Right of abode in Hong Kong- The 2011 Debate (Very Long post… sorry!)

What is the Right of abode?

In simple terms, the Right of Abode is the right to legally reside in Hong Kong. To have the right of abode in Hong Kong, they must be Hong Kong Permanent Residents. Under the Hong Kong Basic Law, permanent residents are:

• Chinese Citizens born in Hong Kong before or after the establishment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
• Chinese Citizens who have ordinarily resided resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period not less than 7 years before or after the establishment of HKSAR
• Person of Chinese nationality born outside Hong Kong of those resident listed in point (1) and (2)
• Person who does not have Chinese nationality but has entered Hong Kong with valid travel documents and has lived in Hong Kong for 7 years continuously and has taken Hong Kong as a permanent resident before or after the establishment of HKSAR.
• Person under the age of 21 born in Hong Kong of those resident listed in point (4) before or after the establishment of HKSAR
• Person other than those resident listed in points (1) to (5) who had the right of abode in Hong Kong before or after the establishment of HKSAR.

All permanent and non-permanent residents will be issued an Hong Kong Identity card. Having an HKID does not mean you have the right to abode in Hong Kong.

So… What’s this debate about

http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/20110930/news_20110930_56_787778.htm

In simple terms, a Foreign maid has won a legal battle which now gives ALL Foreign maid the right of abode in Hong Kong.

What are the problems with this ruling?

(The next section will all be my point of view)

Being as objective as I can, the new ruling will cause a huge strain on the already stretched Hong Kong social security services. Even though Hong Kong has been in a budget surplus for the last 7 years (so Hong Kong did not have a deficit during the 2011 financial crisis), with more and more of the population moving towards their retirement age and reduced working class people, I can only see the tax revenue falling, sooner or later, the government may be in a huge deficit like the United States currently.

When you consider that most domestic helpers tend to have poor families in their home country, you can imagine what would happen when they bring their whole family over to Hong Kong. They will all ask for social security. With this surge of demand and no change in tax revenues, you can see where this is going.

Doing my best not to deter any new immigrants, but there are still PERNAMENT RESIDENTS without proper housing. The government is not doing a good job creating housing for the poor (I'm not alone in this point of view, the Chief Executive said it himself), imagine the surge of new poor immigrants, what will happen to the permanent residents without proper housing? They will most likely never going to see a proper housing.

That’s all I can say. What do you think? Post a comment below.

Manga review- Mirai Nikki

WARNING: Mirai Nikki is a HORROR/TRAGIC manga, and it’s not for everyone.

I will be constantly referring to Elfen Lied in this review

Screenshots are taken from: http://www.mangareader.net/384/mirai-nikki.html I do not own any of the images on this post.

Introduction

Mirai Nikki (or known as Future Diary in the west) is a manga by Sakae Esuno. It mixes horror, psychological and action into one series. It follows an everyday student Amano Yukiteru, where he sees his own life as a bystander, which is reflected in his diary written on his mobile phone. Due to his way of life, he lack social skills. One day, while hanging out with his “imaginary” friend Deus, he is given a phone with the ability to show the future. With 11 others with the same power, he will need to learn who to trust and survive till the end.

Storyline

The storyline of Mirai Nikki is relatively fast paced and no filler episodes. Some may say that the story goes too fast as characters die as soon as they appear, however, I find it quite a nice pace to read at, with slow-downs in some parts of the story to emphasize the emotions. Jumping back and forth to different places to create tension. It definitely wants you to keep reading, and to be honest, it succeeded.

Although the storyline did not stir up any emotional responses like it did in Elfen Lied, it is still quite powerful.

Artwork

I personally find the artwork quite pleasing, it’s relatively light on the lines and shading in normal scenes, and dark when necessary. The artwork gives the manga that extra eerie when necessary.

Unlike Elfen Lied, the artwork is very continuous and the quality never drops.

Wrap-up

I did enjoy this series, even though it was relatively short. The final moments of the manga was expected since half way, but the way the manga ends is quite refreshing, but definitely doesn’t fit the style of dark and gloomy as seen in the rest of the manga.

If you are into manga in the same genre, I would recommend Bitter Virgin and Deadman Wonderland, since both of them share common themes.

The series is due to have an anime adaptation. I hope the animators don’t screw up the storyline like in many other manga adaptations.

Sketching Updates

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. IB has overwhelmed me with the workload and I haven’t been able to do any blogging.

Anyways, since it’s summer, I might as well talk about the plan. I have quite a lot to do this summer and I might not have time to complete all the sketches.

