Social Issues Hot-Topic *__* [Archive]

Isan

February 22nd, 2005, 04:02 PM

HK suggests 3 children per couple

China Daily
Publication Date : 2005-02-22

Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang has called on Hong Kong couples to have three children, saying that this would be the best method to alleviate problems caused by an ageing society, which has only a very small population growth.

Speaking on a Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) phone-in programme, Tsang also said it was vital to boost Hong Kong's competitiveness by expanding the talent import scheme to attract educated mainlanders - especially young single males.

"Hong Kong has one of the lowest 'total fertility rates' in the world and we need to think about how to resolve the problems discouraging people from having children," said Tsang, who heads the government task force on population policy.

The total fertility rate refers to the average number of children that would be born to a woman during her lifetime. The rate was at an extremely low level of 0.941 in 2003, well below the replacement level of 2.1, according to the Census and Statistics figures.

"We need to think about how to encourage them to build families and ease their pressure in daily lives," he said.

"I think each couple needs to give birth to at least two children to reach the population replacement level. Three will be the best," Tsang said.

According to a population project released by the government last year, the proportion of the population aged 65 and over, is projected to rise markedly, from 11.7 per cent in 2003 to 27 per cent in 2033. The median age of the population will increase from 38 in 2003 to 49 in 2033.

Talent import scheme

To negate the effects of the persistent low birth rate, Tsang said the government needed to strengthen the existing talent and professional import scheme to attract more new blood into Hong Kong.

While the scheme will help improve the workforce quality in Hong Kong, Tsang also hopes the mainland young men will help increase the number of eligible bachelors in Hong Kong.

The sex ratio (or, the number of males per 1,000 females) in Hong Kong is projected to fall noticeably, from 939 in 2003 to 698 in 2033. The imbalance has been attributed to the presence of foreign domestic helpers, the immigration of Hong Kong men's mainland wives and the fact that females live longer than males.

While Hong Kong men of lower incomes have been marrying women across the border, the traditional expectation for a woman to "marry up" - to a man with better education and earning more money - has stopped women from doing the same. Some even predicted that one in every four Hong Kong women will have difficulty finding a husband.

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa announced in his 2005 Policy Address that the government is working on a scheme to attract talented people from the mainland and overseas to develop their careers in Hong Kong and the scheme will go into effect within the year.

"The government needs to study expanding the existing talent and professional import schemes to lure those elites, particularly the young and strong, to work in Hong Kong... We need to attract them to consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international financial hub," Tsang said.

But he said there is no need to expand the one-way permit quota, which is for family reunion purposes.

Two days ago, Executive Councillor Bernard Chan, who is also a legislator representing the insurance sector, raised concerns that Hong Kong would have a shortfall of skilled labour amid declining birth rates.

In recent years, Hong Kong's population growth has mainly been caused by the influx of mainland immigrants under the one-way permit scheme.

At present, the government allows up to 150 people to settle in Hong Kong daily with one-way permit visas. But the number of one-way permit holders has dropped from 53,000 in 2003 to 34,000 last year. The decrease is believed to be due to a weakening in interest in immigration to Hong Kong as the standard of living improves on the mainland.

When asked to comment on Tsang's suggestion of three children per couple, Financial Secretary Henry Tang said he will consider giving more tax relief to such families.

Executive Councillor Leung Chun-ying said the government needed to simplify the application procedures of talent and professional import schemes.

But Leung said it is unnecessary to offer right-of-abode and preferential tax to attract talents to come into Hong Kong.

Odalia Wong, a sociologist at Hong Kong Baptist University, said Hong Kong's total fertility rate is lower than other comparable affluent cities in Southeast Asia, such as Singapore and South Korea.

"The shrinking young generations might not be able to fill up the job vacancies in the market," said Wong.

"Society's great burden on social security payment in future could divert public resources away from some economically productive areas," Wong said.

Charles Li, an associate professor at the City University in economics and finance, said the government should make more efforts to maintain the quality of the workforce for Hong Kong to compete against other economies that are service-oriented.

Isan

March 7th, 2005, 06:53 PM

Fate of Hong Kong leader expected to be known by end of week

http://sg.yimg.com/xp/afp/20050307/60527219.jpg

Hong Kong was inching closer to discovering the fate of leader Tung Chee-hwa, with speculation mounting the unpopular chief executive would formally resign by the end of this week.

Tung was widely reported to have quit last week, two years ahead of the end of his tenure, but has so far made no official comment on his future, promising only to speak "at an appropriate time."

Tung, picked by Beijing to head the first post-colonial administration after the former British territory's 1997 handover to China, met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday to discuss his departure, the South China Morning Post said.

After returning to Hong Kong on Sunday, Tung held "urgent" 45-minute talks with the man seen as his most likely successor, Chief Secretary Donald Tsang. Neither Tung nor Tsang commented following the talks.

A growing media consensus says that Tung will confirm his resignation in Beijing on Saturday, after he is appointed as a vice-chairman of China's top advisory body the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

"I promise you that I will give an account at an appropriate time regarding the question that you are all concerned about," the chief executive told reporters on Sunday.

The guessing game over when Tung would confirm his plans drew criticism from the outspoken head of the Catholic church in Hong Kong, Bishop Joseph Zen

"I think it's (disrespectful) to the people. The people have a right to know and not to be kept in the dark," Zen said.

"It was unfortunate; too many things happen in mysterious ways here, but we are used to that. We need some more respect and be informed in a more timely manner," he told RTHK.

Hong Kong cabinet member Selina Chow, who is in Beijing for the meeting of China's top advisory body, also said it was not "ideal" that the government still gave no word on the future of Tung and his expected successor.

But she believed any negative political or financial impacts it would have on the territory would only be temporary.

News of Tung's resignation came after a turbulent eight years in charge of Hong Kong, where he has grown increasingly unpopular for his handling of the economy and perceived kow-towing to Beijing.

