The best way to help Tin Shui Wai.....

I have read this piece of news on the SCMP. Really interesting one, especially it's in english. I don't know if the Chinese paper has reported it. So I would like to share it here.


Change of fortune all in a name for Tin Shui Wai
Albert Wong Jan 18, 2008

It's a town trapped in a cycle of poverty but Tin Shui Wai may get a chance to break down the walls - in its name at least.

Lawmaker and Heung Yee Kuk chairman Lau Wong-fat yesterday came up with one way to boost the economically depressed town: change its name to something more auspicious.

In response to a question in Legco by another Heung Yee Kuk member, Cheung Hok-ming, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen had rattled off a number of policies to revive Tin Shui Wai, which has been dubbed the "city of sorrow".

But Mr Lau said residents had been equally concerned about the name of the town. The word "Wai" means "encircled", so its name made the new town look, feel and sound like a "walled city", he said.

Quoting the Chinese saying "No need to fear being born on a bad date, but fear most being given a bad name"(唔怕生壞命，最怕改壞名), Mr Lau said: "What I want to ask is whether the chief executive will actively seek to change the name?"

He pointed out that Hong Kong place names had been changed in the past because of their inauspicious sounds.

Not only does "Wai" give the impression its residents are walled in, but "Shui Wai" suggests stagnant water, which under fung shui principles makes it difficult for someone to prosper.
"How do you expect the residents to enrich themselves under these circumstances?" asked Mr Lau, who would seem to be knowledgable of such matters, given his auspicious name. "Lau" suggests a flowing stream, and "Wong" and "fat" invoke royalty and prosperity.

He suggested holding an open competition to come up with a new name - and said he would try to submit some names.

Mr Tsang replied: "Tin Shui Wai was named by the people of New Territories. But of course, if Mr Lau, as a respected elder of the New Territories thinks we should change the name then we can actively consider this question."

After the legislative session, Mr Lau said he had raised the matter to lighten the mood of the chamber. "But of course, I wouldn't have made such a suggestion, unless residents really felt concerned about this."

Hong Kong place names have been changed in the past because of their inauspicious sounds. Lok Fu was previously "Lo Fu Ngam" - which sounds like Tiger Rock, considered fearful by some residents - while the characters for Tiu Keng Leng were changed so as not to sound like "Hills of Hanging Neck".

(an extract from scmp.com)