The Correspondent, August - September 2000

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The Correspondent is published 6 times a year. Opinions expressed by writers in magazine are not necessarily those of the Club

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Obituary

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sooL Review Under The Crescent Moon: Rebellion in Mindanao

32 *ourld the FCC in Pictures I 32 ,*"at Bert's

I c> c) JJ I c' c¡ J .J I

Steve \4lhite

Wine Promotion Professional Contacts FCC Faces

Tel/Fu:2987 lI77

-

Paul Bayfield and Karl Wilson

Mobile: 9326 5884

,,""--,""ïi.'il;i:,*.ï,i:t^oJ"tî""?si'.1Îíff.Ï,"rr.

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<wwfcchk.org> THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

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2OOO

eat the Club". Later

FromJohn Neill

It is infuriating to not only have our immediate pastPresident Segal's AGM "Snoozefest" jibe reported in June-July Corresþond,enl but worse suffer the editorial repetition of the same report and the facile comment

about an (apparently) pathetic, non-questioning membership under the "Help Run Your FCC" title.

This same perky papa invites members "to make difference" and join a committee by contacting

a a

Convenor........huh!

When I joined the FCC last yea¡ I read in the October/November Corresþondenú that member Alexander Wong was "ashamed to bring any guest to

I too experienced

significantly below-par F&B standards, and realising one must put up or shut up. I faxed the (then) F&B convenorJohn and offered to serve on his committee. No Rittger acknowledgement. No RePlY.

Dismayed, I later faxed a copy of my letter to the new Deputy General Manager Gilbert Cheng this communication likewise went without acknowledgement or reply.

At this point I gave up, but later re-thought the injustice of my position as an earnest member wanting to contribute to my club and sent by post the entire correspondence to the undoubtable Mr Segal. And guess what? No Response!! (No return-to-sender by HK Post either.)

Early this year, Mr Segal, President at the time, trumpeted in his column in The Corresþondenl how he answered every form of communication ..... this was too much, and I faxed him accusing him of doing

and added observations anything but just that about possible wine over-pricing I had experienced

at the Club.

I GOT AN ANSWER! Now, you must know that HE

NEVER GOT MY EARLIER CORRESPONDENCE (funny that) and (also oddly) he side-stepped the issue of the FCC's wine pricing policy altogether in his reply.

Again, I responded, but no reply!

Well, Philip's gone now, and so has the F&B Committee. And like Mr. Wong and others before him, I'm sure the sheer futility of asking questions at an AGM frlls me with an overwhelming sense of déjà r,-Lr. OK. The rank and hle have had it. But don't, please don't admonish us for not trying to make the FCC a better place. That's the last straw.

Come to Mo Tat '$Øan on Lamma Island and discover Hong Kong's newest venue for al fresco dining and great parties.

Located on the beach, Cococabana offers a laid

back Mediterranean-style atmosphere. Enjoy our exotic cocktails and balcony dining set against the soft sound of waves on the beach and spectacular views over the South China Sea to Hong Kong. Live Latin music and Salsa parties can also be enjoyed on

a

regular basis.

in

the running of the Club. The reason is obaious: Though

there is a long tradition of bellying uþ to the bar and I and long may that f'ne tradition' liue comþlaining think the members neecl reminding nou and again that thE can haae a, sa) on hou the FCC is run, eaen if thel did not

for office. Any member can join any committee. Just contact the conuenor (The list is on þage 1 of nery Correspondent.) The F€lB Commi'ttee ha'ç not heen stand

Cococabana can be reached by ferry from the Aberdeen Fishmarket or by junk. Our own boat, Le Junk, is available for hire at very reasonabie prices.

For reservations please call2328 2138 Produce your FCC membersbip card. and receiue ø

free Søngria upon atriual.

Lunch or dine four times in one month at any of our restaurants in SOHO and enioy a free junk trip to cococAßANA.

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2

Editor's note: I cannot comment on the lost corresþondence members of the þreuious board, but I tahe full resþonsibility for the box "admonishing" members to tahe þart

uith

2869121A

Cuban Cuisine

dissolaed, John. Rather it is amalgamated with the Hou'çe Committee under the able chairmanshiþ of Daue Garcia and I haue amended the masthead accordingly so there is

misund,erstanding. Lastly, I hoþe you will tahe the opþortunity to contact Daae and join the House/F{lB Committee to "mahe the FCC a better þlace".

no

From David Baird #6669

May I suggest that, before throwing cash at redecorating Bert's or restyling other parts of the building, the FCC thinks about the facilities it offers an apparently threatened breed on these premi THF, CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

2OOO

journalists. The Work Room has lost half its space.

One of the five work spaces is inconvenient as it is so close to the door that sales staff or others passing through keep bumping into it. Worse, however, is the equipment which needs urgent upgrading. It takes an age to log on when receiving and sending e-mail. Any self-respecting cybercafé would go out of business if it offered this sort of service.

Absentee members such as myself and those living out in the New Territories need an effìcient work room' That's a good part of the reason for being a member.

So how about some action? I have the uncomfortable feeling that the FCC is fast becoming a business where all that counts is the bottom line. The next stage no doubt wilt be confining those rowd¡ troublemaking journos to a separate section so that the rest of the membership can enjoy a drink and impress their business acquaintances in peace.

I'll

President's note: Thanks for the sitreþ on the Work Room. raise the issue at the next Board meeting and see uhat can

to imþroae the uorking enuironment. And just to recßsure )ou and eaeryone eke, the Board has no intention of closing the Worh Room. In sþite of our ftne FUB facilities, the FCC is f,rst and foremost a Club for worhing jou'rn,a,li'st.s. We realise the imþortance of the Work Room to members of the be done

working press uho need a place to worh

in

members abusecl the þriuilege's. The Grt¡ucho Clult cannot be blamed for wanting to end our arrangement'

From Isabelle Bennett

Thank you so much for the great treat.ment of Jack's obituary (The Correspondent, June-Jul¡ 2000).

(Our daughter) Jennifer and I were thrilled with it as were the other ex-FCC members who attended the funeral. I am sending photocopies to his family in South Australia. Atl the support fromJack's old friends has been a tremendous comfort to us both. He would have been so thrilled to know that they thought so much of him.

From Ray Cranbourne #708 Can absent members residing overseas receive The Correspondenl? The magazine is an excellent marketing tool for the Club.

Editor:

Thanks

for

the comþliment' To receiue a subscrip-

tion colry o/The Correspondent ouerseas, deþarting or former members need to tahe out an Absent Membershiþ which costs HKÍ[300 annually or a Life Absent Membership for a one-time þayment of HK$2,000.

town.

From Elizabeth GlassenburY Membership Secretary, The Groucho Club, London Thank you for your fax concerning the continuation of the reciprocal agreement between The FCC and The Groucho Club.

On reviewing the arrangement, I have found that since its commencement in 1997, there have been over 100 FCC members who have used Groucho's via

contacting me hrst, and about two members a week who just turned up at reception. We believe a number of these members are actually based in London rather than Hong Kong, as they use the Club on a regular On the other hand, only about 10-15 Groucho members have taken advantage of the agreement.

As it does not appear the arrangement is of particular benef,rt to our members, combined with the increasing number of Groucho Club members, new applications and ever increasing business in general, I regret to inform you that we have decided to withdraw from the reciprocal agreement. This will be effective as of October lst which I trust will give you suffrcient time to notifi your members and let them know that if any of them wish to apply for full membership of the Groucho Club, they are welcome to do so.

Wishing you and The FCC the best wishes for the future.

basis.

All FCC

'members should respect the reciprocal arrangement.s ute hrttte uith clubs around the world.

We haue lost the use of the Groucho Club because a few

President's note:

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEIIIBER

2OOO

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From the President

A new executive chef, Alan Chan, now heads the FCC's culinary team. Keain Sinclair profiles him.

(!) l

he Club continues to maintain a healthy financial position while at the same time maintaining its costs. Our new chef, Alan Chan, has started and members should have started to see some subtle changes to

the menus along with a new wine list. The renovations to the kitchen have now been completed incorporating proper Chinese and Indian kitchens. The kitchen staff, who have had to put up with intolerable conditions for years, now hnd their working environment greatly improved with the installation of a new air-conditioning and sound systems. The fact that the kitchen team can now listen to music while they work seems to have created some really "huppy campers".

There has been another resignation from the

Board, Ben Beaumont, who has made significant contributions to the Board and the Club in general.

Taking Ben's place on the Board is Kevin Egan.

The House/F&B Committee, headed by Dave Garcia is currentþ looking at proposals to renovate the Hughes and Albert Rooms which most members agree need a face lift. At the moment, we are looking at giving both rooms a 1920s Shanghai feel. The Board feels that with a face lift, both these rooms will become even more important revenue centres, especially for

disappointments along the way.

Some of you will have already noticed that the Verandah is now non-smoking along with much of the Main Dining Room. The Board intends to keep reviewing [he smoking issue.

During the last Board meeting we reviewed two presentations to upgrade the FCC web site. I think

Bordeoux Choblis Longuedoc-Roussillon

Stormont.

Membership continues to improve and as ofJuly 21 our membership totalled I,452 wp from 1,446 ìn June.

While the Board continues to work hard in the best interests of the members, it is important that we have some feedback from the membership. All Committees welcome input from members. This is YOUR Club and the Board works for the membership and the Club as a whole.

he was among the gold medal team that won acclaim at

gastronomic competitions food show in Asia.

in

Singapore, the leading

Alan Chan worked for the Pacific Club for five years, then took his skills and skillets to China, where Karl Wilson

he introduced western dishes to golf and country clubs in Guangdong. But with a young family in Hong Kong, he wanted to come home and the FCC job came up at the right time.

HAr mEN TTADTNG C0. (HK) rTD. @ clrHl uencxlHls cRouP 2[F.,China Merchants Building,752-755 Connaught Road Centml, H.K. Tel.: 2545 0956 Fu; 2815 O594 For details, please contact: Mr. Johmy Kwok (9278 5893)

Product selected (Origin-Fronce) Avorus T. Rodiguez 92 - Choblis Ch. Lo Croix, Pomerol 97 'Bordeoux Chordonnoy. VDPD'OC 9ó - Longuedoc - Roussillon Clos Des Menuls, Grond Cru Soint-Emilion 93 - Bordeoux Ch. Reysson, Hout-Medoc Cru Bourgeois 95/97 - Bordeoux Ch. Loscombes, Grond Cru Closse Morgoux 94/95 - Bordeoux Ch. Moulin Du Breuil, Hout Medoc Cru Bourgeois 94 - Bordeoux Cobernet Souvignon or Merlot or Syroh, VDPD'OC 98 - Longuedoc - Roussillon PRODUCT

lan Chan doesn't look like my grandmother.

But when I ordered the steak and kidney pie on the Verandah one recent lunchtime, my tastebuds and memories flashed back to the Akatarawa Valley of New Zealand. That delicrous aroma of onions and kidneys and hot meat gravy bubbling

beneath the pastry crust reminded me of a cherry farmwife and a wood-burning stove. It was delicious, and the memory was nice, as well.

Chef Chan should know what's cooking. He's worked in some distinguished kitchens since he started as an apprentice at the old Hong Kong Hilton in 1972.

