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星期日, 8月 31, 2014

香港民主團體發表公開信籲尊重香港憲法

致美國和加拿大政府、國會、全國人民公開信...
我們懇請閣下密切關注目前香港的憲政危機,懇請美國和加拿大政府敦促中國政府信守他們在1984年簽署的“中英聯合聲明”中對香港人民“一國兩制”的承諾,尊重香港的憲政和基本法。

今年六月中國政府發表了一份“白皮書”,推出了他們對基本法的詮釋。這份交件是對香港法制社會核心價值的侵蝕和破壞,是對香港前途的嚴重威脅。

中國政府當初“港人治港,高度自治”的承諾,現在被“中央政府擁有全面管治權”、“法官必須愛國”等等所取代。

今年七月,香港政府向北京呈交了一份關於2017年香港特首選舉和2016年香港立法會產生辦法的報告。儘管6月22日近八十萬香港市民參加了一個民間公投,其中百分之九十的人支持“民間提名”的動議,港府的報告竟然認為公投的人數微不足道,不足以代表“主流民意”,而且報告中隻字未提民眾、民意應當如何被適當代表的問題。

7月1日香港五十多萬人上街遊行示威,政府依然裝聾作啞港府的報告無視香港人民的意願,真普選岌岌可危,香港憲政、民主面臨大倒退。

人大常委會昨公佈的普選特首草案,提名委員會繼續以1,200位小圈子權貴組成;要做特首候選人,須取得過半數提委會委員支持;候選人人數定為兩至三人,此方案與選委會小圈子選特首比較,可謂大倒退。港人過去30年爭取民主的希望盡毀。

尊敬的美國和加拿大國會議員們,親愛的同胞,港人的民主前景實在無法指望他們的政府。中國政府發號施令,香港人民俯首聽命,絕非我們所願。維護香港人民的尊嚴,美國和加拿大人責無旁貸。若港人處於孤立無援之境,我們於心何忍?我們請求閣下表達對港人爭取真普選的支持。

2014 年9月1日

北美支援中國民主運動聯盟
溫哥華支援民主運動聯合會
多倫多支持中國民運會
多倫多港加聯
卡加利中國民主促進會
紐約天安門紀念基金會
華盛顿海外香港華人聯會
中國民主教育基金會
波士頓海外香港華人民主人權促進會

波士頓港澳之友社香港論壇 洛杉磯

___________________________________
Letter to US Congressman
We are writing to urge you to monitor the constitutional development in Hong Kong and to pressure the Chinese Government to honor their promises to the people of Hong Kong under the principle of “One Country Two Systems,” stated in the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 and the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s constitutional document.
In June, the Chinese government issued a White Paper to set out an "official" interpretation of the Basic Law. The document demonstrates an attempt to undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong and to erode its core values, threatening the foundational faith in Hong Kong's future.
The promise of “Hong Kong people running Hong Kong with a high level of autonomy” is replaced by new concepts such as "complete jurisdiction", "oversight by the Central Government" and “judges must be patriotic”.
In July, the Hong Kong government submitted to Beijing a report on the selection of the Chief Executive in 2017 and the formation of the Legislative Council in 2016. On June 22, almost 800,000 people participated in a Civil Referendum, 90% of whom supported a proposal that involves civic nomination. The Report considered this too minor to be counted as “mainstream opinion” and nothing was said of how the public could be properly represented.
On July 1, over 500,000 people took their frustrations to the streets. However, the voice of the people has fallen on deaf ears. The failure of the report to aptly reflect Hong Kong people's views seems to signify the shrinking likelihood of genuine universal suffrage. This is a huge step backward in Hong Kong's constitutional and democratic development.
The Chinese People’s Congress Standing Committee yesterday released a draft of the rules to select the 2017 Chief Executive. A Nominating Committee continue to be composed of 1,200 mainly government appointees will be formed. Chief Executive candidate must obtain approval from the majority of the committee members and the number of candidates will be limited to two to three people. One people one vote to select a government-approved candidate is not election by universal suffrage. This indeed is a big setback. Hong Kong people’s hopes for democracy over the past 30 years are completely shattered.
Our Honorable Congressman, the people of Hong Kong cannot rely on their government for a democratic future. It is not the case for the Chinese Government to issue a decree and the people of Hong Kong to comply. The United States needs to take a strong stand in the preservation of the dignity of the Hong Kong people. Please demonstrate America’s support of their demand for genuine universal suffrage. We shall never let them stand alone.

黃亞生在巴西主持中國拉丁美洲會議

二零一四年八月廿九日在巴西聖保羅

Conference Welcome Remarks
9:00 - 10:30
WTC Theater, Level C
Panel 1: GROWTH PROSPECTS IN LATIN AMERICA
Uncertainty in emerging economies, risks of deflation in advanced ones, and fluctuating commodities prices are just a few of the challenges facing Latin America as it looks to increase growth rates and compete in the global economy.
Presenters:

   Roberto Rigobon
Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management and Economics
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Vittorio Corbo Lioi
Senior Research Associate
Centro de Estudios Públicos - Chile

   Ilan Goldfajn
Chief Economist
Itaú Unibanco Bank - Brazil

   Alejandro Werner
Director of Western Hemisphere Department
International Monetary Fund


10:30 - 10:45
WTC Theater Lobby, Level C
Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:15
WTC Theater, Level C
Panel 2: GROWTH PROSPECTS IN CHINA
Sustained growth in China is critical both domestically and internationally. Slowing growth and lending rates combined with high debt have raised questions, but how concerned should business and policy leaders be?
Presenters:

   Yasheng Huang
Associate Dean and Professor of International Management
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Sun Pei
Associate Professor of Industrial Economics
Fudan University, School of Management - China

   Chong-en Bai
Mansfield Freeman Chair Professor in Economics, Associate Dean
School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University

   Xinzhong Xu
Professor of Finance and Dean
Lingnan (University) College, Sun Yat-sen University

   Jian Gao
Former Vice Governor
China Development Bank


12:15 - 12:45
WTC Theater Lobby, Level C
Lunch
Attendees should pick out a lunch box, and make their way back to the WTC Theater for the Lunchtime Keynote Session
12:45 - 13:45
WTC Theater, Level C
LUNCH KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Presenters:

   André Loes
Chief Economist
HSBC Latin America

   Paul Mackel
Managing Director
HSBC Hong Kong


13:45 - 14:00
WTC Theater Lobby, Level C
Break
14:00 - 15:30
WTC Theater, Level C
Panel 3: DEEP DIVE with MIT SLOAN
MIT Sloan's faculty analyze today's business challenges and solutions through their research. In this session, MIT Sloan faculty with expertise in Latin America, China, Energy and Global Economy engage in an interactive discussion about the key issues as identified by the conference attendees:
Presenters:

   Roberto Rigobon
Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management and Economics
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Valerie J. Karplus
Assistant Professor in the Global Economics and Management Group
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Yasheng Huang
Associate Dean and Professor of International Management
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Donald R. Lessard
Epoch Foundation Professor of International Management, Emeritus
MIT Sloan School of Management


15:30 - 15:45
WTC Theater Lobby, Level C
Break
- See more at: http://mitsloan.mit.edu/international/conferences/mit-sloan-latin-america-china-conference/overview/#sthash.TEo3kUPi.dpuf
5:45 - 17:15
WTC Theater, Level C
Panel 4: DOING BUSINESS IN LATIN AMERICA AND CHINA - COMPARISONS, CONTRASTS & COMPETITION
Latin America and China are close trading partners, but also competitors in the global marketplace. How each does business internally and externally has critical implications for their future economy growth? Don Lessard, Epoch Foundation Professor of International Management at MIT Sloan, will lead a panel of business leaders who will share their experience of working in these regions as a way of exploring the similarities and differences between the two and what it might mean for global economy.
Presenters:

   Donald R. Lessard
Epoch Foundation Professor of International Management, Emeritus
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Enrique Ostalé
Executive Vice President, President and CEO
Walmart Latin America

   Charles Tang
President
Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce & Industry

   Fernando Reyes Matta
Director, Center for Latin American Studies on China
Universidad Andrés Bello

