Monday, December 31, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Sitting and seeing the year out

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Winter monsoon wear

A cold front has swept down from the north. The air temperature on a little island in the South China Sea is currently 13.3C and dropping, probably to a low of 11C overnight.

New Year's Eve will be "fine and dry" with a high of 16C and humidity below 50%. Hong Kong Observatory talks about 'fresh northerly winds" amd forecasts an even colder and drier New Year's Day.

Time to dig out the lip salve.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Van Morrison: Sweet Thing

For the weekend, a guilty pleasure.

Astral Weeks . . . side one, track three:



End of year bonus, From Stranded (1979):
Van Morrison's Astral Weeks was released ten years, almost to the day, before this was written. It was particularly important to me because the fall of 1968 was such a terrible time: I was a physical and mental wreck, nerves shredded and ghosts and spiders looming and squatting across the mind. My social contacts had dwindled to almost none; the presence of other people made me nervous and paranoid. I spent endless days and nights sunk in an armchair in my bedroom, reading magazines, watching TV, listening to records, staring into space. I had no idea how to improve the situation and probably wouldn't have done anything about it if I had.
Lester Bangs

Friday, December 28, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Dried seafood stall

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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On the waterfront

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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The Marine Police do a medevac

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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The evangelicals (plus tree) pass through the square

Monday, December 24, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Christmas Eve on the waterfront

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Christmas on the waterfront of a little island in the South China Sea

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Grace Jones: I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)

For the weekend, a guilty pleasure.

Nightclubbing . . .

Friday, December 21, 2007

China: Choking on Growth

Ninth in a series of articles and multimedia examining the human toll, global impact and political challenge of China's epic pollution crisis: China Grabs West’s Smoke-Spewing Factories: NYT

Previously in the series:
The Overview
China's Water Crisiis
The Activist
Three Gorges Dam
Energy Rules
Wildlife Threatened
Polluting Trucks

Interested? Start here: NYT

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Local fire station

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Late afternoon, waterfront

Monday, December 17, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Couple

Reading matters

The phenomenon of the Christmas bestseller, by Stuart Jeffries: Guardian

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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A nice cuppa tea

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Dennis Potter: The Singing Detective

For the weekend, a gulty pleasure.

Keep your pecker up, old chap:

Friday, December 14, 2007

"Chinois, encore un effort pour être révolutionnaires"

In May 1968, the Situationist-inspired Occupation Committee of the People's Free Sorbonne University sent the following telegram from Paris:

POLITBURO OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY GATE OF CELESTIAL PEACE PEKING

SHAKE IN YOUR SHOES BUREAUCRATS STOP THE INTERNATIONAL POWER OF THE WORKERS COUNCILS WILL SOON WIPE YOU OUT STOP HUMANITY WON’T BE HAPPY TILL THE LAST BUREAUCRAT IS HUNG WITH THE GUTS OF THE LAST CAPITALIST STOP LONG LIVE FACTORY OCCUPATIONS STOP LONG LIVE THE GREAT CHINESE PROLETARIAN REVOLUTION OF 1927 BETRAYED BY THE STALINIST BUREAUCRATS STOP LONG LIVE THE PROLETARIANS OF CANTON AND ELSEWHERE WHO HAVE TAKEN UP ARMS AGAINST THE SO-CALLED PEOPLE’S ARMY STOP LONG LIVE THE CHINESE WORKERS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE ATTACKED THE SO-CALLED CULTURAL REVOLUTION AND THE MAOIST BUREAUCRATIC ORDER STOP LONG LIVE REVOLUTIONARY MARXISM STOP DOWN WITH THE STATE STOP OCCUPATION COMMITTEE OF THE PEOPLE’S FREE SORBONNE

Some years later (1977) René Viénet, Situationist writer and filmmaker, assembled a visual collage from historic film footage to produce this amazing (and anti-maoist) political documentary about China in the 20th century: ubu

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Indoor market stairwell

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Cargo boat

Monday, December 10, 2007

Master Landscape Plan: Fisherman's Wharf?

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Here is a detail of a map of a Master Landscape Plan for a section of a little island in the South China Sea's harbour front. The whole thing -- plus a couple of artist impressions of how it is supposed to look when it is done -- is on a panel standing right next to the ferry terminal.

