Eldon-Online

Honest Endeavour?

As the Tour de Farce cycles to another ignominious and scandal-tainted end in Paris, we are left to ponder the rights and wrongs of performance enhancing supplements taken by man and, occasionally, (admittedly, man-administered) beast.
I have lost count of how many people have been caught up in recent years over the drug revelations by the body that regulates cycling. Then recently we have an outburst from Gary Player on the eve of the British Golf Open at Carnoustie claiming golfers are taking drugs. Tennis has not been immune from allegations, and players indeed have been banned for improper use. Jockeys (and their mounts), athletes in track and field, and just about every sport you can name has its problems. And, I suspect, it is more prevalent in the professional ranks than the amateur. Money does strange things to people.
Of course, add to this the fact that in a "hearts on sleeve" series of revelations, it seems that half the new British Cabinet have been admitting to smoking (at least) cannabis when they were students. This, against a background of growing evidence that smoking cannabis can lead to schizophrenia, might account for a lot of things in Britain today!!
But, I digress. Back to sport.
Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I always thought that sporting achievement was a mark of honest human endeavour - not a question of who had access to the best medical science available to improve performance "unnaturally". At least, not in a competitive environment. If you want to experiment on human bodies, keep it separate - or- do as many have suggested to me recently, acknowledge that drugs are out there and always will be, so just let everybody take what they want - and let the best bio-chemist win! Perhaps the 2012 Olympic Games in London could be a real showcase; The first chemical Olympics, and if Labour still happen to be in power, they will at least be able to provide senior level Government Ministers, faces wreathed in smiles, who "understand".

Take the Right Ingredients

Friends visiting Hong Kong for the first time, or even the fifty first, are all aware of the City's reputation for the many varieties of good quality food. If they are only staying a short time, they inevitably ask for recommendations on where to eat - or which is my favourite restaurant in Hong Kong?
Now, I am not known as a gourmet (perhaps gourmand would describe me a little more accurately), and often my mood will direct my stomach. To say that I lack sophistication in matters of food and drink, suggests that I am neither fussy nor pretentious (I hope). That said, I do have favourites, so chosen for a variety of reasons but principally for consistency in quality of fare and friendliness. One of them, a Club, is only available to members so not much point in recommending that - and in any case it has a somewhat archaic dress code - but it does serve excellent food.
No, my long term favourite, recently relocated next to Pacific Place 3 is called Ingredients, and is located at 23-29 Wing Fung Street, phone number 2544-5133, email [email protected]. It is run by the ever present John Ang and his wife Meiji. John is a former banker, as is Meiji, but it's something we never talk about. John, though, is equally comfortable in the kitchen. The menu is easy to deal with, the atmosphere relaxed, and I haven't had any bad reports from anyone I have sent there.
My only regret is that I don't get to spend enough time there...maybe when I retire!!

Educate the corrupt - don't shoot them!

China's attempts to eradicate corruption took a directional step last week with the execution of former food minister, Zheng Xiaoyu. The direction of that step was backwards.
The fact that China acknowledges, at the highest levels, the need to wage war on corruption is right and proper. The subject is at the top, publicly, of President Hu's agenda, which is indication enough that the problem is serious. It will have the effect, eventually, of slowing investment into China. It will lead to a loss of confidence in governance and declining fortunes in the commercial sector - a definite, but less intentional, way to slow the economy.
I have heard people say the problem is too big; the country is too big; the population is too big and it's a way of life, so where do you start?
As with everything else, you start with education. Will this eradicate it overnight - no of course not. Neither can you, as some Western governments seem to think, transplant practices that work (or sometimes don't work) in their home country, immediately into China. Practices, I might add, that took several hundred years to "perfect".
So, in addition to ensuring the leadership leads by example, China must look for practices around the globe that can be adopted and adapted to their own needs. And where better for one idea than on their own doorstep; Hong Kong.
Although there are imperfections still, Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has been a serious force against corruption in Hong Kong since its establishment in 1974, to deal with a problem of corruption at that time. It is a model that has been adopted elsewhere, with success, and would be worth a serious look by China. The ICAC's presence in Hong Kong has to be one of the driving forces behind the fact that Hong Kong is regularly ranked as one of the least corrupt places in the world.
Oh, and by the way, we don't shoot the people who are caught!

Hello to Arabia

One of the earliest books I read about the Middle East was David Holden's "Farewell to Arabia" (published in 1966. Holden, a Sunday Times correspondent was murdered in Cairo in December 1967.
The book title was perhaps a little provocative, but carefully chosen to suggest that the "old" Arabia was disappearing. That was the perceived romantic Arabia of Valentino movies; mystic, unknown and exotic. Ten years of "revolution" prior to the publishing of the book had seen the Suez Crisis, the Yemen revolt, Kuwait's independence, the problems in Aden and a host of other significant events.
The 40 years since the book was published have indeed seen the emergence of a "new" Arabia, although this passage of time has created as much diversity as it has created cohesion; where the emergence of ultra-liberal and progressive societies have been countered by ultra conservative and repressive societies. And where public opinion and perception has slanted more to the negative than the positive.
One of the more "tucked away" countries in the Middle East despite its geographical size (2,15km² - 14th largest in the world), relatively small population (27,6m - 45th) and perhaps a surprisingly low per capita GDP of USD21,200, is Saudi Arabia.
I have lived and worked in Saudi Arabia on three different occasions in my life, in Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh, in that order. Three very different cities in outlook and rationale, and from my first posting in Saudi in 1970 to the last, which I left in 1987, I saw many changes - but overall progress was slow. Today I still visit the Kingdom, so I am hardly a stranger to the continuing development, and I understand the many complex situations existing in Saudi that make changes to the social structure difficult to implement.
Nevertheless the progress does continue and, like the lifting of a veil, Saudi Arabia is modernising. It has taken a long time already, and it needs more. Yet remember Napoleon Bonaparte, who reportedly said "When China awakes, the world will tremble." So, he was maybe 200 years out, and I do not believe the awakening of Saudi Arabia will have the same dramatic impact that we have now seen from China. Nevertheless, given the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia, its eventual emergence will enable the writing of a new book - "Hello to Arabia", perhaps?

