From George W Russell #4959
While it was nice to see a picture of our postwedding celebration (Around the FCC, Comespondent, Dec. 2001Jan. 2002), I should emphasise that my wife, Economic Reuiew's correspondent in Hanoi, retains the name she was born with and writes under, Margot Cohen. As indeed, do I.
Hats are back for men Arthur Hacker celebrates the change in the Dress Code
From Bill Blessington Outdoor Editor, The now defunct Anchorage Times Thanks for that great piece about Kate Webb
The Foreign Journalists Club of Cambodia (FJCC)
is currently researching the history of foreign correspondents in Cambodia and would welcome
for
in Melbourne. Polite and, I fancy, admiring smiles greeted it. How about a little Deng-style (super-ficial) reform at the FCC? Hats on!
any contributions. Please contact Luke Hunt on kh
The President resþonds: Jonathan may be gratifled to knou that the next time he comes to Hong Kong, he may wear his
From Paul F. Savage #6394
hat. The Boo.rd of Goaernors onJanuary 26th uoted to rescind the 1982 Dress Code Regulati,on barring any and all headgear for men. Members are reminded of course to exercise restraint
afþ cambodi.a@bigþ ond. com.
I was pleased to read in the Dec 2001-Jan 2002 issue of The Corresþondenf that the FCC is proceeding with the enhancements of the Health Corner. I can tell you that based upon my experience with Hong Kong Clubs in general and the Kowloon Club in particular, having an appealing and useful gym facility is a great marketing tool for attracting new members, and a source of pride for existing members, whether or not the members avail themselves of the gym. For many people, the fact that a club has an attractive exercise facility will be the deciding factor (for) member(ship). The reason is that, while not all of the members who join because of the gym actually use it, they all have good intentions to use it. When we did renovate, the Health Center at the Kowloon Club, there was a signifrcant increase in the use of the facility. Another reason for having a gym is that when a club is trying to build a respectable list of reciprocal clubs, one of the key facilities other clubs look (for) is an exercise facility. If any FCC Board members are interested in seeing the Kowloon Club gym, I would be pleased to arrange a visit. I look forward to continuing my use of the Health Corner but I know I will enjoy it more once the renovations have been completed. From Jonathan
Mirsþ
#6043
I was recentþ in Hong Kong for two days and found time for breakfast on the Verandah. The Club looked great and the staff were as welcoming as ever' Imagine my surprise when I was asked ever-so-politely to remove my hat. Now this is a respectable, 25 year-old, spotlessly
white, old-fogey slouch-hat, deeply beautiful and much loved by this old fogey. It was 8:30 a.m. and besides my host, Francis Moriarty, there was only one other guest smoking a reeking cigar, about which I said nothing, -although I coughed a bit hoping for sympathy. Can there really be an anti-hat rule? Thongs, whether foot or bum, I understand. Shorts, OK. But hats? I had just worn mine in the most expensive Japanese restaurallt
2
T/¿¿
Corresþondenl (Dec 01Jan 02 issue). Having known her
tlte Far Eastern
From Luke Hunt #6789
in
and good taste. Ifor one uill object to backward-worn baseball caþs and motorqcle helmets u)orn on þremises.
From PJ O'Rourke to Dave Garcia
Bravo
for the Israel piece in
The Corresþondent
job than I did. Any let me know. Of switch careers want to time you be a problem since if anyone that could course, me might get a metal from they hear.y ordered have busy as a oneDef Lepard...I been of delivery camp since 9/11. in a boy scout bishop eyed imagine and I've my tour as you can book Scrambled lor Atlantic dispatches on situation to two had write Monthþ. (Later) I'll be headed overseas to cover whatever it is that will be going on from someplace or the Stans, Paki, Middle East.Just don't know other Do yet. you have any contacts in Carjackistan, (Aug-Sept 2001). You did a better
Absurdistan, Umbrellastan and so forth? From Frazer McGilway Executive Directo¡ International Marinelife Alliance
It was with great interest I read the article "Life Below the Waves" (The Corresþondenf, Aug-Sept 2001) about Robert Delfs' superb underwater photos...Delf's description of the state of the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacif,rc is very true, they are indeed facing increasing pressure from human activity. However, it is not strictþ accurate to highlight that a "significant percentage" of the snappers and groupers caught on these reefs are caught with cyanide. While cyanide f,rshing is still a problem in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, many of the frsh that supply
the market in Hong Kong and China are from mariculture. Consumers would,be advised to ask if a fish is cultured or wild-caught next time they choose one from a restaurant tank, thus reducing the pressure on the region's coral reefs. THF, CORRESPONDENT FEBRUARY-MARCH
2OO2
those those responsible and to prosecute them to the
fullest extent of the law.
