So in a few months I’ll be graduating from law school and will be a few steps closer to truly entering the profession. It’s honestly been a hell of a journey.

I initially entered into law because I admired the logic behind it, I respected its objectivity, then slowly I began to love the power behind it, not the power it gives me personally, but the power it had to do potential good for people. Yet I also fear this power. I fear it not because of the law itself, but because of misuses by those who control its application.

Countries and societies have risen and fallen in the name of law. From the disorder witnessed in tyrannical governments to the creation of first civilizations, law has been the remedy and yet the enemy behind unity, peace and order. We have witnessed apartheid in South Africa, to its now supposed peace under the ANC, where law was the force of reasoning behind both the country’s oppression and freedom. We have seen the changes in Iran from its imperial government under Reza Shah, to its now theocratic rule since Ayatollah Khomeini, where law was preached by both to enforce personal ideals. It is undeniable law has and will continue to be the reasoning for any acts of governments to justify both good and bad.  

As I began to understand this tremendous power law had to offer, I also understood the social responsibility I have as I enter the profession. The responsibility of remembering the power I hold of affecting society through the use of law. While most of you may laugh, thinking, everyday lawyers do not have to worry about such concerns, in actuality, we, the simple lawyers, are the key to the law and the values it represents in every society. We are the connection and advisers who upholds that order, peace and unity our government enacts.

Where does that leave me? You could say my ultimate desire is to be able to use such words as these I’m writing now to influence changes through the logic of law. To be able to advise governments and leaders to take certain paths which could create and maintain that unity, order and peace law provides.

However, considering myself as a young, idealistic and un-jaded lawyer, I resolved to achieve a simpler realistic goal to start my career. As one enters the profession, one is confronted with an array of choices to practice law within. Matrimonial, criminal, corporate, property, litigation; the list is endless and undoubtedly overwhelming. Wise old-timers provided words of wisdom, urging me to wait till my traineeship to decide since I will be confronted with a variety during those two years.

However, I considered as a simple, individual lawyer, I could at least use this power and skill I have to do good for those I care about. I began my search for a compatible firm knowing exactly what I wanted to practice. I was interested in an industry where majority of those I knew belonged in; the creative artists within Entertainment, Food & Beverage, and Arts.

You may laugh thinking, you talk of such ideals and yet you end up helping the fortunate. While those in the creative industries may seem to live glamorized lives, they struggle as much as any working class individual. They are not immune to such issues of unemployment, bankruptcy, unfair contracts, personal injuries and divorce simply because of their choice of employment.

I found exactly the firm that matched my goals and values. It was the most worthwhile experience I had and I knew it was where I should be. However, the temptation was too great. Being offered a chance, I glimpsed a world where law could be used to serve me instead. I can shamefully say I forgot everything I believed in and held true. It could be said I lost my innocent, my idealistic naivety, I grew up.

Slowly I changed. I had higher aims now. The allure of a luxurious world filled with unlimited material successes drowned my thoughts and I became desperate to maintain this image of my life. I molded and reinvented myself thinking this was it, the pinnacle of my success as a law student. I had achieved it all because here I was offered a chance to work with the best. Was this not what every law student dreamed of? My ego, my pride was stroked by the opportunity and I gloated at the prospects.

Then I lost it all in one moment. Crushed, I grieved the life that could have been, the “me” I had changed myself to become. However, it forced me to think about what I truly was grieving. Why it meant so much to me. Then I finally realized it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

In reality, I had forgotten where my own measure of success laid. Instead, I allowed myself to succumb to the worst of judgments, the measure in the eyes of others. I grieved for all the reasons that were not mine. Reasons I saw those around me aiming for, reasons I thought I “should” also aim for. It is undeniable we all have, at one point, been guilty of measuring those around us by the values we measure our own lives by.

I did not want to work for the best because I believed in their work as lawyers; I wanted to work for the best because of my ego. I am not criticizing those who have toiled through their law careers and lives to achieve the success as measured by reputation, fame, recognition, and money. There is no right or wrong path, there is only the path you choose to live by and can look yourself in the mirror, in the morning and smile.

I am glad I glimpsed at a world where I now know I can put at rest. I cannot deny I did not secretly desire that “success” or that “dream job”.  However, it is not my dream. Nor is it my measure of success. It is a hard struggle and shame when one has to face the judgment of oneself.

This is my testament to remember why law is important to me. Law is a responsibility and an ability to create change. It is a service I have chosen to dedicate my life to. To advise those I care for and to one day be able to help influence the changes that will maintain that peace, order and unity in Hong Kong.

The budget proposal of course brought loads of negative comments, I mean its as expected, the longer I live in HK, the more I realise that HK people just need to critize. We can never accept anything without dissing it completely first. And honestly at the end of the day, that's really what alot of people just do. Sit there, complain complain complain, and then when you ask for suggestions, they run away. So passive aggressive! Its a lesson I learnt as Vice President of my law school association. Never try to please everyone, it'll never work. You find a workable solution to please the greatest number and deal with the shit talk from the rest.

But honsetly, I think overall the govt is doing well. The mission statement of the financial secretary is wise, live within our means with small govt & big markets.

