I am a Christian but when...

I am a Christian, But when I say I'm a Christian...  Aiya, please read the below WELL WRITTEN Article taken from Facebook. 

I 1st went to Church in 1989 but I was clueless then, just followed my parents to Church.  I accept Christ into my life back in 1991 FGA Children's camp as a 12 years old boy.  I DID NOT Go to Church (Churchless) for 2 years from 1999 to 2001.  Joined Hope of God Petaling Jaya in March 2001.  I was water baptised in that Church back in 3 December 2001 at a Waterfall in Tanjung Malim (2 years after I came back from Hong Kong). Finally, in 21 July 2006, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Yes, I am one of those "wierdos" who's powered by the Holy Spirit at times. 

To conclude, I'm just a simple sinner who was lost, but now found and forgiven and certainly not claimed to be perfect.   I received God's good grace and blessings now and then.  But then, I'm still a Human and human's imperfect so don't be judgemental or surprised if I swear (habit trying to kick off) OR drink (socially) in front of you.

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.

PROUD SELANGORIAN and SMDU'rian (a Dedication)

I, Jeff Lim was Born in Pantai Medical Centre Kuala Lumpur, but had spent 29 years (OR MAJORITY OF HIS LIFE) in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.  Remaining 4 years, I spent in Hong Kong.  Hence regard myself as a Selangorian though my IC stated I am a Wilayan Ie. "14".  I had this nostlagic memory during perhimpunan singing these 2 Anthems and are Proud of it.

State: Selangor Darul Ehsan

National Anthem:

Duli Yang Maha Mulia

Selamat di atas takhta

Allah lanjutkan usia Tuanku

Rakyat mohon restu

Bawah Duli Tuanku

Bahagia selama-lamanya

Aman dan sentosa

Duli Yang Maha Mulia


  SMKDU - Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Damansara Utama (formally known as SMDU)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sekolah_Menengah_Damansara_Utama WEBSITE: http://www.smkdu.edu.my
LOGO:  

SMKDU Anthem:

 Berfikir Asas Kebijaksanaan, by Grace Yeong, Ng Sook Wah and Cynthia Lim



Di sini kami ditunjuk ajar penuh keyakinan

Belajar berusaha bersama-sama ke arah kejayaan

SMKDU sekolah kami, sekolah kami cintai

Majulah bersama, penuh semangat

Bersatu teguh, bercerai roboh

Jadikan teladan

Marilah kita bersatu padu

berfikir asas kebijaksanaan.



Literal translation:



Here we are taught with confidence

Learning to work together towards success

SMKDU is our school the school that we love

Let's move forward together in high spirits

Together we stand divided we fall

To be an example

Let's unite

To think is the basis of wisdom

NOTE:

I, Jeff Lim's supposed to be SMDU (SMKDU Now) CLASS OF 1996.  But in 1995 (middle of form 4, whole family moved to Hong Kong.  Studied in Island School, Hong Kong (the Most Prestigeous International school in Hong Kong Island located in Mid-levels) from 1995 to 1999 (year 10, GCSE, A-levels).

SMDU (SMKDU) is where I spent 3 years being bullied (thank GOD only mentally and verbally and not physically), pushed around, and spoiled by crappy Substitute teachers from form 1 to form 2 (explained why I failed my Science in GCSE O' level as my foundation's POOR.  The Subs teacher failed to ignite my Passion in Science). 

Adding salt to my wound, Science in Hong Kong is taught from Primary 1 but in Malaysia only OFFICIALLY started in Form 1 (No, Alam dan Manusia don't really count), hence the HUGE GAP (left behind).  GOT DOUBLE AWARD "E/E" for my GCSE O-level.  Sad eh?

