Pfizer and Moderna vaccines effective for corona mutants - experimental results announced

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

 Business

ファイザーとモデルナのワクチン、コロナ変異株に有効　実験結果を発表

2021.02.18 Thu posted at 10:55 JST

（ＣＮＮ） 米ファイザーと独ビオンテックが共同開発した新型コロナウイルスワクチンについて、南アフリカで見つかった「Ｂ．１．３５１」を含む変異株に有効であることを示す新たな報告が、米医学誌「ニューイングランド・ジャーナル・オブ・メディシン」に１７日発表された。

ファイザーとテキサス大医学部の研究者は今回、新型コロナウイルスに遺伝子操作を加え、Ｂ．１．３５１にみられる変異の一部を持たせた。そしてこのウイルスに対して、ファイザーとビオンテックのワクチンを２回接種した１５人の血液サンプルの効果を試した。

その結果、血清によって産生される中和抗体の活動は少なくなったものの、依然として変異ウイルスを中和するのに十分な水準だったという。

論文の筆頭著者を務めたテキサス大医学部のスコット・ウィーバー氏はＣＮＮの取材に、「新型コロナウイルスの発症や感染の予防にどの程度の中和反応が必要なのか、正確にはまだ分かっていないが、別のワクチンでの経験を踏まえると、ファイザー製ワクチンはこの変異株に対して比較的有効な可能性が高い」との見方を示した。

これとは別に、米国立衛生研究所（ＮＩＨ）と米モデルナは、先月報告した実験の結果について説明するレターを同誌に発表。ファイザーの報告と同様に、遺伝子操作でＢ．１．３５１に似せたウイルスに対する抗体反応は低減したが、ワクチンの有効性が低下するほどではなかった。

英国で最初に見つかった変異株「Ｂ．１．１．７」についても、ワクチンの有効性の低下は見られなかったという。

Translation

(CNN) A new report showing that the new coronavirus vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer of the United States and BioNTech of Germany was effective against mutant strains including "B.1.351" found in South Africa. This was published on the 17th in the US medical journal the " New England Journal of Medicine".

Pfizer and researchers at the University of Texas at Austin had add genetic manipulation to the new coronavirus, and some observable changes in B.1.351 was kept. Then, towards this virus, a test was done to see the effects of blood samples from 15 people who had been vaccinated twice with Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines in fighting against the virus.

As a result, while the activity of neutralizing antibodies produced by serum was reduced, but it was still at a level sufficient to neutralize the mutant virus.

Scott Weaver of the University of Texas School of Medicine, who was the lead author of the treatise, told CNN a viewpoint that "it is not yet known exactly how much neutralization reaction is needed to prevent the onset and infection of the new coronavirus. However, based on experience with other vaccines, the Pfizer vaccine is likely to be relatively effective against this variant. "

Separately, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Moderna had published a letter in the magazine explaining the results of the experiment that was reported last month. Similar to Pfizer's report, towards genetic manipulated B.1.351-like virus, the antibody response was reduced, but not to the extent that the vaccine was less effective.

It was said that about the mutant "B.1.1.1.7" first found in the UK, there was also no indication of a decrease in vaccine efficacy.

              So, it is nice to know that the vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer of the United States and BioNTech of Germany is still effective in dealing with Covid-19.

China Luckin Coffee filed for bankruptcy in the US – aims at reorganization by debt restructuring

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

 Business

中国ラッキンコーヒー、米で破産申請　債務整理で再建目指す

2021.02.07 Sun posted at 14:42 JST

ニューヨーク（ＣＮＮ Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓ） 中国のコーヒーチェーン「ラッキンコーヒー」は７日までに、米国で連邦破産法１５条の適用を申請したと発表した。

同社は声明で、申請により財務の改善や債務の整理などを図ると説明。日常の事業は続けるとし、約３６００店のカフェの営業は維持するともした。

連邦破産法１５条は、本拠がある国で経営再建を進める外国企業が米国内の資産を保護する目的で申請する。

同チェーンでは昨年４月、前最高執行責任者（ＣＯＯ）らが絡む売上高などの不正会計が発覚。翌月には前ＣＯＯと最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）が解任されてもいた。

数カ月後には米ナスダック市場からの上場廃止に追い込まれてもいた。米証券取引委員会（ＳＥＣ）は同年１２月、同社が直面する詐欺罪の和解案を示し、１億８０００万ドルの罰金も科していた。

ラッキンコーヒーは売上高の力強い成長を背景に２０１９年、ナスダックに上場。一時は米コーヒーチェーン大手「スターバックス」の競合相手になり得るとも目されていた。

Translation

New York (CNN Business) Chinese coffee chain "Luckin Coffee" announced on the 7th that it had applied for the application of Article 15 of the Federal Bankruptcy Law in the United States.

The company said in a statement that by applying, it would improve its finances and restructure its debt. It said that it would continue its daily business and would maintain the operation of about 3,600 cafes.

Article 15 of the Federal Bankruptcy Law was applicable for the purpose of protecting assets in the United States held by foreign companies that were doing restructuring in their country of origin.

In April of last year in this chain, fraudulent accounting practice such as sales involving the former Chief Operating Officer (COO) was discovered. In the following month, the former COO and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) were also dismissed.

 A few months later, it was forced to be delisted from the US Nasdaq market. In December of the same year, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) presented the company a settlement for the fraudulence charge it was facing, and the company was fined of $180 million.

Luckin Coffee was listed on the Nasdaq in 2019 against the backdrop of strong sales growth. At one point, it was also expected to be a competitor to the major US coffee chain Starbucks.

              So, there is a lesson to learn from the Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡) incident. A company can add a lot of locations and suddenly realizes that the demand for them does not exist. Many super-fast-growing companies usually collapse quickly in this way. The Chinese market is vastly different from the U.S.— it is far more like “Wild West”.

Note:

In April 2020 it was found out that Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡) in China had inflated its 2019 sales revenue by up to US$310 million. Trading was suspended and the company was delisted from NASDAQ on 29 June 2020.The company filed for bankruptcy in the US in February 2021.