He spent 11 years in that wonderful hotel and, although he didn't know it at the time, met many veteran FCC members. He recalls with a smile some of the riotous luncheons in the Richard Hughes Room off The Grill.

"I had never seen people drink so much," he mused, "and their appetite wasn't bad either."

The young chef was among a wave of talented culinary masters who showed their skills to the world;

most members will agree the site at present has Iittle value nor does it reflect the Club. It is the Board's intention to see the site develop into a premier site for journalists and associates alike. At present we are considering presentations from Kirish Bhavnani and a joint presentation from Steve Vines and Diane

the

Entertainment Committee and is open to suggestions from all members. This is often a very difficult area to

e.

in advance with a |a\r share of unheralded

private functions.

Ji- Laurie has kindly offered to head

a_

co-ordinate as it requires a great deal of planning

OF FRANCE

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

2OOO

The chef could be a diplomat. Ask him about conditions in the notoriously hot subterranean Club kitchen, and he murmurs: "It's not too bad." The recent installation of air-conditioning comes as a relief to his 22 staff crowded into that tiny area where they daily prepare up to 250 lunches.

Those diners can expect some surprises Chef Chan has a rich stew of ideas bubbling on his- mental menu. He plans to introduce classical Chinese banquets, which can be served in the small private rooms.

The daily lunch buffets, which have proved so popular will continue, rotating between Cantonese hawker food, Thai spreads, international cuisine, Middle East specialities, curries, sandwich bar and a wide selection of other types of foods.

He's keen to introduce new culinary ideas. Got a suggestion? Drop him a note.

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

2()OO

Appetising ideas New execulive chef Alan Chan has plans for all the Club menus

Chan loves seafood. As soon as things settle down and the kitchen and restaurants are running to his satisfaction, he plans to take off his white hat every day and go down to the market. There he will hunt for the best value and freshest seafood.

Back at the Club, Chef Chan will cook these to order. They won't be on the menu, but on a special blackboard. There may only be tlvo or three portions of a special dish if he can buy only one small frsh first come, first served. He's got lots of ideas, but knows to temper enthusiasm with realism.

with

he main bar he sees as similar to a good hotel coffee shop, where customers can orderjust about anything they like. He wants to enhance Bert's pubby atmosphere pub food. Chinese banquets will feature

upstairs and the high-quality theme of casual fine dining will remain.

And he and his team will be producing the changing roster of special daily dishes that included the superb steak and kidney pie that reminded me of grandma.

That also reminded me of a lot of other farmhouse food that I haven't taste for more than 40 years.

He¡ Chef Chan, how about rabbit stew? lÂrhat about thick-crust apple pie? Do you have an oven big enough to roast a goose?

Well, he did ask for suggestions! Send yours in. I 5

T Asn Bv Tlrn Nun¡rsrns

FCC Golf Society Chess CIub News

By David O'Rear You learn all sorts of useful things running y the time this hits the bar, it should be merely a reminder of how foolish it is to forecast (a)

short-term; (b) in print; (c) in detail; and (d) about the future. Nevertheless, if it weren't for forecasting, we would have to live our lives one day at a time, and that would be ... not a bad idea!

Every crystal ball gazer worth his or her salt substitute believes the US economy has srown without pause for too long. It is time for a break, and like a little kid rvithout a mid-afternoon nap, the longer we

it

gets. Conventional wisdom (which is neither) holds that the longer the party continues, the deeper the recession will be when it is hnally over. Take my advice: you do not want to see the US economy

wait the worse

throw a temper tantruml Reâl crowth. Yeù-oFYeÈ. r5.0

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started in early 1991, is also the longest, fastest, wildest statistical equivalent of the Hallelujah Chorus since the legendarv Wirtschaft del Pronostico fìrst thought dinner would be late if he didn't find himself a cook soon.

Lest I be accused of manipulating data, let me start off by saying there's all sorts of ways to measure stuff.

Speed is a good one, and so is distance. They measure different things, and one favourite trick of economisrs

Federation rating to the international ELO rating (y'ou multiply it by eight and then add 600). We needed to do this recently r'vhen new member Graeme Hall arrived claiming he was an average

is to measure the wrong thing and then use it to explain what sounds good, but isn't true. (I'd never do that, of course, unless I could eet away with it). \Arhen a runner is preparing for a long-distance race, one of the most important things is to get the pace right: too fast out of the starting gate and he'll

Boom Time

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chess club, including how to translate a British Chess

fade by the halfway mark. Too slow, and he's left in the dust. In the case of the US economy, it makes sense is to look at the waning days of the previous five booms to see how they the runner's last couple of laps compare to the r,r'orld outside.

US ImpoÉs and I)ur"able Goods

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Now all we need is some sign of a slow-down. The first of the two graphs (Imports and Durables) is what really matters to Asia. There aren't any legal services or newspapers in either of these measures: this is stuff that you can drop on your foot, and it will still be there in a year or so. The second (Boom Time) shows just what a long, strange trip its been. This is the only economic boom where the "last" t\,vo quarters JanuaryJune 2000, in this case showing faster -growth than the average for the rest of the boom. In other words, it isn't slowing down, it is speeding up (at least as of this writing) .

It isn't hard to hnd the start of a boom: one day you wake up and the numbers are mostly above zero. \Arhat is a bit difhcult to see is the slowdown that is coming ANY DAY NOW! Job creation? Still growing. Retail sales? Still growing. Investment? Imports? Tax revenue?

GDP? Well, you get the idea.

Party on This is the sixth US boom in 40 years, five of which were long enough to warrant comparison with each other (Ronald Reagan's first one lasted barely 12 months, sort of like a 15 minute h.ppy hour: hardly

a

time to get a good buzz on). The current boom, which

Chris Champion FCCCC Convenor Tel: 9179 0451

tznçt1]13

E-mail: champs@netfront.net

3t6t-12169

o

player who hadn't touched a chess piece since he was a kid when his (BCF) rating was 150. This translates to an ELO of about 1800, which explains why Graeme thrashed just about everyone and why we all just roll our eyes now if a newcomer claims they haven't played for ages.

But we also shake their hands and make them welcome. If you fancy a social game of chess and feel, which is only natural, unsure whether your skill is up to it, please rest assured that anvone who knows how to move the pieces is very welcome. \4/e are a friendly lot and not a bunch of elite, high-powered chess masters. Except Graeme Hall.

The much-hyped and much-promoted concept of a Chess Challenge ladder has been dumped for the time being because of the holiday season. More about this next issue.

Every week brings a new face or two to the FCC Chess Club. Why don't you come too? Every Wednesday from 6.30pm in the Albert Room. Food and drink served at your table.

The typical boom

saw

growth of 4.8%; this one's

running slow;3.7%, on a\/erage. o In the last lap (two quarters) before its fall from grace however, the typical boom slowed to 3.5Vo; this one's shifted up to 5.6Vo and rising.

The US economy is either in the middle of the race, and will soon start to slow, or its about to hit the wall. Consumer demand is running 60Vo faster than would be common for the tail end of the typical US economic race. Housing starts (a nice predictor of furniture purchases and house warming parties) should be contracting. They aren't.

In the immortal words of Wirtschaft del Pronostico, "He¡ watch out! " I

Dauid O'Rcar, Regtonal Economist at the Economist Enterþrises, hasn't a clue uhat's going to haþþen next.

THE CORRESPONDENT AU(ìUST:S¡],P'| F,M

13I'R 2OOO

A Birthday Pnesent Frann The FCC To help you (or your spouse or partner or SO) celebrate your birthda¡ the FCC is offering you a $100x discount on your bill when dining in the Main Dining Room or the Verandah during your

birthday month.....

PLUS A BIRTHDAYSURPRISE !!

Please call 2523 7734 for table reservations.

Make certain to say it is a birthday dinner.

It has been a little slow over the summer, but the FCCGS is still alive and well. Future dates will be announced soon. Nerv members are just contact me to sign up. always 'welcome

-

Julian Walsh FCCGS Convenor Tel: 2521 0859

Fax:2521 1978 E-mail: jpw@asiaonline.net

Quiz Night Dates Sorry! I put wrong dates in the last issue of Corresþ ondenf . Ap olo gi

s for- th

The correct ones are:

20 11

September

October

November December

15 13

Wendl' Richardso' Quiz Night Convenor p.s. It is never too early to book!

Amendments to the Dress Code A) \4¡hile not wishing to interfere lvith members enjoyrnent and relaxation, patrons of the Main Dining Room and Verandah are required to dress to a standard perhaps best described as 'smart casual'.

The restriction does not apply on Saturdays, Sundays and Public holidays. Bearing in rnind the vagaries of fashion, it is difficult to be specihc on this matte¡ but singlets, shorts, T:shilts and beach footwear are not be considered appropriate for either gender.

B) Gentlemen members are required to refrain from the rvearing hats while on Club premises.

Smoking Verandah is restricted to non-smoking area during lunch and dinner time.

Young Persons A) Persons under the age of 18 are not permitted in the Main Bar or Bert's at an)/ time.

B) Persons under 12 are permitted in the building on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

C) Children are rvelcome onl1, on rveekends and public holiday's, but may not erlter the bar areas at any time.

behaviour.

2OOO

Tå¿

e confusio n.

D) Parents, guardians and hosts of plivate parties involving children are responsible for their

x $500 minimum expenditure

THF, CORR}ì,SPOND}.],NT AI IGI ]ST:SÌÌPTI'ì\TßF,R

e

Covnn Sronv in a small bamboo hut where a tiny man with a moustache welcomed us. We don't pay that much attention, until he said: "I am Robot, I am Robot".

Here he is, the famous, the fierce Commander Robot

who is supposed to be one of the guys in-charge of this part ofJolo. The one responsible for the abductions.

We shake hands.

'IMe were not waiting for you, but it's oka¡ you can stay here," he says.

"Please, don't give anything you have to anyone," he

adds before leaving us to our 'hosts'.

Kadafi, leader ofthe group which brought us here, takes us to another hut about 100 yards away where waiting for their leaders to we will spend the night come back.

is boss, labelled by locals as "Chinese", welcomed us and

The next morning, our host is consistent, Chinese keeps reminding us that he had received orders from his leaders to check us out.

"But, precisely," says a colleague. 'We would like to see the leaders and explain that we are, in fact, real journalists. " Chinese is upset by the suggestion: "No talking, get back to your place," he orders every time we try to speak. He tries very hard to look very nasty and we are pretty sure he can be quite wicked even though violence had not been used against us.

Some of our guards are very young and one of them seems under 16. He likes to play with a grenade launcher which, for a laugh, he points at us when his

ABU SAYYAF:

showed us our rooms. "Well, guys, everything went pretty smoothly," says one. Yep, a piece of cake. We settle in a small room where rice and more rrce rs served. It's 7 pm. and that means bedtime in the

jungle. But one hour later our attempts to sleep were disrupted. Chinese has rushed in: 'IMe have some reports. Some of you are not journalists, some of you are CIA spies. We have to verify." No kidding. Most journalists have been (or will be) accused of working as a CIA spy at some stage in their career. Our hosts decided to use the accusation to check out what we were carrying under the guise of verifying our credentials. This consists simply of taking everything we had, watches

ube being ìnterviewed by the press

Journalism is full of reporters with extravagant tales of deeds in the field, but the FCC's Okuier Baube is a reluctant storyteller when it comes to writing about himself. After much prodding, the AFP reporter told us about his time as a guest of Muslim rebel Abu Sayyaf in Jolo and how he lost his watch. e are taking you to the hostages."