I mean look at our position in comparison with US. Because our leaders have been prudent over the years, we had a SURPLUS of around $115 BILLION for 07/08 allowing our salaries tax under the 08/09 budget to be cut down to 15%. What is the US' budget? oh a DEFICIT of around $250 BILLION. What is US salaries tax, over 25% if you make more than $33,000 USD annually. ($225,000HKD) Please give our govt some credit. If the leaders haven't been as prudent as they have, we wouldn't have the current surplus to help us weather these crucial times.

We now currently have around $488 BILLION dollars to spend begining March 09. This equals to around 18 months of government spending, enough to truly help the people. It may not help EVERYONE to get back on their feet necessarily, but at least it can help lessen the pain.

What did the Financial Secretary propose? Short term welfare help, public housing rent decreases of 20%, salary tax rebates for 2 quarters in 09/10 of up to $6K, fresh university graduate placements in internship programs, further pursuing double tax agreements with major trading partners and long term goals focusing on the 4 main industries of HK; tourism, finance, logistics & business support & professional services, to boost employment. All good ideas to help in many small practical ways that can seriously be achieved rather than one grandiose plan, which sounds good theoretically but can never be implemented.

Furthermore, look at our unemployment numbers. HK has had a stable unemployment rate falling to its 10 year lowest last year at around 3.1%. It's risen now to around 4.8%. US unemployment rate fell to its 30 year lowest under the Clinton administration in 2000. What was it? 3.9% What is it currently? Around 8.1% and predicted to reach 9.4% because of these times.

Perhaps what Honkies should do when they decide to further criticize our government is to seriously look at where we stand and compare it to other countries. Sure the US is much larger and harder to control as a nation... but still, us here living in HK are much much better off. We've weathered TWO financial crises, 1997 Asian crisis & the 2003 SARS crisis and because of that HK has stronger legal & regulatory frameworks to cushion our fall than other countries.

I trust that we are in good hands. Hongkies are money minded people. We're also at times considered cheap skates and prideful. Such flaws are actually now our saviour for such a prideful frugal government will save the day because we have the money, resources & the determination not to embarrass ourselves from letting HK fall from its place as Asia's financial hub.

I mean there's no sugar coating here, and the government is certainly not babying us. Its clearly addressed that these will be freaking shitty times. It’ll definitely be tough because we’ll actually finally enter into a deficit because of this crisis but if HK remains as prudent as it has been and sticks to its plan, we will return to a surplus in 2012 as predicted, subject to of course, any unforseen disasters.

well, haven't blogged in ages... guess i'm not much of a blogger.

However, i just can't help talking about this though!

Recently, Volar decided to create a night just for us females, I won't say anymore, except that it was downright, dirty, xrated, and what a girl needs in her life once in a while.

Some crazy, uninhibited fun!

Being served drinks by two gaily hot brazilian male models is always a bonus too!

Ah, well, hopefully Cream will happen again.... Enjoy girls :) :)

well minus a couple of folks from last year, but nevertheless, good times!

We had one casualty on the 2nd day, but lucky he had a wonderful drinking partner to accompany him the rest of the time while everyone was on the slopes.

we also had a wonderful romantic valentine's day dinner @ a japanese italian restaurant (J Sekka) of oh, a small intimate table of 18.

Even though it snowed continuously throughout our trip, we were all determine to board as much as we could, even if it meant braving conditions like this....

Spontaneously, as we were all packed, with 10mins till departure, Amanda and Andrew decided to convince some of us to stay an extra day.....Niseko was too fun to leave (nah, it wasn't the 2 shots of sake we drank 5 mins earlier that swayed their decision...of course not :p)

                                      see the line of sake @ front of table......

Finally, the highlight of the extended stay was our decision to try and live life like an eskimo....by eating & drinking in an igloo (or igroo) I think my toes are still frozen.....

                                                    Entrance to our little Igroo hut for dinner

  1 HoUR all you can Eat! or if you're us.... we do it chinese style...order more and take it home

                               Not only were the bar stools ice, but the glasses were ice! brrrrrrr!!

Finally we go home, certain never to be eskimos again, but poor Amanda forgot how to walk up the stairs, banged her head and sang Celion Dion for the rest of the night....

And with that, our 2nd anual trip to Niseko ended.... I'm staring at my snowboard in my room, its been 2 days since we've been back and as reluctant as I am, I'm afraid it is time to unpack...

until next year......

Ok so I haven't blogged for a while. no excuse. Life hasn't been too exciting so far since all i do is study study study. However, i did have a crazy night last week.

The night of LInkin Park's concert, Terence and I scrambled around town during the day to buy birthday surprises for Stephen. We finally decided on cute pink birthday hats for everyone and to top it off, a pink Halo just for Stephen, the angel of us all.

Since we had a large crew, I decided to use the family car so we could all roll together. Long story short, the night began with a bang, literally,

we were left stranded, car less, but good ol' Terence broke out his "green tea" (a.ka. whiskey) and it made everything ok. :p

The concert was bloody awesome, we were able to sneak in the green tea without being detected.

Afterwards we proceeded to Racks, got Stephen so obliterated that he finally turned into what Patrick wanted him to turn into all night...... Zombie Stephen.

A grand night.