公義

2017年2月17日，香港區域法院裁定七名警員襲擊傷人罪成，各人被判入獄2年，不得援刑。

當消息傳出之後，在不同媒體上都有人發表意見，支持和反對都有。我最反感的是一些幸災樂禍，落井下石的報道。很多人認為这回判罪過重，因為他们以此和佔中行動比較，和旺角暴動的違法者的判罪作比較。特別是佔中運動嘅策劃者，至今仍“逍遙法外”。很多人同情這七位警員，原因係因為他们是在保衛香港治安的情況下，執法行動時犯錯，係情有可原，據理據公義，唔應該受到這樣重嘅刑罰。更加有人不滿。指判案法官為狗官。

這是一個爭議性嘅項目，我在這裡表達我的意見，我知道不會人人認同，甚至會有人罵我狗雜種。我只係希望大家能夠明白什么是法律。

對於判刑太重和指法官不公義：英式法庭法官系秉承著公正和不偏不倚的原則，受人尊重，品格高尚，專業地位無可比擬，不是電影裡面被戲劇化了的芝麻官角色。法官判案和判罪，都係依據法典，法律文獻，案例，刑法罪行，年期，一切係有規可循，並非單憑個人一時意欲，或者受其他人的影響。需知七警是執法者犯法，判刑會較一般市民重。還有，這次是執法者聯郡毆打一名手無寸鐵的示威者。如不重罰，難生阻嚇之效。法官在判刑時的確是參考過往案例，當年的判刑是二年半。由此種種我不認為法官不公義。

對於七警和佔中者判刑大細超：佔中計劃係經過法律界人士精心策劃，根據現行法律，你可以控訴他們什麽？告人要清晰指控所犯何罪，罪犯何條？唔係話縱容佔中發起人，係現時司法制度底下，你控佢地唔到，你再做落去的話是浪費納稅人的錢。如果可以的話，律政司一早已經做了。很多大機構高薪養班師爺，目的係帶佢地做"好"事，冇把柄。再說佔中係經過精心部署，七警俾人影咗相，可能已經係佔中計劃裡面部署其中一項，預咗會有咁嘅事發生，所以揾定人影相。怪只怪他们部署不及人家精密，七警魯莽行事，給了人把柄。七位警員不過是政治博弈之下的犧牲品，即使係受人暗算，願賭服輸啊,需知鬥爭從來都不是光明正大的。

豬腸淋黎x英判18星期，暴徒向多個警察尿淋判3星期，擲磚輕判，擲雞蛋坐監，天理何在？法官嘅原則係不偏不倚。而不偏不倚角度系取決於原告同被告律師所提出的證據、供詞、陳述。不是每一案件都是一樣，律師值錢就在這裡。你一介小民法援律師，同黎x英嘅律師當然係會唔同，咁判決就當然係唔同啦。你自己用嘅係政府律師，告你嗰個律師又係唔同級數。法律源於保護富人的人身及財富，防止他們的人身受損及資產給搶掠。即使今天，這個原則沒有改變。鼓勵大家發奮向上，不然認命吧。

我们在華人社會成長，很多華人所認為對的事，係西方法律上面來講可能係不鼓勵或者係犯法嘅。例如朋友犯事，你重義氣，不舉報朋友，甚至幫他躲避。但在西方法律來说，你知情不報，犯法，甚至有可能被控其它罪。你會覺得好心無好報。某人受騙，境況堪憐，你抱不平，揍騙子一頓，那你犯法。你會覺得無公義。

三十年前我係國外目睹一件令我畢生難忘的事。我一位會計師學長，為了禁止他妹妹吸毒和苛索，不許她到他家來。有一天他妹妹偷入他家偷錢並在房中吸毒，他怒極一時，踢破房門，教訓她一頓。誰知她住警署告她哥哥施襲。最後罪成，他公司把他革除，會計師公會以他有刑案將他除名。他從此一蹶不振。他本意是為他妹妹好，誰知惹來下半生潦倒。沒天理吧！

我對七警的判罪深表同情，因為是在一次捍衛社會治安下犯錯，不是打家劫舍，無法無天的滔天罪行，判刑令人慨嘆。它令到一個人失掉有意義的工作，喪失尊嚴和家庭幸福。判罚一個人都已經太多，何況是七個人。我理解他們會上訴，但證據確鑿，逃不了。減刑也無補於事，因為一經定罪，便會掉了工作，沒有了長俸！一旦有了刑案紀錄，終生不能再在任何政府部門受聘，你如何從一專業再過渡？這給你翻身不了！另外移民外國的資格亦都可能失去。