The man has a M-16 and so have his friends. Can you really argue with someone carrying a gun and an invitation for a short hike into the tropical jungles of the southern Philippines. No,

thought nine journalists, eight French and

an

unfortunate Norwegian woman. Besides, everybody in this group had been fretting and sweating, trying to get ajump on each other and f,rnd away to reach the 21 hostages held by armed men, who pass themselves off they were, as Muslim rebels with a legitimate cause of course, members of the hardline Abu Sayyaf.

Without a word, each of the foreign journalists began to walk behind their hosts, like a herd of sheep, no one game to stop. One in all in, safety in numbers and the Norwegian thinking: "There are too many French reporters around, forget the exclusive."

and rinus, my wallet and sunglasses.

"They are just taking everything," says Nicolas. He into a room where he was kindly asked to hand over all his possessions. Chinese in time. Yeah right. promises to give back everythitg

was the first to be summoned

Our column wound its way through the beautiful rainforests ofJolo, where the 21 hostages, including 10 western tourists, had been held since April 23 when they were kidnapped from the exotic Malaysian island of Sipadan. The story across was splashed on front pages 'round the world and the pressure to find the hostages and relay their tales was mountrng.

The general feeling was: 'If we are lucky, we will be the first Western journalists to see the hostages'. After hanging out in Jolo for more than a week, our prospects were finally good. We get the story, editors get to justify their budgets. So, the atmosphere was pretty relaxed.

One reporter did quip: 'We might be the next hostages ... what do you think?".

'Very funn¡" says another, who wasn't really amused by the prospect.

Two hours later the scenic walk was over. We arrived IHE

CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

2OOO

- suspicions. Is he But deep down there are other sincere? Does he really think we are spies? Or is he just another pirate from Jolo? This island and its

surrounding waters are famous for piracy and business is business, and maþe we've blundered in. Made a mistake. These were questions none of us wanted to ask. Jolo is a true pirates' island where gangs, Mafra

families, selÊproclaimed rebels, and

a

ridiculous

amount of weapons are part of the landscape.

peers and superiors are out for lunch. There are we are moments of apprehension with his silly game mindful that an idiot with a gun can still cause much damage. Howeve¡ we don't feel endangered. The main concern was that we could be here for quite a long time.

Fears become reality when Chinese tells us: 'You can consider yourselves as the second group of hostages." Its two days since we left the relative safety of base camp pitched snugly beside the Philippine militar¡ and Chinese is getting nervous. He calls Nicolas, who has become our spokesman, and makes an offer.

"Listen, our group needs a little financial contribution. It's not a ransom, just a contribution," he says.

Yeah right. This guy should be applauded for his sense of euphemism. But at least the rules are established which and we realise this self-anointed rebel group

-

Cov'nn Sronv È

Discussions start about our satellite phones.

Doctor Abu has had a great idea he wants

u o

Still capturing headlines, thrs 3}-year battle in the southern Philippines rages on. Phihiþ

- and issue to call the UN, NAIO and the EU

ñ

(t o

a statement.

E

ô E

I'm trying to do a reality check with Doctor Abu. It takes time. A short lesson in public relations, the name of a good spin docto¡ no must be basic: Call New York and tell the UN that you are Abu Salyaf and that you want to release a statement. They will say 'yes of

I am Santa Claus'," I explained.

The point was made. We explain that, as journalists, their statement could be released through us. The UN is an AFP subscriber.

More explanations follow, but they still don't understand how an international news agency works. Then again neither do some journalists. But they start to come around. As promised, we saw ttre hostages, who at this course, and

Finger wagging Jolo Police Dlrector, Superintendent Candido Casimiro offers a friendly warning to the group of freed French journalìsts has justified kidnapping as worthy of their push for a separate Islamic state is really a gang of pirates, thugs just seeking advantage from a potentially lucrative opportunity. If only Chinese had a slight notion of what editors and accountants are like when it

comes to company money.

ut why won't he send one person to town to get all the money he can. Come back and pay our way out? Is he in a hurry?

As it turns out, he is. Word of our disappearance had spread across Jolo. And our dear peers are now chasing us. Chinese is also under pressure from his comrades. Eventuall¡ a commander emerges from the shrub to explain the situation. "This is a lost command group," he says, eyes fìxed to the ground. \ÂIhat on earth is a "lost command group" we have no idea. The commander says, 'You are negotiating your way out." This means we'll have to pay our way out. llours of negotiations later and a deal is set. We will get our equipment back, radios, tape decks, satellite phones and even our pencils.

However, our Norwegian colleague, nicknamed 'Jungle Kikki" for her bravery, is furious. She'll never see her camera again. Of course, money, glasses, watches and jewellery, including wedding rings, are not negotiable. More loot for the Abu Sayyaf's coffers.

After two and half days in a bamboo hut, sharing rice and menthol cigarettes with our hosts, we are allowed to leave. Exhausted, and in need of hot showers, cold ales and decent smokes, we walk. It's one hundred yards to the house where we first met Commander Robot. He welcomes us again and we ask him why it took more than two days to shift us one hundred yards.

No answer.

Doctor Abu, another commander, enters and we are promised an interview with the hostages and further interviews with Abu Sayyaf's leaders.

10

stage were huppy to see journalists. This would

change as more reporters made the trek, becoming hostages themselves, meeting ransom payments and becoming hostages again.

Our group did not pay any ransom. As for the hostages, their morale was low They seemed in good physical shape, but their loss of freedom was obviously saddening. The Abu Sayyaf has a reputation for being brutal. Manila blames a string of kidnappings and murders on the group which the hostages were aware of. Their only trump card was the fact that they were foreigners and carried a high price tag, a luring carrot for pirates.

That was in mid-May and since then the story has turned. After our interviews with the hostages, we were taken back to town, escorted by bodyguards from the rebels' camp to the provincial palace of the governor.

The bodyguards talked freely with the rebels in the jungle and are completely at ease in the governor's offrce. A reality check for us. These bodyguards are members of a private army loyal to the governor and on the side of the rebels.

e are in Jolo where everything is mixed, rebels and authorities, where

power means men in arms. The more you have, the more powerful you are. \Arhat we didn't expect was the welcoming committee from the press asking questions about our "abduction".

Our group did not believe that anybody would be too concerned, nor did we realise that we had become part of the story. It was not intended, but we can thank Candido Casimiro, police chief in Jolo, who alerted everybody just minutes after we left for the hostages that we were with the "bad guys".

News of our disappearance went everywhere fast, but we knew where we were, on Treasure Island with a bunch of pirates masquerading as rebels with a just cause. Pity the hostages.

I

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

he southern Philippines has for so long been a source of "Ten dead in rebel clash" headlines that they scarcely get much attention in the Philippines itself, let alone in the outside world. Likewise, "peace talks" between one or

other rebel groups and the government in Manila have featured regularly in the news ever since Imelda Marcos used her charms on Libya's President Qaddafr to seal the 1976 Tripoli Agreement which promised, but never delivered, peace in return for Muslim autonomy.

So it takes an episode like the seizure of foreign tourists from the Malaysian island of Sipadan by a Filipino Muslim group to remind the world of insurgencies which have been in progress since the early 1970s in western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, and claimed perhaps 250,000 lives.

This very up-to-date book by tr,vo Manila-based journalists could not be more timely. It traces the evolution of the rebellion, provides excellent portraits of the men who have shaped affairs, analyses the political manoeuvering, national and international,

which have kept war and peace active for so long. It is generally sympathetic towards the frustrations of the

Philippines Muslim minority, mostþ living in rural poverty and long on the defensive against their more prosperous and often expansionist Christian neighbours. But the authors also make it clear that the religious divide is not the only element in the problem: Tribal loyalties, personal ambition, money politics, smuggling revenues, outright banditry and even classmate links are all important ingredients of the recent history of this longlawless region.

These factors help explain why Nur Misuari, former rebel chief, Libyan protégé and head of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) since he made peace with the Ramos administration in 1996, has been trying to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf a shadowy but ruthless group dominated by fellow Tausugs. They also show why Salamat Hashim leader of what is now the largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, moved from moderation to run a fundamentalist retrel enclave in his native Maguindanao region. And they show how government

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Boor< Rnvrnw Panel discussion The authors of Under the Crescent Moon review the situation in Mindanao at Freedom Forum's Asia Cenlre (L-R)Glenda M Gloria, Asia Centre's director Arnold Zeitlin and l\/arites Vitug

Organised by the FCC, the Hong KongJournalists' Association and Amnesty International, this year the entrants totalled 230, 86 in Chinese, 61 in English and 83 photographs. The range of news organisations submitting material was wider than ever before. The Asian Wall Street Journal's Gren Manuel reports

destabilise Sabah in the late 1960s backfired. Muslims recruited for

infiltration rebelled and were

his is the fifth year of the Human Rights Press Awards. And every year, the same question is asked: what is human rights reporting?

It's not an easy question to answer. Judges and entrants wrestle with it, often at length. But perhaps one good answer is to look at one of this year's winners,

massacred by the military. Though the 1968 incident was hushed up, enough came out to anger Muslims and Malaysia, which was to retaliate

co-option of several former rebels into elected provincial governors and ARMM offrcials has failed to resolve the insurgency. he book is also a timely reminder of how the current mess has at least some of its origins in the Philippine claim to Sabah, which was based on the historical lands of the (Muslim) Sultan of Sulu. Covert action by President Marcos to

by covert support for Moro separatism. It backed Nur Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) with military training and acting

as

This was, trul¡ an entertaining item. Short, but forceful, it broke the story of the taxi driver who was awake during his operation and watched in horror as

conduit for Libyan-fìnanced arms.

The Sabah,/Mindanao issue has showed how dangerous it can be to meddle with colonial era boundaries, whatever the historical or religious basis for change. The other near neighbour, Indonesia, nervous of both separatism and states based on religion, has been careful not to involve itself other than as a possible go-between.

Though Malaysia has long since given up any support for insurgenc¡ Filipino Muslim rebels who got on the ground experience in Afghanistan still get some though more from money from zealots overseas taxing the local faithful, from smuggling and from the kidnapping of (usually Chinese) businessmen.

The Muslims lack of either ideological or community unity works both against them and against peace.

Meanwhile, Manila takes only a htful interest. It cannot afford to invest massively to convince Moros of the benehts of being Filipinos. And its military efforts are encumbered by inadequate resources and poor morale.

Cory Aquino's democratic credentials healed some wounds and Fidel Ramos spent much time and money to secure his deal with the MNLF. But the situation appears to have deteriorated under President Estrada.

This book is short on optimism, but is an invaluable

guide to how western Mindanao/Sulu got where it is today.

an item for TVBJade by Eric Ng Hiu-tung.

I

Under the Crescent Moon: Rebellion in Mindanao

by Marites Danguilan Vitug (Neøsueeh) and Glenda M. Gloria Published by Ateneo Center for Social Policy & Public Affairs, Manila 328 Pages

L

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2OOO

FCC, the Hong Kong Journalists Association and Amnesty International Hong Kong Branch, is to encourage journalists to see the big picture, and to see individual incidents as part of a rightsbased framework.

