The rules of business: 55 essential ideas to help smart people (and organizations) perform at their best / by Fast company's editors and writers, and Paul B. Brown. (New York : Doubleday, 2005).
illuminating quotes from famous or important figures in different fields.
Chapter 1 - Change
#1 The first rule of business is the same as the first rule of life: Adapt or die.
#2 Innovation is difficult and often painful. But there is no alternative. (See Rule 1: Adapt or die.)
#3 When should you initiate change? When things are going perfectly.
#4 Regardless of how realistic you think you are being, the change process will take three times as long as you like.
Chapter 2 - Communication
#5 Employees need to know—in painstaking detail—what you want to do and why. They need to hear it again and again. Don’t forget: It’s impossible for them to hear it too often.
#6 If you can’t communicate, you can’t lead.
#7 If you can’t get your message across quickly, you aren’t going to get it across at all.
Chapter 3: Creativity and Innovation
#8 Nothing is more overrated than a new idea. Ideas by themselves are worthless. It’s what you do with them that matters.
#9 If your cool new product or service doesn’t generate enough money to cover costs and make a profit, it isn’t innovation, it’s art. If you covet awards, go to Hollywood.
#10 Make innovation pay its way. Business units should have to fund the research they want, instead of receiving a handout from corporate. Having to pay for it is a sure way to guarantee that the research is going to be focused.
Chapter 4: Customer Service
#11 In the proverbial 10 words or less, here is the key to customer service: Ask customers what they want, and give it to them.
Chapter 5: Decision Making
#12 “No” is the second best answer you can get to any question you ask.
#13 Not deciding is a decision. That’s the problem with procrastinating.
#14 It is extremely hard to make a list of all the things you haven’t thought of. That explains why it is important to open up the decision-making process to as many people as possible.
Chapter 6: Welcome to the Design Revolution
#15 Design will be the next place companies battle for competitive advantage.
#16 Yes, it is important to be innovative, eye-catching, and fun. But if consumers can’t easily use your design, they won’t buy your product.
Chapter 7: Execute!
#17 If you don’t execute, you won’t accomplish a thing.
#18 Hold people accountable. Reward those who execute. Coach those who don’t. And if they still don’t get it, fire them. You aren’t helping them, or the organization, by having them stick around.
Chapter 8: Hiring and Developing and Retaining Great Employees
#19 No matter how overwhelmed you are with work, it is always better to hire no one than to hire the wrong person.It sounds so basic, but the rule is violated every day everywhere—with disastrous results.
#20 A players hire A players, B players hire C players, and C players hire losers. Let your standards slip once and you’re only two generations away from death.
#21 If you lose great people, you lose success. It’s that simple.
Chapter 9: Technology Is Not a Strategy
#22Technology is not the answer. It can enable and support the corporate vision, but by itself, technology will not give you a competitive advantage.
#23Operational silos are bad anywhere. But they are especially crippling when it comes to information technology (IT), which is vital to almost every organization’s success.
Chapter 10: Knowledge
#24 Don’t have your people waste time figuring out what someone else in the company has already discovered. Create and maintain an efficient knowledge management system to share experiences companywide.
#25 Data are a series of facts. Information is a lot of data about a topic combined with some context. Ideally companies want to manage information in such a way that it yields knowledge: information that has been processed in such a way that it can be used for competitive advantage.
Chapter 11: Leadership
#26 The principles governing how you lead must remain absolutely constant. How you express them must vary every single time, depending on your audience. You need to make sure they understand what you are trying to do—and what their role is.
#27 Leaders lead.
#28 Leadership is the art of getting people to do what you want because they want to.
#29 Leaders need to say two things: “This is where we are going,” and “This is why we need you to help us get there.”
Chapter 12: Life and Career
#30 Achieving balance in your life is a time-management problem and needs to be treated as such. What that means is you figure out what you absolutely must accomplish in your personal and professional lives, and let everything else slide.
#31 You can do anything, but not everything.
#32 Take breaks. Not only will it make you more productive, if you go out and see the world you are bound to spot opportunities.
Chapter 13: Managing
#33 Great managers are just as important as great leaders.
#34 The closer top management is to the customer, the more successfuI an organization is Iikely to be.
#35 Your employees are never going to know how they are doing—and how they can do better—unless you tell them.
Chapter 14: Marketing
#36 Nothing happens in business until the customer says yes.
#37 If the dogs won’t eat the dog food, it is bad dog food. Period. Similarly, if customers won’t buy your product or service, you are not giving them what they either want or need. It’s your fault, not theirs.
#38 Every communication with a customer must answer the two questions that they always have (even if they don’t always express them to you): “What do you have and why should I care?”
#39 Our three rules of advertising: Don’t insult us, tell the truth, and have a sense of humor. Violate these rules at your own peril.
Chapter 15: The Organization and Corporate Culture
#40 We get the kind of organization we deserve.
#41 If you have a senior vice president of administration, something is terribly wrong. You shouldn’t need a bureaucracy to manage thebureaucracy. In fact, you shouldn’t have a bureaucracy at all.
#42 Ultimately, everything is personal.
Chapter 16: Teamwork and Partnerships
#43 The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. If not, you have a serious management challenge on your hands.
#44 In well-run companies, everyone is needed but no one is indispensable. In other words, teamwork is built in.
#45 Just because everyone wears the same uniform does not mean they are a team.
Chapter 17: Risk
#46 Let us edit a long-standing cliché: No prudent risk, no fairly predictable rewards.
Chapter 18: Social Responsibility, Trust, and Ethics
#47 You can’t be a little bit ethical. Either you are ethical or you are not. There is no in-between.
#48 Everybody must understand and internalize the company’s core values. Doing so frees up time, because you don’t have to debate the organization’s core beliefs. Everyone knows what they are. It also frees resources. When people know what they are supposed to do, they need less supervision.
#49 If it is not right, don’t do it; if it is not true, don’t say it.
Chapter 19: Speed
#50 In today’s economy, it’s the fast companies that trounce the slow.
#51 Look to streamline your operation everywhere. The cumulative effect can be astonishing.
#52 Just because you occasionally step on the accelerator doesn’t mean you can keep it floored indefinitely. Organizations can run flat out only for short periods.