Anyway, despite the Verbal and mental bullying by my Classmates especially (HALL OF SHAME) Chen Chi Seong (form 2), Adrain Khoo Kien Beng (form 1, 3 and 4), Koh Han Voon (form 1), Rayvin Chan Wei King (form 1), Akhbar Bahari (form 1), Mohd Fitri (form 2), Chow Jing Wai (form 4), Mark Terence Wee Chin Heng (form 4) and lastly Jayme Mark Sidhu (form 4), this is a School that was awarded "SEKOLAH KLUSTER KECERMELANGAN TERBAIK 2009" (Most Outstanding Cluster School 2009) .

I actually want to thank the above mentioned BULLIES.  They MOULD me and CHANGED MY LIFE by making me more mature.  I was mentally prepared to face ISLAND SCHOOL Challenge.  WAS NEVER BULLIED in my Next School (ISLAND SCHOOL) and subsequently, my College and Uni years.   Hence, I was proud to be a "DUrians" alumni.  Though I dropped out of University after 5 years of trying (2002 to 2007).

That's all folks, thanks for the time and patience to read this blog entry.

SHOES REVIEW: NIKE FREE RUN+ 3

RUNNING SHOE REVIEW: NIKE FREE RUN+ 3

I, Jeff Lim, just bought my 1st Running shoes since 2009.  It's a "NIKE FREE RUN+ 3.

Check out the Silver "Reflector SWOOSH".  Photo below:

 Previous running shoe also Nike.  It's Nike Air Pegasus 25 ESC+ (Lance Armstrong

LIVESTRONG Limited Edition).  Bought Late 2009. Photo below:

Then, there's a "POWER" Badminton shoes in 2010 but that's different Category.

I'm talking about RUNNING Shoes OR "Tyres" The problem, the Bottom sole glue all

 came out, stuck it back and came off again.  Now 1 piece of the sole (middle part)

missing (Photo below same model as my previous shoes but different colour - circled,

 missing parts)

Back to the NEW "tyres" OR Shoes.  Bought these from Jusco 1 Utama's SportsDirect.
 Normal price RM379.  Less 20% off and RM50 Jusco Gift voucher.  = RM303.20
 less RM50 = RM253.20 only.  Quite a good deal in my book.

Well there's a saying a picture's worth 1000 words, here are the photos:

 Above:  What I mean "Tyre", it's sole does shaped like tyres.  Below: SIZE 10 US

and 9 UK.  Typical Malaysian shoe size.  I found out at MANY Shoes Sales.  Size 9

to 11 always sold out.  Left Size 7,8,12-15.

Above: Can be categorised as Gadgets due to the NIKE+ Software built at the

Bottom of the shoe.  All you need is the Application for your IPOD or IPHONE

to hook it up.

THE TEST RUN:  

This is a Very comfortable shoes.  It's side wall's soft and flexible and the sole 
flexes according to your feet shape.  The picture below shows that the "HEEL" 
opened up a bit to accommodate my Heavy heels.

I tried Running from KLCC LRT to Pavilion once and 6 hours of shopping at 1 

Utama with my friend.  My feet don't feel tired at all.  In fact, it's so comfortable 

and engaging that I brisk walk @ 1 Utama for 1st 3 hours leaving my friend 

trailing behind and complaining.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Nike Free Run+ 3 features a mesh and multi-layer constructed upper with adaptive
 fit midfoot system, sculpted Phylite foam midsole for cushioning, Nike Free configured
grooves and sipes underfoot for flexibility, and an environmentally preferred rubber
 outsole with waffle piston traction and added BRS 1000 carbon rubber at the heel.
Free Run+ 3 weighs 8.7 ounces (OR 246.6g) in a mens size 10.

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.
An original Jeff Lim's production.  Not to be copied without credits or links.  COPY
LIKE A MAN!  Don't plagiarise.

Malaysia Day rants...

Malaysia day rants...  

Sejarah textbook didn't teach us these...  Malaysia's independence day's not 31 August.  

That's Malaya's independence day.  In fact, Malaysia's independence day's on 16 Sept 1963.

Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min (1922 - 2011)

Taken from his interview with Borneo Post dated 17th September 2008

Malaysia Day: James Wong Speaks His Mind

"People don't seem to understand or seem not to pay enough attention. Malaysia came into existence on Sept 16. Not Aug 31 which has no meaning to us Sarawakians,"says James Wong, 84, one of the founding fathers of Malaysia.
In an interview published by Puvaneswary Devindran in the Borneo Post Sunday (14 Sept).
"It is the day Malaysia was formed. If they want to celebrate on Aug 31, that's up to them. In my heart, I know it's Sept 16," he said.

Wong recalled that he received a telegram during a timber cruise in Baram in 1961. The telegram carried an invitation from the late Donald Stephens (later Tun Fuad Stephens) to come to Jesselton — now Kota Kinabalu — to meet and discuss Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj's offer to form a federation.
Accepting the invitation from Donald Stephens led to his appoinment as a delegate to the 'Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee' (MSCC), which frequently met to explore ideas of forming the Federation of Malaysia. At that point, Wong was only a Council Negeri member from Limbang.

"It was impossible to even think Sarawak could make it on its own at that time," he said.
As he put it, it was really a Hobson's choice. For one thing, Sarawakians did not have the expertise, experience and maturity to run their country if it were to become independent. Sarawak was also short of financial resources, raking in RM75 million a year at that time.

"We had only little oil in Miri and we had not gone into gas discovery. Not to mention timber was not on yet. In fact, I arranged the first shipment of timber in the 1960s. We were still a broke country then," he said matter-of-factly.
Moreover, Sarawak was facing threats from the Clandestine Communist Organisation (CCO) and its next door neighbour, Kalimantan.

The concept of Malaysia was even more encouraging as the state had confidence in Singapore, Malaya and Sabah since they all had the same legislative system and government and were English-speaking, Wong said.
He shuddered at the thought of the threat posed by the CCO in the mid-50's, especially one incident when a policeman was killed in Serian.

He too was not spared the terror when the CCO delivered two live bullets to his home as a 'writing on the wall' for being supportive of Malaysia's formation.
However, his greatest fear was the possibility of a racial war breaking out among the 24 different ethnic races in Sarawak. With the people being very 'clannish' at that time, he feared the CCO would resort to instigating such a war and cause a bloodbath.

"What worried me then was if one of the CCO cadres were to dress like an Iban and go and kill a Malay for instance, then Sarawak could end up like the Congo," the report quoted him.
"We could not have defended ourselves. We did not have an army, our police force was very small. We could not have survived," he said.

Wong pointed out that in the case of Sarawak, special clauses were put in to guarantee that among others, land, civil service, local government and immigration would come under the state autonomy of Sarawak.
On the oil royalty for Sarawak, Wong said: "It was discussed before (in the 1970s) that we wanted 15 per cent royalty but only got five per cent."

He said Sabah also had five per cent oil royalty although according to recent newspapers reports, its former Chief Minister Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh had demanded more — 25 per cent to be exact.
Wong pointed out that Sarawak too should be getting up to 15 to 25 per cent in royalties.
The state government, he said, should stick to the London Agreement (Malaysian Agreement) signed in London.
Wong believed it was important for all Sarawakians to know their place in Malaysia, particularly their rights.
"Sabah gave away their rights on immigration when they gave away Labuan. When you go to Labuan, you can get into Sabah easily."

He said it was unfortunate Malaysians in Sarawak in their 40s and even 50s, seemed ignorant or did not have the opportunity to know how Malaysia came about because at the time of the formation of Malaysia, those within this age group were still too young to understand the change that had taken place.

"Make no mistake about it. But for the grace of God and Malaysia, the fate of these Malaysians who I refer to would have been very different today. That's why it's so important for them to know the historical origin of Malaysia," he said, reading from an excerpt of his book.

"But I have no regrets — because if we do not have Malaysia, God help us.
"So there are advantages and disadvantages in being part of the federation," he said.
Still, Wong feels disappointed and sad that the federal government has failed to recognise Sept 16.
To him, one of the biggest misconceptions some Malaysians might have is Sarawak joined 
Malaysia when truth be told, it helped form Malaysia.