As you may know, there is a new Baka to test season. The OP is quite nice. There isn’t a decent one on YouTube right now. But here are the screencaps that I might vector. (Ordered from most likely to least likely)

I’ve already started work on the first one!

Anyways, the amount I manage to get through will depend on how well I manage my time and the amount of progress I made on other work. I will work on it one at a time.

Enjoy your summer! Also, screw Blogger internal posting thing. It sucks, written on Windows Live Writer.

Feeling a bit happy right now...

... because I've received a shipment of "To aru kagaku no Railgun" light novels! I've ordered them through Taobao for around ~$25 HKD.

 

科學的電磁炮 (or A Scientific Railgun) 

Of course they're in Chinese, I've ordered them from a Chinese firm.

又写信…

主题：你们学校的校长希望知道你们即将毕业的学生觉得他/她最应该为学校做的最重要的一件事情是什么。写一封信告诉他 /她你的看法，并说明为什么这事是学校校长应该做的最重要的事情。

敬爱的校长；

　　您好！

　　 不知不觉我在学校已经度过了五年，和朋友老师的关系也非常融洽，在这里度过了很多美好的时光，就在我要步入人生的另一个阶段，突发其想想写封信给您，把我的一些内心感受真实的告诉您，让我生活过的校园越来越好。

　　平时我们的学习已经很辛苦，希望在课余时间可以有一些室外的活动。但是我们学校的地方有限，让我们不能进行一些活动。我想校长可以扩建我们的学校，给我们一个更好的学习环境。

　　学校最大的问题是食堂的食物不仅难吃，而且价格很贵，还不干净。我希望校长考虑更换食品公司，适当调整食物价格，保证食物安全。这样我们在学校用餐更放心。

　　在此，我希望我们的学校越办越好。希望校长认真考虑我们的意见，把学校变成我们另一个家园！

祝工作顺利！

陈浩培

２０１１年３月１７日

Just a heads up…

No, I haven’t affected by the Japanese earthquake as of writing, however, what I fear right now is that the radiation may travel as dust particles to Hong Kong.

Anyways, keeping a record of what’s happening in the nuclear power plants here: http://12phjntc.blogspot.com/ Reason? Higher Physics teacher wants me to keep record, so I’ll update it regularly.

写信-我来试一试

作文的主题：你的一个朋友最近写信给你，说学习压力大。你写一封回信，给他/她一些建议。

亲爱的清华；

　　你好！

　　 很高兴看到 你的来信，看过之后其实我也有同感，因为要同时应付学校的功课和在外的补习，确实我也觉得很有压力，但是仔细想想这是我们做学生的必经阶段，所有的人都要经历的，最主要是要有良好的心态。

        说实话生活在现今的社会，任何人都有压力，我们的父母有工作压力，因为要想多赚钱就要不停的工作，回来还要操心我们的生活，担心我们的学业，还要顾及自己的工作，想想他们的压力是不是比我们大的多呢？可是从来都没有听到他们的抱怨，只是让我们好好的做好自己的事情就可以了，其实我们是很幸福的 。

       其实想要纾解压力有非常多的方法，比如说运动，和朋友出去逛逛街，看看书，听听音乐，也是不错的方法 。当然就像我刚才说的心态也很重要，有良好的心态，学习起来就没有心理的负担，不会觉得苦闷，无聊，烦躁，学习的质量就更高。而且可以从当中找到乐趣所在!!

     希望我们都可以调整好自己的心态，让自己更加优秀！！

陈浩培

2011年3月10日

Why the IB Diploma is better for University Application

I've recently got this question from one of my followers on Twitter:

"On what point is the IB diploma program more valuable than just entering a university? In Japan, it seems like the IB program isn't well-known very much, so I'd like to know about it :)"

Well, thanks for asking... here goes (Huge post):

IB Diploma Program- What is it?

IBDP is a two-year curriculum designed for students between the ages of 16-19. It's a internaltionally accepted qualification for entering higher education and is recognized by universities world wide. It was developed in the early 1960's in Geneva. The main languages that is used to teach in classes are: English, Spanish or French.

To officially teach the IBDP, the school must be qualified by IB (International Baccalaureate) to teach the IBDP program. An example of a qualified school would be: Shatin College, the school that this writer currently studies in.

To receive an Diploma, a student must study six different subjects from six different subject groups (read below) and three core requirements. Each subject will be assessed using both internal and external assessments, and at the end of the course, students will take a series of examinations.

So what are the Subject groups and what are the three core requirements?

Here the subject groups:

Group 1: Language A1, taken at Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). This is the student's native language.

