Government Relations
Hong Kong Immigration Department - In a letter dated 12 June 2003 EARTH requested that the Immigration Department assist EARTH in obtaining random samples of Hong Kong citizens who have likely sat for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE). A formal response from the Division Chief, Mr. CHU Kam Tong is expected soon.Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) - With the cooperation of Mr. Ian Chu, Division Head, Information System Services Division, Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, EARTH has determined that most or all of the information that EARTH requires to complete its first research project on post-secondary English language attrition in Hong Kong is available.
As the authority's records do not reside on a single data base, more thorough investigation has been postponed until clearance is received from the Immigration Office to obtain the aforementioned random samples.
Hong Kong Census and Statistics Bureau - Information required to determine appropriate sample size for stratified samplings of Hong Kong citizens by age were obtained.
Education and Manpower Bureau - No further communication has been attempted and none will be undertaken until a complete research proposal has been readied.
Community Relations
Public Opinion Programme, Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong University - Further communication with POP's Programme Manager, Karie Pang revealed that most Hong Kong citizens will have record of their HKCEE scores, as they are generally required to present them when looking for employment. As EARTH is still awaiting word from the Immigration Department with regard to best-sampling proceedure, no further initiative has been taken with POP. Hopefully they have not lost interest, as their expertise and support are still needed.International Academic Community - Both Professor Emeritus Richard D. Lambert, National Foreign Language Center, The University of Maryland, College Park and Professor G.L.J. de Bot, Groningen University, The Netherlands have taken a serious interest in the HKLNA-Project. Professor de Bot has himself performed similar research with regard to French as a second language attrition in the Netherlands.
Hong Kong British Council - After a long web-search and a helpful link provided by Kim Metzger of the ProZ.com bulletin board the Hong Kong British Council was contacted and information received regarding the number and nature of Hong Kong students studying in Great Britain during the past five years. This information will be included in EARTH's final research proposal.
Hong Kong Central Library (8th Floor) - EARTH was provided with a nearly complete set of HKCEE annual reports extending from 1978 until 2002. Only two volumes were missing. A more complete set was found elsewhere, but is no longer needed.
Fund Raising
No new activity has been undertaken and none will be undertaken until a definite, and realizable plan of action with regard to the the HKLNA-Project's first research project has been determined.
Website additions and maintenance
Tsong Kit --Traditional Chinese Input Method for Apple Users and Chinese Language Beginners: Chapter seven and a new section entitled Special Topics were added this month. Beginning with Chapter 7 a slightly different format was also introduced.
Other EARTH related links:
- The World Health Organization lifted its travel warning for travellers to Hong Kong, and after eleven consecutive days without a single new SARS' case reported EARTH concluded its coverage of the epidemic. EARTH's links to the Hong Kong Department of Health will remain available.
- A new article was posted under EARTH's Viewpoint, and minor corrections were made on the HKLNA-Project website.
- For those mistaken many, who believe that the universal English language requirement is the key to Hong Kong's future, EARTH recommends that you participate in today's (1 July 2003) rally to protest the probable enactment of Article 23. Non-Cantonese speakers can find out more about this rally at the Article 23 website. It begins at 3:00PM in Victoria Park. Don't miss POP's most recent public survey while your there!
No new software upgrades
Strategy Update
As planned, the first part of this past month was spent gathering materials for the final draft of the HKLNA-Project's first research proposal. As the sampling proceedure has not yet been determined completion of the final draft has been postponed.As usual the HKLNA-Project has been placed on hold by the Hong Kong government -- the largest single potential beneficiary from successful completion of the project. Such behavior is of course not new to EARTH. Simply, it is unfortunate for the average Hong Kong citizen who as a student must spend many hundreds of hours each year learning a language whose likely return on investment is very close to zero. EARTH is doing what it can, but it can only push so hard, before it becomes a nuisance and is rejected as a result.
EARTH managed to score its second request for a bid on a translation project, and after several days of recruitment identified a potential translator from the Chinese mainland (SHI Wei Yong) and a Hong Kong proofreader from Canada to complete the job. A bid was submitted to the client, but as of today no contract has been signed. Without EARTH there is no HKLNA-Project, so if you care about the HKLNA-Project and require translation, editing, or publishing services, please give EARTH a call (see below).
Acknowledgments
This month's special acknowledgment goes out to Mr. Ian Chu of the HKEAA, who in the midst of the HKEAA's peak operating season managed to find time for EARTH and help it to overcome many hurdles with regard to planning for the HKLNA-Project's first research project. A special thank you should also be shown to Winnie Eley of the Hong Kong British Council and CHUN Pui Fai of the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department for supplying EARTH with crucial statistical data.Let us hope that CHU Kam Tong, Chief Immigration Officer, and WONG Chun An, Senior Immigration Officer, of the Hong Kong Immigration Department's Birth, Death, and Marriage Records Section are able to satisfy EARTH's extraordinary request for their direct and necessary participation in the HKLNA-Project. Certainly all of Hong Kong stands to benefit from their section's cooperation.
Special thanks are also given to various members of the ProZ.com bulletin boards -- especially those members of the Chinese to English bulletin board who have helped EARTH further its Tsong Kit for Apple Users and Chinese Language Beginners project. Special thanks go to James Wong, Kevin Wang, FU Xiao Ping.
Finally, EARTH continues to show its appreciation to its friends and family for their long term credit in these most difficult of times. Somehow EARTH will make it! Surely it must.
Sincerely,
R. A. Stegemann
hsmr@pacific.net.hk
