Image: Skyline Intranet Image: Skyline Morning Briefing
   
  10 June 2006

Weather Icon
High 27 °
Low 24°
 
Heng Seng Index
Up
15,628.69
+ 1.16%
 
New York Stock Exchange
down
10,891.92
- 0.43%
 
NASDAQ
down
2,135.06
- 0.48%
 
Nikkei
up
14,750.84
+ 0.18%
 
US$
 
HK$
7.7618
Yen
113.975
EUR
0.7912
GBP
0.5433
 


If you have any problems reading this e-mail, you can access an Internet Edition at
http://www.skyline-technologies.com/briefings/0606/briefings_100606.htm.

Contact us if you have any problems or comments.


1954 Article on the predicted future of Computers.

Being in the IT sector as SKYLINE are, we thought our readers might find this article from 1954 rather funny. The picture speaks for itself. It was taken from a 1954 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine. Be sure to read the text under the picture...

Please click to enlarge the picture

Picture of the week

Declared Monuments in Hong Kong

Duddell Street Steps and Gas Lamps

The stone steps at Duddell Street, Central were built between 1875 and 1889. Four gas lamps surmounting the balustrades at the top and foot of the steps are the only surviving working gas street lamps in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company which was originally founded to provide street lighting in Hong Kong continues to operate the lamps as objects of historical interest. Source: Leisure and Cultural Services Department

News Headlines

Tamar opponents take up dare on poll
Leslie Kwoh, The Standard 9 June 2006
In perhaps the most confrontational move they have taken yet, Tamar opponents said they will challenge Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's claim of majority support for the proposed HK$5 billion headquarters by conducting an independent public opinion poll.

Claims of deadly dioxin in Tamar site soil dismissed
CHLOE LAI
, SCMP 9 June 2006
The government yesterday denied that soil at Tamar contained the highly toxic element dioxin, saying there was no evidence to substantiate the claim.

Tamar activists denounce public briefing call off
Leslie Kwoh, The Standard 7 June 2006
The sudden cancellation of the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee's quarterly public briefing, scheduled for today, has prompted some members to accuse the government of blindfolding the public to alternatives for the Tamar development site.

LCQ9: Nga Tsin Wai Village redevelopment project
Hong Kong Government, 7 June 2006
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuen-han and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (June 7)

HK's architectural heritage on display
LAUREN CROTHERS , SCMP 6 June 2006
Copyright  ©2006. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Curator Cissy Ho Wing-see highlights a model of the Ohel Leah Synagogue at the Cartographic Survey
of Historic Buildings Exhibition at the Heritage Discovery Centre. Photo: Ricky Chung

An exhibition of the cartographic drawings of some of Hong Kong 's historical buildings opens at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre today, almost three weeks after it was decided that the Central Market had no preservation value - thus sealing its fate for demolition.

Workers doubled to finish project
ANITA LAM, SCMP 6 June 2006
Copyright  ©2006. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Thomas Chan (second from left), Ip Kwok-him (centre) and other officials visit Shek Pai Wan,
where work is under way again. Photo: Martin Chan

The contractor that has taken over the unfinished work of Dickson Construction on the Shek Pai Wan redevelopment has hired twice as many workers as its predecessor, to meet a tight deadline amid the rainy season.

Shui On Land plans $7.6b flotation
FIONA LAU , SCMP 6 June 2006
Shui On Land, Vincent Lo Hong-sui's mainland property arm, plans to raise as much as $7.68 billion in a Hong Kong initial public offering this month, despite cautious market sentiment towards the mainland property sector.

Top cultural critic voices discontent over Tamar
Doug Crets, The Standard, 5 June 2006
A leading thinker on Chinese cultural heritage has added her voice to growing dissatisfaction with the chief executive's efforts to make the Tamar site a monument to government, by calling for the removal of the PLA headquarters in Central.