His resignation had been mooted since July 2003 when more than 500,000 people marched in protest at an unpopular anti-subversion law proposed by China. The rally sparked a political crisis from which he never recovered.

Meanwhile, Ming Pao Daily reported, citing sources in Beijing, that both the central and Hong Kong governments are gearing up for elections of a new leader in July.

Concerns about the future of Hong Kong's autonomy under Chinese rule grew following Wednesday's reports that Beijing will contravene the territory's constitution in appointing a new leader.

China is believed to favour appointing Hong Kong's new leader on a short-term basis to see out the remainder of Tung's two-year term.

China would then grant Tung's successor a full five-year term depending on his or her performance.

Isan

March 10th, 2005, 12:23 PM

hursday March 10, 5:52 PM
http://sg.yimg.com/xp/afp/20050310/3188960863.jpg

Hong Kong's leader Tung Chee-hwa resigned, citing health reasons for stepping down early after eight turbulent years in office.

"I have handed in my resignation," Tung told an emergency press conference.

"My health hasn't been so well," he said. "After careful consideration I have tended my resignation and hope that the Hong Kong government will accept my resignation."

Bunny

March 11th, 2005, 09:20 AM

Hi, replying the second topic, "Fate of Hong Kong leader expected to be known by end of week", where did you find this article Isan? I am living in Vancouver now and I found some similar terms in the articles talking about this issue have similar words.

In Vancouver newspapers, I found that they all have the word unpopular chief Executive. And they all pulled back the issue 500,000 march on July 1st 2003. And I think this issue in other countries would have these things too. This is very important and worth to discuss about the image of HK to other countries. Now what I can see is even the chief executive retire, people would have to wait for more than a week or two to know the result, is this efficient? Or is this what Chinese people say, Chinese style politics? lol

Isan

March 11th, 2005, 04:26 PM

New from here http://www.ap.org/media/images/logo.gif

Hope HKG will be better than before after transaction :)

Isan

March 11th, 2005, 04:27 PM

香港機場陸沉 7年降4吋
每年平均下沉半吋機管局稱已趨穩定不致構成起降危險

【本報香港訊】機場管理局耗資6200萬元，重鋪機場北面跑道約8萬7000平方米路面工程將於本月內完成，下月進行坑道防滑工程後便全部竣工，預計足可應付未來7至10年航機升降量。機管局亦指出，八成面積來自填海地的機場，啟用七年多以來共沉降了四吋，近數年的年均沉降為半吋，且漸趨穩定，沉降速度也較當局預期少。

機管局技術事務高級經理梁永基指出，整個機場島共設立四千個沉降監測點，測量結果顯示，機場沉降率較預期少，近年趨向穩定，他解釋，填海區出現沉降屬正常，最重要是跑道平均沉降，即45米距離內的坡度誤差不逾半吋，便不會構成航機降落的危險，若坡度過大，必須重鋪跑道修正。

去年曾出現裂痕的機場北跑道，於1999年已啟用，去年12月首次進行大型重鋪，工程快將完成。梁永基解釋，跑道出現裂痕屬個別事件，今次重鋪屬正常維修工程，重鋪面積達8萬7000平方米，重鋪的是跑道最上層的2吋至5吋的瀝青。

機管局預計，今年全年航機升降量將再創新高達25萬架次，較去年升5％，即將投入服務的最大型A380空中巴士巨無霸，重鋪跑道後足可應付以上兩項新挑戰。

2005-03-11

　
　

Isan

March 13th, 2005, 06:29 AM

董建華高票當選
　　全國政協副主席

● 李慧玲（北京特派員）

　　前天向中國中央政府請辭的原香港特首董建華昨天如所預料，昨天以高票當選中國全國政協副主席。

中國第十屆全國人民政治協商會議增選的副主席候選人共有三個。除了董建華之外，還有來自中國民主黨派民主同盟的腫瘤專家張梅穎，以及曾任遼寧省副省長的中國民主建國會常務副主席張榕明。董建華在三人中得票最高，從投票的2106個委員手中，得到高達98%的支持率。

　　另外兩位候選人的支持率分別是87.64%和82.24%。

　　董建華在2002年連任特首時是唯一的候選人，當時，他在800人的選舉委員會中得到89.25%委員的有效提名。

　　被溫家寶形容為“面對各種困難和壓力，勤勤懇懇，任勞任怨，恪盡職守，廉潔奉公”的董建華昨天成為政協閉幕式上的焦點。他在當選政協副主席、晉升“黨和國家領導人”之列前，和開幕式一樣，坐在國務院副秘書長汪洋和最高人民法院院長肖揚之間。

　　當全國政協主席賈慶林宣布董建華當選時，場內掌聲熱烈，而董建華站起身來，深深地向前后左右鞠了四次躬，才在接受左右其他委員的祝賀中坐下。過后他被請到主席台的前排，與其他政協副主席同列。

　　今年68歲、在香港向市民交代辭呈時表示自己為香港鞠躬盡瘁的董建華在投票表決和宣布結果時，顯得木無表情，面無喜色。

　　政協閉幕式后，董建華在退場前站在帷幕旁，像辦完喜事在門口送客一樣，接受其他委員的道賀，直至最后才離開。

　　國家主席胡錦濤、總理溫家寶、主管香港事務的國家副主席曾慶紅，以及其他中共政治局常委與委員都一一與他握手，表示祝賀。其中，胡錦濤和董建華握手談話相當長的時間。

　　董建華的新聞昨天几乎主導了中央電視台的新聞聯播。

　　中國國務院接受董建華的辭呈，即日生效。而溫家寶在國務院全體會議審議董建華辭呈時講話，充分肯定董建華和特區政府的工作，并指董建華“為‘一國兩制’、‘港人治港’、高度自治方針在香港成功地付諸實踐做了大量開創性工作”。

