belonging is their lives only. If we are like them, then it is easy to run for our lives even against false alarm.

The most annoying thing is to criticize others when you have no knowledge at all. Knowledge is free for all to achieve.

Come now! Do not put back your developed human body back to animal entities.

總理溫家寶極之關懷國民。所有人都知道。他最近與專家們開會要求建立地震預警能力以防將來出現的地震。

當然我們都希望有一日人類可以有這樣的技術。

不過不單止這種技術未有發展出來，即使是面臨地震威脅最大的日本仍不能達到準確指出何時何地會發生及是那一級地震。

數日前，中央電視一台就請來了一位專家及問她關於大自然生物例如螞蟻及雀鳥等對地震反應的事。她回答這些資料都有留意及研究。主持人再問為什麼不預告這些事，她說這些資料不能說明何時何地會發生。提出來只會帶來恐慌及混亂。

這正是我在5月18日所說我們越發展就越難對這些事作出反應，有如極度肥胖不易移動。
只須假設我們會公佈這種警告。

當公佈時，可能會是這樣說將會在未來數天至數月間四川地區將會有地震。所有人都應該作出預備及避免在戶內包括住宅及任合建築物。

四川人民會問究竟會在那個地區及地震是多少級。

當地的官員將會問這些區的人民應否轉移？如果是的話，那個日子需要進行呢？

當時任何專家或政府都面對困難了。你可以說明天嗎？你可以說三天後嗎？如果一個月後仍未有地震，誰能賠償這事的經濟損失。在現今每天的生產價值極高。轉移及數千至百萬人的生活費用是不易應付的。

在一個月後可能經費已耗盡，也可能人民失去耐性要求回家。

有人可以擔保回家是安全嗎？

這些問題是沒有人可以解決。

我們可否建設能夠面對預計最大地震的房屋嗎？在我提過美國國家地理製作有關加州地震的電視節目中提出加州的市政大廈因此而重建可面對地震的地基。在節目中也說為什麼不為所有建築物進行相同的改建的原因是錢。市政大廈的重建項目花了兩億美元。世界上所有政府都沒有能力把國家的所有房屋建成這樣的水準。即使有這種房屋建成，價格只有億萬富翁才可購買。

至於我所稱的發展問題，只需看看在2004年印尼發生的海嘯。有一條約有一千人的村落竟然沒有傷亡。他們是有祖先們傳承的認識，當年長的領導看到海水的顏色有變時立即命令全村跑上山。他們是以捕魚為生，住的是極容易重建的簡陋房屋，他們最重要的財產只是他們的生命。如果我們像他們一樣，逃生是極容易，即使是虛假的警示。

最令人不滿的是沒有知識來批評。知識是免費的更是任何人都可以獲得。來吧！切勿把你的腦袋白費，把已進化的高等生物變回無知的動物。

A stupid question or a wish

During a press seminar today, one Hong Kong reporter asked a stupid question. It is "Does the over development of Sichuan made the earthquake worse?"

The officer said that he could not understand this question. She added “There are chemical factories that would blow up during the quake,.,…”. Ah, that is the wish not for her I believe. Poor girl, she was brainwashed by Hong Kong news or by her editors.

The officer later said that Sichuan was ranked twenty something in China for development and had to try the best to develop. There is no blow up of chemical factory.

Perhaps, she would report the officer lied and hide the fact of explosion. There must be a lot of explosions that gave such tremendous quake. Perhaps the editor would changed it to the China was lying. It was a nuclear test.

Is it what they used to say, "making news"?

在今日一個新聞發佈會中，一位香港女記者提出一了個很愚蠢的問題。這是【是否四川過份發展令到地震更危險呢？】。

那位官員說他不明白這是什麼的問題。她再補充：因為有不少化工廠可能在地震時爆炸….。噢，我相信這不是她的願望，€她一定是在香港受到香港的所謂新聞或她的編輯洗了腦袋。

那位官員再說明四川在發展方面是中國排在二十之後有必要加大發展力度。四川沒有化工廠爆炸死人的事發生。

或者她可能會報導中國官員說謊，一定是有不少化工廠爆炸產生地震。或者她的編輯會改為中國是進行核彈…。

這不是他們常稱的做新聞嗎？

How stupid and ignorant you are?

As always, whenever there is a big event in China, there are lots of rubbish talks or so called specialists' comment in Hong Kong.

I feel ashamed for Hong Kong because all of these saying indicated how stupid and ignorant they are.

They would never read anything about China except from those HK media. How about information from America? Recently there was a replay of National Geographic TV program about earthquake in California. Even advanced as America, there is no way to forecast when and where the earthquake will occur until it happened. OK, they may be too busy. Please read "The Next Big One—Earthquake Technology", this is based on the published article by National Geographic, not from China, feeling fine!