India - More than half of residents in capital region had infection - a serum testing survey revealed

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

首都圏住民の半数以上が感染、血清調査で判明　インド

2021.02.04 Thu posted at 18:10 JST

（ＣＮＮ） インドのデリー首都圏政府は４日までに、首都圏の住民の半数以上が新型コロナウイルスに感染していたことが判明したとの大規模な血清調査の結果を発表した。

この種の調査は５回目で、首都圏政府のサティエンダル・ジャイン保健相は２日の記者会見で今回は住民の５６．１３％の抗体反応がわかったと説明。前回調査では２５～２６％だったとし、デリー首都圏の住民に集団免疫が形成されつつあることを意味すると主張した。

インド政府の統計によると、首都圏地域の総人口は１９００万人以上。

今回の調査はインド各州の中では最大の規模だったとし、今年１月１５～同２３日にかけ約２万８０００の検体を集め、分析した。

ジャイン保健相は１日当たりの新規感染者数や陽性率は下がっているとしながらも、住民に対しては警戒を引き続き怠らないよう要請。今後数カ月はマスク着用を維持するよう呼びかけ、過去２カ月の間、予防策の順守が大幅に改善したことを受け感染者数が飛躍的に減少する結果を目にしていると強調した。

「住民がマスク装着を続けてくれるのなら我々は今後数カ月内に新型コロナを全面的に制御出来るだろう」とも訴えた。

インドのコロナ禍は世界でも最悪級で、累計感染者数は１千万人を超え、犠牲者数は１５万人以上となっている。中央政府の保健省によると、先月１６日から始まったワクチン接種を終えた国民は４００万人以上に達した。

Translation

(CNN) – In India, its capital region Delhi government on the 4th announced the results of a large-scale serum survey. It was found that more than half of the residents in the metropolitan area had once been infected with the new coronavirus.

This was the fifth survey of this kind, and Health Minister Satyendar Jain of the capital metropolitan government explained at a press conference on the 2nd that this time 56.13% of the residents had antibody reaction. In the previous survey it was 25-26%. He suggested it meant that herd immunity had been formed in the residents of the capital region of Delhi.

According to the statistics of the Indian government, the total population of the metropolitan area was more than 19 million.

This survey was said to be the largest of all Indian states, and from January 15 to 23 this year about 28,000 samples were collected and analyzed.

Health Minister Jain urged residents to remain vigilant, even though the number of new infections and positive rates per day were declining. He called on people to keep wearing masks for the next few months, stressing that over the past two months he had seen a dramatic reduction in the number of infected people as a result of significant improvements in preventive compliance.

He also appealed that "if the residents continue to wear masks, we will have full control over the new corona in the coming months."

India's corona virus was one of the worst in the world, with a cumulative total of over 10 million people infected and more than 150,000 victims. According to the central government's Ministry of Health, more than 4 million people had completed their vaccination that began on the 16th of last month.

              It is nice to know that India over the past two months has dramatically reduced the number of infection as a result of improvements in preventive compliance. Also, herd immunity has been formed among the residents in the capital region of Delhi.

委內瑞拉- 100,000劑量俄羅斯衛星五號疫苗抵達

Recently Yahoo news on-line reported the following:

100,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine arrive in Venezuela

Reuters Sat., February 13, 2021, 11:40 a.m.

CARACAS (Reuters) - The first 100,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine arrived in Venezuela on Saturday.

In a tweet, President Nicolas Maduro said medical and health personnel would be the first to receive the vaccine, "given their exposure to COVID-19."

The vaccines arrived at Caracas' international airport on a special flight from Moscow on Conviasa airlines, Venezuela's state carrier, according to Reuters witnesses and images shown by state television VTV.

"Here is the vaccine to serve the most vulnerable sectors with the highest priority, health personnel, for example; it is a vaccine that addresses the most grave cases of patients with morbidities," said Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

"It is a vaccine that seeks to reduce community transmission," she added.

Maduro has previously said after healthcare workers, "vulnerable sectors" would be next in line, followed by teachers.

For months Venezuela's government has said the South American country would receive 10 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine, although the vaccine's maker has not confirmed that figure.

In addition to Sputnik V, the Pan American Health Organization's chief of mission said last week that between 1.4 million and 2.4 million doses of the AstraZeneca Plc vaccine had been reserved for Venezuela. At $10 per dose, those vaccines would cost between $140 million and $240 million.

Venezuelan government officials and opposition leaders have met to discuss buying coronavirus vaccines through the international COVAX program using cash frozen in the United States by economic sanctions, but no deal has been made.

In a Thursday evening state television appearance, Maduro said the government was working on a $300 million deal with the Pan American Health Organization for vaccine supplies, but did not provide details.

Authorities on Friday reported 132,259 coronavirus cases in the country and 1,267 deaths, but medical unions and opponents have said the figure is likely higher.

The government has authorized a relaxation of the national quarantine for two weeks for the next Carnival holiday.

Translation

卡拉卡斯（路透社）- 俄羅斯的衛星五號(Sputnik V)冠狀病毒疫苗的首批100,000劑於週六抵達委內瑞拉。

總統尼古拉斯·馬杜羅（Nicolas Maduro）在一條推文中說，“鑑於醫護人員曝露於COVID-19”，他們將率先接種該疫苗。

根據路透社的目擊者和國家電視台VTV顯示的圖像，這些疫苗是乘坐委內瑞拉國家航空公司Conviasa的特殊航班, 由莫斯科抵達加拉加斯國際機場。

副總統Delcy Rodriguez說：“這疫苗是服務最容易受感染的羣體, 提供最有優先的人, 例如醫護人員；這裡的疫苗是醫治患有最嚴重疾病或醫療狀況的人。”

又補充說：“這是一種旨在減少社區傳播的疫苗。”

馬杜羅此前曾表示，在醫護人員之後，“弱勢羣體”將緊隨其後，其次是教師。

委內瑞拉政府幾個月來一直表示，南美國家將接受1000萬劑衛星五號疫苗，儘管該疫苗製造商尚未確認這一數字。

除了衛星五號外，泛美洲衛生組織（Pan American Health Organisation）的行動負責人上週表示，委內瑞拉已預留了140萬至240萬劑阿斯利康Plc疫苗。以每劑10美元的價格，這些疫苗將花費1.4億至2.4億美元。

委內瑞拉政府官員和反對派領導人開會討論通過國際COVAX計劃購買冠狀病毒疫苗，並使用被美國經濟制裁而凍結在美國的現金，但未達成任何協議。

馬杜羅在周四晚上在國家電視台露面時說，政府正在與泛美洲衛生組織達成一項價值3億美元的疫苗供應協議，但未提供細節。

上週五，當局報告了該國132,259例冠狀病毒病例和1,267例死亡，但工會和反對者表示，這一數字可能更高。

政府已批准在將來到的狂歡節假期放寬國家檢疫兩個星期。

President Nicolas Maduro is a friend of Russia, so it is normal that he will receive vaccine from the latter. The same situation can be said about Cambodia and China. It is nice to know that countries can buy coronavirus vaccines through the international COVAX program.

