0962 HKSAR Name of the Day

Laurinda Ho, Stanley Ho's daughter (from wife number 3)

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0961 HKSAR Name of the Day

Florinda Ho, Stanley Ho's daughter (from wife number 3)

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Name Category: Rare

Fugly-Faced Academic Issues Fugly-Worded Message to Hongkongers

Fugly Peking University professor Kong Qingdong had 'hate speech' deleted by YouTube

Fugly Peking University professor Kong Qingdong called Hongkongers "running dogs for the British government" in a video rant, and YouTube promptly deleted it.


Reference from China Droll and SCMP (see below)

Professor denies 'dogs' jibe at Hongkongers

Ada Lee
Jan 22, 2012

A mainland academic who called Hongkongers "running dogs for the British government" denied having said so yesterday, saying media outlets had "maliciously twisted his speech".

This came as YouTube deleted the footage for violating the website's "policy prohibiting hate speech".

The video, which has angered many Hong Kong internet users, was footage of the Peking University professor Kong Qingdong speaking in an internet talk show on Thursday.

He said Hongkongers who refused to identify themselves as Chinese were "running dogs of the British government" and called them "bastards" when commenting on a row between Hong Kong and mainland passengers on an MTR train.

He also criticised Hongkongers for discriminating against mainlanders. But in an interview with internet television V1 yesterday, Kong said his speech had been "maliciously twisted" by mainland and Hong Kong media outlets.

"Did I say Hongkongers are dogs? I didn't," he said. "I request all media outlets which have twisted my speech to apologise." The link shared by most users was not available on YouTube last night.

YouTube said on its guideline page that although they encouraged free speech, they did not permit speech that attacked or demeaned a group based on their race, religion or sexual orientation.

A few other links on YouTube were still available, and the footage was still watchable on V1.

Chief executive hopeful Henry Tang Ying-yen said Kong should take responsibility for his speech.

His rival Leung Chun-ying said Kong's speech did not represent all mainlanders' views.

0960 HKSAR Name of the Day

Arnaldo Ho, Stanley Ho's daughter (from wife number 4 Angela Leong On-kei)

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Name Category: Rare

He is an Optimistic, Faithful Christian Liverpool Supporter

Surveyor Benny Lee enjoys ice cream with his wife and three children - now he is suffering liver failure and is in Queen Mary Hospital. Pic from SCMP

If people want to mention god and religion by saying things like: "He is an optimistic, faithful Christian", then it is equally acceptable to say things like: "He is an optimistic, faithful Liverpool supporter" and "He is an optimistic, faithful father and husband". No special treatment or privilege should be afforded to god and religion.

This author wishes Benny Lee and his family well.


Related Post

Crocus flowers for treating liver disease (The Perils of Traditional Chinese Medicine)


Reference

Husband has week to live unless he gets a new liver (SCMP; paywall)

Desperate wife issues urgent appeal for donor so transplant can save family's breadwinner
Joyce Ng and Adrian Wan
Jan 20, 2012

An urgent appeal was issued yesterday by the wife of a patient who has only one week to live if he does not get a liver transplant.

Surveyor Benny Lee Chi-yan, 45, was admitted to Baptist Hospital in December and diagnosed as having acute liver failure.

He was then transferred to Queen Mary Hospital.

His wife, Stephanie Min-ling, said at his bedside yesterday: "I am still hopeful my husband will live. I am confident somebody will help."

She made her appeal through the Institute of Surveyors yesterday, after the organisation and Lee's company failed to find a donor by an internal appeal over the past few weeks. Lee is of type B blood. He needs a donor of the same type or type O.

Stephanie said he was a hepatitis B carrier and doctors said her husband's condition was caused by virus mutation. She added: "There have been a few people of the right blood type coming forward but they changed their mind after knowing the risks.

"I understand this. But I know there are people out there who will support him."

Lee is a quantity surveyor working for the Japanese construction firm Maeda Corporation.

He is the sole breadwinner in the family and the father of a seven-year-old son and two daughters, aged 10 and 13.

His relatives were not suitable donors as they were either hepatitis carriers as well or of the wrong blood type.

"It is only by chance that there are deceased donors available. We hope more live donors can come forward," Stephanie said.

Daniel Ho Kwok-kwan, a spokesman for the institute, described Lee as a nice person and a keen volunteer. "He has been a voluntary assessor for the institute's licensing exams for many years.

"He is an optimistic, faithful Christian," Ho said.

