Island disputes in Asia: China reasserts its position, evokes strong reactions

By Boshika Gupta

HONG KONG – China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi declared in a press conference that China would not make compromises over demands it doesn’t consider equitable in terms of island disputes in Asia. This statement was released on the sidelines of the annual National People’s Congress last week.

“On issues of principle such as history and territory, there is no room for compromise,” Wang said.

The island disputes pertain to the possession of a cluster of islands in East Asia. These islands have several possible benefits associated with them, leading to a tug of war between major countries including China, Japan, Taiwan, Russia and several others.

The island dispute between Japan and China, which involves the Senkaku or Diaoyu islands, primarily began in 1970. The dispute remains one of the major reasons for tensions between the two nations.

It is believed that these islands in East Asia are rich in natural resources. However, this was questioned in a lecture on the issue at Hong Kong Baptist University administered by Tetsuya Toyoda on Feb. 27.

Toyoda, a professor at Akita National University in Japan, while addressing a group of students after the session, said that no one knows for sure about the resources. He added that “people exaggerate.”

During the lecture, Toyoda emphasized the need for young students to be given opportunities to analyse the issue from a “third party perspective.”

However, the residents of Hong Kong reaffirmed Wang’s statement. “I strongly agree that these islands are owned by China,” said Mary C. Tsang, a merchant. She thinks a possible solution is to enable both the countries to negotiate and come up with an agreement through more communication.

Another Hong Kong resident, Kenny Chan feels that Japan has been very hard on China in the past in relation to World War II. He said that because he is Chinese, he chooses to stand by his own country in this scenario.

 China’s former Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, made several strong remarks as well in 2012, asserting China’s position at the United Nations General Assembly. Jiechi raised questions about violation of China’s sovereignty in relation to the islands.

 

 

Hong Kong Chief Executive’s second policy address lends heavy support to the needy, looks at housing policies and youth

By Boshika Gupta

HONG KONG: The highly awaited policy address by Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chunying put the focus back on a plethora of issues ranging from housing policies to poverty.

Keeping things in sync with last year, the chief executive spoke about long-term housing policies.

The aim is to get the recommendation of the Long Term Housing Strategy Steering Committee accepted in order to increase housing supply. A new target has been established for the same and public housing is said to account for an impressive 60 percent.

In an effort to alleviate poverty, several points were included such as introducing a Low-Income Working Family Allowance in order to break the vicious cycle of poverty in families. With this allowance, it is estimated that more than 2, 00,000 low-income families will benefit.

As for the youth in the region, the chief executive spoke about several beneficiaries such as primary and secondary students receiving financial assistance, underprivileged students pursuing eligible programs below sub-degree level and others.

Leung Chunying spoke about regularising several Community Care Fund programmes for the benefit of these students.

Under a section entitled, “Nurture the Next Generation,” various measures such as providing more subsidies to the youth in Hong Kong in order to enable them to pursue degree education in as well as outside Hong Kong, introducing measures to help the young generation strengthen vocational education were included.

The address included certain other things such as the launch of two Youth Hostel Scheme projects for the youth, expected to provide around 1,000 hostel places. Moreover, sponsoring Mainland exchange and internship programmes organized by community organizations was mentioned as well.

The policy address revealed points about promotion of electric vehicles in the region coupled with encouraging a bicycle-friendly environment in new towns and areas.  Additionally, the West Kowloon Cultural District, which is highly awaited, will function and provide several cultural and arts facilities from the year 2015.

The policy address has evoked numerous reactions from people in the region. Johnny Lui, a shopkeeper at Lok Fu Plaza, opined that the policy address simply does not feel legitimate to him and he has lost interest. “The more he (the Chief Executive) explains, the less I trust him,” he said.

Meanwhile, Debra Lai, another resident of Hong Kong, expressed that things cannot change overnight. She believes that people often choose to complain instead of giving the system a chance. “The government cannot please everybody,” she said.

Additionally, she maintains that Hong Kong needs time to evolve.

It remains to be seen how the proposals and statements made in the policy address shape up over the next year while people watch in anticipation.

Comic Con 2013: Mumbai witnesses a revolution of sorts

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By Boshika Gupta

MUMBAI: From people dressed in eclectic costumes to happy laughter and exclamations of delights at various sections, Mumbai’s second year with Comic Con turned out to deliver a number of surprises.