Sometimes, I am forced to say bad things. They might be better to have an American father. Ah, this means that they suffered because that was their mothers' wrong choice.

Back to the natural disasters, it is a sad thing for human. The more developed we are, the harder to avoid life threatening events. Developing is just like exceptional over-weighted. We cannot move easily because we cannot give up even it may cost our lives. That will be discussed later.

正如以往一樣，每當中國有大事發生，香港總有不少廢話及所謂專家意見。

我為香港感到羞恥，因為這說明了他們的愚蠢及無知。

他們當然不會閱讀中國的信息，只會看香港媒體的報導。那麼美國的信息如何呢？最近香港電視重播了美國國家地理有關加州地震的節目。即使是科技最先進的美國，也不能準確地預報何時何處有地震，除非已開始了得。好，他們可能太忙錯過了。請閱讀 "The Next Big One—Earthquake Technology"，這是取材自美國國家地理，不是中國，放心吧！

不少時我總會被迫說些不雅的話。他們如果有個美國人的父親可能會好些。噢，這是說他們的痛苦是因為他們的母親作出錯誤的選擇。

至於大自然的災害，這是人類的悲哀。發展越高，我們越難逃避有生命危險的事。發展有如極度肥胖。我們不能輕易反應因為我們不能為有生命危險而放棄。日後再談這個問題。

Shame, Shame, Shame

When every human praise the Chinese Government's effort against the earthquake, when many parents suffer the loss of their children, the Americans after failure to cheat the world about the Tibet event, try to put the salt on the wound. This is one article "China's one-child policy causes extra pain" among many.

It is a naive idea to have more children when it is known that the over increased population will lead to human disaster. We are human, not animals, we should care for the whole human race instead of individuals. Do not suppose that I am exception, I have one daughter only. My daughter told me that she did not want to have children and I just reminded her to think about herself before it was too late to regret only.

I do not want to say any bad thing about American. Yet, their wrong-doing really force me to do so. To have many children will not guarantee your gene. One American with four children, after checking the DNA, only one child is belonged to him. Well, that is not one child policy; that is one child American fact. No wonder for a survey about which type of man is popular resulted for Fedex.

當世界上有人性的人都稱讚中國政府對抗地震的努力時，當無數失去兒女的父母正在哀傷時，那些美國人在西藏的虛假報導失敗後，竟然作出雪上加霜的事。"China's one-child policy causes extra pain" 是其中的一個例子。

在世界人口過度增多是會引發大災難的認識下，要多生孩子的概念是極無知之事。我們是人類，不是畜生，我們應該為整體人類著想而非個人。不要誤會我是例外，我只有一個女兒。她告訴我她不打算生兒女，我只是提議她想清楚以免在將來後悔。

我本來不想多說美國人的壞話。但他們的惡行真的迫使我要這樣做。多些兒女並不保證你們的基因。一個有四個兒女的美國人在基因測驗後發現只大一個是屬於他。這不是獨生政策，這是美式獨生事實。無怪一個向美國女性調查那種男人最受歡迎的結果是Fedex送貨員。

The factor for victory

It may be good to be invaded.

As known from history, some governments would go to war when their nationals became unsatisfied with their ruling. The patriotism of nationals will be brought up in face of threat from outside.

However, the reaction from oversea Chinese is something that China could not hope for.

The most unexpected may be in Hong Kong. I am not saying that most Hong Kong people are anti-communists. But only a few will be patriotic to the New China.

The change from hundred thousands demonstration to low voting for the so called Demonstrative Party was not due to patriotism, but the REIT case that costed them the chance to gain.

Even though the news in Hong Kong are always bias, they had to show in a short time about the challenge by Hong Kong citizens against the icon of the Demonstrative Party during the Torch event.

I feel happy to see such change. So, thanks to those countries who still dream of turning over China.

受到侵略可能是件好事。

從歷史上可以看到，當國民對政府不滿時，最佳的是一場戰爭。受到外界的威脅時，國民的愛國心即會提高。

不過，中國可能不會想像到各地華僑的反應。

最難得的事是在香港。我不是說大部份香港人都是反共產主義。但只會很少數會對新中國有愛國的心。

由數十萬人示威轉至對所謂民主派投票低落並不是愛國原因，而是令他們失去發財機會的領匯事件。

雖然香港的新聞界絕對是偏差，也要報導香港人在奧運火炬傳遞時指責那位所謂民主派的代表人物。

我當然對這個情況感到高興。更感謝仍然夢想推翻中國的那些國家。