Chapter 20: Strategy and Growth
#53 If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there. You need a clear strategy and a clear direction, one that everyone in the organization understands as well as you do.
#54 As IBM’s Tom Watson would say: Think!
Chapter 21: The Link Between Success and Failure
#55 If you haven’t had one spectacular failure in your life, you haven’t tried hard enough.
Monday, 31 August 2015
Friday, 14 August 2015
The Educational Directory for China (1905)
The Educational Directory for China - An Account of the Various Schools and Colleges Connected with Protestant Missions and also Government and Private Schools under Foreign Supervision (1905)
Appendix A: Courses of study for male institutions
- Anglo-Chinese College. Ningpo, Chehkiang Province (Eng United Meth. Mission)
- Anglo-Chinese College. Shanghai, Kiangsu Province (Meth. Ep. South)
- Christian College in China. Canton, Kwangtung Province. (Undenominational)
- East China Baptist Theological Seminary. Shao-shing, Chehkiang Province. (Bap. Miss. Un.)
- Hui-An Boys' School. Hui-An (via Amoy), Chehkiang. (London Mission)
- International Institute. 尚賢堂. Shanghai, Kiangsu Province. (Secular)
- Nanking University. Nanking, Kiangsu Province. (Meth. Ep.)
- Nanyang College. Shanghai, Kiangsu Province. (Secular)
- Peking University. Peking, Chihli Province. (Meth. Epis. Mission)
- Soochow University. Soochow, Kiangsu Province. (M. E. Church, South)
- St. John's University. Shanghai, Kiangsu Province. (Am. Prot. Ep. Ch.)
- The Shantung Union College. Wei-Hsien, Shantung Province (P.)
- Tung Wen Institute. Amoy, Fuhkien Province. (Secular)
- Arsenal Naval School. Foochow, Fuhkien Province. (Government)
- China Inland Mission School. Chefoo, Shantung. (C. I. M.)
- Kinwha School. (A. Bapt. M. U.)
- Nyen-hang-li Middle School for Boys (Basel Mission)
- Dublin University Mission Course in Country Day-schools (Fuhning)
- London Mission Day-school Curriculum (Hankow)
- David Hill School for the Blind (W. M. S., Hankow)
Appendix B: Courses of study: for females
- Chinkiang Girls' School. Chinkiang, Kiangsu Province. (M. E. Mission)
- Church Missionary Society Girls' Boarding-School. Fuhning, Fuhkien Province. (C. M. S.)
- Girls' Boarding School of the Reformed Church in America. Kolongsu, Amoy, Fuhkien Province.
- London Mission Girls' School. Huian (via Amoy), Fuhkien Province.
- Presbyterian Girls' Boarding School. Shanghai, Kiangsu Province. (A. P. M.)
Monday, 20 July 2015
Intercultural Communication and Networks: Cross Pacific English-Chinese Phrase Books in the Nineteenth Century
Intercultural Communication and Networks: Cross Pacific English-Chinese Phrase Books in the Nineteenth Century (first draft published on 20 July 2015)
Route 1: From Malacca to Canton (Anglo-Chinese College)
Route 2: From Hong Kong to California and Australia (Anglo-Chinese College, translators, and Chinese Migration)
Route 3: Trans-America: From New York to California (Chinese Migration)
Route 3: Shanghai to Beijing (Translation, translators, and Modernisation)
1. The English and Chinese student’s assistant, or colloquial phrases,letters &c, in English and Chinese: The Chinese by Shaou Tih, a native Chinese student, in the Anglo Chinese College, Malacca (Malacca: The Mission Press, 1826). 袁德輝
2. Devils Talk (Canton: 1830s-1840s). 《鬼話》
3. James Legge, A Lexilogus of the English, Malay, and Chinese Languages; Comprehending the Vernacular Idoms of the Last in the Hok-Keen and Canton Dialect (Malacca: Printed at the Anglo-Chinese Mission Press, 1841).
4. 《紅毛買賣通用鬼話》 (Canton: 榮德堂 1837). The Common Foreign Language of the Redhaired People.
5. 《紅毛番話貿易須知》 (Canton: 富桂堂, 以文堂, 五桂堂, c.1837 ). The Redhaired People's Buying and Selling Usual Ghost Language.
Route 1: From Malacca to Canton (Anglo-Chinese College)
Route 2: From Hong Kong to California and Australia (Anglo-Chinese College, translators, and Chinese Migration)
Route 3: Trans-America: From New York to California (Chinese Migration)
Route 3: Shanghai to Beijing (Translation, translators, and Modernisation)
1. The English and Chinese student’s assistant, or colloquial phrases,letters &c, in English and Chinese: The Chinese by Shaou Tih, a native Chinese student, in the Anglo Chinese College, Malacca (Malacca: The Mission Press, 1826). 袁德輝
2. Devils Talk (Canton: 1830s-1840s). 《鬼話》
3. James Legge, A Lexilogus of the English, Malay, and Chinese Languages; Comprehending the Vernacular Idoms of the Last in the Hok-Keen and Canton Dialect (Malacca: Printed at the Anglo-Chinese Mission Press, 1841).
4. 《紅毛買賣通用鬼話》 (Canton: 榮德堂 1837). The Common Foreign Language of the Redhaired People.
5. 《紅毛番話貿易須知》 (Canton: 富桂堂, 以文堂, 五桂堂, c.1837 ). The Redhaired People's Buying and Selling Usual Ghost Language.
《紅毛通用番話》（成德堂、璧德堂）
6. Robert Thom, Chinese and English Vocabulary, Part First 《華英通用雜話》上卷 (Canton, 1843). 羅伯聃。 《漢英通用雜話》（東京：青井堂，1860）。
7. Stanislas Hernisz, A Guide to Conversation in the English and Chinese Languages for the Use of Americans and Chinese in California and Elsewhere 《習漢英合話》 (Boston: John P. Jewett & Co.; Cleveland, Jewett, Proctor and Worthington; London, Trubner & Co., 1854).
