MIDDLEBURGH

To inform entertain and excite my kids, Jamie, Patrick, Aaron & Sarah Middleburgh, our family and friends.

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July 1 2006 Hong Kong

If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and criticized, because we serve the people. Anyone, no matter who, may point out our shortcomings. If he is right, we will correct them. If what he proposes will benefit the people, we will act upon it.

Mao Xedong - "Serve the People" (September 8, 1941), Selected Works, Vol. III, P. 227.

The government ...the real one ... in the north, is struggling with rampant corruption
(the more boring version of this story is here.

All right minded people wish them success, but it is this failure to bring corrupt officals to account which is at the heart of the 'democracy' debate; It is not so much that one man one vote will, of itself, secure or strengthen people's rights, but it is a symbol that holds the promise that governement officials can be made answerable to the people.

Personally I believe that an investigative and challenging media digging the dirt,exposing, shaming,villifing and generally hounding corrupt officials is perhaps more "practical". In this, the central government and I perhaps differ.

There is an interesting article which touches on this, translating some blog posts by Anson Chan, a relic from colonial times, who supports democracy in the widest sense. Chinese versionhere

May she, like the government be successful. I look forward to future lively debates in the arguably less representative Legco such as the one last December. which rejected as inadequate government proposals for legislative reform.

Of course the most important thing about this years march is not the numbers who went or not, but the failure by the organisers to clarify in advance, this years dress code. It is an undeniable fact that many Hong Konger's simply did not go this year because they were not clear what they should wear !!!

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