Group 2 Language A2, this is an additional language, and is provided in the following levels: Language A2 (SL and HL, basically almost mother tongue fluency needs to be achieved), Language B (SL and HL, Second Language fluency required), Language Ab initio (SL only, learning from scratch and required to get a fluency level of Language B students).

Group 3: Individual and Societies. This is basically the humanities group, offered in SL and HL. Examples of subjects in this group includes: Economics, Geography, History, Psychology etc

Group 4: Experimental Sciences, this is of course, as the titles says, experimental sciences, courses are offered in SL and HL. Examples include: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Design Technology.

Group 5: Mathematics and Computer Science. This is all the maths stuff, courses are listed in order of increasing difficulty: Maths Studies SL, Standard Level Maths, Higher Level Maths and Further Mathematics SL. 2 other courses provided includes: Computer Science SL and HL

Group 6: Arts. This is the creative side of things, courses offered in SL and HL, including: Music, Theater (Drama), Visual Arts and Film. Some students opt to take another course from Group 1-4, or Further Mathematics (for HL Math students) or a Computer Science course.

Also, there are three requirements for IBDP:

Extended Essay: This is an 4000 word essay (hence the word Extended Essay), which is based off independent research done by the student. The subject chosen must be in a subject of approved EE subjects and cannot be about two subjects.

Theory of Knowledge: This course introduces some of the nature and limitations of knowledge and provides the basic of validating knowledge. This is considered the "Flagship element" of the Diploma program, but students find this the most boring thing in the IBDP and lessons are usually spent sleeping.

CAS (Creativity, Action, Service): CAS is designed to give students a balance between the amount of studying required with some extra-curricular activities, for example, learning a new instrument would count as a Creative major, participating in a sporting event may be counted as a Action minor and community work as a Service major.

Assessment Criteria

To get an IBDP is not a easy task, not just the fact that you have to complete three of the requirements, you also require to pass most of your examinations.

Points will be awarded according to your performance in class, assessments and examinations. Points are awarded between 1-7, and three extra for the EE. So a maximum theoretical of 45 marks can be awarded. To be awarded an Diploma, the student must receive 24 marks minimum, 12 marks minimum from HL subjects and 9 marks for SL subjects. Scoring more than 3 marks on three subjects is also a failing condition, and plagiarizing would be a immediate failing condition.

Personal opinion

Here is my three major reasons I think the IBDP is better than most of the secondary school leaving certificates, and why universities might chose you over an A-level/AP student:

1. CAS
2. Broader Subject choices
3. Time Management skills

And of course, my justifications

1. CAS basically shows that you're not going crazy over studies, and would actually go out and explore the world around you. As more and more universities make extra-curriculum an entry condition, IBDP students will be much more prepared about this than non-IBDP students.
2. The subjects in IBDP is taught at a much more easy level, but a lot more range to cover, for example, in HL physics, I have to learn Schroedinger's theory while my companions taking the A-level doesn't need to take such topics, but their exam papers are at least twice as hard as what IB presents students with. With many universities now switching over to much more wider curriculum, it is not wonder they like IB students more.
3. This is the most worrying part for most people, managing time properly, with A-Levels, time management isn't a problem, as A-levels require only students to study particular subjects, it's no wonder they have free time. However, in IB, a student is required to make a balance between CAS and studying, pushing their time management skills to the limit. This is generally the same in university and university staff generally appreciate this.

Well, that's about it. Sorry about the English though, my head is splitting after 10 hours worth of tutoring and sleep deprivation.

游戏

我也很喜欢玩游戏的。现在写一些我会玩的游戏。

Osu! 是我现在会玩的游戏，是一个节奏游戏。是免费的

是我玩的

可是我花太多时间玩游戏了……

辩论的写作

辩论的主题：社交网路

社交网络改变了我们的生活，但是，这个改变是好还是坏的？

社交网络是现代人必要的服务，没有社交网络，我们不会知道在利比亚发生冲突。社交网的例子现在有：Twitter，Facebook，plurk等等。还有一些专门的社交网页，例如有玩家的社交网。

社交网对我们有很多的好事，我们现在可以很快知道在其他很远地方发生什么事。特别在没有记者的地方。例如，最近在中东发生的暴动，如果没有社交网，我们在香港不会知道发生在中东发生什么事。

可是，社交网对我们也有坏的影响。现在，很多在人在班上玩社交网，浪费时间。

社交网是对我们有好处，可是，一定要小心用，不是会浪费很多时间。

自做的Poster

(是中文功课)
(Script)

Paul：你听说那个新的HP Envy14 手提电脑吗？

Tom/Jason：听说一定要小心用啊！

Paul：这只是笑话！不用相信! HP 的电脑太差了。

Tom/Jason:你不相信吗？你自己出用吧！

《The
Planned scene》

Tom/Jason:HP Envy 14 你感觉到它的“威”力吗？

《Tech
specs and the poster》

Social Networking- The Effects

So I'm going to need to do this assignment for Chinese. Might as well post some of the stuff I've found on here.