The aim of the Comic Con is to celebrate the spirit of the city through its love for graphic art coupled with popular culture. Thus, it was quite a revelation to find T-shirts with Sheldon’s “Bazinga!” in Hindi on sale!

Photo/Boshika Gupta

Additionally, there was a separate space for kids with toys on display along with events designed especially for them.

Moreover, there was a section devoted to culinary delights, ensuring no one went hungry at this weekend bonanza.

Param, a writer by profession, decided to pay a visit after being persuaded by his friends to give it a shot. He spoke about how people had opted for interesting costumes this year to express their love for comics. Furthermore, Dwarka, who was manning one of the counters, spoke enthusiastically about how they planned to set up a counter in February at the popular Kala Ghoda Festival this year as well.

All in all, a definite pulse seemed to reverberate within the crowd and it opened up a new, less explored side of the city. The next stop for Comic Con is Delhi this February.

The man with a glint in his eyes

By Boshika Gupta

It has almost been a year since his feet walked this earth. Months, weeks and days have passed us by but he’s not here. Sometimes, the emptiness reminds us. An ache that hits us without warning, a deep longing.

One of my earliest memories of him – I was being a kid and crying profusely after a fight. He came and promptly picked me up in his arms from my tiny little corner. I walked with him, holding his hand, sniffling. He took me to the candy shop. I looked at the candy in wonderment, forgetting I was supposed to be unhappy. I excitedly chose and exclaimed over the different colours, magical and enchanting.

Wisdom and experience is what he always had to offer. Anyone who met him was left slightly speechless because of his simplicity.

He was a man of few words. But when he did opine, it was to find everyone listening closely and being intrigued. He was funny. He had the best stories from the 1940s.  I could sit and listen, for hours without stopping.

And the years passed us by. I started growing up. As a teenager, I was aloof and in my own little world. I was living in a silly little bubble. Needless to say, it popped. And almost in slow motion,  I fell from my pedestal, looking at him.

He had sparkling eyes, you see. Look into them and you would forget what was bothering you. He just had that spark.

I didn’t talk to him as much. My teenaged life was a haze; I didn’t see him much. He was patient, he waited with a smile. Always asked me about how my life was going. He always held out his hand in support.

The years passed us by more quickly. I was in college, graduating and fiercely ambitious. His smile remained intact. But he was getting tired, I could sense that. I asked him at times, “How are you, Dadu?”

The response was now a resigned, “Tired.”

It worried me, it did. But I attributed it to old age and rationalized it. Everyone else told me the same and I learnt to not worry too much about it.

And then, that day arrived. It didn’t feel ominous to begin with.  He showed up and asked my father, who is a doctor, to check whether something was wrong. He was feeling some discomfort. I left home to meet an old friend that night. Mom says he cast a worried glance in my direction when I left.

Those few hours didn’t feel so scary. Because I was far away. I didn’t know what was happening. The clock struck midnight and I returned home to find my family members gathered around him.

He was gasping for breath. I panicked, sensing something was terribly wrong. It felt like things were falling apart but my hands were tied and I couldn’t untie the ropes fast enough. It felt like the end.

They rushed him to the hospital that night. They kept saying it didn’t look good but I was in denial. I brushed away their negativity, insisting he would make it through, just like he had, so many times before. He was a fighter.

Dadu lost consciousness on that dark night. I could see him breathing. He was hooked on to big scary machines. I came to see him again the next night. They said those machines were the reason he was still breathing. His heart was too tired.

I shut my eyes and willed things to go back to the way they were: all of us in a happy bubble. I screamed inside but the only person who could hear it was me.

The next days were spent at the hospital. I watched the nurses. I saw other people, crying softly. I knew I wasn’t the only one in pain. I looked over to where Dadu was, wishing I could tell him I love him.

He was suffering, we knew that. A collective decision was made by the family to take him off the ventilator. No one could see him suffer. My father said that as the staff slowly took away the equipment, the monitor showed them his escape into a better world. He was there among them for a few minutes and slowly but surely, gracefully took flight like a bird hungry for adventure.

He can never be forgotten. He was my determined Grandfather. He taught me a lesson. On love, it is unconditional. It is like air – always present, around us and within us. Love is eternal.

Monsters are not just under those beds: Mrs. Kelly’s Monster is a must-read

By Boshika Gupta

HONG KONG: How do you take something sombre like brain surgery and an aneurysm and convert them into an engaging, powerful read?  Jon Franklin does exactly that and much more with Mrs. Kelly’s Monster. There are innumerable conflicts/emotions at work here. By the end of the story, the reader is left with a personal connection.

