MENTAL HEALTH
Katie McGregor (healthpost@scmp.com)
Jun 05, 2012
There is no doubt that the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was a catastrophe for hundreds of thousands of people. But for Linda Fancy, it gave her the impetus to bring together the strands of her experience as a counsellor, crisis management consultant and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) practitioner to create a programme to help relief workers cope with the emotional maelstrom of helping others in that time of crisis.
Today, Fancy, who has lived in Hong Kong since 1998, runs a more refined version of this early programme, a one-day workshop called Personal Power, to help city dwellers deal with their own personal turmoil.
"I was in Sri Lanka just after the tsunami and, like so many others, I wondered what I could do to help," says Fancy. Although she had experience helping others in Hong Kong, she felt ill equipped to deal with a disaster of this kind. However, an unexpected interaction with a distressed man who had survived the tsunami by climbing a tree gave her the confidence to step forward.
"I was hired by the UN and the Sri Lanka Ministry of Health to support medical graduates doing psychosocial field work. I saw there was a problem with burnout, as these freshly graduated doctors and nurses had not been taught any self-management techniques, and all too easily identified with and became 'damaged' by the emotions of the very people they were trying to help."
And so the MeManagement self-awareness programme was born, scribbled out on a flip chart and offered as a self-help programme to the graduates along with relief workers at other NGOs.
Fancy herself had a traumatic childhood with the loss of four close family members. This, she says, gave rise to deep-seated feelings of abandonment, and through her early life would make her overly sensitive to rejection, real or imagined.
"I attended workshop after workshop, seeing many truths, but with minimal change," she says. "One of the turning points came when I was introduced to the more results-oriented NLP techniques, and undertook certification so that I could better understand my mind. I had dabbled in self-hypnosis with astounding results, so the different mind awareness techniques came easily to me."
NLP processes can help participants make peace with self-sabotaging inner voices, through the use of techniques to moderate or reframe thoughts. The technique is popular, especially where quick results are required, such as in an environment of crisis, because it doesn't dwell on the causes of behaviour but seeks to allow patients to "move on".
The techniques stand at odds with classical psychoanalysis - or the "talking cure" - where the focus is on understanding the cause of emotional reactions. The conflict between the methods is illustrated in the recent film, A Dangerous Method, about the relationship between Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. In the end the friendship cools as they diverge in their beliefs; Jung believing that while psychoanalysis can reveal the cause of unwanted behaviour, it cannot cure the patient.
Fancy has found what she believes to be the middle ground: "While the initial programme focused more on reframing and disassociation techniques, it quickly became apparent that you do need to see the roots of your behaviour in order to manage your mindset. It's all very well doing a workshop and leaving full of good spirits and intention, but it is easy to fall back into old habits when you are involved in an emotional situation."
With her painful childhood, Fancy realises more than most that our early years do have an impact on the way we think and react. "We are born without a sense of self but as we grow we create a conditioned identity of 'me', and with our absorption of language and influences come a whole range of 'me' - the doubter, the self-righteous, the neglected, the needy, the independent.
"Science has shown that 95 per cent of the time we are automated in our responses to life, operating on the premise of our conditioned thoughts, which more often than not are unreliable; they are just our childhood perception of affairs, which can be very distorted.
"I provide people with models to help them see the roots of their conditioning, and then stand back as if witnessing their inner 'me'. From that place, which I call the MetaMind, you are able to act like a movie director - you can call the cut on destructive thoughts, and then move to the next scene. Where you put your thoughts is where you put, and potentially lose, your power."
But rather than spend weeks in counselling, the Personal Power workshop attendees run through a series of exercises in a day, learn disassociation techniques, develop a better awareness of "me" with drawing and charting exercises, and pick up tools and techniques to help regain and maintain balance.
"The best thing about Fancy's course is that you walk away with real tools that you can use on your own," says workshop attendee Jane. "You're taught simple meditation and visualisation techniques, and creative methods for drawing and mapping your life, thoughts, emotions and perceptions."