　　溫家寶也說，行政長官缺位后，香港特別行政區應依照《基本法》第45條和附件一的規定，在六個月內選舉產生新的行政長官人選，報中央人民政府任命。

　　根據《基本法》第45條，行政長官通過選舉或協商產生后，必須由中央政府任命。

　　董建華傍晚同香港媒體會面時，對政務司司長曾蔭權投下支持票，并希望香港市民全力支持曾蔭權和特區政府。

　　他說，自己同曾蔭權共事多年，相信曾蔭權有卓越的能力，帶領香港繼續前進

http://www.zaobao.com/images/smzaobao.jpg

全國政協十屆三次會議12日在北京人民大會堂舉行閉幕會。圖為新增選的全國委員會副主席董建華（中）、張梅穎（右）、張榕明（左）在主席台合影。
http://www.worldjournal.com/news_pics/tn113852940201077.JPG

hkskyline

March 13th, 2005, 05:42 PM

China to Limit Term of Hong Kong's Next Leader
By KEITH BRADSHER
New York Times
Published: March 13, 2005

http://210.177.167.146/orimain/img/050313tsn_over.jpg http://210.177.167.146/orimain/img/050313odn_over.jpg

HONG KONG, March 13 - - A decision by the Hong Kong government to shorten the term of the territory's next chief executive, as demanded by Beijing, drew strong objections today and late Saturday from democracy advocates, who warned the plan could trigger a constitutional crisis.

The Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, mentions only five-year terms for chief executives. But Elsie Leung, the territory's secretary for justice, announced on Saturday, after a visit to Beijing, that a new chief executive would be chosen this summer to complete the two remaining years in the current term of Tung Chee-hwa.

Complaining of stress and other health problems, Mr. Tung submitted his resignation on Thursday. It took effect immediately when Beijing officials accepted it on Saturday. Donald Tsang, who had been the chief secretary here, became acting chief executive.

Mr. Tsang said at a news conference on Saturday evening that the same 800-member Electoral Committee of Beijing loyalists that selected Mr. Tung by acclamation for a second, five-year term in 2002 would meet on July 10 to choose a successor. The government here plans to amend the local election ordinance to make this possible, Mr. Tsang added.

Ronny Tong, a former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association who is now a pro-democracy member of the legislature here, said the government would be able to push an amended election law through the legislature, where government supporters outnumber democracy advocates by 35 to 25. But he cautioned that such a law would be vulnerable to a legal challenge in the courts, because the Basic Law takes precedence over any ordinances enacted by the legislature, and the Basic Law makes no provision for shorter terms.

"No one can rule out the possibility someone will challenge not only the legality of the ordinance but also the legality of the new chief executive, and that would put Hong Kong into a very serious constitutional crisis," he said.

Ms. Leung said that the intent of the drafters of the Basic Law had been to allow for shortened terms for replacement chief executives. But she also acknowledged that the law itself did not reflect this, and that the Hong Kong government had told the legislature in writing in 2001 and again in 2004 that only five-year terms were possible under the Basic Law.

Ms. Leung also conceded in a carefully worded statement that Hong Kong's legal system did not allow judges to consider the intent of a law's drafters when the law itself is clear, and that the consensus of Hong Kong's legal community was that the Basic Law only allowed five-year terms.

But she pointed out that mainland China's legal system did allow legislative intent to be considered.

"The Basic Law, being a national law, was adopted by the National People's Congress in the context of the institutional framework and rules of statutory interpretation of the mainland," Ms. Leung said, referring to the Communist Party-controlled legislature of China.

She pointed out that top mainland officials, including the president of China, serve five-year terms, and if the official steps down in the middle of a term, the successor serves only the balance of the term.

Moreover, members of the Electoral Committee here are chosen for five-year terms intended to let each committee select one chief executive. So allowing a committee nearing the end of its term to choose another chief executive for a full five years would extend that committee's influence for a total of more than five years, Ms. Leung said.

The terms of current members of the Electoral Committee expire on July 13. Saturday was the last day that Mr. Tung could resign and still have his successor chosen by the current committee, which is especially heavy on Beijing loyalists.

"While Hong Kong has adopted the common law system for over a century, China adopts the continental law system," Ms. Leung added. "After the reunification, it can only be expected that the two systems of legal thinking which have been developing under different historical and cultural backgrounds have to be reconciled."

Sen

March 14th, 2005, 04:48 PM

more children? the une rate for hong kong youth is 10%!

Isan

April 12th, 2005, 04:54 PM

香港深圳分傳豬瘟雞瘟
香港估計一半豬隻罹病深圳養雞場爆發呼吸道炎銷毀8千隻雞

【中央社香港十二日電】近日香港和深圳分別傳出有大量雞隻和豬隻死亡的消息。香港養豬業界估計，香港農場豬隻應有一半患病；而港府也接獲深圳當局通知，當地一個供應香港的大型養雞場，爆發雞隻集體染「呼吸道炎症」，已有8000隻雞被埋。

官方的香港電台今天引述香港豬會主席黃廣榮的話表示，由於今年春天特別潮濕，加上溫差大，豬隻容易患上「豬瘟」，估計本地農場有一半豬隻患病，比往年的四分之一為高。

黃廣榮指出，「豬瘟」一般在春季爆發，但今年3、4月的天氣持續潮濕，使情況持續，雖然豬農都有替豬隻接種疫苗，但成效要視乎豬隻本身的抵抗力，以及注射方法。通常成年豬，患病後會痊癒，但小豬一旦感染，死亡率高達八至九成，不過，目前未收到有新病毒出現的報告。

有業者指出，本地豬隻通常在1、2月出現口蹄症，到3月就已很少見，但由去年底至今，豬場同時受口蹄症和乙型腦炎病毒夾擊，傳播速度未有減弱。

據悉，香港豬會3月28日曾開會討論農場爆發口蹄症的問題。豬會指出，口蹄症自從去年12月高峰期以來，感染速度一直未減，3月份仍有大小豬場發生「全場」感染個案，呼籲農戶勿掉以輕心。

