This study investigates the differences in pragmatic competence between Hong Kong and Chinese mainland university students.Participants included 19 native speakers of English,115 Chinese mainland students,divided into...This study investigates the differences in pragmatic competence between Hong Kong and Chinese mainland university students.Participants included 19 native speakers of English,115 Chinese mainland students,divided into those who had spent time abroad in an English-speaking country(CM A)and those who had not(CM NA),and 97 Hong Kong students,divided into those from an English-medium secondary school(Hong Kong EMI)and those from a Chinese-medium school(Hong Kong CMI).Linguistic proficiency was measured by a C-test,and pragmatic competence by a Metapragmatic Knowledge Test,an Irony Test and a Monologic Role Play.Group scores were compared using ANCOVAs to control for differences in proficiency.The results point to a continuum of pragmatic competence—EMI>CMI>CM A>CM NA—reflecting the groups’access to English in real-life contexts.The differences between the Hong Kong groups and the Chinese mainland groups were clearest in those tests measuring processing capacity(i.e.,Irony Response Time and the Monologic Role Play).CM A,but not CM NA,performed as well as the Hong Kong groups on measures of metapragmatic awareness.The results are discussed in terms of Bialystok’s(1993)distinction between analyzed representation and control of processing.展开更多
From the diachronic dimension,this paper makes a two-way interactive investigation on the integration of Hong Kong Chinese and Mainland Mandarin.“Gao”is a delexical verb in contemporary Chinese.In different words an...From the diachronic dimension,this paper makes a two-way interactive investigation on the integration of Hong Kong Chinese and Mainland Mandarin.“Gao”is a delexical verb in contemporary Chinese.In different words and expressions related to“gao”character,there are mutual absorptions between Chinese mainland and Hong Kong,which is characterized by starting from nothing to something and from less to more.展开更多
This pilot study attempts to demonstrate some underlying scanning electron microscopy themes of quartz grain surface textures. A variety of textural patterns and individual features are described for grains selected f...This pilot study attempts to demonstrate some underlying scanning electron microscopy themes of quartz grain surface textures. A variety of textural patterns and individual features are described for grains selected from various littoral environments. An attempt was made to differentiate samples on surface textures alone, but limitations of using this technique in sedimentological isolation were apparent. Statistical analysis of checklist data and photographic evidence revealed some of the more important feature combinations used in environmental diagnosis. The use of discriminant analysis provided quantitative sample separation.展开更多
Objective:To establish that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR)government is actively promoting Chinese medicine(CM)and to examine turnover rate of Chinese medicine practitioners(CMPs)in Hong Kong,China...Objective:To establish that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR)government is actively promoting Chinese medicine(CM)and to examine turnover rate of Chinese medicine practitioners(CMPs)in Hong Kong,China in light of this governmental push.Methods:This study covered two major areas:reviewing CM development in Hong Kong,and assessing the turnover rate of CMPs in Hong Kong.The first part of the paper is a historical review.The investigation of turnover rate had two sections.Section 1,quantitative method,involved online questionnaires;Section 2,qualitative method comprised interviews with CMPs from different types of CM clinics to ascertain the reasons for the turnover among CMPs.Results:A total of 123 online questionnaires were received in Section 1(55 from male CMPs;66 from female CMPs;2 respondents were unwilling to disclose their sex).The proportion of CMPs who had resigned in 2018e19 was 22.8%(28),of whom 5.7%(7)had resigned twice in one year.The rates of resignation in 3 years and 5 years were up to 40.7%(50)and 56.9%(70),respectively.Six CMPs were interviewed in Section 2.Young CMPs were more likely to resign than seniors.The large gap between actual salary and expectations appeared to be the main reason for the high rate of resignation.Conclusion:HKSAR government keenly desires to promote CM in Hong Kong,however,high turnover rate of CMPs was detected even under this positive governmental support.There is an urgent need to conduct a more representative study of the reasons for the inclination of CMPs in Hong Kong.The study highlights an important issue in CM development,and these results should remind different stakeholders in the CM industry and the government that CMPs need better career prospects and support in various areas.展开更多
Over the years,population growth and industrial development in Hong Kong has caused serious pollution of the environ-ment.To ensure that we will live in a healthy environment,we need to have a broader view of economic...Over the years,population growth and industrial development in Hong Kong has caused serious pollution of the environ-ment.To ensure that we will live in a healthy environment,we need to have a broader view of economic efficiency that incor-porates environmental quality as one of the dimensions of"economic success".This has become an acute problem for theworld in general and Hong Kong in particular.展开更多
The Chinese traditional cultures are es- sential part of the 5,000-year civilization of China.It has become more and more important how to pass on the quintessence of the Chinese traditional culture when the national ...The Chinese traditional cultures are es- sential part of the 5,000-year civilization of China.It has become more and more important how to pass on the quintessence of the Chinese traditional culture when the national economy is advancing by leap and bounds.展开更多
