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星期一, 9月 01, 2014

波士頓鋒號基金會 9/7 辦張禮能見面會

波士頓鋒號基金會(BFF)將於九月七日(週六)早上九點四十五分至十一點,假溫徹斯特(Winchester)的 Lynch 小學(Lynch Elementary School, 10 Brantwood Rd, Winchester, MA)舉辦麻州副州長候選人張禮能(Leland Cheung見面會。
去年十月,美國主流媒體ABC電視台Jimmy Kimmel節目“孩子桌(Kids Table)”的小孩子,在節目中討論如何處理中國持有的巨額美國債券(1.317兆元)時,Jimmy Kimmel 在節目中任由小孩說“殺光所有的中國人”;今年七月,福斯(Fox)電視台“五(The Five)“節目的共同主播Bob Beckel在節目中稱中國是美國最大的威脅,在美國教會一堆“支那人(Chinamen)“,中國人(Chinese people)如何做電腦後,這些人回到中國駭進美國。這一連串事件,都讓波士頓鋒號基金會覺得,在美國的華裔,必須要更關心政治,經營盟友,才能在遭遇這類事件時,找到民意代表敢於為華裔發聲,支持華裔維權。
該會目前的活動重點是幫助華裔了解候選人的政見,呼籲華裔積極出席投票。七月底時,該會才剛與波士頓復旦大學校友會合作舉辦了一場與共和黨籍麻州州長候選人“查理貝克見面會”,九月七日再接再厲,將與民主黨籍的麻州副州長候選人“張禮能見面會“。
波士頓鋒號基金會表示,張禮能是麻州參加全州性競選,角逐副州長一職的首名華裔候選人,年輕有為,學經歷俱佳,還為捍衛劍橋市公立學校裏的中英雙語課程,出了不少力。他們希望有更多人能在九月九日的黨派初選日前認識張禮能。


波士頓環球報支持Steve Grossman選麻州州長

麻州大選的初選日子九月九日迫在眉睫,選戰正更熾熱之際,波士頓環球報昨(831)日刊出一篇評論文章,支持葛羅斯曼(Steve Grossman)當麻州州長。
            波士頓環球報稱,民眾選出來的下一任麻州州長,將決定麻州未來的經濟命運。儘管以知識經濟而言,相對來說麻州還算安全,但下一任州長在稅務,交通,能源,醫療,住宅上,必須有好政策,也要有激勵,讓給那些很有希望的初創公司留在麻州,或擴展。

        波士頓環球報聲稱,僅管貝里克理念極佳,嫻熟政策,但麻州需要既拿得出政策,也能推動,實施政策的人來當州長,葛羅斯曼的經驗,技能,可能更能帶麻州民眾穿梭在這政治迷宮中。

Demand for EB-5 investor visas by Chinese applicants exhausts annual supply

Demand for EB-5 investor visas by Chinese applicants exhausts annual supply
August 29, 2014
Immigration Law Alert
Author(s): Courtney H. New
For the first time in the 25 years since the program was created, the maximum number of EB-5 green cards available to a particular country in a given year has been reached.
Download PDF
On Saturday, August 23, 2014, Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Department of State Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting Division, announced that effective immediately, the EB-5 green card category for investors is “unavailable” for Chinese applicants. This means that for the first time in the 25 years since the program was created, the maximum number of EB-5 green cards available to a particular country in a given year has been reached.
There is an annual limit on the number of green cards that can be issued in each green card category each year. Further, the percentage of each category that can be consumed by a particular nationality is limited. Due to high demand from certain countries, most notably China and India, lengthy backlogs have developed in several categories and citizens of these countries must often wait several years for a green card to become available to them.
Until now, applications by foreign investors in the EB-5 category have never reached the maximum, thereby allowing wealthy Chinese investors to avoid the significant delays in other green card categories through this program. However, demand for green cards in the EB-5 category has increased over 700% since 2007. With the majority of applications coming from China, it was only a matter of time before the annual limit for Chinese applicants was reached.
This news does not prevent new Chinese investors looking to secure green cards from participating in the EB-5 program. Investors can still file their I-526 Immigrant Petitions and should do so as soon as possible. However, once the Petition is approved, the current unavailability of immigrant visas for Chinese investors suggests that, as is true in other categories, a green card may not be available right away. Investors with children approaching the age of 21 should seek advice on their particular situation so that a determination can be made as to whether the child will still be eligible to receive a green card as part of the process.

