Or a result of the Hong Kong population's lack of immunity to mainland Chinese germs due to former travel limitations, creating a new breeding ground? (The latter is just my own wild speculation.)
Travel restrictions have not changed that significantly in either direction - so I doubt it's that.
The problem with "atypical pnumonia" (as it's being called in HK) seems to be that:
1) it's symptoms are similar to normal flu, 2) there is no quick test for it, and 3) it does not seem to respond well to the usuall barage of drugs that people are given.
It's also worth noting that the only people that have died from it in HK were either very elderly or suffering from another sever disease at the time. Fourty percent of the original 'victims' have already recovered...
I'd like to see all the US internet-based companies collude and refuse to sell goods to Europeans. Let them get all the way through the ordering process, and then tell them, "Sorry, before this transaction can be completed, you need to get your representatives to repeal this ridiculous VAT."
Actually, this is not far off the way things are at the moment. Amazon and other large sites are good, especially those with European dept's, but few of the smaller online stores in the US seem to ship stuff to Europe. And if they do, the shipping costs tend to be so high that they negate the advantage of buying on line. On top of that, we have to pay customs on the goods when they arrive at the post office (17.5% for most items in the UK).
The point is, you get the chance to think carefully before condemning or advocating something, the right to stand on a soapbox and debate it with your peers and a vote with which to make a difference.
Just because something's un-American doesn't mean it's wrong
Well, in China, just because something is *un-Chinese* does make it wrong, and you will get thrown into jail for saying it.
Unfortunately, there is no easy solution. The country faces some huge challenges, has big problems with corruption (hence stiff penalties, such as public executions, for breaking the laws) and there are still many rural areas without good communications and with very high illiteracy levels... how could democracy possibly work in those conditions? China has progressed in recent years through long term stratigic planning - not 3 or 4 year plans as is common in governments that have 3 or 4 year terms in office, but 15-20 year plans (such as the structured planning and developement of Shanghai) and the creation of the special economic zones. Things are changing, but slowly and for the most part in a controlled manner - this is very much the *Chineese* way and is not likely to change anytime soon. And as a nation, I don't think it would do them any good if it did - I think it would lead to instablilty and power grabbing officials / buisnessmen / gangs making a *real* mess of things.
Slashdot Mirror
Travel restrictions have not changed that significantly in either direction - so I doubt it's that.
The problem with "atypical pnumonia" (as it's being called in HK) seems to be that:
1) it's symptoms are similar to normal flu,
2) there is no quick test for it, and
3) it does not seem to respond well to the usuall barage of drugs that people are given.
It's also worth noting that the only people that have died from it in HK were either very elderly or suffering from another sever disease at the time. Fourty percent of the original 'victims' have already recovered...
Sam.
(in HK)
Actually, this is not far off the way things are at the moment. Amazon and other large sites are good, especially those with European dept's, but few of the smaller online stores in the US seem to ship stuff to Europe. And if they do, the shipping costs tend to be so high that they negate the advantage of buying on line. On top of that, we have to pay customs on the goods when they arrive at the post office (17.5% for most items in the UK).
Just because something's un-American doesn't mean it's wrong
Well, in China, just because something is *un-Chinese* does make it wrong, and you will get thrown into jail for saying it.
Unfortunately, there is no easy solution. The country faces some huge challenges, has big problems with corruption (hence stiff penalties, such as public executions, for breaking the laws) and there are still many rural areas without good communications and with very high illiteracy levels... how could democracy possibly work in those conditions? China has progressed in recent years through long term stratigic planning - not 3 or 4 year plans as is common in governments that have 3 or 4 year terms in office, but 15-20 year plans (such as the structured planning and developement of Shanghai) and the creation of the special economic zones. Things are changing, but slowly and for the most part in a controlled manner - this is very much the *Chineese* way and is not likely to change anytime soon. And as a nation, I don't think it would do them any good if it did - I think it would lead to instablilty and power grabbing officials / buisnessmen / gangs making a *real* mess of things.