his paper analyzes the Chinese cultural images represented in Tripmaster Monkey:His Fake Book,and the reasons of the differences between Chinese traditional cultural images in Chinese Four Great Classical Novels and t...his paper analyzes the Chinese cultural images represented in Tripmaster Monkey:His Fake Book,and the reasons of the differences between Chinese traditional cultural images in Chinese Four Great Classical Novels and those mentioned in this book.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the age differences in the risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment of female breast cancer patients. METHODS: Seven thousand one hundred and fiftytwo women with ...AIM: To investigate the age differences in the risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment of female breast cancer patients. METHODS: Seven thousand one hundred and fiftytwo women with primary breast cancer from the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Registry were recruited after receiving patients' consent, they were asked to complete standardized questionnaires which captured their sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors associated with breast cancer development. Among them, clinicopathological data and patterns of treatment were further collected from medical records of 5523 patients with invasive breast cancers. Patients were divided into two groups according to the age at diagnosis: younger(< 40 years old) vs older patients(≥ 40 years old) for subsequent analyses.RESULTS: Analysis on the sociodemographic characteristics and exposure to risk factors were performed on 7152 women with primary breast cancer and the results revealed that younger patients were more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles; these include a lack of exercise(85.4% vs 73.2%, P < 0.001), having high stress in life(46.1% vs 35.5%, P < 0.001), having dairy/meat-rich diets(20.2% vs 12.9%, P < 0.001),having alcohol drinking habit(7.7% vs 5.2%, P = 0.002). Younger patients were also more likely to have hormone-related risk factors including nulliparity(43.3% vs 17.8%, P < 0.001) and an early age at menarche(20.7% vs 13.2%, P < 0.001). Analyses on clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment were performed on 5523 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. The invasive tumours in younger patients showed more aggressive pathological features such as having a higher percentage of grade 3 histology(45.7% vs 36.5%, P < 0.001), having a higher proportion of tumours with lymphovascular invasion(39.6% vs 33.2%, P = 0.003), and having multifocal disease(15.7% vs 10.3%, P < 0.001); they received different patterns of treatment than their older counterparts.CONCLUSION: Younger patients in Hong Kong are more likely to encounter risk factors associated with breast cancer development and have more aggressive tumours than their older counterparts.展开更多
The special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao enjoy a high degree of autonomy from the national policy system in devising their local policies,including measures related to climate change.Hong Kong and Mac...The special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao enjoy a high degree of autonomy from the national policy system in devising their local policies,including measures related to climate change.Hong Kong and Macao each have their own climate change policies,some aspects of which are more advanced than policies in China's Mainland.While their high degree of policy autonomy has advantages,this has also isolated them from China's larger environmental management and practices that continue to advance at scale.This paper reviews the climate change policies of the two special administrative regions and analyzes their strengths and innovations,particularly in adaptation.It also identifies areas where there could be closer engagement,collaboration,and capacity-building with the China's Mainland,which has the potential for greater positive impacts,especially on a regional basis.展开更多
文摘This study investigates the differences in pragmatic competence between Hong Kong and Chinese mainland university students.Participants included 19 native speakers of English,115 Chinese mainland students,divided into those who had spent time abroad in an English-speaking country(CM A)and those who had not(CM NA),and 97 Hong Kong students,divided into those from an English-medium secondary school(Hong Kong EMI)and those from a Chinese-medium school(Hong Kong CMI).Linguistic proficiency was measured by a C-test,and pragmatic competence by a Metapragmatic Knowledge Test,an Irony Test and a Monologic Role Play.Group scores were compared using ANCOVAs to control for differences in proficiency.The results point to a continuum of pragmatic competence—EMI>CMI>CM A>CM NA—reflecting the groups’access to English in real-life contexts.The differences between the Hong Kong groups and the Chinese mainland groups were clearest in those tests measuring processing capacity(i.e.,Irony Response Time and the Monologic Role Play).CM A,but not CM NA,performed as well as the Hong Kong groups on measures of metapragmatic awareness.The results are discussed in terms of Bialystok’s(1993)distinction between analyzed representation and control of processing.
文摘From the diachronic dimension,this paper makes a two-way interactive investigation on the integration of Hong Kong Chinese and Mainland Mandarin.“Gao”is a delexical verb in contemporary Chinese.In different words and expressions related to“gao”character,there are mutual absorptions between Chinese mainland and Hong Kong,which is characterized by starting from nothing to something and from less to more.