法律是嚴峻無情，旨在打擊不法行為。襲擊他人，致令他人受傷是違法行為，不可不知。君不見，西方法院門前法律女神像，她是盲目的，手持天枰。她不看世事，不理人情，她只會按法典枰事，這叫做公正、不偏私，她是法官的楷模。法官是法律中人，講事實和表面證據，未必會顧及其它呀！法庭裁判未必是絕對公正，它也可能令人含冤受屈，飲恨終生！但畢竟這是小數。沒有法律，弱肉強食下的社會會更不公義。

My Children's Drawings

I tidied up the book cabin and found 2 drawing books. I flipped thru them and without checking the name on the books; I knew which one belongs to my elder son and which belongs to my younger son. My elder son was a mature birth with all the needed nutrition from his mum. My younger son was not. His mum was weak when carrying him and he was not growing that the doctor decided to have him birth pre-mature. His mum had no milk to milk him. He was grown on bottles. He hardly cried or moved during the first eight months of infancy. It did not surprise me my younger son was not as talented as his brother.

The Pictures were drawn on 3004A Sketch books (size: 11.25" * 14.75"). They were drawn in 2005 when the children were 8 and 7. I put them in 2 sets below. I think you can also tell which belongs to whom.

My elder son has many talents, sports, musical instruments, drawing, dancing, of course academic as well. He resembles my appearance but he has his mum's soul. My younger son resembles his mum's brother but he has a warm heart.

趕客 Customer Selection

I eventually cancelled my BOCHK bank accounts. I had been the bank customer since 1983 or may be even early when it was not that popular. As it is now the most dominant bank in Hong Kong, the bank always has queues outside its doors.

I cancelled the accounts for several reasons, mainly high transaction costs and service charges but no added values.

When I did my home mortgage, I went for 2 banks, BOCHK and CCB Asia. I expected to use BOCHK as it had been my bank for many years; CCB was a backup just in case. However, as it turned out, BOC had not finished my application when the deadline was due, whereas CCB had. So I went for CCB. Bear in mind, do not think the bank helps you for mortgage finance; it is yourself as a customer to provide the bank business as you pay them interests.

In HK, the transaction cost for warrants trading is lower than stock trading because there is no stamp duty on warrants. Wing Lung bank charges as low as HK$4.88 per transaction regardless the transaction amount. Some banks charge a minimum but most banks charge based on the transaction amount. Standard chartered Bank does not charge a minimum, they charge a standard market percentage proportionate to the transaction amount. Also, SCB does not charge stamp duty on warrants. If you go to broker firms such as Bright Smart and IB, their charges are even lower. However, if you go for BOCHK, they charge a lot higher, in particular, warrants trading. I did lots of warrants trading between 2014 and 2015, but I seldom checked the fees as I supposed they were just a small fraction. However a particular transaction brought my attention because that transaction was supposed to be even but the amount settled was $1400+ less. I was charged an addition of HK$500 for warrant trade whose amount was around HK$80K for a couple of times. I later on checked with their staff and confirmed they charged min $100 for warrant trading and $500 was the ceiling. They said it was the bank's policy even though the stock exchange does not charge any additional on warrants. That had left me no choice but gone to other firms. Mind you, it is a big difference for $4.88 per transaction of Wing Lung and $500 + based fees ($200 or more) for BOC. I am talking about the same online self-service transactions.

Some years ago, the major banks required their customers to maintain a certain amount to avoid monthly account fees. That’s been removed for most of them as long as the accounts do not involve manual transactions such as deposit and withdrawal at counter. BOCHK will charge $60 per month for any account below HK$10K regardless how long you have been with the bank.

In nowadays electronic age, a lot of banking transactions can be done online. Unless a bank provides value added services that differentiate it from others, otherwise the differentiation is on price.

So bye-bye BOCHK.

卜吉

Event 1：

On 21/01/2017, the HK newspapers Apple Daily showed the 2 Wong Tai Sin’s fortune lucky sticks of the two ex-senior government officers participating in the HKSAR chief executive election. It seems to me the lucky sticks were pre-set by Apple Daily rather than from Tsang and Lam Cheng themselves. The lucky sticks were shown on TV as well. According to the fortune teller, he advocated Tsang to Lam Cheng based on the tips. However if you read the tips carefully and if you believe you have certain knowledge in Chinese, you may think differently.

Here is an example. What is the meaning of 浮災意外来？ Most fortune tellers would interpret 浮 means anything that is related to floating such as airplane, boat etc. and advise you to avoid travelling on those vehicles. If you believe those types of street mates, you are deadly wrong and would cause you real bodily injury.