星期日, 8月 31, 2014

香港民主團體發表公開信籲尊重香港憲法

致美國和加拿大政府、國會、全國人民公開信...
我們懇請閣下密切關注目前香港的憲政危機,懇請美國和加拿大政府敦促中國政府信守他們在1984年簽署的“中英聯合聲明”中對香港人民“一國兩制”的承諾,尊重香港的憲政和基本法。

今年六月中國政府發表了一份“白皮書”,推出了他們對基本法的詮釋。這份交件是對香港法制社會核心價值的侵蝕和破壞,是對香港前途的嚴重威脅。

中國政府當初“港人治港,高度自治”的承諾,現在被“中央政府擁有全面管治權”、“法官必須愛國”等等所取代。

今年七月,香港政府向北京呈交了一份關於2017年香港特首選舉和2016年香港立法會產生辦法的報告。儘管6月22日近八十萬香港市民參加了一個民間公投,其中百分之九十的人支持“民間提名”的動議,港府的報告竟然認為公投的人數微不足道,不足以代表“主流民意”,而且報告中隻字未提民眾、民意應當如何被適當代表的問題。

7月1日香港五十多萬人上街遊行示威,政府依然裝聾作啞港府的報告無視香港人民的意願,真普選岌岌可危,香港憲政、民主面臨大倒退。

人大常委會昨公佈的普選特首草案,提名委員會繼續以1,200位小圈子權貴組成;要做特首候選人,須取得過半數提委會委員支持;候選人人數定為兩至三人,此方案與選委會小圈子選特首比較,可謂大倒退。港人過去30年爭取民主的希望盡毀。

尊敬的美國和加拿大國會議員們,親愛的同胞,港人的民主前景實在無法指望他們的政府。中國政府發號施令,香港人民俯首聽命,絕非我們所願。維護香港人民的尊嚴,美國和加拿大人責無旁貸。若港人處於孤立無援之境,我們於心何忍?我們請求閣下表達對港人爭取真普選的支持。

2014 年9月1日

北美支援中國民主運動聯盟
溫哥華支援民主運動聯合會
多倫多支持中國民運會
多倫多港加聯
卡加利中國民主促進會
紐約天安門紀念基金會
華盛顿海外香港華人聯會
中國民主教育基金會
波士頓海外香港華人民主人權促進會

波士頓港澳之友社香港論壇 洛杉磯

___________________________________
Letter to US Congressman
We are writing to urge you to monitor the constitutional development in Hong Kong and to pressure the Chinese Government to honor their promises to the people of Hong Kong under the principle of “One Country Two Systems,” stated in the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 and the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s constitutional document.
In June, the Chinese government issued a White Paper to set out an "official" interpretation of the Basic Law. The document demonstrates an attempt to undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong and to erode its core values, threatening the foundational faith in Hong Kong's future.
The promise of “Hong Kong people running Hong Kong with a high level of autonomy” is replaced by new concepts such as "complete jurisdiction", "oversight by the Central Government" and “judges must be patriotic”.
In July, the Hong Kong government submitted to Beijing a report on the selection of the Chief Executive in 2017 and the formation of the Legislative Council in 2016. On June 22, almost 800,000 people participated in a Civil Referendum, 90% of whom supported a proposal that involves civic nomination. The Report considered this too minor to be counted as “mainstream opinion” and nothing was said of how the public could be properly represented.
On July 1, over 500,000 people took their frustrations to the streets. However, the voice of the people has fallen on deaf ears. The failure of the report to aptly reflect Hong Kong people's views seems to signify the shrinking likelihood of genuine universal suffrage. This is a huge step backward in Hong Kong's constitutional and democratic development.
The Chinese People’s Congress Standing Committee yesterday released a draft of the rules to select the 2017 Chief Executive. A Nominating Committee continue to be composed of 1,200 mainly government appointees will be formed. Chief Executive candidate must obtain approval from the majority of the committee members and the number of candidates will be limited to two to three people. One people one vote to select a government-approved candidate is not election by universal suffrage. This indeed is a big setback. Hong Kong people’s hopes for democracy over the past 30 years are completely shattered.
Our Honorable Congressman, the people of Hong Kong cannot rely on their government for a democratic future. It is not the case for the Chinese Government to issue a decree and the people of Hong Kong to comply. The United States needs to take a strong stand in the preservation of the dignity of the Hong Kong people. Please demonstrate America’s support of their demand for genuine universal suffrage. We shall never let them stand alone.