Another attendee, Nathan, an airline pilot, says: "From the start of the workshop I saw immediately why I act and think the way I do. The programme gave a good insight into who I am and how to adjust my thoughts. It also helped me gain energy by letting needless thoughts go."
While Fancy runs a regular public workshop, she also offers corporate and one-on-one sessions. "It's amazing how these simple exercises can allow people to step back and see how their the mindset drives their reactions, and this then frees them to choose how they want to respond to life in every moment," she says.
This is personal power.
For more information on Fancy's workshops, visit her website: www.me-management.net
"To me, ultimately martial arts means 'honestly expressing yourself'. It is very difficult to do. I mean it is easy for me to put on a show and be cocky and be flooded with a cocky feeling and I feel like pretty cool. Or I can make all kinds of phony things and fancy things and be blinded by it."
"But to express oneself honestly, that my friend is very hard to do. You have to train, you have to keep your reflexes so that when you want it, it is there. When you want to move, you are moving. And when you move you are determined to move. Nothing less than that. If I want to punch, I am going to do it Man! I'm gonna do it. That is the type of thing you have to train yourself, to become one with what you think, you know."
John Carney
Jun 03, 2012
Robert Wang, age 12, on the school boxing team. Photo: SMP
Robert Wang Wei-han may have rubbed shoulders with some of Hong Kong's most powerful tycoons for years, but none of them was as famous as the man with whom he went to school - Bruce Lee.
The movie star, four years older than Wang, was a loner who did not mix with the other pupils at La Salle College, which was then located at Perth Street, Ho Man Tin.
"There was something extraordinary about him that marked him out from the others," Wang said. "He carried himself as if he was superior to others. But he was not popular and lived in his own world of martial arts."
Lee was born in the United States into a showbiz family, which gave him a better command of English than the other boys, and he already considered himself a star after appearing as a child actor in local films. Wang remembers him as being temperamental. All the 16-year-old Lee wanted to do was to practise his fighting skills, and most of the time it was on the other pupils.
"He was always on the prowl, looking for trouble. He was very unpleasant. Everyone was afraid of him," Wang said. "He had a reputation as a troublemaker and was involved in so many fights that he was summoned to see the principal frequently and earned himself many disciplinary warnings. He was eventually kicked out of the school."
Before this though, Wang and Lee competed on the school boxing team together. Wang idolised him as a boxer because he was so good and freely admits to "sucking up to him" and calling him "Big Brother" because he was older. He went out of his way to befriend him and in return Lee called him "Kid".
Even after Lee was expelled from the school and returned to the US, Wang was destined to meet him one more time. It was 1972 and Lee was standing on the concourse of the Star Ferry terminal beside a large billboard advertising his new film Way of the Dragon. Wang was on his way to work and called out: "Hi, Big Brother, you're now big in the movie world!"
"Hi, Kid," Lee replied. "Just stand here by my side." Lee didn't take the conversation with him further and just wanted to give Wang his 15 minutes of fame. "I shared in his glory as passers-by gasped in astonishment", snapping pictures, Wang said.
Jennifer Cheng
May 26, 2012
Of all the ways to take your vows with wows, few could match walking down the aisle in a wedding dress made of balloons.
And in Hong Kong, where weddings are no small affairs, brides-to-be seeking that extra lift are looking to Phoebe Chan Kin-pui.
It's an idea that's certainly taking off around the world - a wedding gown worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton (whose parents built a fortune in the party supply trade), is said to have inspired a copy made with 5,000 balloons by a British artist.
Chan, 38, is one of only four certified balloon artists in Hong Kong - and these are no inflated qualifications, as aspirants have to sit written, oral and practical examinations.
And just in case you think a balloon artist is some sort of shrinking violet, Chan's "day job" involves teaching construction workers how to handle building machinery safely. Her balloon artist "studio" is in the workshop among the shovels and concrete mixers and pneumatic drills of her training institute.
Chan's talent with balloons was recognised in March when she was named New Artist of the Year at the 2012 World Balloon Convention in Dallas, Texas. Her dresses and decorative arrangements have won prizes in Belgium, Japan and Malaysia.