香港衛生福利局發言人回應表示，政府昨天已主動就事件聯絡大陸有關部門，並收到國家質檢總局的報告，證實有關雞場部分雞隻患上呼吸道炎症。根據國檢局的報告，該雞場於本月3至10日，相繼有203隻雞死亡，雞場獸醫進行解剖後，發現雞呼吸道有黏液、消化道有炎症。為避免波及該場其他活家禽，雞場決定銷毀出現異常情況的約8000隻雞。

【本報香港訊】政府為盡早實施中央屠宰，以官字兩個口的手段趕絕鴨農，一方面不批准鴨苗入口，另一方面又以「不積極營運」為由撤銷鴨農牌照或拒絕續牌，過去兩年已有四十多名鴨農無辜承受這「莫須有」罪名，逼得走投無路，今年牌照激減近九成。

漁農界代表黃容根認為政府借「不積極營運」為由沒收鴨牌根本是矛盾的，雖然政府沒有明言禁止輸入鴨苗，卻以檢驗不合格為由拒絕鴨苗輸港，令鴨農的養鴨數目銳減。

2005-04-12

Isan

July 29th, 2005, 03:40 PM

港府推出緊急措施協助境外遇災難港人
【中央社】

（中央社記者王曼娜香港二十九日電）鑑於近年全球發生南亞海嘯災難及恐怖襲擊等多宗重大事件，香港政府今天公佈一個新的緊急應變行動計劃，以協助在香港境外陷於困境或遇到嚴重災難的香港居民。

香港保安局發言人今天表示，這個應變計劃是建基於既有的緊急應變系統的組成部分，並參考了去年十二月海嘯事件中所取得的經驗而制定的。

發言人說，這套計劃會用作處理各種牽涉香港居民的嚴重事故，包括天災或人為意外或事件。計劃的要點包括警報、通知及啟動程式；參與行動的決策局、部門及機構的預先指定職責；以及向公眾發佈消息的安排。

他說，當局正在安排將入境事務處協助在外香港居民小組目前的八個數字熱線號碼（2829 3010），改為較容易記憶的四個數字（1868），新的熱線號碼約於八月中開始使用。

發言人提醒市民出外旅遊時做好預防措施，例如把行程告知香港的親友、記下有用的聯絡電話、考慮購買合適的旅遊保險等。940729

Isan

July 29th, 2005, 04:22 PM

Mr. Hong Kong 2005

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/607857p4y33.jpg

http://www.tintinphoto.com/tintinphoto/imgFiles/personal/607858N6Sxk.jpg

http://image2.sina.com.cn/ent/s/2005-07-24/U1141P28T3D789185F326DT20050724142108.jpg http://image2.sina.com.cn/ent/s/2005-07-24/U1363P28T3D789746F326DT20050724231558.jpg

Isan

July 30th, 2005, 09:57 PM

香港對大陸旅客吸引力降低，溝通不便是主因之一

【中廣新聞網】

香港一項對大陸旅客自由行的意向調查顯示，大陸遊客到香港去自助旅行的吸引力降低，大陸旅客對香港最不滿的，是缺乏觀光景點、環境污染嚴重，以及香港人的「普通話」，也就是國語普遍都不太好。

這間市場調查公司，在今年四到五月間，隨機訪問了六百名從大陸各大省市，到香港去自由行的旅客；調查發現，受訪者當中，對香港的整體滿意度是89%，比去年下跌1%；而去年願意推薦親友到香港去旅遊的大陸遊客比例有95%，今年卻暴跌到74%。

其中三成的大陸旅客表示，香港缺乏足夠的旅遊景點，環境污染，而且最讓他們感到不方便的是：香港人普通話實在說得不好，讓他們溝通起來有困難。

Isan

August 5th, 2005, 03:26 AM

陰盛陽衰港府鼓吹姊弟戀
2005-08-05 02:12／大陸新聞中心／台北報導

香港男女比例失調，香港男子二十多年來回大陸娶妻，更加劇陰盛陽衰問題。為解決這問題，香港政府正式鼓勵「姊弟戀」及香港女性到大陸尋找對象。

「亞洲週刊」報導，香港特區政府統計處七月底發表最新調查顯示，香港「陰盛陽衰」，男女比例失衡，特別是三十歲至四十歲這一適婚年齡組別，每十名女性只有八名男性配對。

報導說，香港歷來被視為「女權高漲」，但人口比例失衡的問題，則讓高學歷、高職位、高薪酬的事業型女性在隱隱為自己的未來發愁。

根據港府統計的最新人口比例調查，香港女性的結婚年齡中位數從一九八一年時的二十三點九歲，大幅上升到二○○四年時的二十八點一歲。至於男性，也有晚婚傾向，從一九八一年時的二十七歲，升到二○○四年的三十一點一歲。

香港的職業女性人數在過去二十年間，大增六成。其中月入三萬港元（折合約三千八百四十六美元）的女性，去年達到六萬多人，上升百分之四。而男性收入則有下降趨勢。調查又顯示，「男主外，女主內」的傳統正在香港悄悄地改變，越來越多男士在家全職看管孩子，妻子則外出工作。

結構失調鼓勵生育反應淡造成今天香港女多男少的主要原因之一，與二十多年來香港男性持續回到中國大陸娶妻、之後申請她們赴港團聚的風氣有關。另外，在發達國家和地區，女性的平均壽命也比男性長。

根據香港精算師的測算，到二○三一年，香港男女比例會是七十比一百，特首曾蔭權曾大力鼓吹每對夫婦應生三個小孩，以從長遠來解決香港人口老化，但社會反應卻不甚熱烈。

香港衛生福利局局長周一嶽七月初在一個公開場合，曾半開玩笑說，應鼓勵由演藝圈流行的「姊弟戀」。他說，「香港女性比男性長壽，女大男小的結合更合理」。這顯示港府已開始漫長的努力，希望香港人改變傳統的婚姻觀念，以改善香港人口結構的失調。