(,

In some cases, no such framework is needed. This year's winner in the photography category was a stunning series by John Stanmeyer of SABA, printed in Ti,me, which showed a summary shooting in East Timor. No need for a complex mental framework there he - his was gunned down in cold blood, sandals in his hands, his blood dying the rough street.

winners

ut in Hong Kong, a more sophisticated framework is often what is needed to lift articles into another level. Thankfully, in many cases that framework is now being used to clearly pinpoint why apparently random incidents have a greater significance.

Certainly, there are problems with reporting human rights in Hong Kong. For TV there are problems getting vivid pictures on often abstract subjects.

Sometimes programmes come across as a sort of video complaints hotline, with an endless parade of activists and victims complaining to camera. For print media, time is often short and articles often rushed. Perhaps this is why many of the best stories continue to be about the Chinese mainland: it's easy to go AWOL for a week to get a great story if you're north of Lo Wu and your boss is to the south.

(L-R) Photographer David Wong, editor Robert Keatley who accepted the awards for Ella Lee and Jasper Becker, Helen Luk and Linda Yeung SCMP

the surgeon, mid-operation, took a call on a mobile phone to discuss buying a new car.

Quality journalism? Certainly. It included a truly arrrazing and understated interview with the taxi driver which included the priceless quote "Well, I was awake during the operation ... And I was aware the surgeon was using a mobile phone .. .. It had nothing to do with the operation ... It was about a car."

But is it anything to do with human rights? The answer to that is a resounding Yes. Ng's report did not stop at the revelation about the surgeon. It went on to explain how helpless the taxi-driver had felt when he discovered that the operation appeared to have been unsuccessful and the taxi-driver, not unsurprisingly, complained.

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

It showed how despite having ample evidence his attack on the bureaucracy was stalled and parried at every turn, and that he was helpless (which was why he had, I guess, turned to TVB).

It is this extra framework, this ability to see the bigger picture, that turns it into a story in which the issue of rights raises its head. And that is what the Human Rights Press Awards is all about.

The whole point of the awards, run jointly by the

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

2OOO

13

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a Commentany and Analysis

Special prize for Outstanding Human Rights Commentary to To Yiu-ming, Ming

Pao

Ielev¡$¡on

Winners

We can't hear what they say by Lee Wai-key and Karin Bergen for TVB. (A documentary on racism in Hong Kong.)

Receiving gifts

A caged man

Doctor's ethics by Eric Ng Hiu-tung for TVB (Exposing medical malpractice and how official accepts a

complaint channels fail.)

small gift picture series of the killing of pro-independent East Timor supporter Joaquin Berdino

Chained melody A convicted

Macau handover A Falun Gong member being forcibly removed

murderer ls pulled onto a truck in China which will take him to the execution grounds,

Guterres

ut even with limited resources there are great submissions every year. This yea¡ for instance, Han Dongfang of Radio Free Asia scooped an award in the Chinese radio category for a nuanced report on a labour dispute in China in which a worker tied himself to the railway tracks. Mr Han certainly can't go to China to get live sound. Yet his gentle manner and good handling of the information created a report that was informative and, at times, wryly amusing.

One of the special features of these awards is that the organisers (which include me) make an effort to get well-known, respected people to act as judges (which don't include me), But in short they include senior lawyers, experienced journalists, the most respected campaigners, academics and sometimes even a religious figure such as a parish priest used to life on the sharp end at public housing estates. (See þage 16 for

full list.) They have wide discretion: if

every

entrant in category was excellent they could all win aprize (this has never happened). Or, something that happens quite a lot, they could decide that none of the entrants in a category is quite up to the right

level, and give no prizes at all.

This often creates some bafflement among entrants, who are perhaps used to some other media competitions

in Hong Kong which have a more

"understanding"

approach to entries. But we hope that the current system is an investment: by rewarding qualify work on its merits the awards will get a deeper credibility which is only appropriate for the subject matter.

Is it possible to gauge whether the awards are 14

having an impact on human rights reporting? It is diffrcult to say. Many of the experienced journalists, both localjournalists and foreign correspondents, have a dedication in this area that awards can neither increase nor diminish.

But for young journalists, just one or two years into their careers, I have no doubt that an award like this can make a difference. Man¡ sadl¡ may face pressure from family or friends to keep their heads down and move into PR or less controversial areas. They may even have endured a detention or two at the hands of the Public Security Bureau when reporting in China. This type of award validates their work and gives them status within the organisation. If their newspaper runs an article the next day celebrating the awards victory (almost all do), then it amounts to a public statement by the newspaper that it value s this sort of article. With the Newspaper Society Awards increasingly dominated by team efforts on set-piece news events, this is their best chance for professional recognition.

f course, I'm also h.ppy that entries remain at healthy levels. This year, the fifth, we had 230 entries from perhaps the broadest range of news organisations ever.

But to me, if a handful of young journalists have decided to stick with serious journalism after having received recognition in these awards, then I for one regard this as the awards' most important victory.

I

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

2OOO

Certificates of Special Merit !\4ro's in charge? by So Ibi-chi and Tsang Yuen-han for TVB (A hard look at problems in Hong Kong's health system.)

The door is closed by Eric Poon for RTHK (Would-be migrants and their fight after the reinterpretation.)

Êhlnese-Lan$ua$c Newspapens, News

Rad¡o

Winner

Winner

Detention centre for children

by

Ka-kei and Lai

Pui-fun, Ming Pa

Certificates of Special Merit Dehling national flag by Courts and Political Desks,

Workers in Kingmun can't express their opinions by Han Dong-fang for Radio Free Asia

Certificate of Special Merit

Ming Pao

Two years after the handover, silent protestby Zorian Wong for Radio Free Asia

Elderly people used by hawkers for prosecution by Lai Pui-fun, Ming Pao

No prize awarded

Newspapens, tcatune$

Anti-Discrimination Award

Special prize for journalistic courage to Susanna Cheung Chui-yung, Ming Pao for her reports on violence in East Timor

We can't hear what they say by Lee Wai-key and Karin Bergen for TVB (A documentary on racism in Hong Kong.)

Magazines

En$Iish-[a:nguÊ$G

Winner Series

in

Cantoon$

Newspapens, News

Oþen Magazine

on

50 years

of the People's

Certificate of Special Merit

of articles on Hong Kong people having liver transplants in China by Ella Lee, South China

Republic of China

Package

Certificates of Special Merit Cambodian sadness by Brian Eads for

Morni,ng Post Rzader's Digest Newspapens, teatures

Media suing media for libel: The effect on media freedom by San Wan-kei Hong Kong Baptist

Winner Challenging a law unto itself by Jasper Becker, SozÍå

University's student magazine

China Morning Post

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

2OOO

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On parade Chlel Justice Andrew Li

Certificate of Special Merit The tragic Chinese toy story by Linda Yeung South

Mike Malloy has spent a lifetime reporting and editing. FIe's now turned to archaeology. Wife Ruth Lor Malloy, autl:or and journalist in her own right who accompanied Mike on most of his postings, reports

Cantoon$

No prize awarded

China Morning Post

Anti-Discrirnination Award

Clamouring for a better class by Helen Luk, South

Magazines

Winner

ot all journalists want to pour their souls into passionate novels and enlightening history books when they retire. In fact, Mike Malloy doesn't ever want to write again. Ever. Not

China Morning Post

Hell on water by David Higgs,

Rzader's Digest

Pnotognaphy Certificates of Special Merit No exit by Sheelah Guillion, HK Magazine

The struggle for the highlands by Julian Gearing,

Winner

The killing of Joaquin Bernadino Guterres by John Stanmeyer, Saba for Time (4. series of dramatic photographs of a shooting in East Timor.)

Asiaweek

Certificates of Special Merit Chained melody by David Wong, Sm.th China Maming Post Cheung An-kuo of Chung Hwa Travel Service by

Television

Winner Shangri-La's dark secret by Susan Yu, Star TV Asia News. (The plight of Bhutan's Hindu minority.)

Radio

Winner The real heroes by Hugh Chiverton, RTHK (Women in the PRC after 50 years.)

Cheung Ka-chun, Aþþle Daily

ChiefJustice Andrew Li by Ling Shu-fai, Aþþle Daiþ Cheung Man-yee of RTHKby Lai Shu-hung, þþl¿Dail) Falun Gong at Macau Handover by Wong Chi-chun, Aþþle Daily

Bold move byJelly'|se, Hongkong Standard Multiple demand by Jelly'lse, Hongkong Standard Point of discrimination byAgnes Chen, Hungþrmg StanÅard

Gommentany and Analy$¡s

Thank you byJohn Westhrop, Honghong Standard

No prize awarded

No clear view by Felix Wong Chi-keung, Høngþng

J,utfiçB'$.

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even letters.

But he is digging up dirt in another form. He's gone back to university to take only courses that help him reach his newest goal, that of becoming the bone expert on archeological digs.

Aformer member of the FCC nowliving in Toronto,

speaking branch of PEN International ¡ Catherine Babeq researcher, Amnesty International Asia-Pacihc Regional Office ¡ Father Stephen Chan, parish priest, St Bonaventure Church, Tsz Wan San ¡ Audrey Eu Yuet-mee SC, former chairperson, Hong Kong Bar Association . Angela Lee, board member, Amnesty International HK Branch o Jacqueline Leong SC, former chairperson, Ilong Kong Bar Association

He first retired from Dow Jones in 1994 to teach journalism for eight months in Kazakstan.

That didn't work out as planned because the school gave him aliralf dozen 17-year-olds to teach, none of whom spoke English, nor Russian. They only knew Kazak. The school was not impressed when business

J úF J

Mike was Managing Editor of the Asian Wall Street Journal in the early 1980s during his posting in Hong Kong. Since then he's been the bureau chief Wall

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Street

Journal in Toronto, a Fulbright teacher in Kazakstan and managing editor of the DowJones India Reþortin

7

Mumbai (Bombay). Previous incarnations saw him working for Stars €l Stripes in Japan and the Philippines, and UPI in India, Laos, Vietnam

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and Thailand.

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One way or another, Mike and family have been on the go for most of his professional life.

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Mak ]lin-ting, chair, Hong KongJournalists Association Dr Bryce Mclntyre, associate professor, School of Journalism and Communication, Chinese University ¡ Law Yuk-kai, director, Hong Kong Human Rights

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Philip Segal, president, Foreign Correspondents'Club Hubert van Es, photographer, board member, Foreign Correspondents' Club Edmund Lo, vice-chairperson, Press Photographers Association

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table.

16

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUS?SEPTEMBER

2OOO

THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

2OOO

17

Fnnrunn co-incidentally, were from India. He spent summers at archeological digs in Ontario and Jordan, and in July,

Wa$hin$ton Maydays lnside thc $ausage Factory

working on an archeological project in China's

Henan province organised by Washington University in St Louis.

is Ontario site was an old, native Indian, Huron village. He had to sleep in his van and share in the cooking. He personally found an old native pipe while other members of his group found a

On site Mike in Petra, Jordan with a find

Tampax applicator. The applicator was left from a previous student group that used the site as a latrine.

