China Watch Blog

China Watch Blog wishes to warn shoppers who want to purchase fruits to beware of this trick used by a fruit seller at one of the shops at the Causeway Bay market.

As yours truly walked up to the shop and was about to pick up a bunch of grapes, the shop keeper in a flash took another bunch of grapes and put it somewhere behind the exhibited fruits, but little did I know that it actually hid a weighing machine.

So, when I handed the man a bunch of grapes, he took it and put it behind the boxes of fruits onto the weighing machine, and you guessed it right. He also included the earlier bunch of grapes he had put there.

So instead of having to pay about HK$20 for the bunch of grapes I picked, he charged me HK$45 for two bunch of grapes, which I was fooled into buying.

When I went to wash the grapes, only then did I realise I had been had.

Be careful of such cheats.

China Watch Blog announces that GCTL Insights Magazine Issue 13 has been published and can be downloaded for FREE by our readers.

GCTL Insights Magazine Issue No. 13

Go to www.GCTL8.com, click on register icon and then activate your account before downloading your GCTL Insights Magazine Issue 13 for FREE.

Its Cover story is on Hong Kong’s Outsourcing Potential. Other interesting topics include coverage on TOC Asia Conference 2012, Hong Kong’s Wine & Spirits business upsurge and how Russians speak of global connectivity.

The magazine includes lots of articles on aviation, maritime and logistics as well as interviews with independent logistics consultant Mark Millar, and others.

China Watch Blog has learnt that Shanghai police have detained 15 suspects who allegedly lured people into a coffee bar and charged them more than 10 times the original prices in a scam to rip-off unsuspecting victims.

A Shanghai Daily report cited police as saying that most of their victims were men who were tricked into the coffee bar by women they met in online chat rooms, or in and around the coffee bar in busy shopping areas.

The suspects even used threat or force to make the customers pay the bills. A cup of coffee cost more than 100 yuan, according to the police.

Officers said the 15 suspects included the coffee bar owner. They had scammed customers out of more than 600,000 yuan.

One victim, surnamed Liu, said he went to the coffee house in downtown Putuo District on April 12 to see a woman he met online. They were later joined by another woman. In the end, Liu was billed 9,028 yuan for two cups of coffee, some cocktail and snacks.

“One cup of cocktail cost me 860 yuan,” Liu said.

Police raided the coffee bar on April 14 and nabbed the 15 suspects.

The bar owner, surnamed Zhou, conceived the scam to turn around his failing business. He asked his girlfriend to hire young women to seduce men into the bar, police said.

Similar schemes have also been reported in other entertainment venues around Shanghai with victims mostly being newcomers and foreign visitors. Two main offenders were sentenced to 10 years in prison for ripping off 72 customers out of 210,000 yuan.

Also, many other cases have gone unreported because embarrassed foreigners or husbands hushed up the matter, absorbing the losses and rather than allow their family and friends ridicule them over their stupidity.

China Watch Blog has learnt that people still enjoy reading books the old-fashioned way – on paper – in the digital age, according to a survey released by the Shanghai Statistics Bureau.

While Shanghai residents have quickly adapted to e-reading, but the majority of them said they read better on printed books rather than on cell phones, laptops and e-readers, according to the survey based on telephone interviews of 1,000 people from various age groups.

Overall, about the same proportion of people read on digital devices as on paper.

E-reading is gaining more popular with young people with strong educational backgrounds, with higher proportions of them reading on digital devices.

But traditional reading has merits that can’t be replaced by e-reading, 60 percent of the survey respondents said. People complained that it’s easier for them to feel tired when reading on digital devices and it’s difficult for them to read intensively or make notes in e-reading.

More than 60 percent of people read more than an hour per day, and 40 percent read one to six books every year. Young adults, who are often assumed to be uninterested in reading, read about as much as many of their elders, the survey found.

China Watch Blog has learnt that Chinese police have detained 53 people for their roles in the ongoing toxic gelatin scandal, the Ministry of Public Security said.