日本向英國表示關注中國的新海事法

Yahoo News on-line recently reported the following:

Japan expresses concern to UK over new Chinese maritime law

MARI YAMAGUCHI

Associated Press Wed., February 3, 2021, 6:09 a.m.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's foreign minister and defense minister expressed strong concern to their British counterparts on Wednesday over a new Chinese maritime law that took effect two days earlier.

“Japan is staying alert and paying close attention to its effect on us,” Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said in online talks between the two sides. "I believe the law should not be used in a way that violates international law.”

Japan sees China’s escalating influence and military activity in the region as a security threat and has been stepping up defense cooperation with the U.S., Australia, Southeast Asian countries, as well as Britain.

The new Chinese Coast Guard Law, which increases the possibility of clashes with regional rivals, empowers the force to “take all necessary measures, including the use of weapons, when national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon by foreign organizations or individuals at sea.”

It also authorizes the coast guard to demolish other countries’ structures built on areas claimed by China and to seize or order foreign vessels illegally entering China’s territorial waters to leave.

“We would like to share our strong concern with you” about the law, Motegi, accompanied by Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, told British counterparts Dominic Raab and Ben Wallace, who joined them from London.

China's coast guard is active near disputed East China Sea islands controlled by Japan but claimed by Beijing. China also claims virtually the entire South China Sea.

The coast guard's activities have brought it into frequent contact with the Japanese coast guard and air force.

In a joint statement released after the talks, the ministers expressed “serious concerns" about the rising tension in the regional seas and urged all parties “to exercise self-restraint and refrain from activities likely to raise tensions, in particular militarization and coercion.”

They also expressed “grave concerns” over China’s crackdown on opposition in Hong Kong and “gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang,” according to the statement.

The ministers also agreed to deepen defense and security cooperation between Japan and Britain to ensure a “free and open Indo-Pacific” vision that Japan promotes with the U.S., Australia and India to counter China.

Japan and Britain are jointly developing an air-to-air missile defense system and increasing the inter-operability of defense equipment and technology as their troops work together more closely.

Kishi welcomed the planned dispatch of a British aircraft carrier strike group this year to East Asia as part of Britain’s growing commitment to the region.

Wallace said the Asia visit for the strike group, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, was “the most significant Royal Navy deployment in a generation.”

The British government, which is seeking to boost the country’s global profile after Brexit, said the U.K.-Japan meeting was part of an “Indo-Pacific tilt” toward Asian allies.

Raab said the new focus “demonstrates our shared priorities and common strategic interests from maritime security to climate change and free trade.”

Translation

東京（美聯社）-日本外交大臣和防衛大臣週三對英國官員透露他們強烈關注兩天前生效的一項新的中國海商法。

外交大臣茂木敏充在雙方之間的在線對話中表示：“日本保持警惕，並密切關注其對我們的影響” ;“我認為該法律的使用方式不應違反國際法。”

日本認為中國在該地區不斷擴大的影響力和軍事活動是一個安全威脅，並一直在加強與美國，澳大利亞，東南亞國家以及英國的國防合作。

新的《中國海岸警衛隊法》，授權其部隊“在外國組織非法侵犯國家完整，主權和管轄權的情況下, 向海上的團體或個人，採取一切必要措施，包括使用武器”” 。 它增加了與地區競爭對手發生衝突的可能性。

它還授權海岸警衛隊拆除在中國聲稱擁有的地區上建造的其他國家的建築物，並沒收或命令非法進入中國領海的外國船隻離開。

外交大臣茂木敏充在國防部長岸信夫的陪同下向從英國來到的 Dominic Raab 和 Ben Wallace說“希望與您分享我們的強烈關注” 。

中國的海岸警衛隊活躍在日本控制但北京宣稱擁有主權的有爭議的東海諸島附近。中國也宣稱擁有整個南中國海。

中國海岸警衛隊的活動使其經常與日本海岸警衛隊和空軍接觸。

在會談後發表的聯合聲明中，部長們對地區海洋緊張局勢加劇表示“嚴重關切”，並敦促各方“保持克制，不要進行可能加劇緊張局勢的活動，特別是軍事化和脅迫”。

聲明還說，他們對中國鎮壓香港的反對派以及“對新疆維吾爾族人和其他少數民族實施的嚴重侵犯人權行為”表示“嚴重關切”。

部長們還同意深化日本和英國之間的國防與安全合作，以保障日本與美國，澳大利亞和印度提倡的“自由和開放的印度太平洋”構想，以應對中國。

隨著日英兩國的部隊之間更加緊密的合作, 它們正在共同開發一種空對空導彈防禦系統，來提高防禦設備和技術的互相操作性。

岸信夫對英國計劃今年向東亞派遣一個航母攻擊群表示歡迎，這是英國對該地區不斷作出的承諾的一部分。

Wallace說，由皇家航母伊麗莎白女王號率領攻擊群在亞洲的訪問是 “這一代人中最重要的皇家海軍部署” 。

英國政府試圖在英國退歐後提高其全球形象。英國政府表示，英日會議是面向亞洲盟友的“印太傾斜”的一部分。

Raab說: 新重點是 “證明了我們對從海上安全, 到氣候變化和自由貿易的共同優先事項, 和共同戰略利益。”

              So, Britain and Japan have tightened their connection in view of China’s expansion. It seems that France has also increased its military presence in the region recently. While China has just disengaged itself from the China-India border dispute and reduced a cause for conflict, the chance for someone to fire the first shot at sea is on the rise.