8. 子卿／子芳：《華英通語》（香港？：協德堂藏板，1855）。《增訂華英通語》（東京：快堂藏板，1860）。《華英通語》（香港：西營盤恆茂藏板，1860）。《華英通語集全》（香港：藏文堂印，1879）。《華夷通語》（新嘉坡：古友軒藏板，1883）《新增華英通語》（香港：文裕堂，1893）。 據内田慶市：〈Pidgin──異語言文化接觸中的一種現象〉，《東アジア文化交渉研究》，第2号，2009，頁197-207。
9. 朱瑞生：《廣肇英語》（香港？：1857-1862）。 English through the Vernaculars of the Canton and Shiuhing Prefectures. 竊以上帝鑒民，遐邇一體。聖人愛眾，天下一家。......東粵通商，近悅遠來，而英賈物盛，洋行買賣，全以英語互相答問。博學之士，以文譯語，以語通傳者，不乏其人。......余生長廣肇，少習英文，爰將廣肇土談而通譯之，俾得將文求語，了然無疑。由此申之，別省別府，俱可尋文而垂譯焉。其于通商貿易遠遊外邦，未必無小補云爾。 咸豐辛酉嘉平月 瑞生朱祿序。 who was 朱瑞生 (Chu A-luk, a graduate of Anglo-Chinese College and a student of James Legge)? To be continued.
10. 《華番貿易言語通曉》（廣州：省城 ○ 經堂，1858）。內附各國磅碼成斤秤法鬼字。上卷詞彙，下卷句子。
11. 馮澤夫：《英話註解》（上海：著昌堂，1860）。張寶楚
12. 唐廷樞：《英語集全》（廣州：緯經堂，1862）。
13. William Lobscheid, Select Phrases and Reading Lessons in the Canton Dialect (Hongkong: Noronha, 1864).
14. 莎彝尊授男夢巖輯：《英語官話合講》（廣州：同治四年六月刊，1865）。Sau Mang Yian, Tones of the Mandarin Dialect are Given in English and Chinese (Canton, 1865).
15. Benoni Lanctot, Chinese and English phrase book: with the Chinese pronunciation indicated in English : specially adapted for the use of merchants, travelers and families 《華英通語》 (San Francisco; A. Roman & Company, 1867, 2nd rev. and enl. ed.).
16. 曹驤：《英字入門》（1874）。
17. N. B. Dennys, A Handbook of the Canton Vernacular of the Chinese Language: Being a Series of Introductory Lessons, for Domestic and Business Purposes (London: Trübner & Co.; Hong Kong: “China Mail” Office, 1874). 初學階
18. Wong Sam, An English-Chinese Phrase Book: Together with the vocabulary of trade, law, etc. : also, a complete list of Wells, Fargo & Co's offices in California, Nevada, etc. (San Francisco: Cubery & Co., Book and General Job Printers, 1875).
19. 楊勛：《英字指南》（1879）。
20. （英）喀爾氏撰，汪鳳藻譯：《英文舉隅》（北京：北京同文館聚珍版本，1879（光緒五年），丁韙良鑑定）。蜚英館1887年有重印。多誤以為是 Simon Kerl’s A Common-School Grammar of the English Language (New York: Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman, & Co., 1866)，其實是其 An Elementary Grammar of the English Language (New York: Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman & Co., 1868, 21st ed.).
21. 《無師自通英語錄》（上海：點石齋畫報，1884）。
22. Kwong Ki Chiu, The First Conversation Book, Containing Common and Simple Words Wrought into Illustrative Sentences, Classified and Accented, and Many of Them Defined, with Some Grammatical Information and Word Analysis, to Which Are Added Sections on the English Language, Penmanship, Health, Duties in Various Relations; also Sketches of Peter the Great, President Lincoln, Grant, and Garfield. Designed for Use in Schools 《英語彙腋初集》(Shanghai: Wah Cheung, 1885). The Second Conversation Book, Containing a Section on Aids to Reading, an Illustrated List of Important and Special Words, Also, Extended Conversations on One Hundred and Eighty-nine Familiar Practical Subjects, Under the General Heads : the Weather, Social Intercourse, the Expression of Thought and Feeling, Education, Business, Travel, Etc., Etc.,. Designed for Use in Schools 《英語彙腋二集》 (Shanghai: Wah Cheung, 1885).
23. T. L. Stedman and K. P. Lee, A Chinese and English Phrase Book in the Canton Dialect (New York: William R. Jenkins, 1888). 英語不求人
24. J. Dyer Ball, Cantonese Made Easy: A book of simple sentences in the Cantonese dialect, with free and literal translations, and directions for the rendering of English grammatical forms in Chinese (Hong Kong: “China Mail” Office, 1888, 2nd ed.).
25. Johnson Sun, The Self-Educator (Sydney, c1891; Sydney, 1892, 2nd enlarged ed.). 孫俊臣 editor of the "Chinese Herald" 廣益華報, Sydney, Australia. 無師自曉 英文雜話
26. Second Book of Chinese and English Lessons, for the use of schools (on the basis of the “Second Book of Lessons”). Translated by Chow Loke Chee. Second edition. Hongkong : Man Yu Tong, 1893. BL
27. 鄭聰博：《華英類語》（1893）
28. 張德彝：《英文話規》（1898）。
29. 謝洪賚：《華英初階》（上海：商務書館，1898）。Christian Literature Society for India (before 1891, Christian Vernacular Education Society for India): archives in SOAS and HKBU (microfiches).
30. Walter Brooks Brouner and Fung Yuet Mow 馮悅茂, Chinese Made Easy (New York: Macmillan; London: Macmillan, 1904). 你噲講唐話咩
31. 鄭聰甫: Chinese and English Phrase Book and Dictionary 華英類語 （Vancouver: Thomson Stationery Company, 1909）。
references for future use:
Elizabeth Sinn, Pacific Crossing: California Gold, Chinese Migration, and the Making of Hong Kong (HKU, 2012).
Adam M. McKeown, "Chinese Emigration in Global Context, 1850-1940." Journal of Global History 5 (2010): 95-124.
Adam M. McKeown, "Conceptualizing Chinese Diasporas, 1842 to 1949." Journal of Asian Studies 58 (1999): 306-37.
newspaper database:
California Digital Newspaper Collection
language books:
https://forum.librivox.org/viewtopic.php?t=21482
7. Stanislas Hernisz, A Guide to Conversation in the English and Chinese Languages for the Use of Americans and Chinese in California and Elsewhere 《習漢英合話》 (Boston: John P. Jewett & Co.; Cleveland, Jewett, Proctor and Worthington; London, Trubner & Co., 1854).