   Taotao Chen
Professor of School of Economics & Managment
Tsinghua University


17:15 - 17:30
WTC Theater, Level C

Closing Remarks

星期六, 8月 30, 2014

全美各地留學生人數 波士頓排第三

布魯金斯學會(Brookings Institution)昨(29)日公佈一份報告指出,大波士頓是全美外籍學生最多的地點之一,每年為本地經濟注入成萬逾億元的學費,生活開支費等。
在2008到2012年間,共有53,486名學生持F-1簽證來到大波士頓地區就讀,共交學費18億元,在生活起居,租房子上,花了約9億9300萬元。
來到波士頓的這些外籍學生,依人數排,來自中國的最多,12,695人,其次為印度5,496人,南韓4,339人,加拿大2,772人,以及台灣1,662人。以來自城市看,南韓首爾最多,2056人,其次為北京1874,上海1122,印度孟買1119,以及新加坡的1119
該報告根據2001年到2012年間,美國批准的外籍學生簽證等數據來分析,發現持F-1學生簽證進入美國大專院校就讀的學生人數,從2001年的11萬人,劇增到2012年的524000人。
這些外籍學生,絕大多數集中在都會地區,有85%落腳在118個都會區。大波士頓都會區的外籍學生人數在全美排名第三,僅次於紐約,洛杉磯。若以繳交學費金額來算,排名第二,僅次於紐約。
以全美而言,一半以上的外籍學生,來自94個不同城市,其中來自首爾(Seoul),北京,上海,海得拉巴(Hyderabad),利雅得(Riyadh)的學生人數最多。
根據勞工部資料,在2013年,大波士頓大專院校約聘用了90,000人。
麻州大學達特茅斯(Dartmouth)分校公共政策分析中心主任Michael Goodman表示,這些院校能否順利經營,越來越仰賴他們吸引學生的能力。
以人口地理來,美國本土人口達到升讀傳統大專院校年記者的數目,很平穩,除了精英學校以外,其他學校的成長,幾乎都來自非傳統學生。
該報告還呼籲翻修移民規定,以容許外籍學生拿到學位後,更容易成為美國永久居民。
批評的人指那會限制了美國出生勞工的工作機會,給工資帶來壓力,還造成發展中國家的腦力枯竭(brain drain)現象。
該報告稱美國是”卓越的全球學術培訓樞紐“,而麻州東部更是主要的地點,有著85所大專院校,5萬名以上外籍學生,其中40%是來讀大學的,48%來修讀碩士學位,12%讀博士學位。
那是全美平均數的大約三倍。大約每一千名獲得簽證的學生中,有65個是來大波士頓的,分別到各大城市的每千人平均數為22。
在2008年到2012年間,麻州東部收外籍學生最多的學校有東北大學 (9,279),波士頓大學(8,413) ,哈佛大學 (7,112),其次為麻省理工學院,薩福克大學。所有來到大波士頓的學生中,有39%讀學士學位,48.2%讀碩士,12.3%讀博士。
來美就讀的外籍學生中,三分之二都修讀科技,工程,數學。來到波士頓就讀這些科目的人數,也排名全美第三。27%取得簽證的學生是就讀這些科系。

在大波士頓就讀的外籍學生,有二分之一以上,畢業後決定把學生簽證展延成最多可達二年半的臨時工作簽證。全美的比率為45%

夏日星辰野生動物保護區十月徒步行

岩港(Rockport)劉沙林表演中心八月廿五日舉辦免費歌劇音樂會,紀念作曲家史特勞斯150年前誕生。
高羅士打時報(Gloucester Times)指出,這是劉沙林第三年贊助歌劇音樂會,把國際知名歌劇演唱家,帶到普羅大眾眼前,讓口袋不豐的人,不必顧忌阮囊是否羞澀,也可心情輕鬆的踏進那座建築結構美麗的劇場,欣賞演出。
當晚這場音樂會,由鋼琴大師麥克爾瑞奇秋(Michael Recchiuti)演奏廿世紀最偉大德國作曲家理查史特勞斯(Richard Strauss)創作的歌劇。國際知名歌劇演唱者,女高音畢吉絲(Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs ),以及男高音卡梅隆(Cameron Schutza演唱史特勞斯的最偉大歌劇作品,包括莎樂美(Salome), 玫瑰騎士(Der Rosenkavalier), 達佛涅Daphne), 無影女子(Die Frau ohne Schatten),  阿里阿德捏在納克索斯島上(Ariadne auf Naxos)等等。
麥克爾瑞奇秋(Michael Recchiuti)指出,史特勞斯生於1864年六月,逝於1949年九月,經歷過世界大戰,也見過原子彈爆炸,他的作品文化深度與引人共鳴度,達到了西方文明的最高點。他稱史特勞斯為“音樂鍊金士(alchemist of music.)”,廿世紀最重要的德國作曲家,不但個性迷人,更對世界上的音樂文化,有著不可磨滅影響,把戲劇音樂和歌唱家的敘說,完美結合起來,還把希臘,羅馬的那些神秘的古典傳統,全都揉合成一個個優美的,弗洛伊德時代(Freudian age)故事。
或許由於岩港是麻州著名旅遊景點,和普羅大眾上班地點頗有距離,音樂會的演出時間,又不在週末,當晚的演出現場,東方臉孔屈指可數。
劉沙林透露,夏日星辰野生動物保護區即將完工,預定九月下旬啟用。薩德百麗鼓信託會已定十月四日(週六)早上十點至中午十二點,舉辦“夏日星生野生動物保護區徒步行”。民眾可免費參加,但需事先報名。


圖片說明:

            劉沙林(右二)和鋼琴大師麥克爾瑞奇秋(Michael Recchiuti)(右一),以及兩名歌劇演唱家在演出結束後,接受獻花。(菊子攝)


            劉沙林表演中心有一大片玻璃牆,讓觀眾可看見屋外的海洋。(菊子攝)