Chinese submarine crews - tend to have more mental health problems - a research result unusually announced

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

中国軍の潜水艦乗組員、精神衛生に著しい問題抱える傾向　異例の研究結果発表

2021.02.02 Tue posted at 12:51 JST

香港（ＣＮＮ） 南シナ海で任務に当たる中国軍の潜水艦の乗組員のうち５人に１人以上が精神衛生の問題を報告していることが新たな研究で分かった。中国軍内でも最も厳重な水準での保護下にある潜水艦部隊について、内部の分析が公開されるのは異例だ。

研究は中国の第二軍医大学などが行ったもので、英国の軍事医学誌に掲載された。それによると、潜水艦の乗組員で重度の精神的問題を抱えた人の割合は人民解放軍全体と比較してはるかに高かった。

研究者らは「今回の研究で初めて明らかになったことだが、南シナ海で展開する潜水艦部隊の兵士並びに将校は精神衛生のリスクに直面しており、深刻な心理的問題に苦しんでいる」と結論付けた。

研究では中国海軍南シナ海艦隊の潜水艦部隊に所属する男性乗組員５８０人を調査し、５１１人から回答を得た。その結果、全般的な精神衛生の状態は人民解放軍の兵士全体よりやや悪い程度だったが、不安、恐怖症、偏執症、（精神的問題の）身体化の４つの領域に関しては全体よりも著しく悪化している状況が明らかになった。

中国政府は南シナ海のほぼすべての範囲で領有権を主張し、２０１４年以降、岩礁や砂州に人工島を建設。ミサイルや滑走路などを配置して軍事拠点化を進めている。同じく南シナ海の領有権を主張する周辺各国の政府はこの動きに反発しているほか、米国政府も中国の主張を認めず、定期的に海軍艦や軍用機を域内に派遣している。

こうした南シナ海の軍事情勢が、潜水艦部隊内での精神衛生問題の悪化につながっていると研究者らは見ている。

米軍の派遣に対応する形で中国軍も南シナ海での軍事活動を増やしており、所属の潜水艦は２～３カ月潜航を続けることもある。乗組員は狭く、閉ざされた空間で、過剰な騒音にも悩まされながら日々を過ごすと研究者らは指摘する。

騒音で十分な睡眠がとれなくなるほか、人工の光を常に浴び続ける状況も精神衛生の問題を引き起こすことにつながるという。

研究者らはまた、高学歴の乗組員の方がより精神的な問題を抱える傾向があると分析。理由としては教育水準の低い乗組員に比べて孤立した環境で心理的重圧を和らげる方法が身についていないこと、自由や社会とのつながりを求める気持ちが強いことなどが考えられるとしている。

さらに原子力潜水艦の乗組員の方が通常動力の潜水艦より問題が深刻化しているとも述べた。任務中の事故や放射線が健康に及ぼす影響について一段と大きな不安を感じる傾向があるためだという。

Translation

Hong Kong (CNN) -- A new study found that more than one in five Chinese submarine crew members on duty in the South China Sea had reported mental health problems. It was unusual for an internal analysis of a submarine unit, which was under the strictest level of protection within the Chinese military, being published.

The study was conducted by the Second Military Medical University in China and was published in the British Military Medical Journal. According to a report, the proportion of submarine crew members with severe mental problems was much higher than that of the PLA as a whole.

Researchers attached a conclusion that "for the first time, this study shows that soldiers and officers of submarine units deployed in the South China Sea are facing mental health risks, and are suffering from serious psychological problems."

The study surveyed 580 male crew members of a submarine unit of the Chinese Navy's South China Sea fleet, and received responses from 511. As a result, it was made known that their overall mental hygiene was slightly worse than that of overall PLA soldiers. Significantly the situation was getting worse than the overall in the four areas:  anxiety, phobia, paranoia, and physicalization (of mental problems).

The Chinese government had claimed sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and built artificial islands on reefs and sandbars since 2014. The establishment of  military bases with missiles and runway were in progress. Governments in neighboring countries that also claimed sovereignty over the South China Sea were opposing to this move. The US government did not acknowledge China's claim and regularly dispatched naval vessels and military aircrafts to the region.

Researchers believed that this military situation in the South China Sea had led to the worsening of mental health problems within submarine units.

Chinese troops were also increasing their military activities in the South China Sea in response to the dispatching of US troops, and their submarines might continue to dive for two to three months. Researchers pointed out that the crew spent their days in a small, closed space, and were suffering from the excessive noise.

The noise made it impossible to get enough sleep, and the constant exposure to artificial light also caused mental health problems.

Researchers also analyzed that the highly educated crew members tend to have more mental problems. The reasons could be that they did not have a way to relieve psychological pressure in an isolated environment compared to those less educated crew members, and that they had a strong desire for freedom and connection with the society.

It was said that the crew of nuclear submarines were more problematic than normally powered submarines. The reasons were the tendency to feel more anxious about the effects of accidents and radiation on health during the mission.

              Usually, this type of military information would be regarded as a national security secret for mainland China. I am interested to know what is the intention for China to release the report.

疫苗外交：印度尋求進行廣泛輸出以抗衡中國

Recently Yahoo news on-line reported the following:

Vaccine diplomacy: India seeks to rival China with broad shipments

Sanjeev Miglani

Reuters Sun., February 7, 2021, 2:56 a.m.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has approved the shipment of COVID-19 vaccine to Cambodia and plans to supply Mongolia and Pacific Island states, officials said on Sunday, as supplies arrived in Afghanistan - all part of the country's widening vaccine diplomacy.

Seeking to steal a march over rival Asian giant China, which has also promised to deliver shots, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been giving nearby countries millions of doses of the locally made AstraZeneca PLC vaccine, even as its domestic immunisation programme has just begun.

Modi is using India's strength as the world's biggest maker of vaccines for various diseases to improve regional ties and push back against China's political and economic dominance.

New Delhi has approved 100,000 doses for Cambodia on an urgent basis following a request to Modi from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, India's envoy to Phnom Penh said.

Cambodia is an important ally of China, which is expected to provide a million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, mainly developed by state firm Sinopharm.

"The supply has been assured through the Serum Institute of India despite innumerable competing requests from partner countries and our commitment to our domestic population," said Ambassador Devyani Khobragade.

India has given doses to Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives to help them get started with frontline workers as part of its Vaccine Friendship initiative.

On Sunday it sent 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Afghanistan, the first to arrive in the war-ravaged country, which is still waiting for emergency approval from the World Health Organization to administer them.

India has invested millions of dollars in Afghanistan over the years in an expansive effort seen as pushing back against arch rival Pakistan's influence in the country. "The vaccines are being provided on a grant basis," a government source said.

So far, India had supplied 15.6 million doses of the vaccine to 17 countries either through donations or commercial contracts, said foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava.

Consignments will be sent to Mongolia, Caribbean countries and Pacific Island states in the coming weeks, he said. "External supplies are an ongoing process, depending on availability and domestic requirement," he said.

