[Stevo75]

Do you want to return to a more fair minded, less divisive country than the one you left? If you are concerned with the direction Australia is heading, the election is the perfect time to act. To vote for positive change in Australia, vote for Kevin Rudd's New Leadership.
If you're an expat there are reasons why you aren't in Australia. If you want to ensure that the Australia you return to is a great place to live, you need to vote. Have your say from faraway. ALP Abroad is looking for fellow expat Aussies, here in HK and in the pearl river delta, to be part of a worldwide campaign to give Australia fresh thinking and new leadership, not just more of the same.
Remember every vote does count, and make yours count for a better fuuture for Australia.
Make sure you know where and when to cast your vote when the election is called.

Further queries post here or look to our website http://www.alpabroad.org

Or Contact Steven at:
alpabroad.hongkong@gmail.com

and have a nice day..

[Skyhook]

Also, if Kevin does get voted into power, he will be the only western leader that can speak fluent mandarin.. Perfect for long term relations with China, bad news for relations with the USA though, especially with Peter Garrett as Rudds right hand man, with more than enough capacity in his own right, to be Rudds replacement down the track....

Rudd gets my vote 100%

Here is a funny 50's propaganda style video somebody made..

YouTube - KEVIN 07 - Rejected Advertising Angle

[discobay]

Is Rudd actually fluent or were his lines at APEC rehearsed?

[Skyhook]

Kevin Rudd was Australia's Diplomat in Beijing for a number of years, one of my HK Chinese friends in Sydney, her Aunty was Kevins mandarin teacher, and yes Kevin is fluent, no need for him to rehearse, if you listen to his accent in this clip, he's pretty damn good for a round eye.

YouTube - Kevin Rudd Speaking Mandarin

[discobay]

Not sure I agree with his accent being good. At best I would put it at equal to a 3-month putonghua student. But the fact that he made the effort to learn the language during his tenure in China is deserving of merit. Expats in HK should take note.

[PDLM]

Er, he learnt the language when he was studying towards a 1st class honours degree in Chinese!

[Skyhook]

Er yes initially, PDLM is correct, he still has on going tuition/couching via my friends aunty back in AUS though.

And a 3 month Mandarin student Disco Bay, couldnt maintain a fluent conversation, if their life depended on it.

The only people I know in Hong Kong, who can even speak Cantonese to a coherent conversational level, are ex/current British members of the HK police force.

[Stevo75]

When I first heard him speak at APEC what i remember hearing very softly but clearly, was the intake of air of people taken aback at his proficency.(maybe from the opposition leaders in attendance?LOL)

My Canto is limited solely to being able to talk to taxi drivers so hearing him rip it out in Putonghua was somethig else.

[Stevo75]

Here 'tis everyone. Howard actually coughs up that he broke promises.

YouTube - Keeping interest rates low a "two...

[discobay]

HKP's expatriate contingent is far from a leading example of how cantonese has been learnt well.
Didn't actually see Rudd have a conversation with the Premier.