InJordan, he spent the summers of 1998 and 1999 working on a Nabatean village located about an hour by car outside Amman. The ruins are more than 2,000 years old and built by the people who developed the more famous IndianaJones site at Petra,.fordan.

it

discovered Mike was not bearing gifts of free - for the trips to the US. So he switched over to work Americans, giving lectures on the stock market and western-style reporting to journalists used to supporting the revolution.

FIe was back home in Toronto for three days when DowJones came calling again. The idea of opening up a business news service in India appealed to him so off he went

for 18-months.

He retired for the second time in 1997 and has since been bringing home human bones to study on the

dining-room table. The bones, rented in Toronto, Sole Agenf; Easú West International Ltd. Tel: 2851 0988 Fax:2891 6919 ut w w.unibroue,corn

Desert pause Walking on the wild side in Petra, Jordan

During those two summers, he lived in relatively comfortable housing with other North American scholars, yet manased to lose about 20lbs at what he calls his professor's "fat farm". Those digs were organised by Canadian universities.

In Ma¡ after attending the Saigon press corps reunion in Vietnam on the 25th anniversary of the war's end, Mike flew to Kathmandu and then trekked for 150kms in Mustang, fulfiling an ambition of several decades. On his first visit to Nepal in the early 1960s, when it was first generally opened to foreign tourists, he told people there how huppy he was to finally reach "the end of the world."

"This isn't the end of the world," they

Pubs & Supermarl(ets

said.

"Mustang is." So he had been hankering to go to Nepal's Tibetan kingdom ever since. During the 1O-day trek he found ammonite fossils in the dried bed of the Kali Gandaki River, and with other members of the trek, experienced a weird audience with the King of Lomantang (Mustang). The best part of all was not having to write about it. I THE CORRISPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEN,IBER

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L

fì

AmCham went to the American capital to lobby legislators to pass Permanent Normal Trade Relations status for China. Fred Armentrout, the chamber's publications manager, provides an inside look at democracy in action

l

lose-up, it's an ugly business, lawmaking.

Bismarck got that right, when he equated watching lawmakers at work to being in a sausage works. Especially so in the US House of Representatives, where our intrepid group of "doorknockers" from the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong makes the most rounds each year in defence of what was once tagged by the misnomer, Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for China.

It became the annual Normal Trade Relations (NTR) debate by act of Congress last year. This year, the word Permanent was lodged in front, to become PNTR. Such are the wiles of sausage-making.

About l5 AmCham people from Hong Kong, three offìcers of the AmCham Shanghai and my daughter, a sophomore at American University in Washington, DC, split into small teams to see about 120 people, over four days in May. Citizen lobbyists don't have the luxury of time. Our teams saw 30 to 40 people a day, following daily breakfast briefings at7.30am. Our reward was the best possible lesson in American civics, close up and personal.

'Walking the walk" in Congress is very much a pedestrian exercise. The grounds were designed before the birth of shopping malls and road rage. Thus the fastest and preferred mode of transport remains foot-

power. Although there is an underground train that connects offices of the two houses to the Capitol building, it's seldom used except in inclement weather.

There are three office buildings about a city block away on either side of the familiar Capitol, where the voting is done, one side for the Flouse, one for the Senate. Voting procedures in the US Congress require a physical presence, which is why it's common to see Senators and Representatives running to and fro between them.

The three buildings that house Representatives have no class at all and were never meant to have. Offìce interiors for all but the most senior people are on par with the size of flats in Hong Kong housing estates.

Minority party House committee staffs are, quite literall¡ tucked into basement storage rooms. Furnishings are usually tacky collections of political pictures and THE CORRESPONDENT ;\L CìUST:SEPTEMBER

2OOO

memorabilia, occasionally enlivened with local arts festi'r'al or product posters and, always, an enlarged official map of their district as the central icon in the foyer.

These tiny offices are packed with

a

jumbled array

of professional "Hill staffers" and district interns. Most dress and act like they're still on campus or about to launch dotcoms. All constantly divert their attention to the C-span television monitors that track ongoing proceedings on the floor of the House.

People who like tidy governance are especially put off by the non-stop meetings in ad hoc places, like hallways and, on occasions, with everyone thinking on their feet, while walking a Congressman to Capitol Hill, so she or he can be on the floor in time for a vote.

Meetings can be dishearteningly parochial. One Congressman from Illinois announced outright as to how he knew nothing about foreign affairs and cared less. He concerned himself only with why he was elected: the promise to have the designation of an abandoned arsenal in his district changed to new use as ajob-creating free trade zone.

nother from Arizona awaited results of his calls for a new federal highwa¡ before fretting over doing the right thing by the Chinese people. It has been estimated that 40% of the members of Congress have never had a passport; meaning they've never travelled abroad.

These are "down home" folks and proud of it. They also fear a tendency for the American press to portray Congressional foreign travel as a boondoggle largely because it so often has been.

Congressmen (and of course women) are usually quite open about their views and how these often differ from the forces that press upon their votes. It's common for them to point out they come from a "labour district" and dare not raise the ire of local unions, though they may favour PNTR as a benefit to American people; or to explain that their junior status means they must defer to their political party leaders on foreign affairs.

Often votes against PNTR are viewed as "free votes", meaning it pleases some constituency, at home or in the

19

hierarchy of the House, but has only q'mbolic impact, since the resultant bill will not pass the Senate or the veto and everyone alread¡' knows it lacks the votes for an override.

President has vorved

a

professional athletes and war heroes, "outed"

Gays

and, of course, lots and lots of lawvers. Messy.

On any given da¡ on the grassy, tree-lined mall that runs, roughl1,, from capitol Hill to the spired obelisk that is the Washington Monument, there

or anti-China activists or Falun Gong practitioners or pro-choice feminists or, as at the end of our visit, the Million Mom March for better control. gun too tied up fretting over the colour of in the halls of Consress during our doorknock And Monica Lewinskv's dresses for most of the last few week? One of our teams years to spend much time chatted with anti-PNTR stepping out of the box of dissident Wei Jingsheng in a partisanship on china lift.

He remains unconvinced.

Tï::team rubbed shoulders Our Get some pork in their (Secretary of State) with debates barrels and the vote's yours, Albright (almost Madeleine some would say, and often rushing invisible down the are do in the US press. Their here's the leadershipl" bemoaned some doorknockers. Those of us experienced in these matters knew the leadership was

ma1' be labour activists

\Arhen thre Australian Financial Reuiew transferred former FCC Board member Rowan Callick back to Melbourne inJanuary, he never dreamed his long-standing beat, the South Pacific, would turn in to world headlines

On the US Congress of that

The

constituents would declaim, "And damned right to do

so, too!". Untidy stuff,

this

democratic process.

There's the aging "Cold Warriors" who think the only good Communist is a, well, "Ex-Communist". One year, a decorated Vietnam War veteran in our delegation

presented the Chamber position on China's WTO

accession only to be asked by a

Southern Congressman, "Bo¡ how do you sleep at night, knowing you're helping those Communists?" Another was similarly derided for providing

several thousand jobs for Chinese people in a Fujian

province shoe factory.

AmCham delegates are wellbriefed as to how punchups are invariably counterproductive.

There's the people who refuse to believe the American Civil War was fought for any reason other than the end of

great assemblY frequentlY vague and

perplexed, seeming to be dragged rather than

to marchr to the

bodyguards) and Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (perhaps visiting his Congressman son). \{rheat

growers were evervrvhere handing out badges in support of PNTR and labour groups were close behind threatening retaliation from America's shop floors.

intended goal.

Something of this sort must,

hall within a phalanx of

I think, alwaYs

\À4ry travel 10,000 miles to

joust in this imbroglio? For one, us doorknockers like to think House passage of PNTR for China this year was our doing with a lot of help from Legislative Councillor

Martin Lee and Chief

happen in Public

Executive C

H Tung, in that

order oI influence in

demo c t atic assemblies' Al¿xis de Tbcqunille Democraq in Arnsricø vol. il, Pt. I, Ch. 21 (1840)

Washington. After over 11 years of annual sojourns to the Hill, they finally got it

right, though they tagged the House Resolution with a singularly inauspiciorrs number (ir-r Cantonese): HR 4444!

here is also this from the French poet, Paul Valery: "Liberty is the hardest test that one can inflict on a people. To know how to be free is not given equallv to all men and

gender, race, ethnicity or subjects of special interest to the members.

With over 500 members of the House of

Representatives and over 100 in the Senate, there is no casì of mind, cause or ethical threshold unrepresented

in American government. There are former 20

all nations."

After two Asian wars in my lifetime, I believe there must be a better waY. Americans have been working at this freedom thing for over two centuries and not one rvould likely claim we've yet got it right.

What lesson, then, for Hong Kong's halting

progress toward democracy? Deal with it.

I

TI IE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST-SEPTEìIIBER 2000

Bi'"+'*,-j:

ft:i*

crazy kidnapper George Speight.

Evelyn Waugh, who introduced bumbling Boot to

the world in Scoop, would have relished the extraordinary events that unfolded in Fiji in Mal,and June. His new novel would be both comic and tragic; an unarmed Fijian policeman, father of three, was shot in the back, and 31 members of the Government were held hostage for more than five weeks. The cast would include some 50 or so "parachute journalists", most of them from Australia and New Zealand, who jetted into Suva as the tourists fled.

I was among them. It may not have been much of a coup from the perspective of veteran FCC warcos, but it was something of our very own in a region usually ignored by the rest of the world.

The journos converged on the Centra Hotel on Suva harbour which, as the Travelodge, had been the command centre for the media co\/erage of the coups of 1987. The army even used identity cards printed with Coup Two after the September takeover.

convicted Lindy Chamberlain of killing her daughter Azaria.) Brown wore now as he did then, a crumpled pinstriped suit even when staking out buildings in the tropical sun, five cheap biros proudly displayed like medals across the top pocket.

The 1987 experience was quite different for the media. Then, with the army in command from day one, journalists including eccentric Pacific doyen Robert Keith-Reid, Islands Business magazine publisher, were incarcerated for several days in guard-room cells. d f @

Þ É

o o

o I !

Rebel soldiers Troops loyal to coup leader George Speight block the entrance to the where the hostages were held

The sense of camaraderie was Parliamentary compound reinforced both by the curfew - baq night after cutting out alternatives to the hotel and by the event being something of a late night reunion for those of us, includine myself, who had covered the earlier coups led by dashing, moustachioed Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, who later reinvented himself as a democracy-loving politician, and elected Prime Minister.

Among the returnees from 1987 was celebrated Sydney Morning Herald reporter Malcolm Brown (played by an actor in the Meryl Streep vehicle Ezil Angels which re-enacted Brown's angry shout "Bastards!" from the press gallery when the jury THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST-SEPTEN{BER

2()()O

he Y2K event was much messier rvith Rabuka only featuring in a walk-on part this time.

In the first fortnight after the hostage seizure in "coup-coup land", Fiji experienced four entirely different forms of government. No one with Pacific experience revisited the tired old "paradise lost" cliché.

An AP photographer was shot in the arm during a melee near the parliamentary compound where the hostages were held, and a mob surged through Suva the next night, murdering the policeman, destroying the country's only TV station

2t

Fnnrunn and shooting

automatic Centra outside the weapons followed up by ominous -sounding Phone calls to journalists there.