Asked if Sarawak had ever requested for Sept 16 to be recognised, he said: "Look, you will 
always have as much right as you are prepared to fight for. On Aug 31, see how we celebrated it? But officially, it should be on Sept 16. You can't get away from this. It's not (from) me — it's in our proclamation of Malaysia."
Wong then referred to the state's proclamation read by Sarawak's first Chief Minister Dato Stephen Kalong Ningkan on Sept 16: "Now, therefore I, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the Chief Minister of Sarawak, do hereby proclaim that Sarawak has this day attained independence as a state of Malaysia."

He also said the Tunku, in announcing the proclamation of Malaysia, declared: "Now, in the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful, I, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, Prime Minister of Malaysia, with the concurrence and approval of His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the Federation of Malaya, His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore, His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Sabah and His Excellency the Governor of Sarawak, do hereby declare and proclaim on behalf of the peoples of Malaysia that as from Sixteenth Day of September in the year one thousand nine hundred and sixty-three, corresponding to the twenty-eight day of Rabi'ul Akhir in the year of the Hijrah one thousand three hundred and eighty-three, that Malaysia comprising the states of Pahang, Terengganu, Kedah, Johore, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan, Selangor, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Malacca, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak shall by the Grace of God, the Lord of the Universe, forever be an independent and sovereign democratic State founded upon liberty and justice ever seeking to defend and uphold peace and harmony among its peoples and to perpetuate peace among nations."

Wong said after all that had been said and done, without Malaysia today, Sarawak would have been in one 'hell of a mess — our lives would have been very different'.

But being in a big family, he stressed, required Sarawakians to be prepared to stand for their rights for they have as much rights as the others 'lest we forget Malaysia is a federation of equal partners'.
Looking back, Wong said as a Sarawakian, he had made his contributions in making Sarawak a happy place to live in through what happened 45 years ago on Sept 16.

So come Tuesday, the Malaysian Flag will fly outside his office.
~Anak Sarawak~

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan

(1920–1997), first chief minister of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. Stephen Kalong Ningkan served as first chief minister of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak between July 1963 and September 1966. Prior to Sarawak's joining the union of Malaya, Singapore, and North Borneo to form the Federation of Malaysia, Sarawak was a British colony. Born in Sarawak of Iban and Chinese ancestry, Ningkan is probably best known for triggering a constitutional crisis when he refused to vacate his office after being dismissed by the Sarawakian governor.

Ningkan, as leader of the Council Negri (the state legislature), had purportedly ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the council. With the backing of the federal government in Kuala Lumpur, the governor proceeded to appoint a new chief minister. Ningkan's refusal to vacate his office, resulting in a constitutional impasse that was perceived to threaten the fragile unity of Malaysia, aroused a vigorous reaction from the federal government.

On 14 September 1966, Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Malaysia's head of state, proclaimed a state of emergency in Sarawak on the basis that its security was threatened by the constitutional crisis. Under emergency rule, Parliament was legislatively enabled to exercise further powers, effectively governing Sarawak from the federal capital. Ningkan appealed his dismissal all the way to the Privy Council in London, Malaysia's then final appellate court, but lost his appeal for a declaration that he was still chief minister of Sarawak. 

A firm believer that Sarawakians were entitled to have full citizenship rights and to participate in Malaysia's national development on a par with the Malays on the Malaya Peninsula, Ningkan slipped into political oblivion after his removal from office.

The constitutional crisis that Ningkan was embroiled in should be seen in the light of the volatile political matrix in Malaysia then. After Malaysia was created through the union of Malaya and Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak on 16 September 1963, communal tension rose over the core identity of Malaysia. The politically convenient union was short-lived and Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965. 