Heritage Discovery Centre to display drawings of historical buildings
Hong Kong Government, 5 June 2006
Photo

New Cyberport director appointed
Hong Kong Government, 5 June 2006
The Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (HKCMCL) today (June 5) announced the appointment of Ms Winnie J Ng to its board of directors for a one-year term.

Museum mega-complex, phased development floated for arts hub
MAY CHAN and CHLOE LAI , SCMP 2 June 2006
Four museums featuring individual themes in the West Kowloon Cultural District could be integrated into a mega-complex, an adviser to the government said yesterday.

Tamar construction cost reasonable
Hong Kong Government, 1 June 2006
In response to media enquiries on a press statement issued by the Civic Party on May 29, and an article in the latest issue of "A45" published today (June 1), a spokesman for the Government said the following:

The Government earlier dismissed on May 24 as "erroneous and misleading" comparative data prepared by Dr K C Wong on the unit construction costs for the proposed Tamar development project and for the International Finance Centre (IFC) Two. The party issued a press statement, saying that it was a "groundless accusation". In the "A45" article, it continued to suggest that the estimated cost for the Tamar development project is higher than the cost of IFC Two.

DAB plan for Kai Tak puts final seal on Tamar stance
Leslie Kwoh, The Standard 27 May 2006
As the government has been putting the finishing touches to its funding proposal for the HK$5.1 billion Tamar development project, Hong Kong's largest pro- Beijing political party has been busy firming its stance in preparation for the upcoming vote.

Tsang wins the battle of Tamar
CHLOE LAI
, SCMP 27 May 2006
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has secured the Democratic Party's support for the $5.1 billion Tamar project, guaranteeing a landslide victory for the government's funding bid for the controversial development.

DAB pushes for one-stop government service at Kai Tak site
DIKKY SINN , SCMP 27 May 2006
The government has been urged to set up a one-stop-shop service centre in southeast Kowloon .

HKR gains approval for Discovery Bay project
YVONNE LIU
, SCMP 27 May 2006
Hong Kong Resort has won approval for an about 500-unit expansion of its Discovery Bay residential development that is slated for completion in 2010.

Ticket fears as Skyrail counts down to opening
Wendy Leung, The Standard 26 May 2006
With a lavish ceremony, Skyrail-ITM, operator of the Tung Chung cable car, has kicked off its 30-day countdown to the official opening.

Tamar HQ is people's project, says Tsang
JIMMY CHEUNG and BLOOMBERG . SCMP 26 May 2006

Donald Tsang: insistent

The plan for a new government headquarters at Tamar is a community project, the chief executive insisted yesterday, and claimed 70 per cent of Hongkongers supported it.

Report blasts Tamar project as overpriced
Leslie Kwoh, The Standard 25 May 2006

Construction costs for the controversial government headquarters at Tamar are almost double that of Hong Kong 's tallest building, Two International Finance Centre.

Tamar HQ unit cost is twice Two IFC's
CHLOE LAI and DIKKY SINN , SCMP 25 May 2006
Copyright  ©2006. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Civic Party leader Audrey Eu speaks at the launch of an "e-card campaign" to raise
public awareness about the Tamar project. Photo: Martin Chan Civic Party leader
Audrey Eu speaks at the launch of an "e-card campaign" to raise public awareness
about the Tamar project. Photo: Martin Chan

The unit cost of building the Tamar project will be almost double that of the Two IFC office tower, a University of Hong Kong specialist has claimed.

Diversification the key to a vibrant harbourfront, says planner
MAY CHAN , SCMP 25 May 2006
Hong Kong 's harbourfront needs to be diversified by mixing green areas with commercial and residential development and community use to become vibrant, a Canadian planning official and local harbour activist say.

Tsang rejects meeting with legislators on relocation
DIKKY SINN , SCMP 25 May 2006
The chief executive has turned down an invitation from 20 legislators to discuss the controversial Tamar development project.

Developers to launch second-tier reit offers
PEGGY SITO , SCMP 25 May 2006
Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) and Henderson Land Development yesterday unveiled the details of two planned real estate investment trusts that will offer investors a chance to buy a share of the cash flow from a collection of less desirable industrial, office and retail properties in Hong Kong 's outlying districts.