A lot then understandably left town in a hurr¡ including

lJf .!

I

..è

he Fiji media, even more than the "parachutists", had to sift through myriad rumours, threats,

bemoaned the quality of some

of the reporting: "It

seems

that every t-ime there is a crisis in the region, these parachute journalists appear, leaving

a

the reception desk when the dury manager ran up, picked up a phone and shouted to the hotel operator: "Get the army and Police, an armed mob is heading down the road to shoot uP the hotel."

journalistic ethics behind in their home countries.

"They rely on the fact their readers, viewers and listeners have little or no knowledge of our countries and cultures.

They use this as an excuse to

misreport or an opportuniry to write themselves into the stories as supposed heroes, exaggerating the danger or drama of the story they are

Itrj*ii.-"î:þiï* to

a

-lhe New Zealand Herald refocused its own coverage to herald the courage of the reporters, including a

Islands News Association that embraces almost every media

organisation in the region

l1

fax the next morning from

parade-ground opposite lower Profile Pub.

whose leading reporter, Riyaz Sayed Khaiyum, emerged as a real star, until his equipment was smashed by a

covering."

Standing guard A Fijìan soldier at a roadblock at the height of the hostage crisis

breathless news story of the arrival at Auckland airport of Our Brave Boots.

A day late¡ guests and staff at the Centra were bracing themselves for attack by the coup supporters sliding into a Tontons Macoutes mob, when an army officer rang the hotel to announce a military takeover, inviting journalists to a press conference at the were so barracks. At fìrst he wasn't believed the media reckoned it was a ruse to lure we paranoid

into an ambush!

Eventually the military caller checked out and we reporters formed our cars into a bumper-to-bumper convoy for safety in the dash across town and up to the barracks where it was confirmed: the army rule. We left behind in the bar an Australian businessman who, when all his deals fell through in the wake of the coup, had bought a notebook and started attending press conferences.

Through the entire hostage seizure, journalists freely entered the compound where the Cabinet was being held, though no one saw any of them. Instead, the coup leader, failed businessman George Speight, a mixed race Fijian with a good degree from an American university and a succession of failed get-rich-quick schemes in Brisbane and Suva, made himself available ro the point of surfeit.

At one of his rambling press conferences, I became aware of space opening up around me, and realised that other journos were starting to chat among themselves or talk to their desks on their mobile phones.

Speight mob.

chairman of the Pacific

all but one of the Kiwis, abandoning a range of equipment. I was picking up

William Parkinson, the owner of a group of Pacific FM radio stations and

He had in mind instances such as a TV report that Nadi,

which remained a peaceful tourism-sugar town in the far west, was on fire; claims of reporters heroically evading

being taken hostage when Speight had the welcome mat down for journalists from day one; a report of a military split deduced by the defection to Speight of a "senior army officer" who was more a Dad's Army reject, a beer-bellied former major cashiered two years before for bootlegging liquor while on UN duties in the Middle East; and a staged-for-TV "machete attack" on an Indian family.

The crisis had been simplistically portrayed, Parkinson said, as a Fijians vs Indians scrap the classic throw-another-Indian-on-the-lovo (traditional Flf ian earth oven) instant assessment. In fact, the more crucial, but complex tensions, were confined within the ethnic Fijian community.

in an attempt to keep the story on track. One radio station ran a public service announcement attacking the rumour mill: "There's enough fear and worries without adding lies."

Rumourlover Evelyn Waugh would certainly not have overlooked that one localjournalist had enjoyed a long-running intimate relationship with Chaudhry, nor that another was lambasted by a rival publication for refusing to leave the Speight compound because she had begun an affair with one of the kidnappers. on the rare And Joe Nata, Speight's spokesman occasions when the coup leader didn't choose to talk lost his own last source of regular income himself when Rabuka sued Nata's Sunday paper for listing (and his alleged girlfriends. it was a long list) - have been a hostage-taker with so Never can there few unpublished thoughts. When army commander Frank Bainimarama said that shaven-headed Speight had been "harping on", journalists subjected to hours of diatribes by the Mussolini of the Mataqali (clan) nodded in exhausted recognition.

Yet he said that, even after his five weeks of or infamy that undermined undreamed of fame nation,- his autobiography an especially charming hadn't even reached chapter one, a thought to make directives and claims

many shudder.

The crisis of course provoked debate among journalists into the long, curfewed nights. Should they be in there covering Speight's every bon mot?

Or should they be helping cut off the oxygen of publicity he craves? When Speight called a press conference and only local reporters turned up, he walked off in a huff.

Most journalists took

that it would have been far more helpful to the hostages if communications in and out of the parliamentary compound had been cut from day one.

It was also clear that Speight's superfrcial articulacy and his constant accessibility granted him more apparent legitimacy than any hostage-taker in history.

At first, journalists had also to consider the danger of being seized as hostages themselves, as they entered the parliament, compounding the problem. But most continued to visit the Speight sanctum, and this threat subsided as the compound was transformed into a vast Fijian village, where Methodist hymns were lustily sung metres from where the hostages were being held.

The crisis confirmed the impossibilit¡ in the 21st century, of closing down a country, even a remote island nation. For Fiji has a GSM mobile network.

Australian journalists brought with them satellite phones. And three lively Websites fijiaillage, - fijiliae, kept operating throughout, and journalism online - closure by its sponsor, the though the latter faces University of the South Pacific which grew unhappy about its tone. Fijiliue, in particular, burst on to the global scene, thanks to the entrepreneurship of owner-journalist Yashwant Gaunder, although it does run unmediated rumours in with its news accounts.

he affair also underlined the value of

the

regional media incorporating the increasingly Solomon Islands fractious Pacific islands - three weeks after suffered a copycat coup, Fiji's began as a valid area of expertise rather than as a crisis driven photo-opportunity for a flustered Boot, albeit one who now, after coup three, does know lnis bula (Fijian for "hi") from his backside.I

the line that they'd do whatever they could to get the best story for their

audiences, while conceding result, Parkinson said, was that after the foreign journalists had returned home, the locals were left to deal with leaders "increasingly q,nical about the value of media freedom".

The Fiji media had been suffering a rocky relationship with Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry well before Speight seized him, reaching a nadir when he refused to renew the work permit of Russell Hunter, the Pacific-savvy (he worked for many years in Papua New Guinea) editor in chief of the Rupertowned Fiji Times.

Such tensions arise inevitably from the toughmindedness of most of Fiji's media. Tb.e Times, Radio Fiji and FM96 were outstanding, as was Fiji's TV station, THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST-SEPTEIvIBER 2000

Rage A man attacks a car approaching the front gates of Parliament House THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

2OOO

23

Onrrueny

Alexis de Toqu eville On American Independence Day, July 4, American historian Dr Richard L Johnson from California State Polytechnic University gave a luncheon talk on Alexis de Toqueville (18051859), the French social philosopher whose book Democracy in America details the US brand of democracy. Excerpts from his address.

MaGlrlin Sean Kennedy, the business editor of Hong Kong iMail, remembers a friend

suspect that anyone who's been a journalist in Hong Kong's Englishlanguage media for any time has an anecdote about Simon Macklin. \4hile Simon has been known to rub people up the wrons wa¡ I will remember him for his generosity and support to a young journalist just off a plane from Australia and looking for work in Hong Kong.

I ended up meeting tÌne South China Morning Post's editor of special reports, Bosworth Dewey, for an interview at Dan Ryan's in Pacific Place. Torvards the end of the interview, I mentioned to Bosworth that I'd

like to meet some Hong Kong journalists to get an idea of where the opportunities were.

"You're in luck," he said. "I'll introduce you to a couple of Po.sljournos. " The journos wereJames Rile¡ about to join the new Technology Post, and Simon Macklin. They ended up putting me up in their place for nine weeks. During this time, Simon gave me invaluable advice about who to talk to and who not to bother with, what to ask for as a freelance writer. He briefed me on the big issues in

Hong Kong, and took me out to meet people in Hong Kong for a fast-track introduction to just about everyone who was anyone.

I'm not the only person who Simon took under his wing, but that side of him isn't generally known. He was always ready to give advice, tips, and freelance contacts to people chancing their arm in Hong Kong.

The award-winning series of articles he wrote on the plight of the Vietnamese boat people is a matrer of record. What's less well known is his unwillingness

to let go. Britain's former Foreign Office Minister for Hong Kong, Lord Caithness, will remember Simon.

Simon grilled him during a press conference at which Lord Caithness slithered and wriggled and avoided the issues. Simon continually asked him to clarify a 24

ou have a certain sympathetic link to Alexis de Toqueville as a foreign correspondent trying to understand a country other than your own. And from my conversations with the people up here at the front table,

key point. The Government Information Service transcript of the press conference ran to hve pages

most of it was Simon cross-examining Caithness about where exactly Britain stood. The press conference was eventually closed down, because of Simon, who refused to let a government minister off the hook.

I ended up working with Simon for a while at the South Chi,na Morning Post in the mid-1990s and we got on like a house on fire. One of the things that struck me was his elephantine memory. \Arhen I was planning

you may

have

Albany fìrst? That evening...

come to that foreign country

(they) were deposited on the dock. They had wanted to go to West Point, but the evening of July 3rd, they

at an early age like

Toqueville, who came to America at the age of 25.

(He wrote what) is still considered one of the best interpretations of American

a story on money laundering

in Hong Kong, I checked with Simon to make sure I wasn't stepping on the news

democracy.

desk's toes.

that today

"We ran a piece on that in the Sunday newspaper two months ago on page 5, and followed it up two days later with a piece by such-and-such on page seven of the

main pape¡" he replied instantly off the top of his head. So that was that.

'll

also remember Simon's single-mindedness.

Once he decided to do the Maclehose Trail, he he'd sprint up the went into serious training stairs of his apartment block, all 20 or 30 floors.

Then he went out and did the trail

all

100

kilometres of it. Then he went back to-his usual

unhealthy journo lifestyle: enjoying a drink and a cigarette, having proved his point.

Simon was a professional, who needed a challenge, a great story to tackle. "Simon's bored when there isn't a crisis," one of his former colleagues remarked to me recently.

Simon would probably have enjoyed the Obseraer's colourful story, headlined "Snakehead threats to death fall journalist", that followed his untimely death.

He was making headlines even after he died. A newsman all the way. I THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

2OOO

soon the cliffs of West Point receded in the distance.

Toqueville and Gustav de Beaumont realised that they were experiencing America at first hand, as their steamboat had entered a race with another steamboat.

Forget about the passengers...Who is going to get to

I

On Freedom of the Press

"I think that freedom of the press is perhaps the

am specially honoured is

July 4th for

a

number of reasons this is the celebration

most important factor

of the Declaration of Independence in the United States on July 4th, 7776. -lhat particular event plays a very important role in the story that I am about to tell you. I would like to

for democracy.

More than anything else freedom of the press

take you back 169 years, to

cures most of the ills

the year 1831, and first begin with July 3rd, and

of democtacy.')

then move toJuly 4th.

Alexis de Toqueville and his companion Gustav de

Alexis de Tbcqunille Democraq in America,

Beaumon t arrived in

America in May of 1831 and

spent some time around

New York and Boston. On July 3rd of that yea¡ they were travelling north on the Hudson River on a steamboat. Their destination was West Point...but as they approached it, the steamboat picked up speed and THF, CORRF,SPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEMBER

2OOO

were now in Albany.

