Comments on: ‘Software’ and intangibles still a problem for Beijing Olympics http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2007/08/07/software-and-intangibles-still-a-problem-for-the-beijing-olympics.html Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:48:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Global Voices Online » China: One Olympics, One Voice? http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2007/08/07/software-and-intangibles-still-a-problem-for-the-beijing-olympics.html#comment-721 Global Voices Online » China: One Olympics, One Voice? Thu, 09 Aug 2007 20:40:28 +0000 http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2007/08/07/software-and-intangibles-still-a-problem-for-the-beijing-olympics.html#comment-721 [...] European and American fighters for press freedom have infiltrated the capital, Canadian-Tibetan activists have gone underground and blogged from around the country about what’s been called the Darfur Olympics, the Gas Mask Olympics even the Coming Out Olympics, so basically now the Pick Your White Elephant Olympics. [...] […] European and American fighters for press freedom have infiltrated the capital, Canadian-Tibetan activists have gone underground and blogged from around the country about what’s been called the Darfur Olympics, the Gas Mask Olympics even the Coming Out Olympics, so basically now the Pick Your White Elephant Olympics. […]

]]> By: Chris Devonshire-Ellis http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2007/08/07/software-and-intangibles-still-a-problem-for-the-beijing-olympics.html#comment-645 Chris Devonshire-Ellis Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:06:42 +0000 http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2007/08/07/software-and-intangibles-still-a-problem-for-the-beijing-olympics.html#comment-645 Thanks Romain. Quite what the Government is doing with One Million cars in Beijing is anyones guess. Plus if indeed they are - is the entire Zhongnanhai (Government compound) going to close down for a permanent years vacation ? I don't buy the statement the government are giving up their cars (or that there are one million of them). So it'll be interesting to see whose vehicles have to go. I can't see your average Beijing ren giving in without a fight. I'll report back in two weeks and advice if there was actually, any change in traffic colume or pollution from the norm at this time of year. I may also add that the 'two week' period starting tomorrow nicely coincides with the exact time most Beijingers are away on vacation. A point possibly not lost on the government commentator who is no doubt hoping they will all in fact leave.... Thanks Romain. Quite what the Government is doing with One Million cars in Beijing is anyones guess. Plus if indeed they are - is the entire Zhongnanhai (Government compound) going to close down for a permanent years vacation ? I don’t buy the statement the government are giving up their cars (or that there are one million of them). So it’ll be interesting to see whose vehicles have to go. I can’t see your average Beijing ren giving in without a fight. I’ll report back in two weeks and advice if there was actually, any change in traffic colume or pollution from the norm at this time of year. I may also add that the ‘two week’ period starting tomorrow nicely coincides with the exact time most Beijingers are away on vacation. A point possibly not lost on the government commentator who is no doubt hoping they will all in fact leave….

]]> By: Romain Guerel (French working in Beijing) http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2007/08/07/software-and-intangibles-still-a-problem-for-the-beijing-olympics.html#comment-640 Romain Guerel (French working in Beijing) Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:54:02 +0000 http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2007/08/07/software-and-intangibles-still-a-problem-for-the-beijing-olympics.html#comment-640 Dear Chris, Concerning the one-million cars out of the street during the Olympics, I understood that the Beijing governement will run a similar test starting tomorrow and for the next two weeks. From what I also learnt, the cars which will be withdrawn from the streets are governement cars. Does it mean that there is more than one million governement cars in Beijing? Now, you know from where the traffic congestion and pollution is coming. In the contrary, one issue that we cannot test now is the influence of the new subway lines opening late this year. Will it solve some of the problems mentioned above? It may help but I don't count on it. Concerning language skills, you talk about policeman and taxi drivers but you forgot hotel staff. Even now, in five star-hotels you cannot find staff speaking English CORRECTLY. As I always say if Policeman, taxi drivers and hotel staff were speaking English they wouldn't do the job they do; they would apply to more lucrative jobs. Dear Chris,

Concerning the one-million cars out of the street during the Olympics, I understood that the Beijing governement will run a similar test starting tomorrow and for the next two weeks. From what I also learnt, the cars which will be withdrawn from the streets are governement cars. Does it mean that there is more than one million governement cars in Beijing? Now, you know from where the traffic congestion and pollution is coming.
In the contrary, one issue that we cannot test now is the influence of the new subway lines opening late this year. Will it solve some of the problems mentioned above? It may help but I don’t count on it.
Concerning language skills, you talk about policeman and taxi drivers but you forgot hotel staff. Even now, in five star-hotels you cannot find staff speaking English CORRECTLY. As I always say if Policeman, taxi drivers and hotel staff were speaking English they wouldn’t do the job they do; they would apply to more lucrative jobs.

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