long time myself, I can account for her "cool under fire" in a few areas. When she was at the IJPI bureau in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA), she handled my feed from Kent State, Ohio, where National Guardsmen shot student demonstrators making their point over the invasion of Cambodia and Nixon's war policies. It was a great pleasure to introduce her to Alaska, where I've been hiding for the last 30 years, when she left Af'P. And if I can keep the BS flowing well enough, we can get her back to Talkeetna so she can win the Wilderness Woman crown for chopping wood, cleaning frsh, fixing dinner and impressing the snow shoes off a bunch of bearded dog mushers, moose chasers and mountain climbers. Fits right in. Then we'll take her into the Arctic. a
Mistreatment of Journalist in Macau The Hon. Edmund Ho Chief Executive, Macau SAR Dear Mr Ho,
The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong (FCC) wishes to express its concern regarding the actions taken by Macau security officials against journalists who were on their way to cover the visit by the chairman of the National People's Congress, Mr Li Peng.
We trust you will pursue a complete and honest investigation of this affair, which risks harming Macau's international image.
There can be no justification for the beating of reporters and photographers who are carrying out their duties. Neither can there be any excuse for
forcibly preventing them from covering
finnouncement$ The following oþen letter to the gouørnment rf the Islamic Reþublic of Pahistan was issued from Dubai on behalf of the International Association of Præs Clubs of which the FCC is a founding member The l¿ttn was clrafted b1 Francis Moriarty,
Conuenor of the FCC's Press Freedom Committee
The International Association of Press Clubs (IAPC) wishes to express its deepest condolences to the family,
friends and colleagues of Danny Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was murdered by kidnappers in
events
unfolding in a public place, nor for detaining them or damaging their equipment. We note that police have denied that beatings occurred or that they damaged cameras, but the photographs of what transpired and the first-person accounts of those present call into question those denials. We are also concerned that a reporter for tl:'e South China Morning Post was told that materials which insult China are against the law in Macau, and on this pretext
had his newspaper clippings temporarily taken from him. The FCC would like to know what particular law defines this transgression.
Again on behalf of the FCC, we call upon you as Chief Executive to initiate a full and transparent
Pakistan. We also urge the government of Pakistan to put all
investigation.
available resources into bringing to justice those who were behind Danny's killing, as well as those who carried it out.
H.E.Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Bangkok
The brutality of his murder and the callousness of those who videotaped their repugnant actions have shocked people around the world. That Dannywas innocent ofanywrong doing has been obvious from the start, and no one should be confused as to the reason why he was murdered: Danny was killed simply for who and what he was a reporter trying diligentþ to dig behind the headlines- and learn the rruth. To the culprits, kidnapping and killing a foreign journalist offered a publicity opportunity. It is for this
cold-blooded reason, not his nationality nor his
religion, that his life was taken. Those who plotted and enacted this murder were not being selective; any reporter seeking to carry out his or her professional duty to probe beneath the surface of events might have served their purposes just as well. There is no motive that can possibly justi$r their actions, which have caused immeasurable harm to the international image of Pakistan.
The IAPC reiterates its plea for Pakistan's
law
enforcement agencies and judicial system to find all of THE CORRESPONDENT FEBRUARY.MARCH
2OO2
On the Proposed Expulsíon of Journalists
Your Excellency,
The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong (FCC) wishes to express its concern and protest the action taken by the government of Thailand over the blacklisting and threatened expulsion ofjournalists. -Ihe Far Eastern Economic Rniaa's Bangkok bureau chief, Shawn Crispin, 33, an American citizen, and correspondent Rodney Tasker, 56, a British national, received letters from the Immigration Police notifying them their visas had been revoked. Threatening journalists with expulsion utterþ contradicts Thailand's long tradition as a bulwark of freedom of expression in Southeast Asia. Such actions severely damage Thailand both in reputation and in its attractiveness to the foreign investors your government seeks so hard to attract. On behalf of the FCC, we call upon you to eliminate the black list and revoke expulsion orders on these two journalists. By rescinding the expulsion order, the government of Thailand would demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression