YOGAYUGA

I received a free magazine from British Council today. It’s called Spring, and its caption highlighted “Taking a fresh look at Britain and Hong Kong”. HK is no longer British colony, but to a certain extent there are always reminders of close connection between HK and Britan still being existed from local British media and organisations. There are few topics do catch my eyes from the magazine.
HK Students Learn Debating Skills Westminster-Style

“I’ ve tried Government. I’ve tried opposition. On the whole I prefer Government”.

Two MPs were speaking to students taking part in the British Consulate General sponsored HK Parliamentary Debating Society’s annual summer workshop in July. They were at the workshop to improve understanding of the role of opposition in Parliament as well as to encourage the young people to fully debate issues of the day.

This really reminds me the debate workshop I did in the EFL lesson of boarding school. I did find it so difficult at that time as I was in the first year of studies in Britian. Needless to say the technique is difficult as well as the verbal grammar. The teacher asked us to watch more news on TV. Therefore, I started to watch those debates on TV regardless what topics they were on. Many were open topics about family and social issues. Since the Labour Party took the main role of British government, I truly like to watch the way Tony Blair gives speech. His language is powerful.
Designs for life

British design has recently seen some of its most effective and radical work in media, branding, publishing, engineering and architecture. The advertisement “Balls” by Fallon London for Sony Europe won a Yellow Pencil in Television & Cinema Advertising/Cinema Advertising. I love this TV commercial. It’s VERY Sony, and cosmopolitan. It is full of decorative European elements but just right fit into category of high technology market.

British design is very strong in branding, publishing and media. Personally, I like it as it always achieve high level of media communication. Furniture and product design I prefer Italian. You can always find beautiful form and shape with various colour throughout Italian design. I think I still prefer decorative stuff.

BN(O)

Hahahaa! I think this is unbelievable advertisement that published on the back of British council magazine. It’s not completely true be honest……..let see what it says below…

BN(O): Yours For Life
Tavel with confidence on your BN(O) Passport.
Reliable. Secure. And renewable for life.

When I read this advertisement, I start to realise that passport could become a business transaction. Oh well, if anyone would like to renew your BN(O) (British National Overseas), you need to pay HKD800.00 for it. HK people do carry at least two passports usually. They are SAR (Special Administrative Region) passport and BN(O) passport. I believe there are more and more people do give up on BN(O) once their passports get expired. I can’t see the point of continuous having it. Mine was expired last year. I can’t be bother to pay HKD800.00 for renewal. SAR passport has the same standard as BN(O). Most of European countries provide visa free access for SAR passport holders included the UK. BN(O) has less visa free access actually. Some people did fail to enter the UK with BN(O) passports even though they are supposed to enter with visa free. Many were desperate for having applied of BN(O) many years ago before 1997, and were afraid of losing the identity of it. However, it doesn’t mean anything overall after many years. It’s just a passport. HK was just a colony. The BN(O) does not offer anything better.