8. 子卿／子芳：《華英通語》（香港？：協德堂藏板，1855）。《增訂華英通語》（東京：快堂藏板，1860）。《華英通語》（香港：西營盤恆茂藏板，1860）。《華英通語集全》（香港：藏文堂印，1879）。《華夷通語》（新嘉坡：古友軒藏板，1883）《新增華英通語》（香港：文裕堂，1893）。 據内田慶市：〈Pidgin──異語言文化接觸中的一種現象〉，《東アジア文化交渉研究》，第2号，2009，頁197-207。
9. 朱瑞生：《廣肇英語》（香港？：1857-1862）。 English through the Vernaculars of the Canton and Shiuhing Prefectures. 竊以上帝鑒民，遐邇一體。聖人愛眾，天下一家。......東粵通商，近悅遠來，而英賈物盛，洋行買賣，全以英語互相答問。博學之士，以文譯語，以語通傳者，不乏其人。......余生長廣肇，少習英文，爰將廣肇土談而通譯之，俾得將文求語，了然無疑。由此申之，別省別府，俱可尋文而垂譯焉。其于通商貿易遠遊外邦，未必無小補云爾。 咸豐辛酉嘉平月 瑞生朱祿序。 who was 朱瑞生 (Chu A-luk, a graduate of Anglo-Chinese College and a student of James Legge)? To be continued.
10. 《華番貿易言語通曉》（廣州：省城 ○ 經堂，1858）。內附各國磅碼成斤秤法鬼字。上卷詞彙，下卷句子。
11. 馮澤夫：《英話註解》（上海：著昌堂，1860）。張寶楚
12. 唐廷樞：《英語集全》（廣州：緯經堂，1862）。
13. William Lobscheid, Select Phrases and Reading Lessons in the Canton Dialect (Hongkong: Noronha, 1864).
14. 莎彝尊授男夢巖輯：《英語官話合講》（廣州：同治四年六月刊，1865）。Sau Mang Yian, Tones of the Mandarin Dialect are Given in English and Chinese (Canton, 1865).
15. Benoni Lanctot, Chinese and English phrase book: with the Chinese pronunciation indicated in English : specially adapted for the use of merchants, travelers and families 《華英通語》 (San Francisco; A. Roman & Company, 1867, 2nd rev. and enl. ed.).
16. 曹驤：《英字入門》（1874）。
17. N. B. Dennys, A Handbook of the Canton Vernacular of the Chinese Language: Being a Series of Introductory Lessons, for Domestic and Business Purposes (London: Trübner & Co.; Hong Kong: “China Mail” Office, 1874). 初學階
18. Wong Sam, An English-Chinese Phrase Book: Together with the vocabulary of trade, law, etc. : also, a complete list of Wells, Fargo & Co's offices in California, Nevada, etc. (San Francisco: Cubery & Co., Book and General Job Printers, 1875).
19. 楊勛：《英字指南》（1879）。
20. （英）喀爾氏撰，汪鳳藻譯：《英文舉隅》（北京：北京同文館聚珍版本，1879（光緒五年），丁韙良鑑定）。蜚英館1887年有重印。多誤以為是 Simon Kerl’s A Common-School Grammar of the English Language (New York: Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman, & Co., 1866)，其實是其 An Elementary Grammar of the English Language (New York: Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman & Co., 1868, 21st ed.).
21. 《無師自通英語錄》（上海：點石齋畫報，1884）。
22. Kwong Ki Chiu, The First Conversation Book, Containing Common and Simple Words Wrought into Illustrative Sentences, Classified and Accented, and Many of Them Defined, with Some Grammatical Information and Word Analysis, to Which Are Added Sections on the English Language, Penmanship, Health, Duties in Various Relations; also Sketches of Peter the Great, President Lincoln, Grant, and Garfield. Designed for Use in Schools 《英語彙腋初集》(Shanghai: Wah Cheung, 1885). The Second Conversation Book, Containing a Section on Aids to Reading, an Illustrated List of Important and Special Words, Also, Extended Conversations on One Hundred and Eighty-nine Familiar Practical Subjects, Under the General Heads : the Weather, Social Intercourse, the Expression of Thought and Feeling, Education, Business, Travel, Etc., Etc.,. Designed for Use in Schools 《英語彙腋二集》 (Shanghai: Wah Cheung, 1885).
23. T. L. Stedman and K. P. Lee, A Chinese and English Phrase Book in the Canton Dialect (New York: William R. Jenkins, 1888). 英語不求人
24. J. Dyer Ball, Cantonese Made Easy: A book of simple sentences in the Cantonese dialect, with free and literal translations, and directions for the rendering of English grammatical forms in Chinese (Hong Kong: “China Mail” Office, 1888, 2nd ed.).
25. Johnson Sun, The Self-Educator (Sydney, c1891; Sydney, 1892, 2nd enlarged ed.). 孫俊臣 editor of the "Chinese Herald" 廣益華報, Sydney, Australia. 無師自曉 英文雜話
26. Second Book of Chinese and English Lessons, for the use of schools (on the basis of the “Second Book of Lessons”). Translated by Chow Loke Chee. Second edition. Hongkong : Man Yu Tong, 1893. BL
27. 鄭聰博：《華英類語》（1893）
28. 張德彝：《英文話規》（1898）。
29. 謝洪賚：《華英初階》（上海：商務書館，1898）。Christian Literature Society for India (before 1891, Christian Vernacular Education Society for India): archives in SOAS and HKBU (microfiches).
30. Walter Brooks Brouner and Fung Yuet Mow 馮悅茂, Chinese Made Easy (New York: Macmillan; London: Macmillan, 1904). 你噲講唐話咩
31. 鄭聰甫: Chinese and English Phrase Book and Dictionary 華英類語 （Vancouver: Thomson Stationery Company, 1909）。
references for future use:
Elizabeth Sinn, Pacific Crossing: California Gold, Chinese Migration, and the Making of Hong Kong (HKU, 2012).
Adam M. McKeown, "Chinese Emigration in Global Context, 1850-1940." Journal of Global History 5 (2010): 95-124.