During that time on the steamboat, Toqueville

thought about this how that experience steamboat, in some ways, epitomised what America seemed to represent to him. That...the captain and his crew (were) all excited about being hrst,

about winning the race, about doing whatever it took. And, of course, the stories about steamboats blowing up because the

boilers took too much pressure were quite common in America. It seemed to matter not to Americans. They wanted to be fìrst. They wanted to get there. For Toqueville, the

surging power of that

steamboat in some ways represented the surging America.

The foolish recklessness of that of power American crew and captain also seemed to indicate to him something about Americans. He had come to

25

happiness and prosperity and gotten there ahead of him." This kind of restless anxietv permeated the societv. The same kind of

America to trv to understand

what this special version of democr-acy rvas all about.

France had already experienced a kind of democracv, but it was a democracy born in the French Revolution. It was responsible

for the death of

five of Toqueville's relatives.

Although Toqueville was boln af(er the revolution in 1805, that event was still the

most important event of his life... (because) whenever the

family would get together, there would alwavs be remembrances of the people who had died... Toqueville's

father's hair turned white or,ernight (in prison).

o everydal' there

In America the majority raises

formidable barriers opinion; within these barriers rin author may write what he pleases, but woe to him if he goes beyond them.

of what democracy

had brought to

Al¿xis de Tocqueuillc Democracy in America,'

ciate. And yet, at the same time, he recognised that there was something about democracv that indicated that this was the destiny not onlv of France, but apparently of all nations. \A¡hen the opportunity' arose to go to America, he said: "I u'ent to America to see a democracv that wolked. " Thinking about the steamboat, thinking about rvhat was so different about America from France, Toqueville

wrote in his journal: "It appears the democracy has broken the bonds that held people together in a society." He was thinking about the difference between the feudal societr', organised and presided over bv the aristocraq'that had been in his parents' and grar-rdparents' generations ...Democrac1', he said, has broken the bor-rds that held people together socieq., and set each man alone and apart.

And

forget about West Point.

Curious people these

Americans. Toqueville reallv quite didn't know what to make of them. But rvhat struck him was the

incredible vibrancy of American society...the whole scene Toqueville knew intimately in Europe of people experiencing -community, of knowinga one's ancestors, of having a sense of place had all been erased in America.

So lor Toquevilìe, the curious question became more and

more, what is it that holds this society together? \{ihat

that prevents it from

chaos,

bloodshed, things that Toqueville did not appre-

in

a

Toqueville said that il aristocratic times, a man rvould endure great privations and extreme hardship in order to save his honour. In America, the same man in a democracy would travel great distances and endure great privations in order to increase his profìt by one cent.

But what to make of that? Toqueville wrote: "In a sociery where everyone is equal, or nearlv so, it is only

with great exertion that a man can raise himself up some modest level above those surrounding him. And so, we are forever seeing each person in America worried that someone else has found a shortcut to 26

to be first to Albany.

around the liberty of

was remembrance of the revolution,

France

restless anxiety that encouraged that captain and crew

spinning apart? \À4rat is it that prevents the people in their furious desire for prosperitv from simply destroying anything that exists of community?

This was the real question: Where's is the stability in American society? All of these questions 'n,ere, of course, percolating in Toqueville's mind on .|uly 3rd on that historic steamboat experience.

And the answer to these questions began to appear the following da¡ July 4th, 1831.

inding themselves in Albanv (on Julv 4th

became) "...a rvonderful opportunity for us to see how the Americans celebrate their day of Independence". Toqueville... expected to see

something as you would see then in France...and lrom mv o\^'n experience in France, you would still see it today. The celebration of Bastille Dav in the small village where I was, was similar to what Toqueville, I think, knew in his province of Normandy, in his town of Toqueville, where the entire parade is made of public functionaries, officials, members of the militar;', or in my case recently, members of the fire department, all marching down the street.

And so, Toqueville and Beaumont, early in the morning of July 4th, took up a position on the street, expecting to see the powerful might of the armv of the State of New York marching through its capital, expected to see the Mayor of Albany f FIE CORRESPONDÈNT AU(]UST:SEPTIIù{BER

2OOO

and many other pr-rblic functionaries in proud arîay, and rvere much surprised to find the onh' symbol of the military was a voluntarv militia that had apparenth' gotten up quite earlr,' in order to become drr-rnk in time for the paradel Thev meandered from one side of the road to the other. Thel' could hardly be more different from r'vhat Toqueville

to bring communitl'back into the realm of societv. Thel' acted, in some wa\/s, as a kind of brakc on that economic pursuit of gain that he had talked about.

had expected.

fter this voluntary militia had snaked its way through the street, came gror-rps of people carrying banners. Thel' \'vere associations of butchers, book- volunteer firemen makers, printers, of associations \\¡ere the mainstay of this parade. This had a very important impact on Toquer,'ille. All that he hacl been seeins before seemed to emphasise the dangerous qualitv of individualism running rampant in America. Associations began to bring those individuals back into some kind of communitr'. It stuck in his mind.

Once the parade was overr some thing even more profound happened. All the members of the parade then went to a local Church rvhere the Pastor said a prayer and recited the Declaration of Independence. Norv, you have to see it through Toqueville's eJ/es. He rvas astounded that this experience of revolution could exist inside a Church. Why? Because in France, in the French Revolution, the Catholic Church had taken the side of the old aristocracy and had been defeated and, in the years afte¡ had lost much of its land... in America, obviously just the opposite had happened....the spirit of freedom and the spirit of religion go hand-inhand in America! A great strengthening of societr; or so he thought...

The most important questions for (Toqueville's) understanding of America which may differ - have in trving to from the kind of question vou understand Hong Kong or China or Asia ...was

how stability is generated in this societv where everything seems to be spinning off in different directions? What are the limits to

individualism and the pursuit of wealth, r'vhich add to the stability of society?

He says democracy r'vorks in America, in part, because of the phvsical circumstances of the countr\'.

There is no enerny on the borders...But more important than the physical circlrmstances, he sa1'5, are the laws. In America, the people are responsible for making the laws and theref'ore the people are faithful to the lar,r,s. They are followed without a great deal of enforcement. But more important than in fact, most important that are the customs - Toqueville calls of the- people, the manners, and what the "mores".

In New England he discovered local goyernment with widespread participation. He wrote that local TÉIE CORRESPONDENf ÀUGUSI:SEP I'EÀ,IBTR

governrnent is to democracv rvhat schools are to science. Thev nurture, thev educate, ¡her' lrain people in rvhat is necessarv for democracv to lvork...These kincls of activities \\¡ere so necessary

2OOO

(Another) point (and if vou hear nothing else that I sa1'toclav, I hope vou r'vill hear this) was freedom of the press. Toqueville said, "I think that freedom of the press is perhaps the most important factor for democracv. NIore than anything else freedom of the press cures most of the ills of democrac\'."

is great worr\/ was that, in a democracr', people could be misled. Thev could gain or believe false information. But freedom of the press, r'vhich allor'ved for mar-ry different r,oices to spe ak, seemed to him to be a ven' important alternative. It made it more difficult for those people rvho rvere leaders in societt to have their point of vieu, dominate the and this volr may (at tirnes) societr'. Toqueville said fore-et: "It's true," he said, "that the press ofien tells

lies. But, it's more important that the press acts as a u'atch-guard on those in power. And so, I think, freedom of the press is one of the most important qualities of American society."

Vocue 33

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S\ui""G"oup

27

Mnnrn managing director of t}:re Bangltok Post for a decade as well as the International Herald Täbune's AsiaPacific MD, is joining as a consultant for the launch.

Sighs of relief. I have known Nigel for about fìt'e years and he's always been straight unlike a lot of

left the

SCM Post at the start of the year to launch a new paper, tJee Hong Kong iMai| and close another, thre HongKong Standard. These are some of his recollections of the five months before

Andrew Lynch

the launch

J

-îsd**i

Wong of Lazard Asia, the fund which controls Sing Tho, once or twice since August, but not anything concrete

until December.

I return to the SC,14Pand let managing editor Robin Bowman know of my intentions. Actually someone had already twigged I was off. Picture editor Sam Chan had matter-of-factly mentioned to a friend of mine that I was going and the friend unintentionally eave the game

A word in your ear Columnist Nury Vittachi with Helen Wong, deputy of Lazard Asia.

away. Bowman lets me go immediately and

I work my

last night in Tong Chong Street after seven years and three months. Cry freedom!

Proprietors always make promises to new editors they will be unable to keep. Helen Wong, deputy CEO of Lazard Asia and Sing Tb,o's vice-chairman, suggests I might lose weight through the pressure of launching a newspaper. Sadly she does not put money on it.

On my frrst night editing tl:re Hong Kong Standard, I talk to one of the senior editorial executives about the future. FIe seems genuinely surprised that I might bring in a new team. I am not sure it's because he was shocked that for once Sing Tcto was going to do something more than just cosmetic with the paper or

that he believes what needs to be done might

be

possible without fresh blood. People here have been

28

producing not a bad paper under appaling conditions.

Not least, during a strange phase when the editorship was shared on a roster basis between four people. One of those four turns into a minor problem for me, having resigned, according to the bosses, four or five times.

"That's not true," he bleats. "I have only resigned tlvice." He goes quietly in the end.

I am juggling three roles: editing the Standard, trying to build what will be the Hong Kong iMail and getting used to being an editor. Now I also have to get used to timelines and meetings where we run through concepts and implementation. For several meetings I am unable to discourse on the black arts of journalism, either for fear of sounding banal or in order to protect my secrets. Eventually they are prised out of me.

February: Recruiting has begun in earnest.

The fìrst senior editorial executive is the design director, Pat Dunne, who's working at the Vancouuer Szrz but is ,a veteran of Asia Times, tl:.e Eastern Exþress, SCMP and the Standard. We (myself and columnist Nury Vittachi) had a near-miss with our original designer. Thankfully Pat is there to pick up the pieces.

Patrick Cheung, the chairman, has certain ideas he wants to see in the paper such as a hook on every page (soon referred to by staff as a hooker on every page). Most of all, Pat wants to CEO differentiate the product from the Post lte doesn't want more of the same. This provokes a lot of head-scratching until he comes up with the tabloid design. It's different, and while it's not the advertising sales could a simple solution turn into a headache - it seems to capture everyone's rmagrnatron.

- his arrival other newspaper executives. For me, another sign that we are serious. arch: We are under

a ridiculously

are trying to build a paper and give it a persona in a few months (when in fact it takes a few years) and get that character across to

the agencies pitching for the business. Needless to sa¡ there are some wild moments. Take for instance Exchanging tales Srng Tao Daily's editor Lo Wing-hung (/eft) chatting this storyboard we were presented: a man cuts up a wilh ìMail's editor Andrew Lynch newspaper (our rival) and as the pieces hit the ground they turn into turds. departments, improving things wherever he goes.