They also shut 10 gelatin or capsule manufacturers and seized more than 230 tons of industrial gelatin, a top ministry official was quoted saying in a nationwide teleconference as reported by a People’s Daily report.

Deputy Minister Huang Ming said the ministry will continue to monitor cases in Zhejiang, Shandong, Hebei and Jiangxi provinces to determine where toxic gelatin had been sent.

Industrial gelatin manufactured in Hebei Province and supplied to drug capsule producers may also have been used in food, the Beijing Times reported.

China Watch Blog reports that someone sent this article for our readers to warn us that toxins are everywhere, so “detoxification” is a very important defense mechanism in terms of healthcare. A medical professional should be consulted prior to use of drugs or undertaking of dietary programs, and by taking such steps will lead to Happiness too.

People nowadays face lots of pressures in balancing their life and they are easily attracted by to various types of unhealthy food that are high-fat, high cholesterol, high-sodium, low-fiber, low-carbohydrate, etc. Consequently, they will weaken the immune system opening the door for various chronic diseases. With the advancement of medicine, many rely heavily on drugs and are less conscious about the fundamentals of diet.

Detoxification is to make use of the healthy food to remove the toxins from the body. Pesticides on food are common and when they enter and aggregate in our body, it is not hard to imagine how harmful they are.

To maintain a healthy body, we need to eliminate toxins from inside. Many kinds of food have detoxifying effects in general. There are many ways in detoxification. The high fiber, low fat, low sugar, low salt approach is most popular. Sweet potato, brown rice, fresh fruits and vegetables are good candidates as they are effective in toxin removal, highly acceptable, safe, economical, and easy to find.

The following are the top 10 food selected for detoxification purposes.

1. Seaweed: – Seaweed is rich in polysaccharides and highly alkaline. It can neutralize gastric acid, promote detoxification, prevent fat accumulation and help metabolism. Kelp is rich in alginate, mannitol, protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, carotene, vitamins B1, B2, C, iodine, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other elements. Especially with iodine, it is very useful in treating goiter and other diseases caused by iodine deficiency. It contains protein and eight amino acids. Iodine when absorbed can accelerate detoxification. In addition, it can lower blood pressure and prevent arteriosclerosis.

2. Onion: – Onions can promote gastrointestinal movement and strengthen digestion. Its sulfur combined with protein benefits the liver most, thus contributing to detoxification. The “warm” property of onion enables easy sweating and rowing edema. Sulfur compounds can rid the pesticides and other undesirable substances.

Recommendation: Add raw onions in a sandwich; add diced onions to soup with broccoli, carrots, celery and other high-fiber vegetables in order to break down toxins accumulated in the body and to help bowel movement.

3. Green bean: – Green bean is used in a variety of drugs by Chinese medicine professionals. Regular consumption of green bean can help getting rid of toxins from the body. It regulates metabolism. Green bean soup is best for detoxification and maintenance of healthy skin. With honey together, its detoxification effect is even better. Many people often eat bean sprouts (from green beans), because it is affordable. But very few know that green bean sprouts also has high medicinal value.

Recommendation: barley and green bean soup, blend green beans with boiled soy milk (or milk).

4. Sweet potato: – Due to the recent trend with concerns in health, the demand for sweet potatoes is up year after year with supply of sweet potatoes in different color and flavor. Sweet potato contains digestible fiber which can facilitate bowel movement. In addition, it can also neutralize acid accumulated in the body. Furthermore, sweet potato’s collagen and mucus polysaccharides can prevent arterial sclerosis. It also plays an important role in keeping vessels elastic and in excreting excess cholesterol.

Recommendation: baked sweet potato with skins. For health purposes, timing is important. The rule of thumb is to eat it early in the morning (e.g., 6:30 a.m.) before normal bowel movement time. This is to maximize intestinal absorption of sweet potatoes. This is particularly necessary for patients with serious illness wanting to use sweet potatoes for cure. Eating sweet potatoes after 12:00 is not desirable because the metabolism will slow down in the afternoon. On the contrary, sugar from sweet potatoes will remain unprocessed.