Adam M. McKeown, "Conceptualizing Chinese Diasporas, 1842 to 1949." Journal of Asian Studies 58 (1999): 306-37.
newspaper database:
California Digital Newspaper Collection
language books:
https://forum.librivox.org/viewtopic.php?t=21482
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
Banks in Hong Kong in 1864-65
28,016. The Hong Kong stock market rallied in the past few days surging to 7-year high since the global financial crisis yesterday.
A couple of hours after the market closed, investors and speculators resumed to their laptops and tablets to take another chance. HSBC 150th Anniversary Banknote.
Several weeks ago, my mother phoned me to ask whether I will apply for the winners-take-all lucky draw for the banknote for myself and her online. I coldly declined.
I never knew my mother, a retired housewife-investor/speculator, is, like me, a historian. I never knew she is interested in HSBC's history. I never knew HSBC was established in 1865.
All in a sudden, everyone in town is talking about HSBC but rarely touches on its founding history.
150th anniversary means that HSBC opened for business in 1865. As a historian obsessive with facts and figures, without Frank H.H. King's formidable books on HSBC's history from the beginning and David Kynaston and Richard Roberts' latest book on HSBC's modern history (published in March 2015, exactly 150 years) in hand, I searched my database for an answer and found three directories published in Hong Kong from 1864 to 1866 particularly useful.
Century-old directories were produced for commerce use and similar to today's business directories, which list names of companies, its proprietors and employees. They were published in January. A directory for 1865, for example, is the work done by the compiler in 1864.
According to the Directory for both 1866 and 1865, there were 11 banks in Hong Kong (yes, nearly a dozen in this small colony!):
1. Agra and Masterman's Bank, Limited.
2. Asiatic Banking Corporation [agent only]
3. Bank of Hindostan, China and Japan (Limited)
4. Bank of India
5. Central Bank of Western India
6. Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China
7. Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London, and China
8. Commercial Bank Corporation of India & the East
9. Comptoir d'Escompte de Paris
10. Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Co. (Limited)
11. Oriental Bank Corporation
Whilst the Directory for 1866 gives a list of managers, accountants, a clerk, and an agent in London, only the manager, Victor Kresser (who was an acting manager for Comptoir d'Escompte de Paris before joining HSBC), is recorded in the Directory for 1865. It means that in 1864, HSBC was founded but with a single staff member in 1864 it may be true that it opened for business not until March 1865 as it is stated in HSBC's official history.
A couple of hours after the market closed, investors and speculators resumed to their laptops and tablets to take another chance. HSBC 150th Anniversary Banknote.
Several weeks ago, my mother phoned me to ask whether I will apply for the winners-take-all lucky draw for the banknote for myself and her online. I coldly declined.
I never knew my mother, a retired housewife-investor/speculator, is, like me, a historian. I never knew she is interested in HSBC's history. I never knew HSBC was established in 1865.
All in a sudden, everyone in town is talking about HSBC but rarely touches on its founding history.
150th anniversary means that HSBC opened for business in 1865. As a historian obsessive with facts and figures, without Frank H.H. King's formidable books on HSBC's history from the beginning and David Kynaston and Richard Roberts' latest book on HSBC's modern history (published in March 2015, exactly 150 years) in hand, I searched my database for an answer and found three directories published in Hong Kong from 1864 to 1866 particularly useful.