I would interpret MuLan lucky stick as it was finally done regardless of difficulties on the way. It was one of the rare cases in history a female could earn that honour recognised by the supreme boss. In fact, I doubt the real MuLan if she's really feminine as 1. she would have been found out a female as it was not about a day or two, it was many years in the army; 2. a person that fought many years in battle fields must be muscular, no way a feminine lady could. 

I would interpret Emperor Zhu lucky stick as bullshits. I put the 4 scripts in simple English below.
1. All mountains bow to the middle mountain (the shape is a mid point and a circle)
2. (sentence 1 is) similar to crown subordinates listed/queued orderly.
(bullshits: sentence 1 is circular, sentence 2 is list and row. How can the word "similar" be used!)
3. It repeats sentence 2 in particularly it pointed out it was listed in two columns (or listed by 2 sides), definitely not in a circle!
4. Staying there (having attained such an achievement) would be happy.

So exactly what do these scripts mean? How could it link to Emperor Zhu? 朝中嶽 - Zhu's capital was in NanJing, not the Middle Mountain in HeNan!  HKSAR has no emperor, only the North Chairman is the emperor. 

We are talking about a tough job that the previous 3 chiefs have been badly damaged during their tenure. That position is to serve and to sacrifice, not self-contented nor to be admired! 

Event 2：

On 29/01/2017, the Chinese traditional day of wishing good fortune from heaven that people go to Shatin Che Kung 車公Temple for fortune telling. It was the traditional day the rural community chairman who represented the Hong Kong people to draw a lucky stick. He got the #61, said to be a good one.

The scripts「傳來信息果無差，轉運時來自興家；篤志雲程須着力，何天今日賜榮華。」  On its back, it was (籤背後的偈語)「月會花名秋夏好」。

As far as I can see, the 3rd and the 4th sentences should be reversed, i.e. 何天今日賜榮華? 篤志雲程須着力。

Therefore the scripts and my interpretation:
傳來信息果無差 - known, pre-determined
轉運時來自興家 - turn to good fortune and prospecting the family
何天今日賜榮華 - why the heaven commends the honour today?
篤志雲程須着力 - determine to take the high post with undaunting efforts

月會 - mid Autumn festival； for scholars, it is the Autumn exam 秋試
花名 - 華名 name on golden list 中榜
月會花名秋 - 秋 - it is not “Autumn”, rather it is "the success in imperial exam."

There is no hint that Lam Cheng will be the winner though her name has the word 月。
It seems to me, either the winner is related to Summer or the situation will become good in Summer. We have the candidates: 曾俊華、林鄭月娥、胡國興、葉劉淑儀、 曾鈺成。

If the lucky stick really reveals heaven secrecy, 林鄭月娥、曾鈺成 were born in HK Summer (May to July), 葉劉淑儀 was in Autumn . The other two were born in Winter.

It is ironic so many in our advanced society believe in fortune tellers of the street.

冲天

電影“冲天”，給我兩點感受。第一點是，那時的年輕人，中文文字根底非常好，不一定專供中文科也寫出詞藻典雅優美的文詞。從劉粹剛與許希麟的書信往來（注），可見一斑。那時他們還不過是十八、二十多的大孩子。第二，一群優秀的年輕人，擁有大愛無畏的精神，挺起保衛國家使命，敢於犧牲，無私奉獻，承傳偉大高尚的中華傳統。

我也不知道是不是因為在社會上工作久了，體會了人生和社會的現實，對小時受的儒家節義已幾無餘剩。回想自己小時讀書，書本上讀到的，不乏古聖先賢事蹟。他們滿腔熱血，拚拋頭顱，不畏縮，不貪生。清末民初不少從事革命年輕人，盡皆如此，以他們的生命換取日後中華的福祉。從林覺民的“與妻訣別書”，便可以印證上述兩點。

昔者往矣，無論兩岸三地，炎黃子孫已然蛻變，生存的環境也隨時代轉變。不能要求今日二十多歲的大學畢業生，中文和家國情懷能如往昔。特別是神州大地，數十載共產薰陶下，物慾自私的一面像傳染病迅速傳播，多少人性陰暗事不絕層出。我自小感受到，百多年前，在日本人眼中，神州靈魂早已如鑒真般東渡，留在神州土地上只不過是行屍酒肉，酒囊飯袋，文化低劣的支那人，不配稱為中國人。他們大和人，是承受了真正中華神髓，才是正統的中國人。那片神州大地，應該是給予“值得”的人，而不是那群土生而無中華神髓的支那人。但是日本人想不到，中華大地上仍然存著數不盡，肯犧牲，毫不畏縮的中國人，粉碎了他們的侵略夢。今日的中國，國民溫飽已不是問題，但是無論是個人或是國家，一點很重要的是保著尊嚴，讓尊重重回。



