Freedom

Once I think of the right to do things at our free will (i.e. without the need to be approved explicitly by law), it seems unavoidable to talk about the recent event of Jackie Chan (成龍).

Seriously, I think his idea that "we need to be controlled ... (Otherwise) we will just do what we want" absolutely correct.

Don't panic. It's not just for Chinese; all men (and women, of course) need to be controlled.

The point is, however, most of us - the average citizen - have sufficient laws and regulations to keep us under scrutiny. It is just that some senior officials and the privileged class who often come up and claimed that they have exceptional moral standard and need not extrinsic control - or even inspection.

One notable recent example is certain Mr. Yam, who, despite the financial tsunami, gave himself an annual salary of HK$12 million last year. Does anyone seriously believe he needs not be controlled ?

Unless you consider those are not human beings.

Well, after reading The Animal Farm of George Orwell, I think you could be right.

PS. It is yet another management principle that we should never rely on the good will or exceptional moral standard of a particular person and do away with objective scrutiny.

As the old Russian proverb says: We trust, but we have to verify.