Century-old directories were produced for commerce use and similar to today's business directories, which list names of companies, its proprietors and employees. They were published in January. A directory for 1865, for example, is the work done by the compiler in 1864.
According to the Directory for both 1866 and 1865, there were 11 banks in Hong Kong (yes, nearly a dozen in this small colony!):
1. Agra and Masterman's Bank, Limited.
2. Asiatic Banking Corporation [agent only]
3. Bank of Hindostan, China and Japan (Limited)
4. Bank of India
5. Central Bank of Western India
6. Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China
7. Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London, and China
8. Commercial Bank Corporation of India & the East
9. Comptoir d'Escompte de Paris
10. Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Co. (Limited)
11. Oriental Bank Corporation
Whilst the Directory for 1866 gives a list of managers, accountants, a clerk, and an agent in London, only the manager, Victor Kresser (who was an acting manager for Comptoir d'Escompte de Paris before joining HSBC), is recorded in the Directory for 1865. It means that in 1864, HSBC was founded but with a single staff member in 1864 it may be true that it opened for business not until March 1865 as it is stated in HSBC's official history.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
元朗一日遊
元朗一日遊，由一個零晨兩點的whatsapp voice message開始。
零晨兩點，電話傳來舊生的whatsapp voice msg，
邀請到元朗劇院，觀看他的舞台表演。
一口答應，然後開始盤算今日的行程。
午飯時刻意留肚，準備入元朗大吃大喝。
元朗一日遊由元朗劇院開始。
《我不完美》，表演精彩。合家歡節目，互動有趣，富教育意義。
表演過後和他寒暄，聊兩句己經足夠，一切都，在心中。
你，是屬於舞台的。
我，每次看舞台劇，都有得著。
畢竟，在lecture room/hall教書，面對少則50人，多則200人，
總有上台表演的感覺，每次都要求自己good show。
教書，就是說故事。語氣緩急，表情動作，甚至道具，都要鋪排。
看舞台劇，就是取經的好時候。
第二站是永年士多。
名曰士多，實是車仔麵檔。
名曰檔，大裝修後，已是店。
想起十年前因公事到元朗劇院，路過永年，打算隨便醫肚。
假如你有一見鍾情的經驗，永年絕對不會令你失望。
假如永年都令你失望，只因為你沒有在對的時間光顧。
因為，真係好多人。
你叫我排隊吃拉麵，我寧願排隊吃永年。
假如你嗜辣，永年的招牌辣汁會令你明白，
沒有最好，只有更好。
永年會顛覆你對車仔麵的概念，
令你不會再在鬧市吃車仔麵，從一而終。
第三站是勝利牛丸。
在永年又留肚，準備去勝利再戰。
行到勝利附近，看見一間掛滿地產廣告的吉舖，
以為自己路痴，半年沒有去勝利，連地方都去錯。
行近，居然，心裏一沉，人去舖空，關門大吉，
比分手還要大的打擊。
再行近，原來分店還在。
勝利牛丸，獨沽一味，牛。丸 ●●●●●●●●
你以為潮洲牛丸好，
作為潮州仔，我會說，勝利牛丸更好。
勝利牛丸雖然沒有撒尿牛丸般花巧，但肯定令你更有自信心，
可以告訴朋友，最真材實料的牛丸在元朗勝利。
碰巧老板娘在場，問起吉舖一事。
原來，業主加租。我問，加40/50%。
她說，100%，由9萬加至18萬！
不如去搶！不，應該是，比搶還要好。
捱過沙士，敵不過業主。
資本主義比沙士還要邪惡。
最後，我吃一碗，再買半斤，100大元。
貴？
要比100大元的MSG排隊拉麵，貴嗎？
和老板娘及伙記搭訕，有說有笑，
相比木口木面，甚或惡言相向的茶記，貴嗎？
P.S. 在澳洲牛奶公司，只要你配合，一樣有講有笑
第四站，大馬路參觀大藥房。
果然，元朗人不是體格孱弱，就一定是富貴病多。
大馬路上，中西大藥房林立。
唉，病，最忌藥石亂投。
不過，見到一間說租金昂貴，執笠中。
第五站，回到荃灣，
不忘到元朗阿玉豆腐花荃灣分店，
食碗芝麻糊豆花，
伴著附近一名年青結他手自彈自唱，
元朗一日遊結束。
零晨兩點，電話傳來舊生的whatsapp voice msg，
邀請到元朗劇院，觀看他的舞台表演。
一口答應，然後開始盤算今日的行程。
午飯時刻意留肚，準備入元朗大吃大喝。
元朗一日遊由元朗劇院開始。
《我不完美》，表演精彩。合家歡節目，互動有趣，富教育意義。
表演過後和他寒暄，聊兩句己經足夠，一切都，在心中。
你，是屬於舞台的。
我，每次看舞台劇，都有得著。
畢竟，在lecture room/hall教書，面對少則50人，多則200人，
總有上台表演的感覺，每次都要求自己good show。
教書，就是說故事。語氣緩急，表情動作，甚至道具，都要鋪排。
看舞台劇，就是取經的好時候。
第二站是永年士多。
名曰士多，實是車仔麵檔。
名曰檔，大裝修後，已是店。
想起十年前因公事到元朗劇院，路過永年，打算隨便醫肚。
假如你有一見鍾情的經驗，永年絕對不會令你失望。
假如永年都令你失望，只因為你沒有在對的時間光顧。
因為，真係好多人。
你叫我排隊吃拉麵，我寧願排隊吃永年。
假如你嗜辣，永年的招牌辣汁會令你明白，
沒有最好，只有更好。
永年會顛覆你對車仔麵的概念，
令你不會再在鬧市吃車仔麵，從一而終。
第三站是勝利牛丸。
在永年又留肚，準備去勝利再戰。
行到勝利附近，看見一間掛滿地產廣告的吉舖，
以為自己路痴，半年沒有去勝利，連地方都去錯。
行近，居然，心裏一沉，人去舖空，關門大吉，
比分手還要大的打擊。
再行近，原來分店還在。
勝利牛丸，獨沽一味，牛。丸 ●●●●●●●●
你以為潮洲牛丸好，
作為潮州仔，我會說，勝利牛丸更好。
勝利牛丸雖然沒有撒尿牛丸般花巧，但肯定令你更有自信心，
可以告訴朋友，最真材實料的牛丸在元朗勝利。
碰巧老板娘在場，問起吉舖一事。
原來，業主加租。我問，加40/50%。
她說，100%，由9萬加至18萬！
不如去搶！不，應該是，比搶還要好。
捱過沙士，敵不過業主。
資本主義比沙士還要邪惡。
最後，我吃一碗，再買半斤，100大元。
貴？
要比100大元的MSG排隊拉麵，貴嗎？
和老板娘及伙記搭訕，有說有笑，
相比木口木面，甚或惡言相向的茶記，貴嗎？
P.S. 在澳洲牛奶公司，只要你配合，一樣有講有笑
第四站，大馬路參觀大藥房。
果然，元朗人不是體格孱弱，就一定是富貴病多。
大馬路上，中西大藥房林立。
唉，病，最忌藥石亂投。
不過，見到一間說租金昂貴，執笠中。
第五站，回到荃灣，
不忘到元朗阿玉豆腐花荃灣分店，
食碗芝麻糊豆花，
伴著附近一名年青結他手自彈自唱，
元朗一日遊結束。
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
大陸史觀
大中華青年在線的《吃史》網站指：
1949年12月7日，「中華民國政府宣佈遷都台北，中華民國在大陸的統治宣告結束。」
假如在大陸，這種寫法是政治不正確，絕不能蒙混「過關」。根據嚴格的大陸史觀：
一、中華民國結束於1949年，1949年以後無中華民國。中華人民共和國不承認中華民國，否則就是兩個中國。中學教科書如是說，加之田餘慶、戴逸、彭明編著的《中國歷史》（北京：中國大百科全書出版社，2010）第185頁，標題清楚寫明「中華民國的結束和中華人民共和國的成立」。政權合法性「無縫交接」。