"Balloon art is actually really easy, and you can feel accomplished quickly after creating something in a short time," the self-taught artist said. "It takes me six hours to weave a dress, but can you imagine how long it would take to knit a garment that size with yarn?"
She took up balloon art two years ago after watching a television show on it with her two young children.
Now she offers balloon art classes - sometimes free - for special groups.
Chan's stellar rise as a balloon artist has rankled some clowns and party entertainers, who claim she is taking away their clients. Chan uses about 300 balloons to make a dress, and has received many orders.
"The reason my dresses are so popular is because they are formfitting. While other designers in the world just slip the dress over their models' heads, I design the dress to be so tight that it presses into the flesh, which narrows the waist."
She said her balloon dresses can be kept for up to a week, but can only be worn once. "The dress is all for photos and memories."
Chan is also negotiating to design costumes for a major male pop star to wear at his concerts next month.
Asia's richest man to split business empire in a way that should prevent conflict
May Chan
May 26, 2012
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Li Ka-shing, Asia's richest man, yesterday spelled out a succession plan to split his business empire between his two sons in a way he said would ensure no conflict between them.
Li (pictured) said that elder son Victor Li Tzar-kuoi would take the helm of property group Cheung Kong (Holdings) (SEHK: 0001) and conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa (SEHK: 0013).
"As for my other son [Richard Li Tzar-kai], there are some things that he is very interested in. He will have my full support … now that he has already owned several sizeable companies.
"The asset values of the businesses that he owns will go up several times over, so he will also have a very successful career.
"And there will be no conflict among their businesses."
Li Ka-shing, who turns 84 next month, was rated last year by Forbes magazine as the ninth-richest person in the world - as well as Asia's richest - with an estimated wealth of US$25.5 billion.
He told a press conference yesterday after the annual meetings of Cheung Kong and Hutchison that younger son Richard was in talks with "several sizeable companies" for acquisitions in industries outside the business scope of Cheung Kong and Hutchison. He said they were not media or entertainment businesses, but were "long-term" businesses that Richard liked.
Victor would own more than 40 per cent of Cheung Kong, his father said, and 35.5 per cent of Husky Energy, a Canadian oil company.
Li Ka-shing said he had "no plans" to retire, but had thought out the succession plan for a long time.
Victor, who was also at the press conference, said he was happy with his father's decision. Victor has been managing director at Cheung Kong and deputy chairman at Hutchison for more than 10 years.
Richard, who is not on the board of either company, was not available for comment. He left Hutchison in 2000 to focus on building his own business empire. He is chairman of PCCW (SEHK: 0008), the biggest telecommunications company in Hong Kong.
Based on Cheung Kong's closing share price of HK$91.50 yesterday, the company's market capitalisation stands at HK$211.93 billion, making Li Ka-shing's stake worth at least HK$83.56 billion.
Husky Energy was worth about C$22.84 billion (HK$172.84 billion) based on Thursday's closing price, valuing his stake at C$8.11 billion.
The 40 per cent stake in Cheung Kong, which owns 49.97 per cent of Hutchison, effectively gives Victor control of the conglomerate. Hutchison closed at HK$66.55 yesterday, giving it a market capitalisation of HK$283.73 billion.
Shares in Cheung Kong and Hutchison that Li Ka-shing has bought over the past two years will go into the Li Ka Shing Foundation, a charity that will be overseen by both Richard and Victor upon their father's retirement.
The foundation also owns shares in Facebook.
Hutchison boasts the world's biggest port and telecommunications operations, in 14 countries. Its activities also span infrastructure, retailing and property development.
Li Ka-shing remains upbeat about Hutchison's earnings prospects, despite global uncertainty as a result of the euro zone crisis. He also said he was optimistic about business opportunities in Europe.
"We definitely won't decrease our investment in Hong Kong," he said, when asked whether Hutchison would make further acquisitions in Europe. We want to invest in Hong Kong as long as it can provide us with a harmonious macro-environment. If not, we go invest somewhere else, overseas."