港府官員想鼓勵「姊弟戀」能否流行涉及許多社會因素。但香港女性轉向內地擇偶則已逐漸被接受。根據深圳婦聯婚姻介紹所的資料，香港女性到深圳徵婚近年有增加趨勢，她們的年齡組別集中在四十至六十歲之間，而且大多數是受過良好教育，收入也不低。

申請麻煩內地婚姻困難多另外，隨著香港和中國大陸經濟交往增加，不少香港女性或在北上工作中，又或在日常業務交往中，對內地男性增加了了解，不少因此結成良緣。不過，這又涉及香港的移民政策。

根據香港目前的入境條例，香港人和中國大陸以外的任何國家或地區人士結婚，申請配偶及其子女到港定居，一般只需時四至六個星期即可辦妥。唯獨香港人和中國大陸人士結婚，其配偶及其子女赴港團聚，須排在每天赴港一百五十個單程證名額中輪候。不少申請人已等待數年或十年以上。

在香港一家上市公司任職中層管理人員的李玉蓮就連說怕怕：「如果我和內地男士結婚，首先要考慮，我要申請他多少年，才可以來港定居；我也不可以放棄在港的工作。總不成兩人長期分居吧。這樣還不如不結婚算了。」
新聞來源：中時電子報

Isan

August 7th, 2005, 06:28 PM

香港巴士車廂與室外溫差大乘客易感冒
2005-08-07 19:59／中央社記者王曼娜香港七日電

香港夏天因室內及交通工具的冷氣太冷，被環保團體形容為「凍感之都」。

今天公佈一項調查發現，在近月香港街道氣溫高達攝氏三十多度情況下，雙層空調巴士車廂最低溫度只有十八度，由於車廂與室外溫差大，乘客很容易感冒。環保團體「環保觸覺」於今年六至七月份量度香港主要三家巴士公司共一百二十五輛雙層空調巴士車廂的溫控，結果發現，巴士車廂平均溫度攝氏二十三度，有一成半巴士溫度不足二十一度，最低溫度只有十八度，有三成的巴士車廂溫度和室外溫度相差九度或以上。

調查也訪問一千多名巴士乘客，四成受訪市民認為巴士溫度太冷，一半人認為溫度適中。另外，有近七成受訪者認為，巴士公司應增設多些非空調巴士，譬如冬天時，可以將巴士的車窗開啟，無需開冷氣。

負責調查的環保觸覺表示，巴士車廂與街道溫差太大，容易讓乘客患傷風感冒，長遠會影響健康。另外，機械工程專家建議，巴士公司可以引入電子開關或手動開關的活動窗，冬天可以開啟窗戶，估計每一輛巴士一天可以節省一公升燃油，一年油價可節省約一千萬港元，以及每年可減少排放五千噸二氧化碳。
新聞來源：中央社

Isan

August 10th, 2005, 05:58 AM

港府指香港十年後人口急劇老化
中央社即時 (2005/08/09 19:02)

（中央社記者林於國香港九日電）香港府統計處今天表示，目前香港六十五歲以上的老年人口，佔總人口的百分之十二，預料未來八年至十年，老年人口的比率會逐漸上升，人口就會出現急劇老化的現象。

統計處長何永（火宣）說，到了二零三三年，香港老年人口將佔全部人口的百分之二十七，港府與市民都需要把握未來八至十年作好準備，包括在退休金、老年人醫療和福利等措施方面，達致共識。

據統計，香港女性平均壽命已超過八十四歲，僅次於日本。男性也超過七十八歲，屬於長壽一族。

即將退休的何永（火宣）表示，目前香港人口暫時未算老化，不過，在準備工作方面就要加把勁了。

統計處在香港回歸中國後處理居留權問題時曾估計，由於香港終審法院作出的判決，享有香港居留權的中國大陸人士將達一百六十七萬人，這一事曾引起外界關注。何永（火宣）表示，統計處只是按統計作出推論，決不會將事件政治化。940809

Isan

August 25th, 2005, 08:08 AM

HK gay sex rules 'discriminatory'

Gay rights supporters wear pink T-shirt with Chinese words that read ' No one knows I am gay" during a parade in Hong Kong Monday, May 16, 2005

A Hong Kong judge has ruled that laws prohibiting gay sex by men under the age of 21 are unconstitutional.

The High Court judge, Michael Hartmann, said the current laws discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation.

A 20-year-old gay man, William Roy Leung, had challenged Hong Kong's existing laws on the issue.

They allow sex between heterosexuals and lesbians from the age of 16, but anyone under the age of 21 who engages in sodomy could face life in prison.

The government says it will study the judgement.

Mr Hartmann said the current laws were "demeaning of gay men who are, through the legislation, stereotyped as deviant".

The laws prohibit "gross indecency" or sexual intimacy between men if one or both are younger than 21.

Welcomed

Gay rights activists welcomed the ruling, saying that 63 men have been arrested under the laws in the past five years.

They said that the law was now unenforceable.

"It is a landmark case and a long overdue judgement," said activist Roddy Shaw.

"It's the first time that sexual orientation has been upheld as a protected ground against discrimination in a Hong Kong court," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Hong Kong is now holding consultations on the legislation. The territory's security bureau said it was studying the ruling.