The basics of the problems caused by Social networking:
http://www.wizardjournal.com/social-networking/five-most-deadly-side-effects-of-facebook.html
How Social networking cause problems in diet
http://paper.sciencenet.cn/htmlpaper/20111241735453314445.shtm
Social Networks and recovery
http://www.med66.com/html/2008/2/zh852215112992280027185.html

中文－小小的Ｐｏｓｔ

大家好！我叫shinnmoso。我已经在这一个博客写了不够三个月，现在试一试用中文写一个自我介绍。

我在沙田学院读书，现在中五（十二年级）。我从七年级已经在沙田学院读书。

可以说我是一个宅男，很喜欢日本动画。可是，现在没有很多时间，只是有时间看一个动画节目，现在看的是：”魔法禁书目录“。本人很喜欢这一个节目。


现在只写这么多。我会每个星期写一个中文的发布。不懂中文的人请道歉。


Note to English Followers: I will write an Chinese post once a week. If you don't know Chinese, sorry.

Just a bit of update

Thank you IB Diploma. Now I've got almost no time to myself.

So here's what I'm working on:

• World Literature Essay
• Economics Individual Commentary
• Physics Internal Assessment
• Extended Essay (Planning)
• ITGS Project

Sorry for the bitching. I'm done now :)

Happy Valentines

Yep. Happy Valentines for those couples out there.

I hope you all have a Happy Valentines and get something you want from your lover :)

Kudos for ryouka on Pixiv for drawing this picture

New Misaka Mikoto Wallpaper!

Tried something a little Different... Polychromatic!

Outlined using Adobe Illustrator CS5, Designed in Xara Xtreme 5 and Final Edits in Adobe Photosop CS5

Special Thanks goes to:
HiTsUZEN- For coloring and Positioning Advice
Ryu- For general Feedback

EDIT: Just Uploaded the Vector Version. Render it yourself in Xara
http://www.mediafire.com/?rp0u90f35f13jdk

Chinese New Year!

Well, it's almost Chinese New Year in Hong Kong!

Posting something really quick- something interesting I've found on Danbooru

Yes, Have a happy Chinese new year no matter where you are! 恭喜发财！

Misaka Mikoto Wallpaper!

It's been a while... I've been too busy with IB lately.

Anyways, made a new wallpaper- Enjoy!

Call of Duty: Yui Ops

"I just keep hearing the fucking songs!"

Made possible by:
Treyarch- Making the original box artwork
Amazing photo on Danbooru
Logo from this

K-on!- First impressions.

Yea, I'm bit late to start watching the series. But I'm watching K-on (Worse time possible btw, I have two essays due tonight...)

First impressions:
Story wise, it's very shallow. Every episode feels like an OVA. But heck, who cares? It's hilarious. That's the only reason I'm watching it.

Character personality is uhh.. above weird. They're what I call the least likely character doing the least likely item.

Artistically, to me, it's great that the animators keep around the same level of quality without any significant drop halfway (unlike some episodes of Index or railgun). Overall though, it's fantastic.

Although this isn't my favorite anime of all time, but definitely a decent anime to watch.

With all the work...

NYYYGHHH

Sketching Update!

Woo.. time for another update :)
So, you may (or may not) have known, I'm working on a project that is a request. This is an update on the request.

Also.. My Apple keyboard broke. Now using the HP Wireless multimedia thing (that feels OK).

P.S. Expect a blog design update!

Rant- Chinese Shipping companies

So recently, I've bought a cup from a respected online shop in China. For $92 RMB and a cup from a series I enjoy, not bad. (Made in JP's most prestigious company- COSPA)

Here is the product I'm talking about

So it arrived a few days back at my friend's address in China. What happened? It came in 2 pieces.

Wow. Am I pissed.

After some conversation with the shop owner, the problem was with the shipping company. This is how the handled my order.

A embedded video link is to demonstrate how my cup was handled. 

And this IS THE GOVERNMENT subsidized shipping company, China Post.

On the other note. Index is delayed for a week, because of new year's celebration.

Happy New Year!

I guess... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

*Blows whistle*