Li, who voted for Henry Tang Ying-yen instead of winner Leung Chun-ying in this year's elections for Hong Kong chief executive, refused to comment on Leung. But he said the chief executive-elect must prove that he could protect the Basic Law (the city's mini-constitution) and Hong Kong's core values, including the rule of law and freedom.
He also said he welcomed policies to solve housing problems facing low-income groups in the city, but said he hoped the government would maintain a stable land supply.
"If I can find [a donor], I can look after [my son] for 20 years. By that time, when [my boy] needs a liver transplant again, I will give him my liver without hesitation."
Lo Wei and Sally Wang
May 16, 2012
The mainland toddler with liver disease who made headline news last winter when his parents sought help in Hong Kong, and for whom city residents donated nearly HK$120,000, is in critical condition.
Two-year-old Li Liuxuan, who was born with a blocked bile duct, was admitted to Guangzhou Children's Hospital last Thursday because of internal bleeding.
His parents, from rural Henan , are falling behind on medical bills and fear their son will be forced out of the hospital and die for lack of urgent treatment.
Hongkongers had donated HK$119,870 to help pay for a HK$1 million liver transplant after learning of the toddler's plight when his desperate parents sought care in the city in October. But father Li Xianfeng and his wife later decided against the surgery and turned to traditional Chinese remedies instead.
The donations are still sitting in the fund set up to help the family.
But on Thursday Liuxuan was taken in with a swollen abdomen due to his hardened liver, and doctors say this is the source of the bleeding. The boy is unable to eat or drink.
Wen Zhe, Liuxuan's doctor, said the toddler managed to survive several grave moments on Friday and Saturday. "But he remains in critical condition, and eventually will need a liver transplant," Wen said.
Since Thursday, the boy's father has racked up 9,000 yuan (HK$11,000) in credit card debt for his son's medical fees, and expects the total bill to reach 30,000 yuan.
"We have no money to pay now," said Li, who stopped working as a freelance construction worker in Henan to take care of his son. "Doctors say they will stop the medication. We're afraid they may drive us out of the hospital and that our son will die." Professor Lo Chung-mau, director of Queen Mary Hospital Liver Transplant Centre whom the Lis consulted last year, said donors and fund managers would have to approve the use of the donated funds for Liuxuan's latest medical bill.
Li Xianfeng said he was still apprehensive about letting his son undergo surgery, particularly after Liuxuan's failed bile duct operation at a Guangzhou hospital when he was three months old.
Li is also worried that any surgery done in Hong Kong would require the family to quickly return to the city for future treatment - which may be difficult. If Liuxuan has a transplant in Hong Kong, his father is also the most likely donor of a liver.
"It is not that I don't want to do this [operation] for my son," the father said. "But I have to make a careful decision because of the consequences for the family; I am the only person that can support the family. Who can bring my son to see the doctor and take care of my parents if I fall ill?"
Last year - after being refused treatment by many doctors and hospitals in six mainland provinces - the Li family came to Hong Kong. Guangzhou Children's Hospital helped put them in touch with Lo, who told them that a transplant was the only way to save Liuxuan's life.
The boy was at the time in stable condition, but Lo warned that fatal complications could occur anytime.
The liver transplant would cost HK$1 million because Liuxuan is not a resident in Hong Kong, where the family found much aid after the story was reported in the South China Morning Post.
But after a week in Hong Kong, the family returned home and consulted a Guangzhou doctor specialising in traditional medicine, saying surgery was a "last resort". The boy was treated with crocus flowers, but the parents quickly ran out of money to pay for the herbs.
Li now hopes to find a liver donor either in Hong Kong or Shanghai. "If I can find [a donor], I can look after [my son] for 20 years. By that time, when [my boy] needs a liver transplant again, I will give him my liver without hesitation," he said.
Devil. Whale. Chlorophyll, Violante, Treacle — you name it, Hong Kong probably has someone who goes by it. Inquisitive, enterprising and...
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