The Master Landscape Plan starts a little north of the ferry terminal and extends up to Pak Tai football pitch. Just close by that lone HSBC ATM machine is the entrance to a "wood deck promenade". Further along are two Observation Piers, a Fishing Plaza and a pier for guidos. The already established restaurant row becomes a Food and Beverage Corridor.

All fine and dandy. Now if they could just find a way to encourage the fishing boats and other harbour users not to dump diesel, sundry liquids and other stuff into the harbour. . .

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Creature Comforts: Jaguar

For the weekend, a guilty pleasure.

Notes on a cold island:

Friday, December 07, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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The two large shophouses on the corner of the waterfront and the square were put up for sale by auction in the spring. Whoever bought them got the wrecking crew in this week.

Now the buildings are no more. But not for long. For pleasure and profit, another building is in store. It's a primo site.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Public pier

Hong Kong: King Hui -- The Man Who Owned All The Opium In Hong Kong

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Officially launched today, Jonathan Chamberlain's book King Hui: The Man Who Owned All The Opium in Hong Kong.

Good title, eh?

The book should now be available in, as they say, all good book stores. In Hong Kong, anyway.

Online shoppers? Yes, here (free international delivery): blacksmiths books

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Public pier, citizens' action produces seats for all tastes

Reading matters

Joseph Conrad: the moral agent, by Giles Foden: Guardian
The future warehouse of unwanted books: bldgblog

Hong Kong: Legislative Council Questions

Some of the questions (and answers) from the LegCo meeting of Wednesday, 5 December 2007:

LCQ4: Economic benefits of Hong Kong Disneyland
LCQ16: Pilot project to purchase primary care services from private sector
LCQ20: Introduction of vehicles using cleaner fuels

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Another hospital, out-patients department

Medical matters account for the absence of posts for the previous eight or so days. The sun rises, the sun sets. Life is sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet. Mister B now looks forward to posting some more. For the emails, thanks!

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians

For the weekend, a guilty pleasure.

Song without words:

Friday, November 23, 2007

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Local hospital, out-patients department

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Roadrunner

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Widescreen!

King Hui: The Man Who Owned All the Opium in Hong Kong

Jonathan Chamberlain, an ex long-term resident of a little island in the South China Sea, has written a biography of a man known as Peter Hui.

The book will shift copies on its title alone: the Man Who Owned All the Opium in Hong Kong. How long did that fortunate state of affairs endure? Five minutes or five hours? Enquiring minds need to know.
And yet this book is not just one man’s story. It is the story of a time and place -- colonial Hong Kong, Portuguese Macao and the south China hinterland between Hong Kong and Canton -- seen from the unique point of view of a man who was at home at all levels of society. There are, for example, no other published accounts of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong as seen from the non-combatant Chinese perspective.
King Hui goes on sale in early December. However, if you order the book before 30 November 2007, Jonathan will sign yr copy! More details about the author, King Hui, and ordering: blacksmith books

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Pedestrian

Monday, November 19, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Basketball players

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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District Council elections today. Staking out one of the polling stations on a little island sitting in the South China Sea are some members of the DAB.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Leonard Bernstein/Richard Wilbur: Candide

For the weekend, a guilty pleasure.

Glitter and Be Gay? Kristin Chenoweth:

Friday, November 16, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Agit-prop for Sunday's district council elections

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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The card game

Reading matters

Hold Everything Dear: Surviving The Nights And Imagining A New Day, by John Berger: zmag

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Street corner

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Hong Kong: some measures for the common good

Tomorrow (13 November 2007) in Legco, Wong Kwok-hing proposes the following motion:
"That, in order to fully utilise human and land resources, develop diversified hawking and bazaar economic activities to enhance the attractiveness of tourism in Hong Kong, as well as to further revitalise on-street economy and diversified economic activities in remote new towns, this Council urges the Government to:

(a) preserve existing bazaars which have local economic, cultural and native characteristics, and assist in the sustainable development of such bazaars;

(b) establish and develop new marketplaces with various characteristics, such as creativity bazaars and marketplaces for organic fishery and agricultural produce;