5. Cauliflower Cauliflowers (white) and broccolis (green) are cruciferous. Their antioxidant properties could have been proven with medical evidence that they can help to fight cancer. They also helps to prevent edema, increase the discharge of urine and to enhance the immune system. Cauliflower and broccolis are rich in β-carotene, vitamins B1 and C. They are also rich in calcium, potassium and small amounts of selenium (Se), a substance effective with anticancer, anti-heart disease and arthritis and other symptoms.

Additionally, there is a substance called lndol-3 carbonal, which can increase the secretion of female hormone estrogen to prevent breast cancer.

Recommendation: cook with seafood or cook in boiling water with a sprinkle of salt. They are nutritious, healthy and delicious.

6. Pumpkin: – Chinese medicine considers the pumpkin an excellent food for the heart, the spleen, the lungs as well as inner energy (qi). Pumpkin is indeed a very nutritious healthy food to be highly valued. It is rich in vitamins A and E to benefit human immunity especially during autumn. Pectin contained in pumpkin can “absorb” bacteria and toxic substances, including heavy metals such as lead. Besides the detoxification effect, pectin can also protect the stomach and reduce the chance for ulcer.

Recommendation: pumpkin porridge, pumpkin soup.

7. Mushrooms Mushrooms are rich in mucopolysaccharide, protein, fiber, minerals, etc. Not only nutritious, they are effective in anti-cancer and detoxification. Their high-fiber, low calorie properties make them ideal for weight watchers because mushrooms can fill you up without gaining weight. Mushrooms have many other health benefits because they contain nucleotides. They are delicious and so convenient to cook.

Recommendation: mushroom chicken soup, mushrooms over rice, boiled mushrooms with other vegetables.

8. Sprouts: – With protein than higher meat bean sprouts are highly nutritious. Protein in 1 gram of bean sprouts is equivalent to about 4 grams of meat. Sprouts contain ammonium acid, vitamins, calcium, potassium, iron and other minerals. The properties of high vitamin C and low fat, low starch and low sugar can produce good results for the prevention of constipation, weight loss, etc. Eating bean sprouts can help bowel movement. It is the ideal natural health food with good detoxification effects.

Recommendation: a mix of a variety of bean sprouts (e.g., alfalfa sprouts) topped with sugar-free yogurt and organic plum sauce or honey, add sprouts in salad, or eat sprout with an empty stomach for weight loss and detoxification.

9. Coriander: – Nutrient-rich coriander (or parsley) contains vitamin C, β-carotene, vitamins B1 and B2, etc., and rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium. It also contains essential oil, and apple potassium. Vitamin C in coriander is much higher than ordinary vegetables. For most people, 7-10 grams of coriander will meet the demand of daily vitamin C. Its carotene content is 10 times higher than that in cucumber, tomato and soy bean.
Recommendation: three meals a day with plenty of coriander (or parsley).
Breakfast: coriander with apples, raisins, and nuts blended into juice;
Lunch: eat with other food;
Dinner: coriander with scrambled eggs , with pumpkin, or just bibimbap (mix with rice) for dinner.

10. Apple: – Apple is rich in vitamins B1, C, B5, β-carotene, fats, carbohydrates, protein, pectin, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, fiber, malic acid and tannin. Zinc is the essential element in nucleic acid and protein which is closely related to memory functioning. Deficiency in zinc affects memory. Apple has been regarded to as the food for intelligence. New research shows that apple peels are rich in phytonutrients that have potent anti-cancer properties against breast, colon and liver cancer cells. The apple peel is also known to have a substance (天車菊素) that can stop vomiting. Unfortunately, many apple peels come with paraffin wax and pesticide residues that are not suitable for eating.

Recommendation: eat apple daily to clear up the stool. In meals toward the weekend, eat apple with yogurt and sweet potato to prepare for a thorough clean-up when it’s most convenient.

China Watch Blog reports that Guangzhou city is trying to upgrade its streets signs to ensure that the names are in both Chinese and accurate English according to the Guangdong capital’s latest regulations with effect from May 1.