注：劉粹剛給許希麟的情書

希齡女士：
初遇城站，獲睹芳姿，娟秀溫雅，令人堪慕；且似與余曾相識者! 初余之注意女士，而女士或未之覺也；車至筧橋，匆促而別，然未識誰家閨秀，如是風姿，意不復見，耿耿此心，望斷雙眸，而盈盈倚影，直據余之腦蒂，揮之不能去。 ……月餘以來，不復得見女士之影跡，佇探為勞，積勞積思，望穿雙眸。

Dean Gifford

I threw away 2 bags of children toys this evening. I keep the kiwi bird and the 2 doggies because they mean something to me.

The doggies were given to my children by Wellington Policy constable Mr. Dean Gifford when my family was in great distress in mid 1999. Dean was a nice young constable serving at Lower Hutt Policy Station at that time. The 2 doggies were not particularly cute. The children ‘s mother asked me to throw them away a few times but I did not. I told myself if one day I went to Wellington, I should thank Dean in person for helping my family. 

  

The kiwi bird was bought for the children at the airport on the day the family moved back from NZ to HK in Feb 2000. I keep it in the family for our identity.

The children were 3 and 2 when they came to HK. In two months’ time, they will be 20 and 19. There is nothing left in the family because the family has long gone. So was senior policy constable Dean Gifford.  Dean died from a brain tumor in Wellington on 23/08/2012. I was very sad to have known Dean passed away at his prime age.

Dean Gifford will always be in my mind though he is no longer around.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/7540280/Inspiring-Wellington-policeman-dies

http://www.tributes.co.nz/ViewMyListing.aspx?id=8181

夜夜念奴嬌

For those that are as “young” as me may remember Gene Wilder 真·懷德 and  Lando Buzzanca 蘭度·布山卡.They were both film comedians. Gene Wilder passed away this year, whereas Lando Buzzanca is still alive and healthy.

I believe Gene’s best movie was “Young Frankenstein 新科學怪人”. I have seen that movie a few times. I almost forgot Lando Buzzanca, however I would never forget his film “my darling slave 夜夜念奴嬌”.

 “My darling slave” was released in Hong Kong in 1973 when I was a secondary school (form 4) student. The impression was particularly deep because we just learned 大江東去浪 at school ，then there was the movie 夜夜念奴嬌, though it had no relationship to 蘇東波 famous poem 念奴嬌. Although the actress was topless in the film, it was a very interesting film in those days. Good news is, this film will be available on YouTube in 4K on 6/01/2017.  Any old boy wishes to recall their old memory may just go see by then.

 

我不是潘金蓮

最近看過一部國産電影叫“我不是潘金蓮”，引發我一些聯想。

故事是說一個在農村有房的婦女和在城內工作的丈夫約定辦假離婚，待丈夫在單位裡面分配到房之後，他們再復合。誰知道丈夫分到的房子後，就和另外一個女人結了婚。

這個婦女覺得受騙，受到寃屈，所以她就去法院告她的前夫。但是因為她們是遁正規手續辦理離婚的，所以法庭判她們的離婚是正式的，有效的。家庭糾紛，法庭也理不清誰是誰非。

她覺得法官偏袒她前夫。她就去村，縣，市，省，一級一級的告上去，可是每一處都是維持原判。她更覺得是受了寃，連村，縣，市，省等各官員都一起告上去，牽起一連串風波，甚至要買兇殺掉那些“偏袒”她前夫的人。

故事其它不說了，我覺得這電影很寫實，寫實在中國人的心。共產培育下中國人的心，特別是女人。他們不會理事情本身的實質，誰是誰非，輕重，更不會從對方那方面想。只要誰不順她們的意就是她們的敵人，仇人，要用最嚴厲的方法對付，要殺掉他們，甚至用只有女人才想到的狠毒手段來報復。假如她們找到途徑的話，報復，殺人，傷天害理，她們會直幹，天經地義的殺人完全不當做一回事，那會考慮人家也有父母妻兒。