Isan

September 1st, 2005, 12:00 AM

粵供港魚場是乾塘愚弄港府
有的已停業有的不知魚塘在哪深圳出入口檢疫部門稱不知情官員互相推諉

【本報香港訊】大陸29日晚在未巡視及沒有諮詢港府情況下，倉卒公布18個供港淡水魚魚場名單，經實地了解後當中不乏已停業的「乾塘」魚場，亦有連當地轄區管理人員也無法找出名單內魚塘位置，懷疑是「掛單假魚場」。

食物環境衛生署最快在一、兩日內派獸醫到大陸，逐一視察供港魚場的情況，若發現有魚場不合標準或已停業就會從名單中剔除。

消息人士透露，深圳從未向香港提供有關名單，對於名單內的八個深圳養殖場是否正確當局亦存疑，目前已委派檢疫部門一名處長級官員調查事件。食環署強調，日後供港魚場輸港的淡水魚若孔雀石綠含量超出2ppb，魚類不但會被打回頭，魚場亦會被取消供魚到本港的資格，食環署亦會加強抽驗，甚至扣檢由非供港魚場運港的「水貨魚」，若驗出含孔雀石綠，將會檢控供應商。

大陸公布首批註冊供港淡水魚養殖場名單後，深圳等地有關出入口檢疫部門竟不知情，甚至連名單上轄區內的供港魚場在何處亦無從了解，相關官員互相推諉。

深圳市檢驗檢疫局一名官員表示，不清楚有首批名單之事，不了解名單上魚場是否已註冊。其中寶安新安鎮「三圍塘邊」的「三圍塘邊村」，早在10年前已劃歸西鄉，不知魚場從何處而來，但所有供港養殖場是直接向上級申報的，所以須向廣東省檢驗檢疫局查問。

記者30日到名單上位於深圳的公明東坑村魚場巡視，赫然發現大部分魚塘已被填平，多名村民正在剩下的兩個小魚塘撈魚，他們稱魚場早已丟空。另一個位於深圳的註冊養殖場龍崗山塘尾魚場，根據深圳市檢驗檢疫局網上的資料有六百畝，但山塘尾村民表示，村內魚場早於數年前已經結束營業，現時村內一個魚場也沒有。

位於深圳寶安區的沙井鎮民主聯益魚場雖然仍在經營，但老闆娘張太表示，並不知悉已被列入供港魚場名單，當局近期也沒有派人到魚場檢驗，每年產量二、三萬斤以內銷為主。

對於大陸公布的18個供港魚場名單，不少淡水魚供應商也表示「聞所未聞」，當中最少有三、四個相信已停業。

2005-08-31

Duopolis

September 1st, 2005, 01:03 PM

Is Hong Kong a gay-friendly place? I'm not talking about laws etc. (like this "no sex under 21") but about peoples. Are they tolerant?

Sorry for my bad English :)

Isan

September 2nd, 2005, 05:42 AM

Is Hong Kong a gay-friendly place? I'm not talking about laws etc. (like this "no sex under 21") but about peoples. Are they tolerant?

Sorry for my bad English :)

Take a look there (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=251011)

Duopolis

September 6th, 2005, 06:22 PM

Isan

September 10th, 2005, 11:09 PM

香港醫界在菊頭蝙蝠體內發現SARS病毒
2005-09-10 14:26／中央社記者林於國香港十日電

香港大學醫學院研究發現，香港一種蝙蝠菊頭蝠體內有一種跟嚴重呼吸道症候群非常相似的病毒，並有可能會蔓延。

港大微生物系主任袁國勇領導的研究小組今天指出，這種菊頭蝠被東南亞一帶的部分居民作為食物，中醫則拿來作為藥材。研究指出，這種蝙蝠可能有助於將病毒傳染給其他動物，包括人類。

港大教授袁國勇在美國一本醫學雜誌發論文指出，在四成接受測試的菊頭蝠樣本中找到SARS病毒。基因分析排列結果顯示，在菊頭蝠找到的SARS病毒與人類的非常接近。

研究發現，近四成菊頭蝠體內有一種類似SARS的病毒，目前尚不知道感染源頭。據報導指出，日前發現有動物感染SARS病毒的深圳野生動物市場，距離研究員在香港發現有SARS病毒的菊頭蝠位置只有十七公里。
新聞來源：中央社

Isan

September 12th, 2005, 11:01 AM

HK issues health alert as air pollution reaches high levels

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpvunuRa.jpg

HONG KONG : Hong Kong issued a health warning on Monday as air pollution reached high levels, with the city cloaked in dense smog.

With city air pollution index levels in the "very high" category, the
government advised people with heart or respiratory illnesses to avoid outdoor activities.

Much of the city was shrouded in thick smog as the pollution index reached 165 on a 1-200 scale. The highest level so far this year was 178.

A spokeswoman for the Environmental Protection Department said the high readings were the result of hot weather and of calm air subsiding around Typhoon Khanun, which has been moving over the seas near Taiwan.

"Under very still wind conditions, air pollutants emitted from motor
vehicles, power stations and industries, both from Hong Kong and from the Pearl River Delta Region, sometimes cannot disperse adequately," she said.

She said the air quality should improve later Monday when the wind is
expected to pick up.

Friends of the Earth Hong Kong said this month it expects smog levels this year to be even worse than last, which saw the pollution scale tip 200 for the first time.

The organisation estimates that some 80 percent of the pollution drifts in from southern China's heavily industrialised neighbouring Pearl River Delta, the country's economic powerhouse.

It blames Hong Kong-based companies that own factories in China as well as the government of southern China's Guangdong province for doing little to improve matters. - AFP/de

AFP text, photos, graphics and logos shall not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP shall not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP content, or for any actions taken in consequence.