文摘This pilot study attempts to demonstrate some underlying scanning electron microscopy themes of quartz grain surface textures. A variety of textural patterns and individual features are described for grains selected from various littoral environments. An attempt was made to differentiate samples on surface textures alone, but limitations of using this technique in sedimentological isolation were apparent. Statistical analysis of checklist data and photographic evidence revealed some of the more important feature combinations used in environmental diagnosis. The use of discriminant analysis provided quantitative sample separation.
文摘Objective:To establish that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR)government is actively promoting Chinese medicine(CM)and to examine turnover rate of Chinese medicine practitioners(CMPs)in Hong Kong,China in light of this governmental push.Methods:This study covered two major areas:reviewing CM development in Hong Kong,and assessing the turnover rate of CMPs in Hong Kong.The first part of the paper is a historical review.The investigation of turnover rate had two sections.Section 1,quantitative method,involved online questionnaires;Section 2,qualitative method comprised interviews with CMPs from different types of CM clinics to ascertain the reasons for the turnover among CMPs.Results:A total of 123 online questionnaires were received in Section 1(55 from male CMPs;66 from female CMPs;2 respondents were unwilling to disclose their sex).The proportion of CMPs who had resigned in 2018e19 was 22.8%(28),of whom 5.7%(7)had resigned twice in one year.The rates of resignation in 3 years and 5 years were up to 40.7%(50)and 56.9%(70),respectively.Six CMPs were interviewed in Section 2.Young CMPs were more likely to resign than seniors.The large gap between actual salary and expectations appeared to be the main reason for the high rate of resignation.Conclusion:HKSAR government keenly desires to promote CM in Hong Kong,however,high turnover rate of CMPs was detected even under this positive governmental support.There is an urgent need to conduct a more representative study of the reasons for the inclination of CMPs in Hong Kong.The study highlights an important issue in CM development,and these results should remind different stakeholders in the CM industry and the government that CMPs need better career prospects and support in various areas.
文摘Over the years,population growth and industrial development in Hong Kong has caused serious pollution of the environ-ment.To ensure that we will live in a healthy environment,we need to have a broader view of economic efficiency that incor-porates environmental quality as one of the dimensions of"economic success".This has become an acute problem for theworld in general and Hong Kong in particular.
文摘The Chinese traditional cultures are es- sential part of the 5,000-year civilization of China.It has become more and more important how to pass on the quintessence of the Chinese traditional culture when the national economy is advancing by leap and bounds.
文摘his paper analyzes the Chinese cultural images represented in Tripmaster Monkey:His Fake Book,and the reasons of the differences between Chinese traditional cultural images in Chinese Four Great Classical Novels and those mentioned in this book.
文摘AIM: To investigate the age differences in the risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment of female breast cancer patients. METHODS: Seven thousand one hundred and fiftytwo women with primary breast cancer from the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Registry were recruited after receiving patients' consent, they were asked to complete standardized questionnaires which captured their sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors associated with breast cancer development. Among them, clinicopathological data and patterns of treatment were further collected from medical records of 5523 patients with invasive breast cancers. Patients were divided into two groups according to the age at diagnosis: younger(< 40 years old) vs older patients(≥ 40 years old) for subsequent analyses.RESULTS: Analysis on the sociodemographic characteristics and exposure to risk factors were performed on 7152 women with primary breast cancer and the results revealed that younger patients were more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles; these include a lack of exercise(85.4% vs 73.2%, P < 0.001), having high stress in life(46.1% vs 35.5%, P < 0.001), having dairy/meat-rich diets(20.2% vs 12.9%, P < 0.001),having alcohol drinking habit(7.7% vs 5.2%, P = 0.002). Younger patients were also more likely to have hormone-related risk factors including nulliparity(43.3% vs 17.8%, P < 0.001) and an early age at menarche(20.7% vs 13.2%, P < 0.001). Analyses on clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment were performed on 5523 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. The invasive tumours in younger patients showed more aggressive pathological features such as having a higher percentage of grade 3 histology(45.7% vs 36.5%, P < 0.001), having a higher proportion of tumours with lymphovascular invasion(39.6% vs 33.2%, P = 0.003), and having multifocal disease(15.7% vs 10.3%, P < 0.001); they received different patterns of treatment than their older counterparts.CONCLUSION: Younger patients in Hong Kong are more likely to encounter risk factors associated with breast cancer development and have more aggressive tumours than their older counterparts.
文摘The special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao enjoy a high degree of autonomy from the national policy system in devising their local policies,including measures related to climate change.Hong Kong and Macao each have their own climate change policies,some aspects of which are more advanced than policies in China's Mainland.While their high degree of policy autonomy has advantages,this has also isolated them from China's larger environmental management and practices that continue to advance at scale.This paper reviews the climate change policies of the two special administrative regions and analyzes their strengths and innovations,particularly in adaptation.It also identifies areas where there could be closer engagement,collaboration,and capacity-building with the China's Mainland,which has the potential for greater positive impacts,especially on a regional basis.