二、「國民黨政府」和「國民黨政權」是比較普遍的寫法，「中華民國政府」和「國民政府」都過於中性，不符合大陸史觀。
三、「遷都」一詞，只能夠是引述，不可以是描述。即使是引述，往往會加上引號，以別於正式的遷都。中華人民共和國定都於北平，易名北京，一國一都。中華民國覆亡於1949年，那有遷都的道理？
四、後句也很有問題。「中華民國」是國號，不是政府，不可能統治大陸，也不可能統治台灣。國民黨才是執政黨。一般的寫法都是國民政府，或國民黨在大陸的統治。
按照嚴格的大陸史觀寫法，應該是：「國民黨政府（權）『遷都』台北，國民黨在大陸的統治宣告結束。」
P.S. 《吃史》的最新寫法：「中華民國政府宣佈遷台，中華民國在大陸的統治宣告結束。」
1949年12月7日，「中華民國政府宣佈遷都台北，中華民國在大陸的統治宣告結束。」
假如在大陸，這種寫法是政治不正確，絕不能蒙混「過關」。根據嚴格的大陸史觀：
一、中華民國結束於1949年，1949年以後無中華民國。中華人民共和國不承認中華民國，否則就是兩個中國。中學教科書如是說，加之田餘慶、戴逸、彭明編著的《中國歷史》（北京：中國大百科全書出版社，2010）第185頁，標題清楚寫明「中華民國的結束和中華人民共和國的成立」。政權合法性「無縫交接」。
二、「國民黨政府」和「國民黨政權」是比較普遍的寫法，「中華民國政府」和「國民政府」都過於中性，不符合大陸史觀。
三、「遷都」一詞，只能夠是引述，不可以是描述。即使是引述，往往會加上引號，以別於正式的遷都。中華人民共和國定都於北平，易名北京，一國一都。中華民國覆亡於1949年，那有遷都的道理？
四、後句也很有問題。「中華民國」是國號，不是政府，不可能統治大陸，也不可能統治台灣。國民黨才是執政黨。一般的寫法都是國民政府，或國民黨在大陸的統治。
按照嚴格的大陸史觀寫法，應該是：「國民黨政府（權）『遷都』台北，國民黨在大陸的統治宣告結束。」
P.S. 《吃史》的最新寫法：「中華民國政府宣佈遷台，中華民國在大陸的統治宣告結束。」
Saturday, 14 March 2015
敦煌 vs 博物館
終於，十七年後再去敦煌。
沒有穿過武威、張掖和酒泉，也沒有經過火焰山和月牙泉，更沒有夜光杯作伴。沿途只有趁墟的人潮，只有一心「禮佛」的中老年人。他們拿著智能手機，捧起單反相機，毫不吝惜地「光照」佛像。
Pierre Bourdieu和Tony Bennett說，博物館是培養文化資本和社會管治的地方。菁英份子參觀博物館，以顯示其知識水平及文化修養。政府透過博物館的種種約束和規範，達到社會管治的目的。香港的情況，是只知前者，不知後者。參觀者的行為如何，心中有數。
多年前，Pixar在文化博物館展覽。人山人海，孩子多，父母多，極其量間歇地聽到小朋友興奮的聲音。今年，敦煌載譽歸來，中老年多，閃光多，碰撞多，高聲講電話多。
Bourdieu和Bennett始終是歐洲學者，其理論不是放諸四海而皆準，於諸亞洲（脫亞入歐的日本除外），大概不能適用，尤其華人中老年齡層。
剛好十年前，Impressionism在藝術館展覽。參觀者雖眾，碰撞卻不多；沒有喧鬧，幽雅寂靜；間有閃光，都被保安制止。從藝術館走出來，有醍醐灌頂的感覺。從文化博物館走出來，感覺像走難抵壘。
沒有穿過武威、張掖和酒泉，也沒有經過火焰山和月牙泉，更沒有夜光杯作伴。沿途只有趁墟的人潮，只有一心「禮佛」的中老年人。他們拿著智能手機，捧起單反相機，毫不吝惜地「光照」佛像。
Pierre Bourdieu和Tony Bennett說，博物館是培養文化資本和社會管治的地方。菁英份子參觀博物館，以顯示其知識水平及文化修養。政府透過博物館的種種約束和規範，達到社會管治的目的。香港的情況，是只知前者，不知後者。參觀者的行為如何，心中有數。
多年前，Pixar在文化博物館展覽。人山人海，孩子多，父母多，極其量間歇地聽到小朋友興奮的聲音。今年，敦煌載譽歸來，中老年多，閃光多，碰撞多，高聲講電話多。
Bourdieu和Bennett始終是歐洲學者，其理論不是放諸四海而皆準，於諸亞洲（脫亞入歐的日本除外），大概不能適用，尤其華人中老年齡層。
剛好十年前，Impressionism在藝術館展覽。參觀者雖眾，碰撞卻不多；沒有喧鬧，幽雅寂靜；間有閃光，都被保安制止。從藝術館走出來，有醍醐灌頂的感覺。從文化博物館走出來，感覺像走難抵壘。
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
耆英、Champagne與英國人
昨日師門夜宴，酒酣耳熱，亂發噏風。
席間，師傅的千金說愛飲sparkling，尤好Champagne。
今日讀書，讀到1844年法國來華使團翻譯官的日記，想不到記載了一則關於Champagne在中國的小故事，還牽涉欽差大臣耆英和英國人。
鴉片戰爭完結，清朝廷派兵部尚書耆英任欽差大使及兩廣總督，與英國、美國和法國使團談判，簽訂一系列條約（《南京條約》（英）、《望廈條約》（美）和《黃埔條約》（法）等）。
某日，耆英與法國欽差大臣Theoose-Marie de Lagrene談判期間小休，移席享用茶點，閒聊攀談。法國使團準備了法國和南非白酒，招待耆英等代表。耆英品嘗了Champagne, Frontignan muscat和Constantia (dessert wine)。
耆英似乎對洋酒的認識十分有限，問法國代表們，Champagne和Frontignan muscat是否來自法國（？！）。他說，英國使團曾經邀請他飲酸得無法下咽的紅酒，然後再讓他飲Champagne和其他甜酒。英國人說前者是法國酒，後者是英國酒（！？），再說自己是唯一製造和出口好酒的西洋國家（！？）。
究竟耆英是真不懂，還是耍把戲？看倌自我判斷。
至於耆英喜歡哪一種？同行的一名黃姓官員愛muscat，耆英就最喜歡Champagne。
--- --- ---
資料來源：加略利(Joseph Marie Callery)著；謝海濤譯：《1844年法國使華團外交活動日記》 Journal des opérations de la légation française en Chine （桂林：廣西師範大學出版社，2013），頁211。
席間，師傅的千金說愛飲sparkling，尤好Champagne。
今日讀書，讀到1844年法國來華使團翻譯官的日記，想不到記載了一則關於Champagne在中國的小故事，還牽涉欽差大臣耆英和英國人。
鴉片戰爭完結，清朝廷派兵部尚書耆英任欽差大使及兩廣總督，與英國、美國和法國使團談判，簽訂一系列條約（《南京條約》（英）、《望廈條約》（美）和《黃埔條約》（法）等）。
某日，耆英與法國欽差大臣Theoose-Marie de Lagrene談判期間小休，移席享用茶點，閒聊攀談。法國使團準備了法國和南非白酒，招待耆英等代表。耆英品嘗了Champagne, Frontignan muscat和Constantia (dessert wine)。
耆英似乎對洋酒的認識十分有限，問法國代表們，Champagne和Frontignan muscat是否來自法國（？！）。他說，英國使團曾經邀請他飲酸得無法下咽的紅酒，然後再讓他飲Champagne和其他甜酒。英國人說前者是法國酒，後者是英國酒（！？），再說自己是唯一製造和出口好酒的西洋國家（！？）。
究竟耆英是真不懂，還是耍把戲？看倌自我判斷。
至於耆英喜歡哪一種？同行的一名黃姓官員愛muscat，耆英就最喜歡Champagne。
--- --- ---
資料來源：加略利(Joseph Marie Callery)著；謝海濤譯：《1844年法國使華團外交活動日記》 Journal des opérations de la légation française en Chine （桂林：廣西師範大學出版社，2013），頁211。
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Seven myths about education
In her Seven myths about education (Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2014), Daisy Christodoulou discusses "seven widely held beliefs which are holding back pupils and teachers." They are:
E.D. Hirsch writes, in his foreword, that the seven myths "have one enormous drawback." "They are," he explained, "empirically incorrect." They do not correspond to how our minds work. They are "disastrous conceptual mistakes."