Isan

September 14th, 2005, 10:20 PM

港營商環境跌至全球第七
申請牌照手續繁複拉低排名商會認為港府過分按本子辦事

【本報香港訊】正當國家副主席曾慶紅要求港府提高管治水平之際，香港卻因繁瑣的法規而導致國際排名下滑。世界銀行最新的調查報告顯示，在全球155個國家及地區中，以紐西蘭的營商環境最佳，其次為新加坡及美國，香港排名較去年下挫三位，僅排第七；港府更被批評在發出商業牌照所需的時間，較被視為競爭對手的新加坡長近一倍。

有商會認為港府部門因害怕負責，過分按本子辦事，最終阻礙商界運作。

政府發言人回應說，港府正檢討過時的法規、消除不需要的繁瑣手續，便利商業活動。2004年成立的經濟及就業委員會積極在這方面工作，港府會詳細研究世銀的報告，並進行所需要的改變，令香港更適合商界運作。

世銀13日發表2006年企業經營環境的調查報告，共調查了155個國家及地區的營商環境，主要根據各地在商界取得商業牌照的時間、僱用員工、取得信貸及跨境貿易情況等方面比較優劣，結果紐西蘭連續兩年成為全球經濟體系上，營商環境最佳的地方，新加坡進佔第二，美國位列第三，香港的排名則由第四下跌至第七，中國大陸則排第91位。

2005-09-14

營商環境急跌香港被新加坡拋離
9月 14日星期三 03:00 更新

太陽報專訊】剛結束訪問香港行程的國家副主席曾慶紅，大讚香港辦事效率高，認為這是香港的優勢。但世界銀行昨日發表一年一度的世界營商環境報告，香港的排名卻大跌三級響起警號，由第四位跌至第七位，反觀主要競爭對手新加坡卻微升一級登上第二位。報告指出，香港主要敗於商業發牌費時失事，影響整體評分，導致港、星兩地排名愈拉愈遠。世銀調低香港的評級，顯示港府部門繁冗的官僚程序，已影響了香港的商業優勢。

該份全長一百八十八頁的年度報告，由世銀與屬下機構「國際金融」聯合進行，根據去年全球一百五十五個經濟體系的監管制度及開設業務的難易程度，從稅制、發牌、解僱員工、註冊資產及保護投資者等十項準則評分，釐定出全球營商環境的最新排名。位列第一的新西蘭連續兩年高踞首位，緊隨其後是新加坡和美國，香港則由去年的第四位跌至第七位，日本獲第十位，中國內地排名為第九十一位。

發牌關卡多費時失事

世銀國際金融高級經理柯天明表示，香港排名下降的原因，是批出商業牌照時間相對較長，他以申請一個貨倉牌照為例，企業在港申請平均需時二百三十日（約七個多月），當中更涉及二十二個申請程序才獲批有關牌照；反觀本港的主要競爭對手新加坡只需一百二十九日及十一個程序，節省近一半時間。此外，香港在註冊資產方面得分亦較低，世界銀行認為香港有需要改善。

不過，報告也列舉香港的優勢，若單從稅制方面比較，香港的稅制在一百五十五個經濟體系中得分最高，代表擁有全球最簡單的稅制，香港在公司規管條例方面亦具有優勢。世界銀行又認為，中國經濟規模龐大，有條件吸引外資，但內地有需要加強監管效率，減低企業的開業成本。

城市大學經濟及金融系講座授張仁良直言，本地部分行業如食肆、戲院及超級市場等，過去申請牌照時常面對重重關卡，要經多個政府部門審批，手續繁複出牌需時。張仁良表示，政府其實亦察覺問題存在，且透過經濟及就業委員會轄下的方便營商小組進行研究，希望簡化一些過時的發牌規例和程序，提供一站式服務，由指定部門統籌審批工作縮短申請時間，方便營商人士。

張仁良補充說，由於世銀在今年的報告內增添多項評分準則，部分或對香港不利，若只以今年成績斷定香港營商環境變差有欠公平，「其實能夠排全球頭十位之內，表現已經好唔錯！」不過，他認為政府仍須致力查找當中的不足，研究可改善的地方。香港總商會總裁翁以登與中小型企業聯合會會長佘繼標亦敦促當局盡快檢討，研究是否需要改善發牌程序，改善香港的投資環境。

港府消息人士則透露，當局會仔細研究世銀報告的內容，但對報告內提及的一些關鍵數字從何得來則不得而知，因世銀從未向當局查詢有關數據。政府發言人則指出，當局一直致力方便營商，政府經濟及就業委員會去年設立的方便營商小組，目的就是進一步提升營商環境，政府將研究報告內容，有需要便會改善。

Isan

September 15th, 2005, 06:43 PM

香港十五歲以上人口超過兩成屬肥胖
2005-09-15 19:34／中央社記者王曼娜香港十五日電

由於香港飲食習慣以肉食為主，以致港人日益肥胖。香港衛生署今天公布的調查顯示，香港十五歲以上人口有超過兩成屬肥胖。

衛生署在二○○三至○四年期間，進行一項人口住戶健康調查，訪問了七千多名十五歲或以上的人士，發現兩成二受訪的男性及兩成受訪的女性屬於肥胖。另外，分別有兩成受訪的男女屬於身體過重。

衛生署中央健康教育組高級醫生何美蓮今天表示，肥胖是指身體儲存過量脂肪，引致可能損害健康的情況。肥胖成為日趨嚴重的全球性問題，不但引致多種嚴重慢性疾病，例如心血管病、高血壓、中風、糖尿病及某些癌症等，更造成沉重的社會及經濟負擔。

她指出，肥胖及過重常見於四十五至五十四歲，以及五十五至六十四歲年齡組別的人士。

何美蓮又說，為了對付肥胖問題，衛生署將透過各種健康推廣及教育活動，加強市民對肥胖和過重問題的認識。此外，衛生署正進行一項試驗研究，鼓勵小學生進食水果蔬菜。
新聞來源：中央社

