Don't Touch That Dial
by Martyn Green
As a Brit, it is not surprising I love Britain's "Auntie" BBC, and, whether I am on-base in Hong Kong, or travelling in Asia, I listen to the World Service virtually every day, either on the radio (re-broadcast by a local broadcaster) or over the Internet. But the British Broadcasting Corporation has come in for a lot of stick recently, some of it quite possibly justified. Some people do believe standards have been slipping.
For instance, recently, the award-winning comedy panel game, Just A Minute was inadvertently run half an hour earlier than the advertised time, and then, because it was run at the wrong time, it was then run again -- immediately afterwards, at the correct time! Rather than Just A Minute, it was actually Just About An Hour. And who likes to hear the same program twice in an hour?
Nevertheless we ex-pats have a lot to be grateful for, especially out here in Hong Kong, able to listen to BBC World Service re-transmitted by the local broadcaster RTHK, on Radio 5, operating on 675 kHz on the Medium Wave. Twenty-four hours of news, documentaries and entertainment in satellite quality -- not only free, but also (oh bliss!) free of any annoying commercials. Marvelous!
And if that's not enough, one can listen to BBC radio programs like: East Asia Today; Global Business; Go Digital; and Alistair Cooke's Letter from America, as well as watch video news clips, via the Internet.
Not only can listeners catch up on the news any time they have a moment, they can even listen to comedy shows from Britain's own local Radio 4. Then there's also a new BBC comedy channel, Radio 7. And just recently the good old "Beeb" has introduced a new online documentary archive service, which allows one to listen to a whole bunch of documentary programs -- like Science in Action, Age of Empire, and the Making of Saddam -- going back as long as three months!
Okay, so "Auntie" BBC does have some faults, as does any media organization. But here in Hong Kong I, for one, wouldn't be without it.
Take It Easy
Recently a tragedy in China led to more than 20 people being crushed to death on a bridge near Beijing. And then there was the massive death toll in Saudi Arabia, where nearly 250 people were trampled to death during the annual Haj. Possibly in the light of these two incidents, Hong Kong's MTR (subway) now has an announcement, "For your safety and others, please do not run between platforms when changing trains." Seems sensible advice, although even crowded Hong Kong (check out the Causeway Bay shopping area on a Saturday afternoon!) fortunately doesn't quite approach such "crush" conditions.
What's In A Name?
(A sewer by any other name would smell as bad.)
In the early months of 2003, SARS triggered a worldwide health alert, as more than 8000 people were eventually believed to have become infected with the respiratory virus, with some 774 of them dying as a result.
An investigation into the way the SARS crisis was handled by the government in Hong Kong last year revealed that there was a delay of 12 days in deciding that disease victims should be quarantined -- partly because the government didn't like the acronym for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Apparently the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food was worried that the name was too close to Hong Kong's official title, "Special Administrative Region" or SAR. Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, (possibly mindful of "SARS-caustic remarks" about the territory that the acronym might engender!), had wanted "acute" to be dropped, to make it simply SRS, but it was pointed out, you can't argue with the WHO.
SARS was believed to have started in Guangzhou, but with the mainland Chinese city barely two hours away by train, officials obviously felt the association with the full name of the territory was too close for comfort. Now, unlike many other acronyms, in Hong Kong SARS is often printed in lower case, as "Sars".... Meanwhile, Avian Influenza, or Bird Flu, has "raised its ugly head" on the mainland, although scientists maintain it is unlikely that it will be able to jump from human to human. Which is fortunate indeed -- we suffered enough last year with the drop in tourist arrivals -- we can't afford any other kind of diSARSter…
Knuckling Down To Business
At the start of the SARS crisis in Hong Kong in March 2003, many office and residential apartment buildings began sticking a thin plastic film over the bank of lift buttons, to prevent direct contact when selecting the desired floor. This way, the sheet could be disinfected from any possible corona virus (or other germs), without the liquid getting near the electrical buttons. The sheets were usually wiped every hour or two, and replaced every day. Although some buildings eventually stopped using the sheets after the first epidemic, the practice still continues in a good many buildings, particularly government offices.
If anyone is still concerned, they can of course just push the buttons with a pen. Except of course for those which work from capacitance change. With those, you just have to commit yourself -- and use a knuckle, maybe.
Sound Advice
Since medical authorities have always maintained that SARS could come back at some time, the Hong Kong Government has been keen that people here maintain a high level of awareness on ways to protect themselves from possibly spreading the disease.
A sign spotted beside the elevator in an apartment building in Central (once known as "Victoria"), on Hong Kong island, suggests that enthusiastic management is keen to go along with this. Although perhaps a little too far. It offers some sound advice to residents about ways to avoid spreading disease, as it states, "Cleaning works have been conducted at the light-wells and the 3/F roof flats of our building. Our management would like to appeal to occupants not to spit and drop refuse, cigarette ends, beer cans or even period pads from height. With your cooperation in full swing, a harmonic residence (resonance?) will be maintained…"
Transports of Delight: 1 -- Times Are Changing
This year, Hong Kong Tramways is 100 years old. Currently, nearly a quarter of a million passenger trips are made daily. And, as the slim green double-deck trams wend their way from Western district, all the way to Shaukiwan, on the East of Hong Kong island, it can get pretty crowded. Twenty years ago though, it was not unusual to see people riding the trams in Hong Kong take the seat of someone who was getting off, but not actually sit down for some quite some time. One observer at the time sought to time this "cultural delay" -- and found a variance of from 6 to 27 seconds. Asked to explain, in those days younger folk were likely to say the seat may be hot. But that seems an unlikely reason -- as it is not done nowadays. Older folk at the time more credibly explained the practice by saying, "You need to allow time for the last person's spirit to depart." In the hustle and bustle of modern-day city life, it seems superstition is being replaced with the practical realities: wait very long, and you might find someone, less patient, slipping in behind you…
Transports of Delight: 2 -- Have A Nice Day
Signs inside many of Hong Kong's mini-buses (also known
as maxi-cabs) announce, "Please pay when you board, and enjoy
the ride," obviously leaving open the interpretation, that, if you
don't pay immediately you get on, drivers will make sure you DON'T enjoy
it!
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