黃亞生在巴西主持中國拉丁美洲會議

二零一四年八月廿九日在巴西聖保羅

Conference Welcome Remarks
9:00 - 10:30
WTC Theater, Level C
Panel 1: GROWTH PROSPECTS IN LATIN AMERICA
Uncertainty in emerging economies, risks of deflation in advanced ones, and fluctuating commodities prices are just a few of the challenges facing Latin America as it looks to increase growth rates and compete in the global economy.
Presenters:

   Roberto Rigobon
Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management and Economics
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Vittorio Corbo Lioi
Senior Research Associate
Centro de Estudios Públicos - Chile

   Ilan Goldfajn
Chief Economist
Itaú Unibanco Bank - Brazil

   Alejandro Werner
Director of Western Hemisphere Department
International Monetary Fund


10:30 - 10:45
WTC Theater Lobby, Level C
Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:15
WTC Theater, Level C
Panel 2: GROWTH PROSPECTS IN CHINA
Sustained growth in China is critical both domestically and internationally. Slowing growth and lending rates combined with high debt have raised questions, but how concerned should business and policy leaders be?
Presenters:

   Yasheng Huang
Associate Dean and Professor of International Management
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Sun Pei
Associate Professor of Industrial Economics
Fudan University, School of Management - China

   Chong-en Bai
Mansfield Freeman Chair Professor in Economics, Associate Dean
School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University

   Xinzhong Xu
Professor of Finance and Dean
Lingnan (University) College, Sun Yat-sen University

   Jian Gao
Former Vice Governor
China Development Bank


12:15 - 12:45
WTC Theater Lobby, Level C
Lunch
Attendees should pick out a lunch box, and make their way back to the WTC Theater for the Lunchtime Keynote Session
12:45 - 13:45
WTC Theater, Level C
LUNCH KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Presenters:

   André Loes
Chief Economist
HSBC Latin America

   Paul Mackel
Managing Director
HSBC Hong Kong


13:45 - 14:00
WTC Theater Lobby, Level C
Break
14:00 - 15:30
WTC Theater, Level C
Panel 3: DEEP DIVE with MIT SLOAN
MIT Sloan's faculty analyze today's business challenges and solutions through their research. In this session, MIT Sloan faculty with expertise in Latin America, China, Energy and Global Economy engage in an interactive discussion about the key issues as identified by the conference attendees:
Presenters:

   Roberto Rigobon
Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management and Economics
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Valerie J. Karplus
Assistant Professor in the Global Economics and Management Group
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Yasheng Huang
Associate Dean and Professor of International Management
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Donald R. Lessard
Epoch Foundation Professor of International Management, Emeritus
MIT Sloan School of Management


15:30 - 15:45
WTC Theater Lobby, Level C
Break
- See more at: http://mitsloan.mit.edu/international/conferences/mit-sloan-latin-america-china-conference/overview/#sthash.TEo3kUPi.dpuf
5:45 - 17:15
WTC Theater, Level C
Panel 4: DOING BUSINESS IN LATIN AMERICA AND CHINA - COMPARISONS, CONTRASTS & COMPETITION
Latin America and China are close trading partners, but also competitors in the global marketplace. How each does business internally and externally has critical implications for their future economy growth? Don Lessard, Epoch Foundation Professor of International Management at MIT Sloan, will lead a panel of business leaders who will share their experience of working in these regions as a way of exploring the similarities and differences between the two and what it might mean for global economy.
Presenters:

   Donald R. Lessard
Epoch Foundation Professor of International Management, Emeritus
MIT Sloan School of Management

   Enrique Ostalé
Executive Vice President, President and CEO
Walmart Latin America

   Charles Tang
President
Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce & Industry

   Fernando Reyes Matta
Director, Center for Latin American Studies on China
Universidad Andrés Bello

   Taotao Chen
Professor of School of Economics & Managment
Tsinghua University


17:15 - 17:30
WTC Theater, Level C

Closing Remarks