Don't Bet On It.

News reports consistently tell us that Macau, that once sleepy little enclave off the coast of China next to Hong Kong, has overtaken Las Vegas as the world's biggest gambling centre as measured by total gambling revenue.
For Macau, this has brought prosperity, jobs, and a new sense of purpose together, one suspects, with a number of less desirable elements. The future for Macau therefore, depending upon how their administration handles it, will not rest on the success of the gaming industry alone, but could lead it to becoming a thriving convention and conference centre, followed by tourism on a huge scale.
That gaming has done so well in Macau surprises few people locally. Any study on the history of gambling will inevitably lead the researcher to evidence that gambling was known in China around 2300 BC, and that it is a pastime enjoyed by many Chinese today.
But, before I take this note further, let me be clear where I stand on the issue of gambling addiction.
I put in the same category as drug abuse, alcohol addiction and any other addiction that afflicts our modern society. It has the ability to destroy lives and families. It needs to be taken seriously by a responsible society, but like it or not, it exists.
I applaud the efforts being shown in Hong Kong by concerned parties interested in the anti-gambling movement, but I seriously question them when they aim to forbid it entirely, given the history associated with gambling. This is not something you can put neatly into a lockable box and believe you have solved the problem. By seeking to ban it, all you do is create a worse environment for those people who are most vulnerable, as they turn to underground and illegal bookmakers who, in addition to being willing to take your money, will also lend you more - for a while - to fund your addiction. The inability to repay, of course, then creates a whole new set of problems.
I started this note with the success of Macau. Something I do not begrudge them one bit. At the same time, I am not advocating that Hong Kong should emulate Macau in that particular industry. What I am saying is that Hong Kong needs to become more open-minded in its treatment of the only legal gambling allowed in Hong Kong, namely that controlled and overseen by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Yes, I know, on a point of disclosure I am currently very involved with the Jockey Club, so some will see this as being self-serving. However, and as always, my thoughts are independent, and must not be construed as being necessarily representative of the Club's official opinion. They have not asked me to comment.
I must say, though, would I like to see there being bigger turnover at the Jockey Club? Of course I would, because not only does it provide a legal outlet for those who wish to participate, but also it helps to keep Hong Kong's taxes low and, being non-profit, it also helps charity significantly through the Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Would I like the Government to be more of a supporter of the Club's requests to provide more variety of product, taking a balanced view of the overall benefits? Of course I would, but there is a small and very vocal minority group whose views need to be tempered with a dose of reality.
Do I believe the Club will get the support it needs to continue to prosper, to attract some of the business back from Macau, to the benefit of Hong Kong? I wouldn't bet on it.

"Sorry to Keep you Waiting" (well, not really!)

Why is it, do you think, that those in authority or holding senior positions in newly emerging economies have so little regard for arranging or keeping to appointments?

Heads of companies, potential investors and other ultimate decision makers are usually willing to make long journeys to meet with their counterparts in these economies. They will do so partly as a matter of respect and courtesy, but particularly to indicate how serious they are about entering into relationships which they believe will have long term beneficial implications for both sides. But they soon get put off when they discover how difficult it is to arrange appointments even well in advance, or worse, hear of stories that even if you do get an appointment it is quite likely to be changed (even by days) or you will be asked to see someone else. (Unless, it seems, you are prepared to pay a fee for ensuring the meeting goes ahead - and this I would neither encourage nor condone). Other than being just downright rude, it will serve no useful purpose if potential business is lost in this way. Just because a country is doing well today does not mean it will always do well, and that is when "friends" become really important. Perhaps it's time that "Business Etiquette" was taught not just at the schools but also to Governments.

Could Peace Start Here?

This will be short, but I believe it is such an important message that it does not bear delaying.
Nobody I know is a supporter of war or terrorism no matter who is involved and the supposed justification, particularly where those wars or terrorist acts seem to be the result of religious differences, real or imagined; with some trying to justify them as being revenge for action that would have been taken 8 centuries ago.
It is true that some of my friends have voted for governments that have become involved. But this is not the time for that sort of soul searching.
I have been sent, by a close and concerned friend, a video clip taken from Al Jazeera television which I consider to be remarkable, and which I want to share. I have no idea how long it will remain available for viewing - hopefully it will be saved. It is a commentary by an Arab American woman, a psychologist called Wafa Sultan. I honestly do not think her feelings are so far removed from many of my Arab friends in the Gulf, in particular, but I have never heard them expressed so forcefully or so publicly. She is a brave person.
I know the identity of one or two regular readers of this weblog, and they may already have received this clip from me separately.
The clip is in Arabic, but has English sub-titles, so if you are not an Arabic speaker, you will need to view this on a video link.
The voices against terrorism are getting louder and stronger. This helps, and so can you.