- facts prevent understanding
- teacher-led instruction is passive
- the twenty-first century fundamentally changes everything
- you can always just look it up
- we should teach transferable skills
- projects and activities are the best way to learn
- teaching knowledge is indoctrination
E.D. Hirsch writes, in his foreword, that the seven myths "have one enormous drawback." "They are," he explained, "empirically incorrect." They do not correspond to how our minds work. They are "disastrous conceptual mistakes."
Sunday, 21 September 2014
first few weeks 2014-15
the notes below were written in the first and third weeks respectively. one English lecture, many Chinese lectures and tutorials
--- --- ---
the first week of teaching is over.
to me, it's one of the many first weeks in university; it is meant to be forgotten
to a freshman, it's his/her first week in university; it is meant to be remembered.
in a college core lecture of 200 freshmen, I saw the potentials and future of this generation (90s).
It is only the first week of school but I have already seen the signs of hard work among these young people.
Some people paid full attention to their laptops and looked very focused;
some people formed in groups and began their discussion;
some people looked exhausted lying on the seat;
some people started to exchange ideas;
some people seemed to start a debate.
their hard work made me feel ashamed to break it by saying "guys, as you are moving to a new learning environment, I hope you can learn to respect the speaker please." (I was not the speaker at the time and I forgot to add that it is a skill that you should have for the rest of your life)
Silence. Instantly I felt the guilt. It's a big day to them. First happy Friday as a freshman. And I ruined it. They are our future. I swear I would never do that again.
--- --- ---
過去一個星期，上左好幾堂lectures同tutorials，遇上五百個undergrads，發覺自己生活喺大學係可以幾咁離地，有六：
一、說出羅汝謙三個字，學生好驚訝，而我不知道羅汝謙是誰。
二、學生唔知道邊個係貪曾，所以我都冇提老董。
三、好多人好似唔識廣東話（或者係我懶音多），定係只識聽英文，索性唔聽，全程用laptop，或者低頭用手提。我諗，係時候開多啲英文班，創造平等機會。
四、從奧地利學生口中得知，香港學生以為佢來自澳大利亞。佢連帶向一個喺香港讀歷史既我強調佢唔係來自澳大利亞。為左俾佢知我懂，我索性問佢係咪講德文。
五、入大學第一件事係報O camp，第二件事係退會（退學生會）。我以前得閒冇野做就去成日好多人既SU co-op逛，folder同notebook都係個度買，到而家仲用緊。利申：立場上，我認我好多時多都企SU嗰邊。
六、好似冇乜人知陶傑係阿水，遑論陶傑經常放係口邊既小農，所以都唔講咩口腔期，慳返啲口水。
以上種種，足以證明係象牙塔既人幾咁離地。
深深感受到「村民唔係咁諗」既意思。
to me, it's one of the many first weeks in university; it is meant to be forgotten
to a freshman, it's his/her first week in university; it is meant to be remembered.
in a college core lecture of 200 freshmen, I saw the potentials and future of this generation (90s).
It is only the first week of school but I have already seen the signs of hard work among these young people.
Some people paid full attention to their laptops and looked very focused;
some people formed in groups and began their discussion;
some people looked exhausted lying on the seat;
some people started to exchange ideas;
some people seemed to start a debate.
their hard work made me feel ashamed to break it by saying "guys, as you are moving to a new learning environment, I hope you can learn to respect the speaker please." (I was not the speaker at the time and I forgot to add that it is a skill that you should have for the rest of your life)
Silence. Instantly I felt the guilt. It's a big day to them. First happy Friday as a freshman. And I ruined it. They are our future. I swear I would never do that again.
--- --- ---
過去一個星期，上左好幾堂lectures同tutorials，遇上五百個undergrads，發覺自己生活喺大學係可以幾咁離地，有六：
一、說出羅汝謙三個字，學生好驚訝，而我不知道羅汝謙是誰。
二、學生唔知道邊個係貪曾，所以我都冇提老董。
三、好多人好似唔識廣東話（或者係我懶音多），定係只識聽英文，索性唔聽，全程用laptop，或者低頭用手提。我諗，係時候開多啲英文班，創造平等機會。
四、從奧地利學生口中得知，香港學生以為佢來自澳大利亞。佢連帶向一個喺香港讀歷史既我強調佢唔係來自澳大利亞。為左俾佢知我懂，我索性問佢係咪講德文。
五、入大學第一件事係報O camp，第二件事係退會（退學生會）。我以前得閒冇野做就去成日好多人既SU co-op逛，folder同notebook都係個度買，到而家仲用緊。利申：立場上，我認我好多時多都企SU嗰邊。
六、好似冇乜人知陶傑係阿水，遑論陶傑經常放係口邊既小農，所以都唔講咩口腔期，慳返啲口水。
以上種種，足以證明係象牙塔既人幾咁離地。
深深感受到「村民唔係咁諗」既意思。
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