Dear Friends
2004 has been a very eventful year for the world and for me as well. Therefore, I decided to write a newsletter since a year like this doesn't come around often. It began on a very sad note with the passaway of Anita Mui on 30 December 2004 who was the most loved CantoPop diva and ending with the loss of James Wong - a multi-talented one of a kind genius in Chinese history. I had the pleasure of working with both of them briefly on two films and one TV programme. We all grew up with their music, movies and lyrics. I had great admiration for James Wong. I thought he was the most interesting Chinese gentleman I have ever met. Hong Kong people of all ages mourned for their departure. It also symbolized the closing of a creative era in Hong Kong's pop cultural history.
Hong Kong - Things are still in a topsy turvy. Unemployment rate is around 7%. Petty crime rate has gone up due to the increase of individual tourists from the Mainland. Air pollution has hit all time high - "One Country One Pollution".
By 1 July 2004, I had already participated in four protest marches for causes ranging from political, environmental to historical preservation. Writing letters to government departments has become a routine in my life. I think the majority of the people here would be overjoyed if we could eBay Hong Kong ! The core problem is that we don't have any candidate who possesses political wisdom, leadership and vision necessary to serve as Chief Executive to reinvent Hong Kong. "The Pearl of the Orient" is turning into a plastic bead ! A lot of us resort to nostalgia of the colonial era for consolation. We especially miss the 80's.
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