At the federal level, there was concern that Sarawak and Sabah might follow Singapore and secede from Malaysia. The removal of Ningkan, albeit by constitutional means, was an attempt by the federal government in Kuala Lumpur to exercise indirect control by aligning East Malaysian political parties with the United Malays National Organization–dominated coalition at the center and the rest is history

After the Federal Court declared Ningkan's removal unlawful, Ningkan was reinstated and Tawi Sli's appointment was by itself null and void and of no effect. So Ningkan took back what he had been deprived of. But the ugly turn of event came two weeks later. The Yang Dipertuan Agong by invoking Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, with the advice of the Prime Minister, declared a state of emergency in Sarawak.

As you may be aware of, the Constitution of Sarawak can only be amended by the Dewan Undangan Negeri (better known as the Council Negri) with a two third majority of the members of the DUN or by the Federal Parliament during a state of Emergency. So that was the idea of declaring a state of emergency in Sarawak so that the Constitution of the State of Sarawak can be amended.

The Federal Parliament was immediately convened and a constitutional amendment bill for the state of Sarawak was passed. The bill that was immediately assented to by the YDA gave the Governor of Sarawak a temporary power to dismiss the Chief Minister and also to call for and convene the DUN meeting. Prior to that the Governor could not convene the DUN without the request of the Chief Minister.

Now that the Governor had been clothed with the TWO extraordinary powers, i.e., to call for and convene the DUN meeting and also the temporary power to remove/dismiss the Chief Minister. Hence, the Governor, Tun Abang Haji Openg (Abang Johari's father) immediately exercised his newly found powers by convening and chairing the DUN meeting. Ningkan and DUN members aligned to him boycotted the meeting. All members of the Alliance attended and a vote of no-confidence was taken. With such vote, which was obviously not in Ningkan's favour, the Governor, with the new temporary power dismissed Ningkan for the second time and immediately re-appointed Tawi Sli as the Chief Minister.

Being advised that the best option was to challenge the legality of the declaration of the state of emergency in Sarawak, Ningkan sued the Government of Malaysia (see: Stephen Kalong Ningkan v. Government of Malaysia [1968]2MLJ 238) seeking a declaration that the emergency declared by the YDA was illegal and therefore the laws that stemmed from such illegality were also illegal and of no effect.

But Uchu, fate was not with Ningkan. The High Court dismissed Ningkan's suit/application. He appealed to the Federal Court but the Federal Court upheld the High Court's judgment. He appealed to the Privy Council, which also upheld the High Court's judgment. Ningkan's dismissal was therefore confirmed!

http://selangaump2008.blogspot.com/2009/02/stephen-kalong-ningkan-was-confirmed.html

FURTHER READINGS:

 THE HIGH COURT RULINGhttp://borneobest022009.blogspot.com/2009/02/stephen-kalong-ningkan-high-court.html

THE FEDERAL COURT DECISIONhttp://borneobest022009.blogspot.com/2009/02/stephen-kalong-ningkan-federal-court.html

THE PRIVY COUNCIL DECISIONhttp://borneobest022009.blogspot.com/2009/02/stephen-kalong-ningkan-privy-council.html

Caution! Use WIFI can kill your sperms

Caution! Use WIFI can kill your sperms

According to  the study  of  new  published last week in the journal Fertility and Sterility ,  a laptop computer  with WiFi can damage Men's sperm.

To  test the  theory  , the  researchers  Argentina  put A group of healthy sperm  next to a WIFI laptop data download.  After four hours ,  a quarter of the  sperm  that  has stopped swimming, compared with  14 percent of  sperm  in the  controls  that are placed  away from the  computer .  

In addition,  9 percent of  the sperm  near the computer  have damaged DNA, 3 times damage from the other tests.

 This is caused by electromagnetic waves from  internet  wireless (WIFI) , according to scientists . However,  they said the decision is not  final  until there is  more research done .

