Lost in Translation?
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I have been on occasions been asked if I am ‘中国人’，（Chinese citizen or someone of PRC)，and I have replied no, I am Chinese ‘华人’，from Singapore.
When media or social uses the word Chinese, the authors usually do not differentiate between the two.
These 2 are very different concepts, but the English translation are both "Chinese".
I remembered an interview our late Prime Minister Mr Lee said, we are of "ethic Chinese stock". That tells the difference clearly.
Important to remember to have with you native speakers during business meetings to ensure as little are lost in translation as possible.
A note of clarification: I am sure Singaporean chinese are happy to acknowledge we are "华人", and I am, but we do not like it when someone just assumes when we speak good Mandarin we must from from PRC.
Maybe that's our Singaporean pride?
Standard of Living increases, Hawker Food price increases, Inflation, Hawkers quitting their business - Solution(s) ?
I have taken a look at the various points esp. by Benjamin OngGuan Hong Tan
>> - Real estate or rental cost seems to be one of the main culprit.
If you take a look at the shops in our malls, which are mainly managed by REITS, you will see very mostly big brands, and very small number of shops by SME. As a long time REIT investor, one of the key performance we look out for are the ability to increase rental yield for their malls, and that means food at Malls will be increase in tandem with the REIT's yield ;-)
I agree so much with the point that hawkers deserve to make a decent living. I am unsure of the costs (to the hawkers) to providing mandatory discounts, but the lowest priced bak chor mee has gone from $2.50 to $3.00 to $4.00 over the last 10 years. There's only so much a hawker (many times a couple working hard to provide for their family) can do to reduce cost.
However, the costs of food at Kopi Tiams has risen even more than those of hawker centres.
Having interviewed some hawkers (in hawker centres and in kopi tiams) for a project, it seems the rental costs of Kopi Tiams critically need to be reviewed and rectified. The non-stop bidding of HDB kopi tiams at higher and higher prices (mentioned in one of the comments to Guan Hong's reply, makes it impossible for anyone to help manage the costs of food there.
Cash rebates like CDC vouchers should not be used for the purpose of reducing food costs on a long term basis at kopi tiam, unless perhaps if there is a scheme that specifically put up extra stamp duties and related costs for kopi tiam sales to provide a non-stop income stream to provide food vouchers for Singaporeans across the country.
Leading Consultant on SkillsFuture & CET | Expert in SSG OR, WSQ CA, Non-WSQ CF and TPQA | 25+ Years in L&D
Singaporeans, we need to talk. 🗣️ Our beloved hawkers, the culinary backbone of our nation, are being crushed under the weight of unrealistic expectations. Amid rising costs and a demanding operational landscape, is it fair to expect them to be the torchbearers of social change? 🍲💸
Yes, we love our hawker food cheap and accessible. But at what cost? The current model forces hawkers to provide budget meals at a loss, bear mandatory discounts, and even give away free meals - all while struggling to keep their businesses afloat.
Consider this: A hawker selling budget meals at a loss while absorbing a 10% discount is not a sustainable business. It's a slow road to bankruptcy. We’re celebrating them as cultural icons while simultaneously making it impossible for them to thrive.
**Let's face the facts:**
1. Budget Meals at a Loss: Hawkers are losing money on every budget meal sold. This isn't charity; it's economic suicide.
2. Mandatory Discounts: Why should hawkers, often on the lower end of the income spectrum themselves, subsidize meals? Shouldn't this be a government or operator responsibility?
3. Overbearing Contracts: Inconsistent management practices and punitive contractual obligations stifle their ability to innovate and adapt.
It's time for a reality check. We can't demand Michelin-quality food at hawker prices without recognizing the immense pressure we're placing on these hardworking individuals. If we truly value our hawker culture, we need to rethink how we support them. 💡
**Proposed Solutions:**
- Government Subsidies: Direct financial support for budget meals and discounts.
- Standardized Fair Contracts: Consistent, fair guidelines that protect hawkers' interests.
- Operator Responsibility: Operators should absorb marketing discounts and provide tangible support to boost footfall.
Let's not romanticize our hawker culture to death. Instead, let's ensure it's sustainable, fair, and thriving for generations to come. 🌟🇸🇬
#HawkerCulture#SupportLocal#FairTrade#SustainableBusiness#SocialResponsibility#SingaporeFood
I commented on Benjamin Ong note. Then I remembered a Chinese idiom, 公道自在人心。
It means fairness is in the hearts of people. We are able to understand if a deal ia good for you and not for me, or good for me but not for you.
That's why in sales training, we caution trainees not to take the easy route and forsake the seeking of win-win.
For even if you can win at the expense of the others (ie your customers or trading partner), it will come back as a problem later because all of us have the ability to discern "fairness" to ourselves.
Trading is an infinite game (as defined in game theory) so unfairness will end the game sooner and not later.
Business Leader (C4, Cyber, EW, Intel) | Army Reserve unit commander | Youth mentor | ex-ST Engineering
Fighting fair.
Apart from instances in sports competitions and the like, I don't know anyone in business who consistently and willingly fights "fair".
My assumption is that any business or any country will want to and leverage any advantage that it can muster.
Isn't that the rule of the game?
I am not sure what the EU expects China to do. Roll over and comply? ;)
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recruiter and human at Binoculer
1moI'm always Singaporean-Chinese, never Chinese-Singaporean!