India, which has the world's second-highest caseload of coronavirus, plans to immunise 300 million people by August. It vaccinated about 3 million healthcare workers in the first two weeks of the campaign that began on Jan. 16 and will need to step up the pace to meet the summer target.

Translation

新德里（路透社）- 印度官員們週日表示，隨著疫苗供應到達阿富汗，印度已批准將COVID-19疫苗運往柬埔寨，又計劃向蒙古和太平洋島國輸送。這是該國擴大其疫苗外交的部分內容。

總理納倫德拉·莫迪（Narendra Modi）的政府試圖通過輸送疫苗, 在與亞洲大國中國的競爭獲得優勢, 儘管中國已承諾會輸出疫苗。即使印度國內免疫計劃只剛剛開始，印度政府仍在向附近國家提供數百萬劑本地生產的阿斯利康PLC疫苗。

莫迪正在利用印度作為世界上最大的各種疾病疫苗生產國的實力, 去改善地區聯繫並反抗中國的政治和經濟主導地位。

印度駐金邊特使說, 在柬埔寨總理洪森緊急要求莫迪之下，新德里已緊急批准向柬埔寨提供十萬劑量。

中國是柬埔寨的重要盟友，預計將提供一百萬劑COVID-19疫苗, 主要是由國營國藥集團研發出来。

Devyani Khobragade大使說： “儘管合作夥伴國家提出了無數相互競逐的要求，而且我們又要面對國內人民的承諾，但印度通過Serum 研究所確保了這供應。”

作為“疫苗友誼計劃”的一部分，印度已向緬甸，孟加拉國，尼泊爾，斯里蘭卡和馬爾代夫施藥，以幫助他們的一線工作人員開始運作。

在星期日，它向阿富汗運送了500,000劑阿斯利康疫苗。這是第一個到達阿富汗 -  一個飽受戰爭蹂躪的國家。阿富汗仍在等待世界衛生組織的緊急批准來進行注射。

多年來，印度已在阿富汗投入了數百萬美元，這是一項巨大的努力，被視為是在對抗其主要對手的影響。政府消息人士說：“疫苗是在贈款的基礎上提供的。”

外交部發言人Anurag Srivastava表示，到目前為止，印度已經通過捐贈或商業合同向17個國家提供了1,560萬劑疫苗。

他說，藥物將在未來幾週內寄往蒙古，加勒比海國家和太平洋島國。他又說：“外部供應是一個持續的過程，取決於供應情況和國內需求。”

印度有世界上第二高的冠狀病毒病例，計劃到八月止為3億人提供免疫接種。自1月16日開始的接種運動的兩週内，它為約300萬醫護人員接種了疫苗，並需要加快步伐以實現夏季目標。

              So, “Vaccine diplomacy” would become a new term to describe the flow and distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. It is interesting to know that China and India are competing in this respect.

PepsiCo and Beyond Meat - became partner to develop plant-derived products

  Recently CNN.co.jo reported the following

Business

ペプシコとビヨンド・ミート、植物由来製品の開発で提携

2021.01.27 Wed posted at 15:58 JST

ニューヨーク（ＣＮＮ Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓ） 米ペプシコと植物由来の肉製品の製造などを手掛けるビヨンド・ミートが植物由来のたんぱく質を使ったスナック類や飲料の開発・販売で提携したことがわかった。

ビヨンド・ミートは今回の提携により、世界市場への販売網やマーケティング能力を利用できるようになる。ビヨンド・ミートの広報担当は、今回の提携によって分野を増やしたり、新製品をより素早く市場に投入できたりするようになると述べた。将来は中国や英国といった市場への参入も視野に入れているという。

スイスの金融大手ＵＢＳのアナリストは、これまでのビヨンド・ミートのマーケティングはＳＮＳが主でわずかなものだったと指摘。ペプシコとの提携でマーケティングが新しい水準に引き上げられ、より多くの顧客を呼び込めるようになるとの見通しを示した。

調査会社グローバルデータは、植物由来製品に対する消費者の需要は販売に影響を与えるほど大きく、植物由来の代替製品の市場は拡大し続けていると指摘。より多くの消費者が自然と植物由来製品に引き寄せられるなか、植物由来スナックの既存の選択肢を広げるというペプシコの決断は長期的にみて市場に大きな変化をもたらす可能性があるという。

Translation

New York (CNN Business) -- It was revealed that PepsiCo in the US and Beyond Meat which handled the manufacturing of plant-derived meat products had entered partnership to develop and sell snacks and beverages using plant-derived protein.

With this partnership, Beyond Meat could gain access to global market network and marketing capabilities. A Beyond Meat spokeswoman said the partnership would increase its realm and bring new products to market faster. In the future, it might also consider entering markets such as China and the United Kingdom.

Analysts at UBS, a Swiss financial giant, pointed out that Beyond Meat's marketing so far had been SNS-dominated and was insignificant. The partnership with PepsiCo was expected to take marketing to a new level and attract more customers.

Global Data, a research firm, pointed out that consumer demand for plant-derived products would be large enough to affect sales, and the market for plant-derived alternative products continued to expand. PepsiCo's decision to expand existing options for plant-derived snacks could make a big difference in the market in the long run, as more consumers would be naturally attracted to plant-derived products.

              So, PepsiCo is diversifying its product and taping into the Green concept. I am interested to know whether Coca-Cola will do something in response.

Note:

a. Beyond Meat is a Los Angeles-based producer of plant-based meat substitutes founded in 2009 by Ethan Brown. The company's initial products were launched in the United States in 2012. The company has products designed to simulate beef, meatballs, ground meat, and pork sausage etc.

中國狂買伊朗石油 - 在油輪被扣押後成為焦點

Recently Yahoo news on-line reported the following:

China’s Binge on Iranian Oil in Focus Following Tanker Seizures

Bloomberg News

Bloomberg Wed., January 27, 2021, 10:39 p.m.

(Bloomberg) -- An increase in Iranian oil exports to China has received some unwanted attention in recent days and is now prompting fears of a clampdown.

Indonesia seized two vessels -- one of which was Iranian-flagged -- on Sunday that were transferring oil at sea, a common way to disguise the origin of cargoes. That came after Washington issued a seizure order for what it believes is 2 million barrels of Iranian crude on board a tanker heading to the U.S.

The actions have highlighted a jump in Iranian oil production that’s happening amid speculation President Joe Biden will take a softer approach to the country than his predecessor, who imposed sanctions in an attempt to get Tehran to renegotiate a nuclear pact. Companies including Kpler, Petro-Logistics SA and SVB International LLC have all reported seeing an increase in shipments.