 In another study  published in the same journal,  researchers United States  put the sensor  temperature  in the  scrotum (groin area for men)  to 29  of the  men .  The men of the work  using a laptop computer  on their laps,  and  after  10 to 15 minutes elapsed , the temperature of  the scrotum  increased to  levels known to  damage  sperm production .

For maximum sperm production,  the testicles  need to  remain  cool, even  one to  two degrees below  body temperature .  Using a laptop computer  can cause  a temperature increase  of 2.5  ° C  in an hour ,  according to  the study . 

One  way around this problem  is to  use the  table or try using a laptop cooling pad and keep a  distance from your laptop. However, the it is only going to last  for  20 minutes, according to urologist  the study  Dr.  Yefim  Sheynkin  University of  New York  at  Stony Brook .

Dato' Lee Chong Wei lost London Olympic 2012 Finals to...

Lin Dan.  21-15/ 10-21 / 21 - 19.  Thrilling 79 mins, 3 sets.  So near yet so far...  AT Least he tried his best.

Lee Chong Wei, the pride of Malaysians!
Do not cry, we all feel as bad you are, you are our heroes! (Google translate for Bananas like me!)

李宗伟，马来西亚人的骄傲！
別哭，大家都心疼你，你是我們的英雄!

He's humble too: Here's his tweet:

While DLCW in tears, Lin Dan celebrates.  ESPN Commentator Gillian Clark labelled Lin Dan as Arrogance vs Dato' Lee Chong Wei's humility.

Hong Kong 15th anniversary handover

Jeff Lim's comments: Today marks the 15th anniversary handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China.  Having spent 4 years studying in Hong Kong from 1995 to 1999, I regarded Hong Kong as my 2nd home. Sadly, the 1 country 2 systems as promised had faded.  Why?

Read the following articles to find out...

Article 1:

100,000 march in Hong Kong on 15th anniversary of handover

One hundred thousand protesters marched in Hong Kong on Sunday, voicing their anger at Hu Jintao, the Chinese president, on the 15th anniversary of the island's handover back to China.

The protest in Hong Kong on the 15th anniversary of the handover from Britain to China Photo: EPA

By Malcolm Moore, Beijing 4:25PM BST 01 Jul 2012

Mr Hu was heckled twice in two days during his carefully chaperoned visit. On Sunday, a protester in the audience loudly shouted: "End one-party rule!" as he gave an inauguration address for Leung Chun-ying, the island's new leader.

On Saturday, police had to use pepper spray to fight back protesters trying to present Mr Hu with a 100,000-name petition calling for an investigation into the suspicious death of a Tiananmen Square dissident.

One journalist was earlier dragged away for shouting a question about the Tiananmen Square protests.

For his part, Mr Leung instantly upset proud locals by giving his speech entirely in Mandarin. He did not utter a single word of Cantonese, the dialect spoken by 89 per cent of Hong Kong's population. "Mr Leung might as well have knelt in front of Mr Hu in a full kowtow," remarked one commentator.

The marchers gathered at Victoria Park before peacefully moving through the city. One protester, 37-year-old Jacky Lim, carried Hong Kong's former flag, with a Union flag in its corner.

"There is nothing worth celebrating today," he said. "Hong Kong is being gradually destroyed by the Communist party."

Attempts by mainland Chinese to travel to Hong Kong for the protests were thwarted by the authorities, who have reportedly stopped issuing travel permits until July 5.

Meanwhile a parody of Hong Kong's saccharine handover anniversary anthem has become a hit on the internet. Fewer than 5,000 people have watched the official music video of the sentimental and patriotic Believe in our Dream, but ten times as many have clicked on Who's stolen our Dreams?, which rails at Chinese rule and says the Communist party is "brainwashing" Hong Kong.

Public anger at Chinese rule in Hong Kong has never been higher. A poll of nearly 900 long-term residents in the South China Morning Post showed that almost two-thirds believe life has got worse since the handover.

