Daily Lessons from Life 28 September 2009

"Hong Kong publisher defies history book's ban in China - Mon, Sep 28, 2009 AFP

HONG KONG, Sept 28, 2009 (AFP) - A Hong Kong publisher on Monday released a book about Chinese history that was banned in mainland China for criticising authoritarian rule, just days before the celebration of 60 years of communism.


"Chinese History Revisited" by journalist Xiao Jiansheng is on sale in Hong Kong bookshops despite Beijing banning the book two years ago, the publisher Bao Pu told AFP.

Xiao's work, with an initial print run of 2,000 copies, covers thousands of years of Chinese history up until the early 1950s, avoiding more recent and highly sensitive subjects like the Cultural Revolution or the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, Bao said.

However, "the writer has written the book in total disregard of the tightly controlled official version of history," he said.


"He looks at why Chinese society has not made the transformation to rule of law, pluralism and an emphasis on human rights. That touches a nerve in China."

Bao said he had timed the launch to coincide with an expected wave of mainland tourists in Hong Kong this week but had understood that the Chinese authorities were concerned that he was "trying to crash their party."


Beijing has prepared grandiose celebrations for National Day on October 1, which marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of communist China.

Xiao, 54, said his bosses at the official Hunan Daily newspaper had pressured him over the book.
"They told me it was National Day (soon), and publishing this book would be very sensitive - it looked like it was going against the celebrations for the 60th anniversary," he told AFP.


"I told Bao Pu the pressure was very big and asked him to stop publishing the book... He couldn't stop it, and in my heart I didn't want it to stop either."

"The main meaning of this book is to hope that China quickens political reform, and goes on the path of democratic constitutionalism," he added.


Bao has already drawn fire from the Beijing-backed media this year after his Hong Kong-based company, New Century Press, published a memoir by deposed Chinese leader Zhao Ziyang.

Hong Kong has a semiautonomous status and enjoys freedom of speech not allowed in mainland China."

Intriguing development on this topic. Hong Kong enjoying more press freedom than any other parts of PRC. In fact, this freedom is even greater than in Singapore one may say.

Lessons for me are:

1. stories told by different people at different time with different agenda and motives will tell a different stories. So, while it is important to ensure freedom of press and speeches, the people also must be exposed ALL type of reporting on the same subject so that they can compare, contrast and make their own conclusion!;

2. fearing the 'different stories' does not make sense unless the 'stories' are the truth and that they are reasonable for anyone who read them without any tinted glasses or pre-disposition or biases to conclude what is right and wrong! If they are not, then the 'maligned' people must be allowed to share their side of the stories so that people who are interested can read and compare and contrast and make their own considered conclusion!;

3. only with facts and allowing examinations from all angles can the truth be established and considered opinions formed. Even then, when the emotion is involved, it will be hard to keep the scale balanced! It required maturity and sensitivity to be able to look at controversial topics with objectivity and reasons.

May PRC continue its progress towards 'and justice for all so that peace are established and prosperity to all people can have a foundation to walk on'!

Here is wishing PRC another 60-year of progress!