“With the goal of developing Guangzhou into a modern, international metropolis, we recognize the need to set up bilingual public signs, especially in the public areas of hotels, scenic spots, airports, long-distance bus stations, passenger wharves, subway stations and urban roads,” said Li Yi, director of the laws and regulations division under the Guangzhou government’s legal affairs office, at a new conference on Thursday.

Liu Jingguang, deputy director of the bar code center of Guangzhou bureau of quality and technical supervision, told China Daily:

“Administrators can choose to use graphics only, but if they deem it necessary to add words on public signs, then they should be in English and Chinese.”

Liu estimated that 90 percent of the public signs in Guangzhou with words on them are already bilingual but he doubted the accuracy of the English translations.

China Watch Blog has learnt that profit warnings, auditor disputes and delistings involving Chinese mainland companies trading on foreign exchanges are fueling investor distrust, wiping out valuations and poisoning the market for new listings.

The 180 Chinese mainland companies that have gone public in New York, Hong Kong and on other global exchanges since the start of 2010 are trading on average 21 percent below their offer prices, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

At least six disputes have broken out this year between auditors and Chinese mainland companies listed in Hong Kong. More than a quarter of Chinese mainland companies that went public on the city’s main board in 2010, a record year for volume, have lowered forecasts since they started trading, compared with less than 10 percent of non-Chinese mainland companies that had IPOs there that year.

“Investors have been concerned: Are these companies accurately portraying themselves?” said Kevin Pollack, a fund manager at Paragon Capital LP in New York. “There has absolutely been collateral damage. Unfortunately, having big-name auditors and bankers behind a company doesn’t guarantee it’s free of issues.”

China Watch Blog draws its readers attention to a Hong Kong Standard article today (Apr 19) citing a prominent Heung Yee Kuk member as having admitted that a commercial leisure park he owns has unlawfully occupied a large swath of government land for 18 years without him paying a cent.

Lychee Valley

But Leung Fuk-yuen, a key figure in resistance to a government crackdown on illegal additions to village houses, was quoted by the Standard as saying that he was not directly involved as his brothers managed the park in Tai Tong Lychee Valley, which uses part of Tai Lam Country Park.

“But I’ll comply with whatever the government wants, such as removing unauthorized structures,” said the Standard report quoting Leung, who is chairman of Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee and a Yuen Long district councillor.

The report said that he would not say if he was aware he breached land laws when planting fruit trees and setting up toilets, storage containers, wooden sheds and animal shelters two decades ago.

According to government watchdog the Audit Commission, the leisure park occupies 12,400 square meters, with 4,670 of it government land.

Director of Audit Benjamin Tang Kwok-bun blames the Lands Department for lax enforcement and for failing to act on the case for 18 years.

The auditor wants a comprehensive review of the management of unleased and unallocated government land. For it was also found that 70 percent of the Lands Department’s 494 “urgent” control cases – that means they are a public hazard – exceeded a four-month resolution target. Four cases were even unresolved after more than 10 years.

Tang also criticized the penalties for unlawful occupation offenses, saying they were not tough enough for a deterrent effect. And a lack of regular checks by the Lands Department had allowed many cases to escape detection for many years, he added.

Word from the Lands Department was that its officials accept the criticisms and will “strive to effect policy changes” to resolve “serious issues about land control and unwarranted structures.”

But this is a case of just a slap on the wrist for officials who have been fed by taxpayers money for 18 years, without having done their job at all. Shouldn’t the Lands Department officials be held accountable?

China Watch Blog wishes to announce to readers that GCTL Insights Magazine Issue NO. 13 is out now and ready for download from our website.

GCTL Insights Magazine Issue No. 13

Glean our coverage of the Wines & Spirits industry in Hong Kong, and how it is about to take off.

Get our coverage of TOC Asia 2012, and also various other air and seafreight issues.

Read our Editor’s comments on opportunities that abound as a result of Hong Kong and Guangdong Province’s cooperation.

Also look out for our coverage of logistics and seafreight issues supplement in our next issue.