Can Anyone Count at SCMP?

Today, Hong Kong’s three English-language newspapers ran the local news story about quadriplegic Tang Siu-pun leaving hospital after 19 years as an in-patient. The 41-year-old quadriplegic, known as Ah Bun, made headlines in 2004 when he appealed to then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa to legalize euthanasia so that he could end his life. His appeal fell on deaf ears. Today's news stories bring to mind the old joke that there are three kinds of mathematicians, those who can count and those who can’t.

[After 19 years, quadriplegic Ah Bun leaves Queen Mary Hospital and moves into a new flat in a public housing estate. Pic from SCMP]

The Standard’s “Home after 19 years, Ah Bun starts anew” correctly mentions that Tang was severely paralyzed in a 1991 gymnastics accident when he was 22 years old.

In comparison, the SCMP’s “Ah Bun's dream comes true after 19 years” joyously attempts to give more specific details by stating that the gymnastics accident occurred on June 19, 1999.

With numbers and nines and ones all over the shop, it seems 19 years is a lot to count for SCMP!


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