Last year, Hong Kong saw organ donations from seven people (deceased) per million, up from four per million in 2005, according to statistics compiled every five years by the government.

At the end of last year, there were more than 90,000 registered donors in the Centralised Organ Donation Register, up from about 65,000 at the end of 2010. Despite the rise, there is still a shortage.

As of 2010, 91 patients were on the liver transplant waiting list. Of the 95 liver transplants, 42 involved deceased donors and 53 were living.

Those who want to offer help can contact Lee's wife at 90173070 or stephanieleeyuen@yahoo.com.hk, or Ho at 91941890 or thomaskkho@netvigator.com.

0959 HKSAR Name of the Day

Horky Kwok Pak-yat (Mr), orchid seller at 2011 Lunar New Year Fair in Victoria Park, Hong Kong (see Porky Chan and Piggy Chu)

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Name Category: Creation

0958 HKSAR Name of the Day

Ina Chan Un Chan, Stanley Ho's third wife

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Name Category: Rare

Water-ski champ dies in horror crash

But the death did not occur during competition or training, as implied by the headline. It was a car crash incident and the 37-year-old victim Johnson Hui Chung-shun happened to be a water-ski champion.

The news headline reminded me of another similar headline: Netball Captain Dies After Choking.


References

Water-ski champ dies in horror crash (The Standard)

Rio Lau
Thursday, January 19, 2012

Champion water-skier and wakeboarder Johnson Hui Chung-shun was killed in a car crash in Tai Po yesterday.

Hui, 37, a registered coach with the Hong Kong Water Ski Association, crashed his car into a central divider, before hitting a traffic sign and lamppost on reaching 72 Ting Kok Road at about 3.30am on his way home.

Firemen had to cut through the roof of the BMW to get Hui out of the wreck. Parts of the mangled car, which rolled over several times, were spread across the road. He was alone.

The impact was such that the lamppost was bent into a U-shape and thrown 10 meters away.

Hui died at 4.16am from serious head injuries in a Tai Po hospital.

The association said on its website that Hui was "a long-standing HKWSA member, certified coach and national squad member."

It added: "He was always a great supporter for the association's many events and activities ... Johnson was our favorite MC for wakeboarding events. Johnson's contribution and cheerful personality will long be missed by all of us."

Hui was also a member of the Hong Kong wakeboard team for the 2009 IWSF Wakeboard World Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea.

Hui reached a career-high when he won the China National Water Ski Championships in August 2010.

Hui set up a wakeboard school at Sam Mun Tsai in Tai Po with singer Andrew Cheung Shung-kei and actress Cecilia Cheung Pak-chi's younger brother, Cheung Ho-lung.

A source said Hui loved driving at fast speeds. New Territories North police investigators found no brake marks on the road. They have not excluded the possibility that Hui was speeding or that he fell asleep at the wheel.

Founder of wakeboard school killed in car crash (SCMP; paywall)

Clifford Lo
Jan 19, 2012

One of the founders of a prominent watersports training school died yesterday after crashing his BMW into a road divider in Tai Po.

Wakeboard School founder Johnson Hui Chung-shun, 37, was driving towards Tai Mei Tuk when he lost control of his car on Ting Kok Road near Fortune Garden at 3.30am.

The car mounted the divider, crashed into railings and knocked down a traffic sign and lights, police said.

Hui was unconscious when he was freed from the wreckage by firefighters. He was declared dead in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital at 4.16am.

Hui set up the Wakeboard School in Tai Po three years ago along with Andrew Cheung and Ronnie Cheung. He was a wakeboarding coach and a member of the Hong Kong Water Ski Association's wakeboard team.

Andrew Cheung paid tribute to Hui, saying he was a well respected, experienced and responsible coach.

"His death is a great loss," Cheung said, adding that Hui had made a huge contribution to the sport in the past decade.

Police believe Hui, who lived alone, was returning to his home in Wong Yue Tan, about 900 metres from the crash site. A police investigator said it was not a traffic black spot.

"We're looking into it - it's possible he was exceeding the speed limit of 70 kilometres an hour," the investigator said, adding that an autopsy would be carried out to determine whether Hui had been drinking.

The wreck of the black BMW 118i was taken to a government yard for examination.

Hui was a scuba-diving instructor for 10 years in Thailand before he went to Japan, where he spent two years training as a wakeboarding coach, Cheung said. He returned to Hong Kong 10 years ago.