Only 16.8 per cent believed that Chinese rule had improved Hong Kong, down from nearly 40 per cent at the time of Mr Hu's last visit in 2007. A separate poll by the University of Hong Kong found that 37 per cent of residents do not trust Beijing, the highest proportion since 1997.

There is mounting frustration at the wealth gap on the island, which is now at its highest level since 1971 and wider than in Britain or the United States.

Property prices, meanwhile, already some 40 per cent higher on average than in London, have now reached an all-time record, surprising their previous high in 1997.

"Hong Kong has changed a lot in the past six months," said Wen Yunchao, a mainland Chinese activist now living in Hong Kong. "The so-called One Country, Two Systems does not really exist any more and Hong Kongers are worried, after the election of the new chief executive that Beijing is going to fully control Hong Kong."

However, Alicia Lui, a 33-year-old from Hong Kong who now works in Beijing said the island continues to influence life on the mainland.

"I think China is trying to copy Hong Kong and is catching up. In some cities, like Shanghai, life is already close to Hong Kong."

She noted that since most Hong Kong residents were descendants of mainland immigrants, the idea that people from Hong Konger dislike mainland Chinese was an exaggeration. "If you asked me where I am from, I would say Hong Kong, but if you questioned me further, I would say I was Chinese," she said.

Additional reporting by Valentina Luo.

END...

ARTICLE 2:

Hong Kong’s 15th handover anniversary a reason for celebration?

By Elmer W. Cagape Jul 02, 2012 12:44PM UTC

Yesterday’s 15th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from Britain to China was highlighted with an elaborate fireworks display that dazzled spectators for 23 minutes. But one question that comes to mind is whether this occasion deserves to be called a celebration.

Fireworks are normally showcased to welcome the Chinese New Year but last night’s display was also part of a tradition that commemorates a transition from one era to another. But at a value of 8 million Hong Kong dollars (US$1.03m) it is an expensive element of celebration, a label many people who joined in rallies in sweltering conditions would likely disagree. A mammoth crowd, whose headcount varies depending on who you ask, is composed of people from various walks of life and who may have different reasons of joining the march.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, right, shakes hands with Hong Kong's new Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying after Leung was sworn in, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Hong Kong Sunday, July 1, 2012. Hong Kong's new Beijing-backed leader was sworn in on Sunday amid a rising tide of public discontent over widening inequality and lack of full democracy in the semiautonomous southern Chinese financial center. Pic: AP

Celebration may not be that list. For many locals, the suspicious death of dissident and labor rights activist Li Wangyang prompted them to take to the streets and call for full investigation into his death. Li was a veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and spent 21 years in prison. On June 6th, Li, who was blind and deaf, was found hanged from a Hunan hospital window. Authorities ruled his death as suicide, even though there are suspicions he didn’t take his own life. Participants in the rally interviewed by the South China Morning Post believed the rally “could make a difference” to how authorities handle Li’s death.

For others it’s a show of disappointment over the city’s new leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who was also sworn in yesterday. Leung, a millionaire property consultant, along with his appointed officials, took oath in front of China’s President Hu Jintao. And to some extent, maybe it’s a show of force against mainlanders who are accused of various things, from pushing property prices to stratospheric levels to taking away maternity slots.

The President’s visit and Chief Executive’s oath of office were the focal points of discontent towards Beijing, accused of meddling Hong Kong’s affairs. For instance, some Hong Kong lawmakers proposed a draft outlining the city’s path to universal suffrage. But so far, the mainland offered consistent rejection of such proposals. It’s therefore not a surprise to notice people don’t trust Mr Leung that much, since he was elected in March not by majority of local people, but by a special committee with close attachment to Beijing. And it is evident through surveys.

A result of a poll released by the University of Hong Kong indicating mistrust towards Beijing at 37%, the highest since the handover. Another survey showed Hongkongers who identify themselves as citizens of China fell to a 13-year low.

Other events held in the day were artistic performances, carnivals and parachute jumping performance, which is fit for certain festivities such as independence day. But many Hong Kong people would beg to disagree.