Isan

September 27th, 2005, 08:06 PM

調查顯示香港為適合孩子成長最理想城市
【中央社記者林於國香港二十七日電】

一項網上調查顯示，五成七受訪者認為香港生活方便、治安良好，是孩子成長的理想城市。接近三成受訪者最希望子女在香港成長，遠高於排名第二位的新加坡。

這項調查於九月進行，成功收回七百四十五份問卷，其中香港以二百零七票當選為「孩子成長最理想城市」，遠遠領先新加坡、雪梨、倫敦及溫哥華。

受訪者普遍認為香港生活方便、治安及醫療系統良好、資訊流通自由、食物安全及營養充足，對孩子成長非常有利。

另一方面，受訪者認為父母工作太忙、無暇照顧子女，是香港不利孩子成長的最大原因，其次空氣品質欠佳。接近九成受訪者認為有必要加強關注兒童權利問題；過半數認為香港孩子物質充裕但精神匱乏；近三成認為孩子太被溺愛。

學者指出，香港人工作時間很長，父母與子女溝通時間太少，親子關係不健康，產生的疏離感容易導致摩擦，社會有必要提倡調整工時。 940927

Isan

January 16th, 2006, 07:19 AM

港中學生認同民調自認是港人多於中國人
中央社即時 (2006/01/15 20:34)

（中央社記者陳倖嫚香港十五日電）香港學友社今天公佈一項調查顯示，受訪的二千多名香港中學生當中，有九成三認同自己是香港人，七成人認同自己是中國人；而對香港人的評分，也較中國人為高。

調查於去年十月向全港四百多間中學發出問卷，內容分為兩部份，分別測試受訪者對香港及中國的認同，及受訪者對「中國人」及「香港人」這兩個概念的理解。

共有五十三所學校參加意見調查，合格問卷二千七百七十七份。受訪者中有百分之七十五點九是在中國或香港出生，其中中國新移民佔百分之二十二點二，其餘的受訪者則於澳門、台灣及外地出生。

結果顯示，香港學生對香港人身份有強烈認同，對香港充滿感情及自豪感。從學生就各句子的評分可見，平均分最高的三條都與香港認同有關，尤其在「我認為自己是香港人」這一句的平均評分更高達五點一七。

反觀受訪者對中國人身份的認同方面，雖中學生認為「自己是中國人」的平均分達四點五九，顯示學生在國籍問題上並沒有太大的混淆。但對關於中國認同的句子例如「我曾就身份認同問題與別人爭辯」，受訪者的評分則較低，顯示香港中學生接受中國的文化身份的同時，仍不太關心中國的情況。

調查顯示，約三成半受訪者表示他們不關心中國的消息，當中尤以本地出生的中學生情況最為嚴重。不過，這樣的情況已較二零零四年時的同類調查有改善，在零四年表示會關心中國新聞的評分只有三點八六分，而二零零五年則有四點零六分。

以上調查的評分標準，是以一分為最不贊同，六分為最贊同。

學友社名譽社長陳潤根表示，連續三年調查看到中學生認同自己是香港人多於中國人，並覺得香港人優於中國人，可能是由於媒體對中國的負面報導較多，使學生們形成有關印象。

他認為，隨著中國和香港兩地經濟進一步整合，兩地交流更頻繁，本地中學生這種態度，會影響學生日後工作時的競爭力，希望政府多撥資源加強公民教育，讓學生可以走出香港的框架，放眼全世界。940115

WANCH

January 16th, 2006, 07:55 AM

From what i've read, hk's not so bad for gays. Off course it's not like Amsterdam or San Fransisco but people won't rather hate you only 'couse you're gay. Am I right? What's your opinion about that Hong Kongers? :)

Hong Kong people are very open minded! Put it in another way, they don't mind your sexuality that much!

WANCH

January 16th, 2006, 07:57 AM

But my social issues is different! The problems I faced growing up in HK is usually racial. Especially within the Philippine community since I happen to be half-Filipino because of my dad!

rt_0891

January 17th, 2006, 08:58 AM

Hong Kong people are very open minded! Put it in another way, they don't mind your sexuality that much!

I wouldn't say HK's particulary open-minded about the GLBT community. Even though they're not jailed or harrassed, nonetheless, they're stereotyped, and the prevailing attitude in the general public sees them either as abnormal or psychologically disturbed.

It's engrained in modern Chinese culture to treat these subjects as taboo, so many homosexuals are willing to stay closeted in fear that their coming-out might affect the status/honour/feelings of their friends and family. Unlike Western societies, HKers tend not to be as individualistic when it comes to these social issues.

Those who come-out usually are able to gain the respect of their family, even if the initial shock causes unwanted friction.

Same-sex marriage will never be accepted in HK though (at least in this decade). It has nothing to do with religon, rather it's tradition and conformity.

Isan

February 5th, 2006, 04:25 PM

Hong Kong will be smoke free by 2009

http://sg.yimg.com/xp/afp/20060125/09/2760317738.jpg

Hong Kong is set to join a growing list of world cities that have made lighting up in public a crime by banning smoking in bars and clubs.

The two-step ban will begin at the start of next year when pubs and restaurants must put up no-smoking signs.

The law will be extended to saunas, nightclubs and other public entertainment venues by July 2009, the health secretary York Chow said, adding that the government had been careful to limit the impact of the law.

"(Owners) feel that if we impose an anti-smoking ordinance within a very short time, they definitely would face a loss of business and eventually even closure of some of their establishments," Chow told reporters.

"We (will) give sufficient time for them to change and also some of the workers also need time to find new work or try to change the operation," he said.

Hong Kong has long been mulling a smoking ban in a bid to protect the health of the more than 200,000 people employed in the hospitality trade.

It would bring Hong Kong in line with cities like New York, which has successfully imposed a total ban.

The proposal, which will need to be passed by legislators before becoming law, is a significant climbdown from one offered last year, in which premises would have been given a 90-day grace period to comply with legislation that was to have been passed this year.

The compromise follows vocal opposition from the owners of many of Hong Kong's more than 10,000 bars and restaurants.

Lawmaker Tommy Cheung, who represents the interests of the food and beverage trade in the legislature, has warned that some 100,000 hospitality industry jobs are at risk from a no-smoking ban.