Police appealed to any witnesses to the accident to contact them on 3661 3800.

0957 HKSAR Name of the Day

Lucina Laam King-ying, Stanley Ho's second wife

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Verbal Diarrhoea #12

"The murdering of someone is not pre-destined, the perpetrator alone is responsible. In this respect, the government of the country is solely to blame for not doing its job in providing safety and security to its citizens."

Claims Hindu supporter N. K. Rathi, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong

This is an example of a seriously-deluded claim from an individual. I will have further posts about this issue, since the local newspaper in Hong Kong appears to be giving this person a platform to announce and promote controversial and outrageous ideas.


About Verbal Diarrhoea


Related Posts (Verbal Diarrhoea)


Reference

Letters (SCMP; paywall)

Dec 29, 2011

Hinduism not fatalistic religion

In the article, ("Indians' disregard for human life all too evident", December 19), Amrit Dhillon blames Hindu "fatalism" as one of the causes of Indians' "disregard" for human life.

According to the Hindu law of karma, also followed by Buddhism, every individual is responsible for his/her actions. God does not interfere.

If a person chooses to murder someone, it is expected that he should be prosecuted with the severest sentence by the state besides paying for his actions in future lives. The murdering of someone is not pre-destined, the perpetrator alone is responsible.

In this respect, the government of the country is solely to blame for not doing its job in providing safety and security to its citizens.

Please don't lay the blame on Hinduism, as our religion is not fatalistic.

The reference made to astrology is also in bad taste. It is not just in India. Daily horoscope columns in newspapers, including the South China Morning Post, have a worldwide following.

N. K. Rathi, Ap Lei Chau

0956 HKSAR Name of the Day

Clementina Leitao Ho, Stanley Ho's first wife who came from a prestigious family in Portugal and was known as the "greatest beauty in Macau"

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

0955 HKSAR Name of the Day

Mirana May Szeto, a supporter of the Tsoi Yuen villagers and an assistant professor of literature at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

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Name Category: Rare

But Please Your Honour, He Can't Even Pay For A Haircut

Tony Chan says he can get his hands on HK$130 million. Photo by Dickson Lee

Related Posts

Is That A Genuine Will In Your Pocket ...

Contemptible Chinese Charlatans

Cringeworthy Friend, Loser Husband and Poor Father


Reference

Tony Chan says he has cash to pay estate's huge legal bill (SCMP; paywall)

Fung shui master files affidavit, but won't say if it lists all assets sought in HK$130m action
Joyce Man
Jan 14, 2012

Self-styled fung shui master Tony Chan Chun-chuen says he has the HK$130 million he would need to cover legal fees an estate administrator says he owes for his failed bid to take over the assets of the late billionaire Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum.

A representative for the businessman said Chan filed an affidavit in the High Court yesterday just before a 5pm deadline requiring him to detail every asset he has worth HK$100,000 or more. But the representative, Kenis Liu, declined to say whether the document included the full accounting the court had sought.

Chan has been quoted in news reports in recent days suggesting that he might instead provide HK$130 million cash as security or documents attesting to the value of a property he owns in the Mid-Levels.

"Mr Chan says his assets can cover the legal costs," Liu said. "Today, he filed an affidavit."

The temporary administrator of the Wang estate, accountants Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, had last month secured a temporary injunction to freeze enough of Chan's assets to settle the massive legal bill. The court also ordered him to provide the asset list.

In October, Chan lost his lawsuit against the Chinachem Charitable Foundation over control of Wang's HK$50 billion estate. Wang, the late chairwoman of Chinachem and once Asia's richest woman, died of cancer in 2007, aged 69.

Lawyer Albert Luk Wai-hung, who is not involved in the case, said, in general, people who had been ordered to furnish the court with material and cannot provide it might try submitting alternative material in lieu. In such cases, they could apply for sought permission in advance.

Such individuals can also ask for more time to supply what was originally asked, Luk said. Judges who see that a person had made a genuine effort to provide what it ordered and was unable to do so, would be likely to be more understanding. If that person misses the deadline, the judge might summons him to explain why.

The judiciary said it would not comment on individual cases.

It is unclear whether HK$130 million the estate says Chan owes comes on top of the HK$200 million the Chinachem foundation estimates to be its own legal costs from the court battle. The case ended on October 24 after the Court of Final Appeal held a four-hour hearing and dismissed Chan's application to overturn previous rulings.

