Weblog
Sunday, 02 December 2007
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Canadian Remembrance Day, Dec 2, 2007
Today, I joined the Canadian Remembrance Day to pay tribute to the Canadian battalions who fought for the defense of Hong Kong against Japanese aggression as a citizen of HK and Canada.
"We must remember. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument."
"Il nous faut se souvenir. Le sens de leur sacrifice depend de notre conscience nationale collective: notre avenir leur sert de monument."
Heather Robertson, A Terible Beauty, The Art of Canada at War. Lorimer, 1977
A bottom-up view of Sai Wan Bay War Cemetery

The Canadian International School Junior Choir

Consul-General Gerry Campbell delivered the opening speech

For the glorious death
Monday, 05 November 2007
Saturday, 20 October 2007
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Thanksgiving and birthday supper on October 10, 2007
Thanks to Billy and Danny for organizing such a great supper for me. Indeed, it was my last time to celebrate my birthday with my folks here.
Daniel, Merci for giving me a wonderful interview. It was awesome.

A gorgeous postcard from Taiwan (ROC)


Mr Daniel presented his lovely gift to me, a one for a successful IT professional

My Canadian folk, Billy with his meaningful gift to me

My lovely daughter, Katie
Tuesday, 02 October 2007
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Thanksgiving on Oct 8, 2007
Our Canadian Thnaksgiving Day is coming obn Oct 8, 2007. Let's celebrate together. I will have a supper with Dan and Billy.
According to reliable source, thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.
The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.
At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.
After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving.
During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.
Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.
Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...
"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.(http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/thanksgiving/canada/)
Tuesday, 25 September 2007
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Canadian Consular Protection in China
It is turn for Canadian folks' interests especially for our Chinese Canadian. As mainland China is still an authoritarian country like the former Soviet Union without any respect for human rights and the rule of law, many of us are under threat when dropping by mainland China.
The only way to secure ourselves is to use Canadian passport when entering into mainland China. According to "China: A Guide for Canadian Visitors" published by Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, it is the government policy to encourage us to take overt action such as consistently using a Canadian passport and obtaining a visa from the mainland Chinese authorities. The Chinese will consider us as a Canadian. In case of any trouble, the Canadian Embassy/Consulate can give us a hand based on our document of entry.
Thus, I have been consistently using my Canadian passport when entering into mainland China even with a quite an unreasonable visa fee. Despite the visa fee, it gives me a greater extent of security in mainland China.
Actually, I know some mainland Chinese Canadians who denounced their Chinese nationality. They prefer usually Canadian passport when visiting China. I fully understand and support their decision.
Therefore, I strongly advise our Chinese/HK Canadian fellows abandon your Home Return Permit and go for Canadian passport when entering into mainland China. Under a bilateral treaty between Canada and China, China will recognize the Canadian citizenship of persons with Chinese ancestry if they enter China using a Canadian passport.

![_MG_1163[1]](http://x7c.xanga.com/461c0a3635033156009465/z116865058.jpg)

