Newsletter No. 379

No. 379, 4.6.2011 9 Word economy Readers of The Economist are not only economists but also include many educated members of the English-speaking world. Its in-house style book, The Economist Style Guide , now in its tenth edition, is another invaluable desk resource for writers and editors. True to its namesake and among other things, The Economist Style Guide preaches the virtue of word economy. It advises brevity and conciseness, and quotes Voltaire’s saying: ‘The best way to be boring is to leave nothing out.’ A writer’s task is to be economical with words, but not with the truth. The style book gives a number of examples of unnecessary words, including: People can meet (rather than meet with each other). An advice given free (or for nothing, rather than for free) A priority (rather than a top priority) A haven (rather than a safe haven) A gift (rather than a free gift) Probably, especially (rather than most probably, most especially) ‘The fact that…’ can be shortened to ‘That…’ (That I did not do so was a self-  indulgence.) Like all other good style books, The Economist Style Guide encourages writers to write simply and effectively as well as providing practical tips and reminders to achieve that. Its section on American and British English is especially useful. More in the next instalment. Editor O 宣 布 事 項 ANNOUNCEMENTS www.cuhk.edu.hk/iso/en/features/style-speaks/index.html 公積金計劃投資成績 Investment Returns of Staff Superannuation Scheme 財務處公布公積金計劃內各項投資成績之回報如下： The Bursary announces the following investment returns on the Designated Investment Funds of the 1995 Scheme. 2011年4月 April 2011 基金 Fund 1995 計劃 Scheme （未經審核數據 unaudited ） 指標回報 Benchmark Return 增長 Growth 3.55% 3.33% 平衡 Balanced 3.22% 3.34% 穩定 Stable 2.85% 3.17% 香港股票 HK Equity 3.53% 2.03% 香港指數 HK Index-linked 0.73% 0.99% A50中國指數基金 A50 China Tracker Fund ∆ 0.59% 2.20% 港元銀行存款 HKD Bank Deposit 0.08% 0.001% 美元銀行存款 USD Bank Deposit* –0.10% –0.19% 澳元銀行存款 AUD Bank Deposit* 5.93% 5.66% 歐元銀行存款 EUR Bank Deposit* 4.84% 4.75% 2010年5月1日至2011年4月30日 1 May 2010 to 30 April 2011 基金 Fund 1995 計劃 Scheme （未經審核數據 unaudited ） 指標回報 Benchmark Return 增長 Growth 18.44% 17.68% 平衡 Balanced 18.79% 16.48% 穩定 Stable 10.29% 13.50% 香港股票 HK Equity 17.21% 16.29% 香港指數 HK Index-linked 14.87% 15.82% A50中國指數基金 A50 China Tracker Fund ∆ 7.11% 3.90% 港元銀行存款 HKD Bank Deposit 0.87% 0.01% 美元銀行存款 USD Bank Deposit* 0.96% 0.11% 澳元銀行存款 AUD Bank Deposit* 23.39% 19.88% 歐元銀行存款 EUR Bank Deposit* 12.87% 12.26% 強積金數據請參閱： www.cuhk.edu.hk/bursary/chi/public/payroll_benefits/mpf.html For MPF Scheme performance, please refer to: www.cuhk.edu.hk/bursary/eng/public/payroll_benefits/mpf.html ∆ 累積回報是由2010年5月1日之後的十二個月之回報。實際投資回報數值包含由iShares安碩新華富時 A50中國指數ETF﹙2823﹚的市場價格及單位資產淨值的差異而產生的溢價或折讓。在2011年4月該 溢價減少了1.54%，而2010年5月至2011年4月之十二個月期間溢價的累計增幅為5.06%。 Cumulative returns are for the past twelve months from 1 May 2010. The return data include a premium or a discount between the Market Price and the Net Asset Value of iShares FTSE/Xinhua A50 China Index ETF (2823). In April, there was a decrease in premium of 1.54% and for the twelve months from May 2010 to April 2011, the premium increased by 5.06%. * 實際與指標回報已包括有關期間的匯率變動 Both actual and benchmark returns include foreign currency exchange difference for the period concerned 教學人員評審事宜 Annual Academic Staff Review Exercise 按照行政與計劃委員會決議，2012至13年度有關教學人員之晉升／教授級薪金組別提升 評審，現提早於本年5月展開，詳情可參考人事處寄發予各學系系主任／學院院長／部門主 管之通函（GC04/2011）。通函亦可於人事處網頁閱覽： https://perntc.per.cuhk.edu.hk/ personnel/announcement.asp 。 其他評審之詳情，包括年度考績、薪酬調整、屆退休年齡後申請延任及導師職級之晉升， 將容後公布。 As approved by the Administrative and Planning Committee, the commencement of the annual staff review exercise for advancement/crossing of pay bands of academic staff for the year 2012–13 has been brought forward to May 2011. For details, please refer to the General Circular (GC04/2011) issued by the Personnel Office to department chairpersons/school directors/unit heads. The circular is also available at the ‘personnel announcements’ section of the Personnel Office website: https://perntc.per.cuhk.edu . hk/personnel/announcement.asp . Details on other reviews, including annual appraisal, pay review, retirement/extension of service beyond statutory retirement date, and advancement review of instructional staff will be announced separately in due course. 中國文化研究所特聘研究員 Institute of Chinese Studies Fellows 中國文化研究所宣布委任第二批特聘研究員如下： （一）高美慶教授（中國文化研究所文物館前館長） （二）杜 愽 妮教授（愛丁堡大學中文系榮休講座教授） （三）康達維教授（華盛頓大學中國文學系教授） （四）何莫邪教授（挪威奧斯陸大學東歐與東方語文系教授） 特聘研究員始設於2007年研究所慶祝成立四十周年，目的是鼓勵曾在該所從事研究的本港 及海外學者，以研究所為學術基地，充分利用其資源，並參與研究所舉辦的活動。 The Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) announced the second appointment of ICS Fellows: 1. Prof. Mayching Kao, former director of Art Museum 2. Prof. Bonnie S. McDougall, Emeritus Professor in Chinese Studies, University of Edinburgh 3. Prof. David R. Knechtges, Professor of Classical Chinese, University of Washington 4. Prof. Christoph Harbsmeier, Professor of Chinese, University of Oslo The ICS Fellowship Programme was initiated as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the ICS in 2007. The institute hopes to encourage both local and international scholars who have been active researchers at the ICS to consider it as their academic ‘home- away-from-home’, to make full use of ICS resources, and participate in its programmes and activities whenever possible. 徐培深教授家人感謝中大社群 Family of Prof. Baysung Hsu Thanks CUHK 前副校長徐培深教授公子徐文秉先生向中大社群致謝：「先父之喪，承蒙中大友好關懷慰 唁，多方協助支持。高情隆誼，存歿均感，哀此叩謝。」 Mr. Bing Hsu, son of the late former Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Baysung Hsu, wishes to express their family’s gratitude to the CUHK community: ‘We would like to thank the CUHK community for its kind expression of sympathy for our loss. The support from the community has been truly overwhelming and is greatly appreciated. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts.’