The beginning is simple. However, Franklin immediately introduces symbolism with, “His wife serves him waffles but no coffee.  Coffee makes his hands shake.” This is quite clever since the man in question is a surgeon. His hands cannot shake. It could be a fatal mistake.

What’s interesting is that Mrs. Kelly’s disease is humanized and given its own unique characteristics.  This is a bad monster and it has been troubling Mrs. Kelly since years. The descriptions are beautiful and not easy to write, considering the topic. While describing surgery with such intricate details and ensuring that the reader does not lose interest, Franklin has done a stellar job.

The mood is paid attention to and tension keeps building, with the reader being reminded about time flying past while the doctor tries to tackle the surgery. Additionally, there is good background information and Franklin leaves no stone unturned in helping the reader understand Mrs. Kelly’s battle with the Monster.

Worth a read? Most definitely.

Investigative Journalism rules the roost at HKBU-SOPA 2013

By Boshika Gupta

Photo/Boshika Gupta

HONG KONG: Investigative Journalism was the hot topic at HKBU-SOPA 2013. Several excited faces were spotted at HKBU-SOPA 2013, which had journalism bigwigs come to Hong Kong Baptist University to speak to young aspiring journalism students on a wide array of topics. The event kicked off on Wednesday, 6th November with a grand opening ceremony and a glimpse into the public forum.

The speakers included Jamil Anderlini, Bejing Bureau Chief for Financial Times, May Titthara, National News Editor at The Phnom Penh Post, Thomas Fuller, Southeast Asia Correspondent for The New York Times, Ernest Chi, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Investigative Team Leader, Ming Pao and Michael Forsythe, Correspondent in Hong Kong for Bloomberg News.

The forum threw light on a variety of issues ranging from cheating in journalism and ethics to passion for the profession. It saw students respond positively and with a lot of enthusiasm. Thomas Fuller advised the aspiring students, “Don’t be a journalist unless you want your job to be your life and your life to be your job.”

Additionally, the Q&A session witnessed several interesting questions from the curious audience such as where are the female investigative journalists and why does it seem to be more male dominated? Anderlini replied that half of the reporters for Financial Times are women and there are some very brave women journalists out on the field.

Ernest Chi was optimistic. He felt that this is Hong Kong’s finest hour as it fights for its democracy.

HKBU-SOPA promises to be an affair which won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Of first meetings and memories

By Boshika Gupta

HONG KONG: Some people leave an impression on you for a lifetime. She didn’t know what meeting him would be like. They had been talking for awhile now but this was such an unlikely friendship, she couldn’t help but snicker at the thought of it.  She still recalled how much she used to dislike him. The initial days were just so incredibly difficult.

Joyce at the Asian Games, 2011

But picture this: you’re working together and are located in different geographical locations. However, you are constantly corresponding with each other and going through an incredibly stressful and gut wrenching project together. Friendship slyly sneaks in and promptly taps you on the shoulder.

The Asian Games, 2011 – they finally met. And what’s more, they got along like a house on fire. She laughed as he spoke, feeling like she had found a long lost friend. She could sense the volunteers’ eyes on her, envious. This boy was popular among the women, beyond a shadow of a doubt. He was so much younger than she was. She grinned to herself as she remembered the sheer amount of emails he used to bombard her with, in the beginning. It was irksome and she hated it. But when it stopped, she started missing it, surprising herself.

There are a few moments which find a permanent spot in your memory. It has been long since they met. Eons ago, really. And yet, this memory, the first meeting catches her off-guard when she least expects it.

Some things stay with you.

The burden of separation: A mother’s tale

By Boshika Gupta

HONG KONG: She is sitting on a busy street near Hong Kong station, laughing and joking with her friends. Her deepest emotions and thoughts aren’t apparent at all. Not yet.

Photo/Boshika Gupta

This is Judie L. Vegara’s story. Hong Kong has been her home for five years. She is a migrant worker, originally from the Philippines.

As of October 2013, the total number of Filipinos working as domestic workers in Hong Kong is around 160,000.

Stories of hard lives and bad living conditions abound among the domestic workers.  Many people leave their hometown in pursuit of a better quality of life.