China is the fastest-growing importer of the oil both directly and via ship transfers and co-mingling of Iranian crude with other Persian Gulf varieties, Citigroup Inc. analysts including Ed Morse said in a note. Tanker tracking groups have reported Iranian weekly crude exports rising to more than 1 million barrels a day at times even before the end of last year, Citi said.

The purchases of Iranian crude -- sometimes branded as Omani oil -- have depressed Oman crude prices on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange, traders said. There’s been an uptick in buying inquiries for alternative Brazilian grades in the past week and an improvement in offer prices, they said.

While the exact volumes of Chinese purchases are hard to pin down, the country has kept buying cargoes from Iran and Venezuela, which has also had access to its oil restricted by the U.S. Domestic refiners that continue to buy sanctioned crude tend to keep a low profile for fear of being singled out and cut off from the American banking system, according to the traders.

China imported 519,000 metric tons of Iranian crude in December, almost double that in October and November, according to customs data. It hasn’t bought any Venezuelan oil since September 2019, the official figures show. Purchases from Malaysia, some of which may have been from ship-to-ship transfers, exceeded 1 million tons in November and December.

Iran is starting the year as the “biggest wildcard” for oil prices, Citigroup’s Morse said in the note. There’s unlikely to be a renegotiation of the nuclear deal or sanctions relief from the U.S. until August when a new Iranian government is in place after elections in May, he said.

Translation

 （彭博）- 伊朗對中國的石油出口增加在最近幾天引起了一些不必要的關注，現在正引發擔憂製裁。

印尼週日拘留了兩艘正在海上轉移石油的船隻，其中一艘是懸掛伊朗國旗的，這是掩蓋貨物來源的一種常見方式。在此之前，華盛頓方面發布了扣押令，認為一艘油輪上的200萬桶伊朗原油正在前往美國。

這些行動突顯出伊朗石油產量的大幅增長，這是因為外界猜測，美國總統喬·拜登將對該國採取比他的前任更柔和的態度，前任作出制裁是為了迫使德黑蘭重新談判核協議。一些公司包括Kpler, Logistics SA和SVB International LLC均報告指出運貨量增加。

花旗集團（Citigroup Inc.）分析師包括Ed Morse在內在一份通告中稱，中國是直接或通過船舶轉讓,以及透過混合伊朗原油與其他波斯灣石油品種, 而成為石油增長最快的進口國。花旗稱，油輪跟踪組通告稱甚至在去年年底之前，石油单日数量有時甚至超過了100萬桶。

交易商稱，購買伊朗原油（有時被冠以阿曼石油的商標）壓低了迪拜商品交易所的阿曼原油價格，他們說, 過去一周購買巴西原油作代替品的詢盤有所增加，報價也有所上漲，。

儘管很難確定中國的確切採購量，但該國一直在從伊朗和委內瑞拉購買物品，有機会接觸伊朗和委內瑞拉已受美國所限制的石油。交易員稱，由於擔心自己會被单挑出受查而隔離出美國銀行體系, 中國國內繼續購買經認可的原油的煉油廠,往往保持低調。

根據海關數據，中國去年12月進口了519,000公噸伊朗原油，幾乎是10月和11月的兩倍。官方數據顯示，自2019年9月以來，該國從未購買過任何委內瑞拉石油。從馬來西亞購買, 部分來自船到船的轉運，在11月和12月超過了100萬噸。

花旗集團的Morse在報告中稱，伊朗將在今年的開始成為油價的“最大無法預測因素” 。他說, 伊朗在五月份大選後新政府成立後，要直到8月才可能重新談判核協議, 或被美國解除製裁。

              So, China is increasing its import of Iranian oil and the political situation in Iran could be a factor of oil price in 2021. It is the first time for me to know that Brazilian grades are popular for the Chinese.

Note:

According to people in the crude oil trade, Brazilian grades remain popular across China, with output of Buzios to double at the end of 2019.

Assets of wealthy US people increased by 114 trillion yen - the gap between rich and poor is further widened with the new corona

CNN.co.jp reported the following:

 Business

米富裕層の資産、１１４兆円増　新型コロナで貧富の格差さらに拡大

2021.01.27 Wed posted at 13:13 JST

ニューヨーク（ＣＮＮ Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓ） 新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大が続く米国で、数百万人が貧困に陥る一方で、富裕層の資産が急増している。

米政策研究所（ＩＰＳ）と税の公正推進団体ＡＴＦが２６日に発表した報告書によると、米国で資産１０億ドル超の億万長者の資産は昨年３月中旬以来、合計で１兆１０００億ドル（約１１４兆円）増（約４０％増）となった。

富裕層は昨年春からの損失を取り戻しただけでなく、資産を大幅に増やしている。これは主に株価の高騰によるもので、米電気自動車大手テスラのイーロン・マスク最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）だけでも、テスラ株の急騰に支えられて資産が１５５０億ドル増えた。

世界保健機関（ＷＨＯ）が新型コロナウイルスの世界的なパンデミック（世界的大流行）を宣言した１週間後の昨年３月１８日以来、資産１０億ドルを超えて億万長者の仲間入りをした富裕層は４６人に上る。

パンデミックの影響で、米国の格差は一層の拡大が続く。資産が急増した富裕層とは対照的に、貧困層は金銭的苦境に陥っている。その多くはパンデミックの最前線にいて、仕事を失ったり賃金をカットされたりしている。

米国の億万長者６６０人の資産は合計で４兆１０００億ドルに達し、米国の人口の下位５０％が保有する資産合計の３分の２以上となっている。

米シカゴ大学などの推計によると、米国では２０２０年後半の半年の間に、８００万人以上が貧困に陥った。

Translation

New York (CNN Business) - In the United States, where the epidemic of the new coronavirus continued to spread, millions of people were in poverty while the asset of the wealthy group was skyrocketing.

According to a report released on the 26th by the US Policy Research Institute (IPS) together with a tax fair promotion organization ATF, billionaires with over $ 1 billion in assets in the United States had an increase in wealth totaling 100 million (about 114 trillion yen or about a 40 % increase) since mid-March last year.

The wealthy group had not only regained their losses since last spring, but had also significantly increased their wealth. This was primarily due to soaring stock prices, with Tesla's CEO Elon Musk alone gaining $ 155 billion in assets, supported by a surge in Tesla shares.