Chan had claimed that Wang left him her fortune out of love in a 2006 will and showed videos of them together in an attempt to prove the depth of their relationship.

The court ruled that document a fake and that an earlier will held by the foundation was genuine.

The businessman, who has also been called a fung shui master, has been charged with forgery and using a false document.

He is next scheduled to attend court on April 17 and May 14 for hearings in the case. He is currently on bail.

0954 HKSAR Name of the Day

Dorian Ho, fashion designer, Hong Kong

see Verbal Diarrhoea #11

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Literature-based; Self-important

Seatbelt Sin and Sad Story

Sorry to those sensitive souls scanning this, but I had to blog about this news story (see below). The phrase Life Imitates Art comes to mind although in this case art pre-empted someone's last life event.

[The deceased] was the producer and executive director of the movie Colourful Mind, which is about a dead person given another chance to live in order to find out his greatest sin.

Wearing a seatbelt would be a good starting point.

Cue ... the Pet Shop Boys

It's a Sin with Lyrics

When I look back upon my life
It's always with a sense of shame
I've always been the one to blame ...

We have recently heard about the death of a 74-year-old who fell down the stairs of a double-decker bus. Why do people put themselves at unnecessary risk?

Risk Assessment
Leaving aside the unpredictable, unintelligent and incompetent actions of others (like the taxi driver, allegedly), why do people put themselves at unnecessary risk? Would it not be sensible to put on a seatbelt when riding in a vehicle?

Hey! By coincidence, today is Friday the Thirteenth ... not that it means anything.


Reference

Film producer dies in taxi smash (The Standard)

Candy Chan
Thursday, January 12, 2012

A Taiwanese film producer was crushed to death yesterday when the taxi taking him to the airport smashed into a road divider on the North Lantau Highway.

The driver, Lilian So Yuet- seung, 56, was critically injured and is battling for her life in hospital.

Police said the 55-year-old producer, identified as He Rui-da, was not wearing a seatbelt.

The taxi was near the Caribbean Coast Phase I around 12.45pm when it suddenly veered into the divider, flipped into the air and landed on the slow lane on the opposite side of the road.

The taxi was severely damaged, its chassis twisted and the roof torn open.

Both He and So were trapped inside the vehicle and had to be cut out by firemen. They were rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital where He was declared dead at 1.48pm. He suffered serious head injuries.

So suffered fractures on both arms and concussion. She was unconscious and on oxygen when wheeled into hospital and is now in the intensive care unit.

"We do not exclude the possibility the driver may have dozed off or suffered a seizure at the time," said a spokesman for the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South.

He urged anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to contact the investigation unit.

He Rui-da was the producer and executive director of the movie Colourful Mind, which is about a dead person given another chance to live in order to find out his greatest sin.

He arrived on Tuesday morning and was supposed to fly to Taiwan yesterday afternoon.

0953 HKSAR Name of the Day

Argon Ho Wai Kwok (Mr), alumnus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Nature-based; Substitution

0952 HKSAR Name of the Day

Rainbow Ho Tin Hung (Dr), alumnus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
see 0757 HKSAR Name of the day

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Literal translation; Nature-based

0951 HKSAR Name of the Day

Bosco Ho Hin Ngai (Mr), alumnus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

see 0222 HKSAR Name of the Day

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Substitution; somewhat common in Hong Kong

The Perils of Traditional Chinese Medicine

A recent news story reported that mainland Chinese parents are putting faith and wishful thinking in to using crocus flowers to treat their 19-month-old son's severely damaged liver caused due to a congenital blocked bile duct. The parents were earlier told by medical doctors in Hong Kong that their infant son needed a liver transplant.

Although lack of money and lack of access to modern resources may be major factors that are stopping the parents from accepting modern medicine, their belief in traditional Chinese medicine is still a huge concern, and illustrates how many people are tricked into believing traditional Chinese medicine is effective when compared with modern medicine.

"If it really worked, there wouldn't be so many people needing transplants," said Professor Lo Chung-mau, director of Queen Mary Hospital's Liver Transplant Centre

Do the parents actually know what is in the best interests of their child?

It is heart warming to hear that Hong Kong citizens have so far raised over HK$100,000 for the child's plight. A liver transplant in Hong Kong typically costs HK$1 million.


Reference

Parents backtrack on baby's liver operation (SCMP; paywall)
Infant whose plight won sympathy in HK will be treated with traditional methods, his father says

Lo Wei
Jan 04, 2012

The mainland couple whose infant son doctors say needs a life-saving liver transplant have decided to forgo the surgery - for which the Hong Kong public made donations - in favour of traditional Chinese treatment.