(c) set up designated zones for street art performance, arts fairs and the like in order to encourage and promote the culture of street art performance, preserve collective memories, and maintain, discover and nurture the culture and talents of folk art performance;

(d) set up various types of dawn markets and night markets at suitable locations so that those running small businesses who are self-reliant and self-supporting can have a way out;

(e) explore the setting up of on-street cooked food designated zones featuring specialty food and drinks;

(f) expeditiously conduct a comprehensive review on the policies for hawker licensing and management to tie in with the objective of promoting diversified hawking and bazaar economic activities; and

(g) proactively explore with various District Councils to implement the above measures and means for revitalising the diversified economy and culture in the districts,

so as to provide the grass-roots with opportunities for starting up small businesses and employment."
Now that's urban renewal.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Navigator

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Family

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Björk and PJ Harvey: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

For the weekend, a guilty pleasure.

Cool blue:

Friday, November 09, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Snap shot

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Cargo boat

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Waterfront, a gaze returned

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Late night diners

Monday, November 05, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Out-patients department, pharmacy

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Ten-thirty ferry

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Sally Yeh: Night Breeze (晚風)

For the weekend, a guilty pleasure.

For taxi dancers and other travellers, a shapely Latin rhumba rhythm:

Friday, November 02, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Waterfront, dim sum and roast meat takeaway

Reading matters

Thailand & Ghosts, an interview with John Burdett (Bangkok 8): rain taxi

Talking into Being, an interview with Michael Hardt (Multitude): rain taxi

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Reading matters

The demolition of Star Ferry Pier -- urban reclamation versus cultural heritage in Hong Kong, by Hilary Tsui: eurozine/dérive

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Tung Wan beach lifeguard watches local haze, and regional smog

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Wet market

Monday, October 29, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Marine Police launch

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Hong Kong: Baat Baat Baat

Baat Baat Baat (Power of Eight), by Daisann McLane: Learning Cantonese

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Kate Bush: Rocket Man

For the weekend, a guilty pleasure.

High heels, a two-piece suit, and the rhythm of reggae:

Friday, October 26, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Below the public housing estate, late afternoon

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Waterfront, late afternoon

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Feral cat

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Faux marble, street-drain cover

Monday, October 22, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Ferry pier

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Waterfront trio

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Andrei Tarkovsky: The Mirror

For the weekend, a guilty pleasure.

The poem recited during the opening scene is First Meetings by Arseny Tarkovksy, the film director's father:


We celebrated each moment
of our meetings as a revelation
alone in all the world.
[...]
As Fate followed in our wake,
like a madman brandishing a razor.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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San Hing Back Street, cha chaan teng (茶餐廳): Wikipedia

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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Peak Road, Hong Kong Jockey Club off-course betting centre

Hong Kong: Chung Yeung festival

Tomorrow, Friday (19 October 2007) is Chung Yeung festival. Hereabouts, it's traditionally the day for sweeping clean the graves of one's ancestors.

Chung Yeung is a public holiday.

This is also one of those festivals where people burn incense sticks, candles and whatever in hillside cemeteries. And since we are well into the dry season, this is also the time when hillsides catch fire.

The hill fires happen every year during this festival. It is really sad to see a necklace of flame advancing across a hillside and leaving in its wake incinerated trees, bushes and grassland. Such needless destruction.

Lo and behold, the colonial legacy lives on with a Task Force on Hill Fires. As per usual:
Fire Services Department will be on full alert from October 19 to 21. It will deploy additional manpower and fire appliances to deal with possible hillfires. Fire officers will step up their patrol on hillfire blackspots during the period.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will set up a special enforcement team to perform advisory and law enforcement work. It will deploy its fire crews to patrol country park areas and stand by for firefighting.

Government Flying Services will deploy additional crews to stand by for firefighting and airlifting firefighters.

Civil Aid Service will deploy 230 voluntary officers to patrol country parks and provide firefighting assistance.

Auxiliary Medical Service will deploy 150 members to cemeteries and provide first-aid assistance during the period.

The Police will deploy more officers for traffic and crowd control duties at cemeteries during the Chung Yeung Festival.
Source: press release

Anyway, fingers crossed that not too much goes up in smoke.

Reading matters

A Tribute To My Primary School: Alice Poon

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Eye | Land | View

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San Hing Street