"It's cutting the crap i' enthuses the creative Unfortunately, a lo t of staff remain in the dark with new director. "Is that, er, real shit?" I ask forlornly. "I don't recruits working behind blinds and locked doors. With think we want too much of an association with shit," our scheduled launch in early Ma¡ we can't really complains one of our side. afford to give much away. The major problem with the Earlier on, during the pitches, another asency launch is the switch between well, one of them - will drop the Sunday suggested we should be called The Challenger. Our hrst t}re Standard and the iMail. We thought was how many people died when the paper before the launch, which will give us a few hours Challenger went up in flames? Fou¡ eight, twelve? extra if we launch on a Monday. Eventuall¡ we launch Then the agency suggested we charge $8, a dollar more an open-blinds policy to show the staff what the new than the SCMP. Not only admitting we're second-best, paper wrll look like. we should be charging more. The presentation Oh dear. After a planning meeting, Patrick Cheung becomes a real yawn. Nigel writes in his notebook: takes me aside and mentions he has had a complaint "Look at them, they are as f-ing bored as we are." I from a senior government official, whom we shall gaze across at the agency's team. Nigel's right: they calì "D9" to protect his identiry about one of our think it's a snore too. columnists who decried the PCCW takeover of Cable & April: Staff are beginning to arrive. Angelica Wireless HKT. We don't manage to finish the Cheung is in place at features. Ewen Campbell has conversation, but I am downcast as are Vittachi and arrived back from the New Zealand Herald to oversee the production with Tyronne Henricus, a former Hong Kong Standard chief-sub who's fled The Australian. Both of them, alongwith Martin Zee,will prove invaluable in

keeping our tottering production system going.

Michael Kassay is one of the few who follow me from the Posf and he weaves himself into a series of

D9 wanted

would then have a quiet word with me, and the colum-

nist would be dropped? However, my fears are unfounded.

bedside manner, sharp and relaxed at the same time. As for D9, he later proves helpful when we have a bureaucratic stumble. People tend to complain to Lo Wing-hung, the energetic editor of Sing Tho Daily, about things they don't like in our paper. A bore for him, I'd guess, as well as for me.

I'd rather they come direct. Lo is tireless. I think he must recharge himself like a mobile phone in the few hours he is not in the office.

May: We were pìanning to launch in the first or second week of May but the technical hurdles still remaining, as well as a shortage of staff, have

the biggest headache. I don't want to go down the same

2OOO

that this sort of thing- should happen. If to complain why didn't he call me? Did he think he could just have a quiet word with Patrick, who

Dunne

hen Patrick and I meet next, he explains that he had told D9 that he hadn't read the piece because he had been out of town and that if the editor put it in the paper that was his decision. Pátrick has a great

arly on I become worried that we lack publishing leadership. There's very little infrastructure left in the Hong Kong Standard after tlne circulation scams in early 1999. Before one meeting, I steeled myself to bring the matter up.

From everything I have been told about tlte Eastern Exþress, lack of support on the commercial side was

THE CORRI,SPONDENT AUGU ST.SEPTEMBF,R

tight

schedule for the advertising campaign. We

-

road. When I get to the boardroom I find Nigel Oakins with Patrick Cheung. Nigel, who has been

is

All smiles Nury Vittachi THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST-SEPTtrMBER

2OOO

29

Hot off the press lnspecting the firsl copies off the line FCCers editor Andrew Lynch (far left) and Nigel Oakins (rþhf)

It's out Smiling faces at ilVail's launch party

I attend the relaunch of the Fcr Eastern Economic Reaian, smug that we are picking up their picture editor Billy Kung. More so because Billy is the model for their relaunch cover. Unusuall¡ I hold my tongue.

Nigel Oakins has now joined Sing T'ao full-time. I may be able to recoup all those dinners I bought him in the FCC now He has renewed his card and we hit the Chateau Lynch-Bages. Dear God, have I

allowed us to convince the management that starting before the end of the month would be almost fatal. The

Posú

has advanced its redesign to

early May and they are offering 50 per cent reductions

on subscriptions. I pick one up myself, but by midJune the paper still does not arrive although they ha't,e taken my money. At least some things in life can be countecl on. small embarrassment. I wanted but did not a month off between the SCMPand Sing

are interviewed by Time in the offices of Karen Chang, who is handling our PR. The great things Nigel and

I

about Karen are that she talks dirtier than I do and she is brilliantly organised. TLre Timelady writes that we are

taking the paper downmarket, the exact opposite of

have

what we said.

Tao

Business Ti,mes of Singapore does the best story. We hardly dare mention the word tabloid in case people misconstrue our intentions and start thinking of The Szn rather th:an Neusda) or the Austrahan Financial R¿uieu. Funnily enough, in the focus groups it was the young Chinese readers who felt most at ease with the tabloid format. One did complain, however, that the size of the paper would not be big enough to cover her dinner table.

- settle my affairs, namely my magazine to Asian Newsþaþer Focus. I'm behind with the company's tax returns and hat'e to appear at Western Magistrates Court to pay a fine. I rather dread this, although I doubt if there will be an1, ço.rt, reporters there. In the event, it's rather tedious and then farcical.

Before I enter the court, I am asked to write a note as a director of the company allowing myself to represent the company in court. I am told that I can write the note on any old piece of paper and duly commit it to the back of one of our planning documents for the iMail.

Unfortunately, the magistrate sees the back of the sheet and starts reading in open court about the planning for our foreign pages. She then chides me for such a scrappy note. I leave the court $2,500 lighter.

I have most of the senior staff to lunch on the roof at home one Sunday. I stand on a stool and address the troops. It doesn"t break. Trying to rally the troops, I foolishly mention the Somme. Maybe Agincourt would have been better. Fanny Fung, a news editor from Cable TV, comes to the party. She is joining as my deputy, but not until after the launch.

It's taken six months and one refllsal to catch her.

I told her there were two ways this would pan out: either I'd be fired and she'd have my job within six months; or the Post would realise how brilliant she is and hire her on twice the money. (They tried to poach her in 1996 and cocked it up.) I never saw an executive at the Post as clued in to the daily news as Fanny.

30

metamorphosed into Jonathan Fenby?

There are a host of interviews. One reporter, whom I had misgi'r'ings about talking to because she was married to a former adt'ersary at t]¡'e Post, does a very no knives need to be extracted. professional job

Start ups

aunch day: it's my 41st birthday and no time to celebrate. We seem to have beaten out most of the tech glitches with people from Cybergraphics, who supplied our editorial system, working round the clock. Fortunatel¡ it's a Sunday so the pressure on business and the stocks formatting is less than on a working day. One sub-editor comes in and suggests I have made a huge mistake in my reorganisation of the editing desk and even in the move to tabloid. I blow a gasket and urge him to leave my office for his personal safety. We get through the first issue of the paper without too much pain, followed by champagne and roast pork for the staff with Patrick and Helen. Alas, the printing is not what we hoped for and won't be right until later in the year when we move to Premier Printing Group.

Our party atlls on the Monday night looks brilliant with a performance artist running a chainsaw up and down her metal suit. Sparks fly. Great food and drinks, but I only stay for 90 minutes. My existence has become and I can't even be vicarious. This is my celebration there to drink it all in. Kowloon Bay beckons. I THE CORRESPONDENT AUGUST:SEPTEùIBER

2OOO

Former president Steae Vines, a columnist for Hong Kong iMail, Ì;'as been involved with two previous start up newspapers. He comments on what its like to the create a newspaper from scratch ne of the most depressing things about starting a newspaper was having to deal with the reaction of fellow hacks, not the very keen people involved in the project, \Ahile the hacks were busy shaking their heads in collective disma¡ we were receiving great support from readers and a host of other people outside the business who appreciated that in the world of newspapers more almost always means better because more means greater choice.

I speak from the experience of having been the founding editor of Eastern Exþress in Hong Kong and a consultant editor for the Bangkok-based Asia Times.

Both papers faced an extraordinary degree of cynicism, carping criticism and general ill will from people who might have been expected to be enthusiastic about a new paper launch.

When Eastern Express finally closed the editor of an English newspaper based in Quarry Bay, on the site of a former sugar mill, went so far as to send round a message congratulating his staff on their part in its demise. I was long gone by this time and not exactly on the best of terms with the paper's owners but, as a journalist, I was saddened by the closure of the paper.

Anywa¡ here we are again. Hong Kong has another new paper, tLre Hong Kong iMaiL It is bright, lively and, I think, has got off to a good start. Listening, yet again, to the snide comments from members of our trade, I

should advise the iMail to give up immediately.

Fortunately hacks are rarely the best judge of these things.

Flowever,

it may well be argued that they were right about tLre Eastern Exþress and Asia 'Iìmes. I take a different view. That both papers failed cannot be disputed, but in both cases the failures had little to do with editorial quality and a great deal to do with the way they were run as businesses. Even those who doubt this argument will probably concede that the competition they generated also helped improve the quality of their rivals.

ong Kong's EnglishJanguage press has long consisted of one dominant plal'er which needs to be kept on its toes and, like other types of enterprise, performs best when facing competition. \4rhen Eastern Exþress was launched there were two well established rivals. One,

the late Hong Kong Standard engaged in largescale fraud to try and increase its ret'enues from advertising. The other, the South China Morning

Post,

met the challenge with sharper reporting and, I thought, better features.

Fortunately for iMail, t}lre Post has been more complacent in response to its launch. A complacent rival is just what 1'es 1a'¿¡¡.

As for the it-will-never-work brigade, you are sad people. Trying to launch a new paper is one of the hardest jobs in journalism, but it is also by far the most rewarding.

These sad people will never know this. I

AnouNo Trrn FCC

Farewells

L

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o

t

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in for a treat in September. We're showcasing four wines from two of Spain's

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If you're a fan of white wine, but are tired of the ð o a

To Kuala Lumpur Mike and Chris Charlton held their farewell bash in Bert's, Mike's relocating to Kuala Lumpur for his company, James R Knowles Holdings plc

bared his arm for the Hong Kong Red Cross Transfusion team As usual our fine staff led the way with 14 giving blood vs seven members

endless parade of chardonnays and sauvignon blancs, you will be delighted with Fransola from the Miguel Torres winery. It's mostly sauvignon blanc, but Torres blends in a bit of an indigenous grape called parellada, which gives the wine an entirely different character. It is remarkably crisp and fresh, a real treat.

Torres recently bought a neighbouring winery named Jean Leon, where the late owner made small

amounts of superb Bordeaux-style wines a cabernet sauvignon and a merlot-in the painstaking, oldfashioned manner. The Jean Leon cabernet we're offering is very much in the Bordeaux tradition: rich, sophisticated, complex a different wine - cabernets that are entirely from the one-dimensional

To Jakarta Former Presldent Hans Vriens has moved to Jakarta with his new public relations

company, APCO lndonesia Francls Moriarty presented Hans with a print of the club

the standard in America and Australia.

Chilli calls The Hong Kong Tourist Association gave Peter Randall, its PR honcho for the past five years, a fine send-off. Chilli-loving Peter was presented by his colleagues with a sample of everything hot that could be found in the SAR Peter's formed a new consultancy call PR & ALL.

Ppa ion

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Codorniu's subsidiaries also turn out high-class

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All these wines are candidates for the regular wine list, so please let us know if you like them.

Barry Kalb Wine Convenor

PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS Welcome aboard Ashley Mei Cannon, daughter of AFP's Jo Biddle and Steve Cannon, nestles comfortably in her father's arms

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