再看看那些男人，從那個婦女去找前夫理論的片段，很寫實地顯示中國男人的無恥。從他們的簡單對話可以見到，女人的前夫不單不承認自己負義，而且還當眾爆私隱，扣帽子，羞辱前妻，令前妻極度難堪無地自容。如果對方沒話柄，他們會捏造，胡扯，亂扣帽子，兼且誣陷對方為自己的行為合法化，因為已經不是說對錯的時候，而是在攻擊對方，連消帶打，令對方忙於為誣告自辯，根本無法取回公道，正中了對方下懷。但其實講到無賴，男人女人都一樣，女人可能更厲害。基本上誰絕情，誰更加無恥誰佔上風。電影中顯示得很清楚。在中國共產社會鬥爭生活了幾十年的中國人，深明此道。今日的中國人，已經不是在禮義之邦下成長的人，他們可以極度自私，狠毒，喪盡天良，不惜一切，只圖利己，這是現代人的寫照。更甚的是，他們絕對不會為自己做的壞事抱半點悔意，而是總覺得打擊對方不夠，心有不甘。當年薛福成所謂“唯恐不盡其類焉”，可就是這個意思吧。現今世代，狠心得道，良心零價。

上述的現象在中國很普遍，很多人無論是男是女，一個不高興，他們覺得是人家虧待了他們，心裡面就想對方死。那管人家曾經如何幫助他們，他們拿取了人家多少恩惠。

寄语大方人，認清不同社會下成長的怪胎。你要他們吃點小虧，他們會要你用命來抵償。

抱負

（ 本文发布于2016年10月25日  我的个人facebook ）

最近在香港最轟動的無過是新一屆立法會議員宣誓風波。十月十九日有朋友問我看法。我無政治立場，不過，如是見聞，略書一二。我的回答是（對於兩位侯任議員的評論）：第一，本身非清操冰雪之士。第二，犯下大禍自知理虧，還厚顏無耻胡扯，是無擔當的人，人格和品格上上了歪路。第三，要露鋒芒，標奇立異，走歪路（就像不脫難以上位），未入局已身先死，自毀政治前途，辜負眾望。 

我所說非清操冰雪的意思是: 你邀請他們去日本你估佢地去不去？當然是去！我絕對唔相信佢兩位從未去過日本。

從所見他們是有智商有情商但就係要搞對抗，要失足。你估真係可以當亞爺無到。亞爺方面最重要是要他們維持現狀，與人憤慨，全城唾罵，但群眾千祈唔無打他們，不然便給他們頭上有了光環。台灣亞扁就是最好的例证。

十月二十五日，在電視新聞看到CY梁評論以司法覆核阻止他們當議員宣誓。As I said before they did not have 擔當。 If they did and considered the big picture， they would have apologised and lessened the damage to themselves and their party。 The following is extracted from one of my blogs in 2011：在民選的政治人物立場，他們對這些事態也非常克制，因為處理不好，非但得不到活動的目的，更甚者失去民眾的支持和日後的選票。個人榮辱事小，不利自已的政黨和失卻支持，便無從組織政府及施展政治抱負。所以不得不克制，越高層次的就更深諳此道。 

兩位年輕民選侯任議員要出位是令其失去議席的基本原因。以他們的學歷，資歷，政治理念，社會經驗等等，社會上較他們優勝的不缺乏，或許真是時勢才令他們在選舉中勝出。他們當然不會承認是僥倖，所以他們完全不懂愛惜羽毛和珍惜較一般人來之不易的機會。他們缺乏政治經驗，不懂什麼是政治但卻與人口實。我敢信他們沒法宣誓成為議員

曹白 Chinese Herrings

曹白(Cao Bai or Chinese Herrings) is a type of white silver scale herring; marine, found inshore, semi-enclosed sea areas and fresh water; able to tolerate lowered salinities.

曹白鹹魚 (Cao Bai Salt Fish) - was originally produced in Hong Kong. As the local catches have become rare, now mostly imported from Bangladesh.

There are two popular species for Chinese salt fish production.

1. Ilisha elongata (or Ilisha),

available in East Asia coast from Soviet's Peter Great Bay to Bay of Bengal and Java Sea.

2. Dussumieria acuta,

available in Indo-Pacific from Persian Gulf, India and Malaysia to Indonesia and the Philippines.

The one pictured here is a fresh water Cao Bai from Yuen Long River of Hong Kong, priced at HK$600 per catty ~ 604 grams, those that are from Bangladesh usually priced at HK$480 per catty.

Gourmets prefer the Hong Kong local catches though it is dearer. The common way is to fry in low temperature until golden brown, and then add sugar and brown vinegar to suit individual taste. Gourmets always love Cao Bai. Once tasted, you would have no regrets in life.