This thought is echoed by Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, Chairperson of United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNFIL-MIGRANTE-HK). This is a non-governmental organization which works in the interest of Filipino workers in Hong Kong and seeks to support them.

Balladeres-Palaez stated that around 4500 people leave the Philippines every day.

Vegara says that she has been apart from her son for too long. Having felt compelled to provide a better life for her family, Vegara left her country years ago to provide for her family.  She believes she doesn’t know her son, who stays with her parents back home in the Philippines. “I feel bad about it. But I can’t change that,” she says.

 Balladeres-Pelaez advises single mothers working far away from home to be strong. She says that they need to truly understand and think about the real reason that forces them to be away from home. According to her, it is crucial that women empower themselves and join different organizations.

Meanwhile, Vegara emphasizes that her life and travails have not been a cakewalk. Her lover left her when she was still seven months pregnant. She left home when her son was only four months old. Vegara mused, “If I wasn’t abroad, I would have been closer to him.”

Will she go back home for good to be with her family? “The best thing would be to go home,” she says. However, she needs to wait until her son’s university education is complete.

Vegara adds that she does go and visit her family whenever she gets an opportunity. However, she thinks that the time spent with her son during such brief visits doesn’t do justice to her or her son. “It is not enough,” she says.

When asked about regret, Vegara reflects over how she never got to do “the mum things.” Her mother is the one who took care of her son while she worked in a land far away, trying to make ends meet for her family.

However, Vegara is a fighter. She is often asked by her friends how she managed to stay strong.  “Fighting spirit!” she declares determinedly. “It’s not the end of the world.”

As for the man who left her 16 years ago, she doesn’t know whether he is even alive. When asked what she would say to him if she sees him again, she says with half a smile, “Where have you been? I have been waiting for so long.”

Hidden Treasures in Hong Kong: Ping Chau Island

By Boshika Gupta

HONG KONG: Hong Kong is renowned for its high-end shopping malls and stands true to its reputation of being a financial hub in Asia.  However, there is a softer, more natural side to Hong Kong which remains relatively unexplored.

Photo/Boshika Gupta

Enter Ping Chau (also known as Tung Ping Chau), a treasure trove.  It has breathtakingly beautiful sights and is heaven for anyone who is a lover of nature. This island is unique with its hypnotic jagged rocks coupled with gorgeous beaches.

You could be a traveller, thirsty for a snorkelling adventure. Or a wanderer looking to explore picturesque white beaches. Or perhaps you have been working too hard and need a timeout from the hustle and bustle of the city. No matter who you are or what your story is, you’ll find that Ping Chau will take you to unparalleled bliss and fill an empty chapter in your story with beautiful recollections.

There is a huge variety of marine life here, from sea urchins to crabs. Also, the Tin Hau temple on the island has been listed as a Grade III historic building.  The cliffs and the wave-cut platforms are bound to mesmerize you.

Its aura will stay with you long after you’ve sailed away from the island and are back battling the humdrum chores of life.

The island is accessible by ferry from Ma Liu Shui ferry pier, near The Chinese University Of Hong Kong.

Ping Chau will undoubtedly make you sigh when you’re sitting in your favorite arm chair someday in the future and flipping through the pictures from a day well spent on this remarkable island.

A glimpse into a magical getaway – The Peak

By Boshika Gupta

HONG KONG: If you’re a lover of night lights and in search of new things, you’ll find yourself wandering around the city, looking for getaways and places where you know you belong. The Peak, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hong Kong, is really special like that.

Photo/Boshika Gupta

There are a number of reasons why The Peak is sought after by many. It offers one of the best views of Hong Kong from the Sky Terrace 428, literally 428 meters above sea level! What you get is a 360-degree scenic view which blows your mind, no matter who you are or where you come from.

The most effective way to experience the surreal avatar of The Peak is to take The Peak Tram. Keep your eyes and ears open. Your stomach will perform a few acrobatic stunts in despair as you go right up. The beautiful view and unique experience makes up for it though.

Of course there is a plethora of things which can be enjoyed at The Peak. There is The Madam Tussauds Wax Museum, plenty of shopping options – effectively making it ‘the shopper’s paradise’ and an array of dining options featuring four signature restaurants and many casual dining options.

On the flip side, you should expect overcrowding and you have to be willing to stand in serpentine queues coupled with waiting to get your spot at the Sky Terrace 428.

All in all, it’s an experience you don’t want to miss.

Rating: Four out of five stars