Myanmar – elections and health

The 8 November elections were a major waypoint in Myanmar’s transition from authoritarian rule.  The victorious National League for Democracy (NLD) needs to identify key appointees wisely to prepare for taking power in March 2016.  There are high expectations that NLD will deliver the needed political and economic changes.  Success will depend on the cooperation between a new capable president and the armed forces.  NLD’s limited experience of government, a shallow pool of skilled technocrats and the difficulty of reforming key institutions all constrain how much can be delivered quickly.  Other hurdles include serious armed clashes in Shan and Kachin states, macro-economic turbulence, and grievances of the disenfranchised Muslim Rohingya.

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Be the Neighbour of Foreign Domestic Helpers

It is not uncommon to see groups of foreign domestic helpers gathering at public area in Hong Kong every Sunday. Usually they will meet fellow countrymen on this day when they can take off from work.

There are over 300,000 foreign domestic helpers working in Hong Kong now, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, with a smaller number from Thailand and other places.  They cook for Hong Kong families, take care of their elderly and children and do the housework. Most of them will wire transfer their salary back home to provide a better living to their own families in homeland.

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