Wealthy people who owned over $ 1 billion in asset would be counted into the billionaire group. Since March 18th last year, a week after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic of the new coronavirus, 46 people joined the group.

Due to the pandemic, inequality in the United States would continue to widen. In contrast to the wealthy people whose asset skyrocketed, the poor were in financial distress. Many were at the forefront of pandemics, losing jobs and cutting wages.

The total wealth of the 660 billionaires in the United States was $ 4.1 trillion, more than two-thirds of the total wealth held by the bottom 50% of the US population.

According to estimates by the University of Chicago and others, more than 8 million people in the United States fell into poverty during the second half of 2020.

              So, while it is a fact that that in the United States, millions of people are in poverty while the wealth of the wealthy group is skyrocketing, I am wondering how the wealth increase of the former could directly or indirectly affect or relate to the latter. In a capitalistic economy, the wealthy people are subject to higher taxation as one of the many ways to balance the inequality of wealth distribution.

柬埔寨從主要盟友中國獲得首批COVID-19疫苗

Recently Yahoo new on-line reported the following:

Cambodia gets first COVID-19 vaccine from key ally China

SOPHENG CHEANG

Associated Press Sun., February 7, 2021, 4:29 a.m.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia on Sunday received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine, a donation of 600,000 doses from China, the country’s biggest ally.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, his senior Cabinet members and Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian were at Phnom Penh International Airport for a reception ceremony for the Sinopharm vaccine carried by a Chinese Air Force flight.

Hun Sen had announced that he would be the first person to be vaccinated, but backtracked last week, saying the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine was effective only for people aged between 18 and 59, while he is 68.

He said Sunday at the airport that he would urge younger members of his family, as well as top officials and generals under 60, to get vaccinated Wednesday as an example to the public.

China, were [sic] the virus was first found in late 2019, has been making such donations to several nations in what has been dubbed “vaccine diplomacy,” aimed especially at poorer countries like Cambodia

China is Cambodia’s biggest investor and closest political partner, and provides Hun Sen critical support that he is denied by Western nations, which maintain cool relations because they judge his government to be repressive. Cambodia in turn backs Beijing’s geopolitical positions in international forums on issues such as China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Chine recently announced it would give Cambodia 1 million doses of the vaccine produced by Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., but a date for delivering the rest of the promised amount has not yet been set.

Cambodia has recorded 474 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with no deaths.

Hun Sen said earlier this month that Cambodia seeks to reserve 20 million vaccine doses to inoculate 10 million people, roughly two-thirds of its total population

He said that so far, Cambodia had received pledges of assistance that would allow it to acquire 11 million doses.

In addition to the 1 million doses from China, Australia has announced a grant of $28 million to purchase 3 million vaccine doses, and it is also set to get 7 million doses through the WHO’s COVAX initiative.

Cambodian Health Minister Mam Bunheng has said his ministry is allowing use of the Sinopharm vaccine under emergency authorization but did not say when mass vaccinations would begin.

Chinese army specialists came to Cambodia ahead of the vaccine to provide instructions on its storage, transport and usage.

Translation

柬埔寨金邊（AP）— 柬埔寨週日收到了第一批COVID-19疫苗，這是該國的最大盟友中國捐贈的60萬劑。

總理洪森 (Hun Sen)，與其高級內閣成員和中國大使王文田(Wang Wentian)在金邊國際機場舉行了由中國空軍飛行攜帶的國藥疫苗的接收儀式。

洪森曾經宣布自己將是第一個接受疫苗注射的人，但上週撤回宣布，他說中國製造的國藥疫苗僅對18歲至59歲之間的人有效，而他是68歲。

他週日在機場說，他將敦促家人的年輕成員以及60歲以下的高級官員和將軍們在周三接種疫苗，以向公眾示範。

在中國, 該病毒是在2019年底被首次發現。中國一直在向幾個國家捐贈疫苗，特別是針對柬埔寨等較貧窮的國家, 被稱為“疫苗外交” 。

中國是柬埔寨最大的投資國和最密切的政治夥伴，並向洪森提供了至關重要而西方國家拒絕給予的支持。因為西方國家認為他的政府是一個鎮壓政府, 故保持冰冷的關係。柬埔寨作出回報, 在國際論壇上支持北京的地緣政治立場, 例如在中國在南的領土主張等問題上。

中國最近宣布將向柬埔寨提供100萬劑北京生物製品研究所生產的疫苗，但尚未承諾其余劑量的提供日期。

柬埔寨已記錄得474例確診的冠狀病毒病例，沒有死亡個案。

洪森本月早些時候表示，柬埔寨尋求儲備2000萬劑疫苗，以接種1000萬人，約佔其總人口的三分之二。

他說，到目前為止，柬埔寨已收到援助承諾，將獲得1100萬劑。

柬埔寨除了來自中國的100萬劑疫苗，澳大利亞亦有宣布撥款2800萬美元購買300萬劑疫苗，而且柬埔寨還將通過世界衛生組織的COVAX計劃獲得700萬劑疫苗。

柬埔寨衛生部長Mam Bunheng表示，他的部門允許在緊急授權下使用國藥疫苗，但沒有透露何時開始大規模疫苗接種。

中國軍隊專家在射疫苗來到柬埔寨之前已抵達，以提供有關其儲存，運輸和使用的指導。

              So, China is giving out the Covid-19 vaccine to its alliance. It is interesting to know that Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine is effective only for people aged between 18 and 59.

Note:

COVAX is the abbreviation of “COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access”. It is a global effort that aims at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. It is formed by organizations such as  the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), together with others.

英國為香港居民提供公民入籍之路，激怒中國

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

HK News

UK offers Hong Kong residents a route to citizenship, angering China

Yew Lun Tian and William James

Reuters Fri., January 29, 2021, 12:06 a.m.

BEIJING/LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Friday hailed a new visa offering Hong Kong citizens a route to citizenship after China's crackdown but Beijing said it would no longer recognise special British passports offered to residents of the former colony.

Britain and China have been bickering for months about what London and Washington say is an attempt to silence dissent in Hong Kong, though Beijing says the West's views are clouded by misinformation and an imperial hangover.

Britain says it is fulfilling a historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong after China imposed a tough new security law on the city that Britain says breaches the terms of agreements to hand the colony back in 1997.

"I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BN(O)s to live, work and make their home in our country," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, referring to a special British National Overseas (BNO) passport.

"In doing so we have honoured our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and we have stood up for freedom and autonomy – values both the UK and Hong Kong hold dear."