The parents of 19-month-old Li Liuxuan , whose plight made front-page news in the city two months ago, said a transplant would be a "last resort" for now.

"Little Liuxuan's health is progressing well with the Chinese medicine he has been taking," the father, Li Xianfeng , said last week.

"He has a better appetite now. His skin is not so yellow and he has grown taller and heavier.

"[Our] Chinese doctor said an operation may not be necessary, and we hope to avoid causing him serious harm [through a transplant operation]," the 32-year-old said.

The family has been consulting a doctor specialising in traditional Chinese medicine in Guangzhou since returning to the mainland.

The baby is being treated with crocus flowers, said to treat yellowing skin caused by liver disease.

Hongkongers donated tens of thousands of dollars to help the couple pay for a HK$1 million operation for Liuxuan, who was born with a blocked bile duct and whose liver was severely damaged.

The baby's recent progress may not be a sign of recovery, warns Professor Lo Chung-mau, director of Queen Mary Hospital's Liver Transplant Centre, who was consulted by the Li family in October.

Liuxuan's liver has been irreversibly damaged, Lo says, and a liver transplant - which has a 95 per cent success rate - is the only way to save the baby's life. "He may be in stable condition now, but complications such as intestinal bleeding or bile duct inflammation may occur any time and cause death," he said.

Lo also doubts the crocus flower's effectiveness. "If it really worked, there wouldn't be so many people needing transplants," he said.

Post readers sent donations to help Liuxuan, and the University of Hong Kong set up a Liver Transplant Charitable Fund. So far HK$119,870 has been received from 30 donors.

If the couple confirm they will not proceed with the transplant, donors who sent aid specifically for the baby will get a refund.

The liver centre will contact the family soon to get their final decision, Lo said.

0950 HKSAR Name of the Day

Barrie Ho Chow Lai (Mr), alumnus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

0949 HKSAR Name of the Day

Mickey Fung Mei Ki (Ms), alumnus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation for Females; Phonetic-based

Deliriously Drunk Dragons A Sign Of The Times

Dragons deliriously dancing and drinking and partying their time away (pic taken at Tsim Sha Tsui East)

This is Hong Kong's warped interpretation of Christmas and the festive season. It is a very merry and irresponsible message for Christmas.

To those familiar with Hong Kong's annual festive lights, the context and hence, the warped interpretation, is invariably linked with the upcoming Chinese New Year lights which always follow on from the Christmas lights. With the 2012 Chinese New Year being the Year of the Dragon, this is the reason why "there be dragons" displayed on Hong Kong's waterfront.

But does this mean that Chinese people believe dragons drink and party during the Lunar New Year too?? Or is this a purely Western attitude?

If surveys are anything to go by (see news article Fiery Dragon set to spark baby rush from The Standard), then the drinking and partying may indeed help with breathing more life (i.e. newborn baby 'dragons' or 'Little Emperors') in 2012. Scary times ahead.

0948 HKSAR Name of the Day

Idy Fu Chui Yuk (Ms), alumnus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Substitution

Verbal Diarrhoea #11

"Everyone has been talking about the end of the world lately, because of some ancient prophecy for 2012. I had someone asking me what I would do if this New Year's Eve was my last. I'm not buying into that story since my fortune-teller told me I'd live to be 83 years old."

Claims Dorian Ho, fashion designer, Hong Kong

This is an example of a "cherry picker"; someone who cannot think critically and has fallen into the trap of confirmation bias and wishful thinking. Dorian Ho—who incidentally probably thinks of himself as handsome and youthful-looking—has rejected one stupid "prophecy" for another one. How absurd.


About Verbal Diarrhoea


Related Posts (Verbal Diarrhoea)


Reference

A time for dreaming and setting goals; (SCMP; paywall)

Dec 29, 2011

Everyone has been talking about the end of the world lately, because of some ancient prophecy for 2012. I had someone asking me what I would do if this New Year's Eve was my last. I'm not buying into that story since my fortune-teller told me I'd live to be 83 years old. I sincerely wish for world peace this coming year. Let's keep things positive. On a personal note, I'm hoping to make it to Rome early in the year to catch up with some old friends. But with the autumn collection design in full swing and New York fashion week coming up, I don't know if I'll be able to fulfil that resolution.