Construction cost for Tamar development project reasonable
Hong Kong Government, 24 May 2006
The Government dismisses today ( May 24) as erroneous and misleading suggestions that the estimated unit construction cost for the Tamar development project is higher than that for the International Finance Centre (IFC) Two.

Tamar project labelled HK's White House
QUINTON CHAN , SCMP 15 May 2006

Upcoming Events

16 June 2006
Breakfast briefings: Challenges of Bringing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Hong Kong
Organizer
:
Time
:
08:00 am – 09:00 am (registration starts at 07:45 am)
Venue : The Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC), 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, HK
Details
:

For the detail or to register,please click the organizer to download the form. For enquiry, please contact Ms Mavis Leung at 2784-3924 or by email mavis@bec.org.hk


21 June 2006
IRCA Approved OHSAS 18001 Advanced auditor
Organizer
:
Time
:
3 days, 21-23 June
Venue : SGS City Learning Centre,1/F,Stanhope House,734 King's Road Quarry Bay,Hong Kong
Details
:

To register, please contact Mr Steve Lui by email steve_lui@sgs.com or call (+852) 2765-3622


26 June 2006
IRCA Certified SA8000 LAC
Organizer
:
Time
:
5 days, 26-30 June
Venue : SGS City Learning Centre,1/F,Stanhope House,734 King's Road Quarry Bay,Hong Kong
Details
:

Applicable for apply CEF funding (CEF Course Code: 21L04373-A). To register, please contact Mr Steve Lui by email steve_lui@sgs.com or call (+852) 2765-3622


26 June 2006
Greener PRoduct Strategy - IECQ QC 080000 and WEEE & RoHS Free Seminar
Organizer
:
Time
:
10:00A.M – 12:00P.M
Venue : SGS City Learning Centre,1/F,Stanhope House,734 King's Road Quarry Bay,Hong Kong
Details
:

To register, please contact Mr Steve Lui by email steve_lui@sgs.com or call (+852) 2765-3622


26 June 2006
Handle Safety High Value - TAPA Free Seminar
Organizer
:
Time
:
3:00P.M – 5:00P.M
Venue : SGS City Learning Centre,1/F,Stanhope House,734 King's Road Quarry Bay,Hong Kong
Details
:

To register, please contact Mr Steve Lui by email steve_lui@sgs.com or call (+852) 2765-3622


27 June 2006
Indoor Air Quality Assessment & Management Training Course for Certificate Issuing Body (CIB) Authorised IAQ Inspection
Organizer
:
Time
:
19, 20, 26 & 27 June 2006, 09:00 - 17:00
Venue : Auditorium, G/F, Jockey Club Environmental Building, 77 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon
Details
:

For the detail or to register,please click the organizer to download the form. For enquiry, please contact Ms Mavis Leung at 2784-3924 or by email mavis@bec.org.hk


29 June 2006
The Dynamic Facilitator: Learn how to leverage the knowledge and wisdom of groups
Organizer
:
Time
:
June 29 and 30, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Venue : The Hong Kong Football Club
Details
:

For the detail or to register,please click the organizer to download the form.


To browse past SKYLINE e-newsletters please access the following link http://www.skyline-technologies.com/briefings/index.htm

Distribution: The Skyline-Technologies.com website averages well over 9000 hits per day. The SKYLINE e-newsletter reaches over 6600 recipients on a weekly basis. Our distribution list predominantly covers recipients in the Asian region, but there is also a global reach. To find out more about advertising /promotional opportunities please contact us at info@skyline-technologies.com


Please click here if you would like to send us your questions or comments or would like to have your name added to or removed from our mailing list.

If you have found this issue of the SKYLINE e-newsletter useful and interesting please use the e-mail "Forward" button to forward it onto your colleagues and friends. Or better still, get them to freely Subscribe to the fully automated SKYLINE iNews Circulation List.