28th May, 2010 - the biggest Apple

(Pictures from Digital Trends)

Apple had surpassed Microsoft to become the biggest software company in the world in term of market value. After a decades-long battle, Apple's market value had reached 222 billion US dollars yesterday and was higher than Microsoft's 219 billion US dollars. Critics attributed the overtake to Apple has successfully turned themselves into a advanced gadget manufacturer and lured customers by innovative designs. Some also criticised the inability of Microsoft managements and lack of sustainable developing trajectory. Microsoft claimed that they're still the most profitable software company in the world.

27th May, 2010 - Stocks plunged on fear of tension

Major stock markets in asia yesterday plunged to 10 months low as tension between South and North Korean rised. North announced to sever all links with South and cut all communication channels that strained the relationship. US and South planned two anti-submarine exercises off the Korean Peninsula to showcase power "to deter future agression", and US also appealed Beijing, the only political ally of North Korean, to help pacify the strained relationship. But Beijing's vague stance implied that China refused to give a assertive judge on the issue.

25th May, 2010 - More want to take part in the Debate

More political parties wanted to take part in the televised debate on constitutional reform. Last week Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-knen invited Civic Party leader Audrey Eu Yuet-mee to spar in a live televised debate on constitutional reform. But Tsang said the debate will be a twosome and not have any audience, and the debate host will be someone with neutral political backgroud. Other parties, such as Democratic Party and even pan-government parties, have called on Chief Executive to invite more parties member in the debate so that more voices from different political spectrum could be heard.

20th May, 2010 - Bangkok under fire

(From Yahoo.com)

Thai government yesterday ordered troops to strom the red shirt encampment in Bangkok commercial area, put an end to the two-months lasted demonstration. Thai soldiers dispersed protesters with guns and armor cars and prompted seven top leaders of red-shirt to turn themselves in to prevent more protesters killed. Some protesters burnt prominent buildings in bangkok, including the tourist's hot spot Central World and Stock Exchange. Those bulidings were severely damaged in blaze and caused over hundreds of millions dollars loss. Government proclaimed an overnight curfew in 23 provinces as well as the capital.
Ex-Thai PM Thaksin said in a television interview that the Government's crackdown would make people resentful and turn the demonstration into guerilla.

19th May, 2010 - Barca want to buy Fabregas

The Spanish Champion Barcelona is conducting a negotication to buy Arsenal midfielder Cesc Febregas and Valencia striker David Villa, according to the club's vice-president. The Club said David Villa's transfer was in a good progress, but it's still need a further negotiation with Arsenal over the transfer of Febregas. The club said they were keen on bringing back the Arsenal midfielder to Barca, as Febregas was a youth member of the club, and both the players want to come made everything much easier.

18th May, 2010 - Government double standard ?

The head of Lawmaker Regina Ip's think tank has been hired as Chief Executive's Office speical assistant. Ronald Chan Ngok pang, a former Southern district councillor, had resigned from his position and will start his work as speical assistant tomorrow. It spark a criticism of the government's double standard, as Chief Executive Donald Tsang said earlier that the five lawmakers' resignation and the by-election was a waste of resources and not neccessary, and also condemned the five legislators that they betrayed their promise to serve public. As Chan now needs to cut short his four-year tenure as a district councillor, critics said in certain extent he had also broken his promise to serve the district people and accused the government double standard.

17th May, 2010 - Low turnout in by-election

Low turnout in yesterday by-election dealt a blow to the pan-democrats. Five pan-democrat legislators resigned in January for the sake of holding a by-election, which was touted as a de facto referendum on universal suffrage. But under the boycott by government-friendly parties, high-rank officials refused to vote and also the pressure from Beijing prompted the by-election ending with record low turnout. The election-day was relatively peaceful and the five democreats won and attained their seat without any threatening. Despite pan-democrats said the excercise was successful in terms of reflecting people eagerness of universal suffrage, the government claimed the 17.1% turnout rate implied that the by-election was not welcomed by most of the people.

Reference: The commerical by pan-democrats

12th May, 2010 - One out of nine living under breadline in HK

(From ChinaNews)

The latest study revealed that more than 10% of people in Hong Kong were living in poverty. The figure increased by 19% in the first three quarters last year. The government said the increase was attributed by the global financial and economic crisis. Critics said the figure implied that the government stragety on poverty was not working. Despite Hong Kong had rode out from the economic downturn, it was an illusion that officials believed the trickle-down effect would help to ease the poverty.

10th May, 2010 - HK needed to do more for the disabled

Getting around in the city can be an ordeal, some of the people in wheelchair said. The study by the Equal Opportunities Commission found that HK government have not done enough to make the city fully accessible. Lam Woon-Kwong, the new head of the commission took office in February, blamed that many government-owned premises such as libaries and wet markets did not boast with barrier-free facilities. He urged that the government should set up a high-level co-ordinating agency to ensure governmented-owned premises were fully accessible for the disabled, and suggested that bureaus should earmark a portion of its annual budget for providing barrier-free facilities in the premises under their management.

As there were a drozen of departments involved in provision of barrier-free facilities, that's why a agency is needed. The head also said the government should set a good example and take the lead to provide equal opportunites to reinforce peaceful and diversify image of the city. The study also disclosed other problems the disabled faced. Hospital Authority outpaient clinics only accept phone appointment that deter the hearing impaired. Also, roadside kerb imposes a hurdle on wheelchair users that they always need to take a longer way to their destination. Bus canpanies have not installed a GPS and speaker systems to tell the visually impaired that bus are approaching, and only a small portion of buses boasted with wheelchair access.

The study is expected to be released by the end of the month.

07th May, 2010 - Duty-free cigarettes policy

Legislators yesterday warned that reducing the number of duty-free cigarettes travellers can bring from three packets to 19 cigarettes could be inconvenient to traveller and seemed to be ridiculous. Under the new curb, traveller could only bring a opened packet of cigarettes with no more than 19 cigarettes. Lawmakers said the government in one hand allowed duty-free shops in cross-border piers to sell unopened packets of cigarettes, and prohibited traveller to bring a intact pack of cigarettes in the other. It seemed the government was encouraging people to break the law. If travellers bring more than 19 cigarettes, they have to pay tax for the extra cigarettes or scrap them. Lawmakers said smoking is not allowed in cross-border piers, if some travellers brought one unopened packet, he needed to pay duty for that extra cigarette or open the packet to scrap that, it seemed to be preposterous and would harm the image of Hong Kong. Duty-free shop tenders worried that their business would be hit as duty-free cigarettes accounted for 60% of their revenue.
The government said they will consider whether to have a outright ban over cigarette in long term, in order to create a smoke-free Hong Kong.

6th May 2010 - UK General election 2010

(Photo from London Evening Standard)

The United Kingdom general election is underway and the result will be announced at 5:00 am tomorrow in Hong Kong.
The Conservative remained in first place in the poll yesterday and it was possible for the Conservative to smash the 13-years power grip of the Labour party. The Labour kept in second place and still slightly surpassed the Liberal Democrat in the poll even after the Brown's "bigot" gaffe, but there was a 5% gap between Conservative and Labour.
For the Liberal Democrat, the party could capture much more seats in the House of Commons than in the last election in 2005 no matter Nick Clegg wins the election or not.