More than 5 billion people could die from explosions, radiation, and starvation, including about 99% of the inhabitants of the United States, Europe, Russia, and China. 超過 50 億人可能死於爆炸、輻射和飢餓，其中包括美國、歐洲、俄羅斯和中國約 99% 的居民.
US wins Math Olympiad! Ms Zhu, Ji. Loh, Wan, all future candidates for the FBI’s China initiative especially if they have a Chinese Hate Chinese Parents 美國數學奧林匹克奪冠! 所有都是未來聯邦調查局中國計劃的候選人尤其是如果他們有一個仇中想毀滅祖國的中國父母
Hopes for better days ahead for San Francisco. By Bernard Chan 6-30-23 希望舊金山未來的日子會更好
Dear Bernard: I live in US (Hawaii) for 50 years, last 16 years 1/4 time in Hawaii and 3/4 time in SF every month. I am seeing SF deteriorated in front of my eyes especially during the last 10 years. Hawaii has also deteriorated since 1990s, all major industries left except real estates for the riches from around the world and the military industrial complex spending billions each years as US 3rd island chain for the pending war with China. We have US-China groups monitoring US-China relations. US can no longer compete with China going forward.
We invited Forbes Magazine to discuss above problems at Hilton Hotel SF yesterday. Forbes will be sold to Chinese in HK, expect to close the deal later this year. According to the speakers, despite US tried desperately to contain China, it failing miserably.
SF and Hawaii problems are structural. It can’t be be fixed and won’t be fixed. We are expecting to continue to get worst in the coming months and years.
It has been a while since we last met almost 20 years ago at RHS when Father Xavier was alive.
I have enjoyed your newsletter as well as your articles at the SCMP.
I will be in HK Nov 5-19, but will missed the school’s 65 anniversary.
Johnson Choi Class of 1973 (Hawai’i and SF)
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 30, 2023, at 2:46 AM, Bernard Chan wrote:
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to attach my latest column in the SCMP, which appeared today (June 30).
As usual, I would be most interested to hear any comments you may have.
With best wishes, Bernard Chan
SCMP Article Bernard Chan
Hopes for better days ahead for San Francisco
As someone with many close friends in the United States, particularly in the state of California, I am saddened by recent media reports of the deterioration of San Francisco’s once-prestigious downtown district. I have a personal interest in the area and have maintained a home there for many years. Before pursuing my career in Hong Kong, I completed university in Los Angeles county and before that I attended high school in Pennsylvania. I have also remained closely involved with my alma mater.
It seems the problems in downtown San Francisco were exacerbated by factors that combined to create a perfect storm. The catalyst was the Covid-19 pandemic. Lockdowns, social-distancing measures and work-from-home policies kept people away, forcing many businesses to close or dramatically reduce their operations.
After the pandemic, many people did not return. Instead, they chose to continue to work from home for lifestyle reasons and convenience. This was particularly true of those in the tech sector.
Their sustained absence from the area has hindered its recovery and fuelled an escalation in office and retail vacancies, while poor transport infrastructure has resulted in serious traffic congestion, as residents opt to use their cars rather than take public transport, making the area even more unpleasant. A sluggish tourist market has also compounded the problems.
The impact on the area’s hotels, restaurants and other businesses that rely on pedestrian traffic and tourism has been immense. The recent announcement by Park Hotels and Resorts that it has stopped making mortgage repayments on its Hilton San Francisco Union Square and Parc 55 San Francisco – in effect pulling out of the two hotels – is a major blow and a reflection of a lack of confidence in the tourism sector. Combined, the properties account for almost 3,000 rooms.
By contrast, we have been fortunate in Hong Kong. People were keen to return to their offices and normal social interaction, and we are experiencing a revival in tourism.
Homelessness has long been a major factor underpinning the urban decay in downtown San Francisco; the city has one of the highest homeless rates in the country. Downtown San Francisco is the epicentre and the sight of people sleeping rough or living in makeshift structures is, sadly, far too common. Drug abuse is often visible and residents simply do not leave any items inside their cars for fear of theft.
Many people believe the introduction of Proposition 47, also known as the Safe Neighbourhoods and Schools Act and passed by referendum in 2014, paved the way for an increase in petty and organised crime. Certain felony offences were recategorised as misdemeanours, which were less severely punished.
The divide between the haves and have-nots appears to be increasing and high crime rates have propelled an exodus of commercial and retail tenants, along with major shopping centre operator Westfield, exacerbating the urban decay. Many retailers are citing local conditions and employee safety as primary reasons for closure after a spate of attacks on staff by shoplifters, and decreasing footfall. It is widely believed that many smaller tenants are waiting for their leases to expire and are unlikely to renew. The neighbourhood seems set to continue on its downward spiral.
But we must not lose sight of the fact that San Francisco has a history of reinventing itself, and economic recovery is under way in most parts of the city. Mayor London Breed has acknowledged downtown’s challenges. Earlier this year, she outlined her five priorities to redefine, reimagine and revitalise the area: to provide an economically diverse and resilient job engine, a welcoming, clean and safe environment, a dynamic destination active at all hours, every day, a world-class transport experience, and an equitable economy that supports full participation by all.
Time will tell if the mayor can deliver on her priorities, with adequate funding and appropriate policies for the revival of this once-great district. It will be in the global media spotlight in November during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, which leaders, including from China, are expected to attend at a venue within a short walk of the area. Hopefully, there will be early and visible signs of progress that breathe new life and energy into the district before then, so it can once more make a meaningful contribution to the lives of San Franciscans and tourists alike.
長久以來，無家者乃其中一個三藩市要處理的問題。該市是全美最多無家者的城市之一，市中心的情況尤為嚴重，無家者露宿街頭，又或住在臨時搭建、湊合的地方甚為常見；濫藥現象也屢見不鮮，居民亦不會在車內留下任何物品，以免被賊人偷去。不少人歸咎加州於2014年通過、不少人稱之為「安全社區和學校法」（The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act）的47號公投法案，乃導致罪案上升、治安轉差的罪魁禍首，該法案把一些重罪改為輕罪，刑罰隨之減輕。
社會愈來愈分化，上層與低下階層的市民距離愈來愈遠；高犯罪率進一步促使企業和零售商戶的撤離，令當區變得更蕭條。據報購物商場管理集團Westfield決定，放棄位於三藩市的Westfield San Francisco Centre購物中心，將之交還給貸款商。商店竊賊襲擊員工事件時有發生，加上顧客數目減少，許多零售商指出，當地情況和員工安全是關閉店舖的主要原因，不少人相信，很多小租戶正等待租約期滿後不再續約。如此看來，該區的營商情況似乎會繼續走下波。
US Politician promotes Asian hates payoffs, California hate crimes soared with year-over-year rises recorded in 20.2% jump from the year prior, by California Dept of Justice 政客宣揚亞洲仇恨的回報，加州司法部的數據顯示，加州仇恨犯罪猛增，同比增長 20.2%
Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni cherishes ties with China; win-win BRI cooperation ‘should not be disrupted by US pressure’ 意大利總理梅洛尼珍視對華關係； 共贏的“一帶一路”合作“不應因美國壓力而中斷”
Business Blog 