But China and the Hong Kong government hit back by saying neither would recognise the BNO passport as a valid travel document from Jan. 31

"Britain is trying to turn large numbers of Hong Kong people into second-class British citizens. This has completely changed the original nature of BNO," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing.

Beijing's decision not to recognize the travel document is largely symbolic as Hong Kong residents would not normally use their BNO passports to travel to the mainland. A BNO passport holder in Hong Kong could still use their Hong Kong passport or identity card.

Beijing's imposition of a national security law in the former British colony in June last year prompted Britain to offer refuge to almost 3 million Hong Kong residents eligible for the BNO passport from Jan. 31.

The scheme, first announced last year, opens on Sunday and allows those with "British National (Overseas)" status to live, study and work in Britain for five years and eventually apply for citizenship.

BN(O) is a special status created under British law in 1987 that specifically relates to Hong Kong.

The new 250 pound ($340) visa could attract more than 300,000 people and their dependents to Britain and generate up to 2.9 billion pounds of net benefit to the British economy over the next five years, according to government forecasts.

From around midday on Sunday, eligible applicants can apply online and book an appointment to register their fingerprints at a visa application centre. From Feb. 23 some will be able to make the application via a smartphone app.

It is still highly uncertain how many people will actually take up the offer. The government estimates that 2.9 million people and a further 2.3 million dependents will be eligible to come to Britain.

Translation

北京/倫敦（路透社）- 英國上週五迎接來一項新簽證，為中國的鎮壓後, 向香港公民提供獲得國籍之途徑，但北京方面表示將不再承認向前殖民向地居民提供的特殊英國護照。

數月來，英國和中國一直在爭辯倫敦和華盛頓所說的企圖使香港持不同政見者沉默的做法，儘管北京方面表示，西方的見解因錯誤消息和帝國主義的宿醉而糊塗了。

英國表示，在中國對香港實施強硬的新安全法之後，英國正在履行對香港人的歷史性和道義上承諾。英國表示，該全法違反了1997年移交殖民地的協議條款。

總理鮑里斯·約翰遜(Boris Johnson) 在提到特殊的英國國民海外（BNO）護照時說：“我為我們給在香港的英國公民（海外）人提供了一條新途徑可在我國生活，工作和安居而感到無比自豪。”

“通過這樣做，我們尊崇我們與香港人民的深厚歷史聯繫和友誼，並且我們捍衛自由和自治 : 一個英國和香港均珍視的價值。”

但是中國和香港政府作出反擊，他們都稱自1月31日起不會承認BNO護照是有效的旅行證件。

中國外交部發言人趙立堅在例行發報會上說：“英國正試圖將大量香港人轉變為英國的二等公民。這完全改變了英國海外公民的本質。”

北京不承認旅行證件的決定在很大程度上只是像徵意義，因為香港居民通常不會使用其BNO護照去大陸旅行。在香港的BNO護照持有人仍可以使用其香港護照或身份證。

去年6月，北京對前英國殖民地實行了國家安全法，促使英國從1月31日起為近300萬符合BNO護照資格的香港居民提供庇護。

該計劃於去年首次宣布，由週日起開展，會允許具有“英國國民（海外）”身份的人在英國生活，學習和工作五年，並最終申請公民身份。

英國國民 (海外）是1987年根據英國法律設立的特殊身份，專門涉及香港。

據政府預測，新的250英鎊（340美元）簽證可吸引300,000多人及其家屬到英國，並在未來五年內為英國經濟帶來高達29億英鎊的淨收益。

從周日中午開始，符合條件的申請人可以在線申請並在簽證申請中心預約會見以註冊其指紋。從2月23日開始，有些人將能夠通過智能手機應用程式去進行申請。

有多少人會真正接受這個提議仍然有高度的不確定性。政府估計，將有290萬人和另外230萬家屬合資格來英國。

              So, it is an emergency exit for those eligible people who have no confidence in Hong Kong’s future. No one will force Hong Kong people to move to the UK, it is absolutely a personal choice for those eligible. When someone says that Britain do this for financial benefits, such as to generate up to 2.9 billion pounds of net benefit to the British economy over the next five years, is an interesting view point.

First day of the Lunar New Year, Xin Chou (辛丑) - the year of the Ox

Hong Kong stamp 1973 - Year of the Ox

According to the Chinese Lunar calendar, to-day is the first day of the Year of the Ox: the year of xin chou (辛丑), may I wish my readers a happy and prosperous new Year of the OX. The above photo is memorial stamps issued in Hong Kong in 1973, the year of gui chou (癸丑) to celebrate the Year of the Ox 48 years ago. Time flies. Those stamps were bought by me to send letters. The unused ones were left behind at the bottom of my desk drawer and now become part of my stamp collection.

In China Lunar calendar, a traditional way of counting years is to associate them with a 60-year cycle. It is formed by combining two sets of counters. One is called 10 stems (十干) and the other is 12 branches (十二支).  In total 60 names of the year are made by combining one stems (干) with one branch(支) in sequence, known as the stem-branch (干支) cycle. It is a system for counting and naming the lunar years and it forms a pool of 60 names for 60 years in sequence. jia zi (甲子) is the first year in this 60-year name pool while xin chou 癸丑and gui chou 辛丑are two names from this pool. That means the name of a particular year will repeat itself once every 60 years. Stem (干)  is also known as tian gan (天干) while branch (支) is called dizhi (地支).

On top of that, about branches, 12 animal icons (生肖) are used to represent the individual twelve branches (十二支). To take the year 1973 as an example, it is the Year of the Ox, so after a twelve years period in 1985, 1997, 2009 and 2021 will also be the Year of the Ox. Each one of these 12 animals will repeat itself in a 12-year cycle. Besides ox, there are the mouse, tiger and dragon etc. Therefore, it can be said that the time concept in traditional China is repeating cycles while the western concept is linear.

In Hong Kong, with the National Security Law recently being put in place in 2020, many things have changed.  The pre-1997 days have become more memorable to me now. In particular the years beginning from the 1970s, Hong Kong gradually became one of the Asia Four Dragons in Asia. The small crown icon at the top right corner of the above stamp symbolizes a relatively free and open governance under the British rule.

 

The Tiangan and Dizhi table

The Ganzhi cycle (note no. 38 and no.50)

Reference

Chinese History – A manual by Endymion Wilkinson, published by Harvard University Asia Center in 2000