My Association with China

I am an active member and former national president of the Federation of Canada-China Friendship Associations. The Vancouver Consulate has for some time been regularly sending me copies of Beijing Review and China Today, which I pass on to members of our association. I certainly appreciate receiving them as they keep me well informed of events and developments in China. My association with China has been lifelong as you will see from the following facts.

My father arrived in Canton from Britain in 1903 to build the first electric power station in that city, and my mother, also from Britain, arrived in 1904. After a two-year language training period she became proficient in Chinese, and worked as a teacher supervising schools. The couple met and married in Canton, and when my father's work was finished, his firm moved him to Hong Kong where I was born. The Revolution of 1911 in China made doing business with Chinese firms almost impossible, so my parents and I migrated to Canada. However, our family maintained a close association with the Chinese in Canada and they frequently visited our home while mother and dad carried on classes and visited their homes.

In 1932, after I had graduated from university, I was offered a position as a teacher at a Chinese school for girls in Canton, where, six months later my fiancé was also offered a teaching position. After I completed my contract we were married in Canton. Later my husband's job was moved to Hong Kong, where our two oldest boys were born. We returned to Canada early in 1939 to visit relatives, but were unable to return to China because of World War Two. After the war I asked for permission to bring a group of visitors to China, and in 1974 permission was finally granted. Since then I have led 22 groups all over China, as well as going on five other trips, including one to the Beijing International Tourist Convention, a summer teaching trip to Yantai University, and a tour of Shandong Province as guest of its tourist department.

You ask in your questionnaire what articles I would like to see. May I suggest two items that I think would be of great interest to us in the West.

1. More articles about village and farm life, and how it is changing.

2. An explanation as to how governing bodies are chosen i.e. (a) how do villagers elect committee members and village heads; (b) how is the state government elected; and (c) how is the national government elected.

I have heard various explanations but I would like to be sure of my facts and I imagine your readers would be very interested.

MOLLY PHILLIPS
Victoria, Canada

(Ms Molly Phillips and other readers who are interested in this may read the following articles in our back issues: "The State Structure of China" in the May issue of 1996, "Foreign Advice on Village Voting" in the August issue of 1997, "Democracy in an Ancient Land" in the March issue of 1998. - Ed.)

Tapes for Language Corner

I like articles on ancient Chinese civilization and people's daily lives, particularly those with pictures. As vice-chairman of the Association of Asian Traditions and Arts, I am responsible for supplying articles to our members so that they can gain a better understanding of China. Our aim is to help people know the origins of ancient Chinese civilization.

Some of your articles are too short, and fail to satisfy our curiosity. In addition, if you could print all the pictures in color, it would add charm to your magazine.

It is very difficult for us to learn Chinese pronunciation, so I hope you will be able to publish magnetic tapes for all the lessons in the Language Corner at the end of the year.

DUCHENE RAYMOND
France

Precious Material for Learning English

I am a loyal reader and an active supporter of your magazine. Several months ago, I wrote to your editors twice, and received replies both times. This is really gratifying. I admire you for your sincerity and sense of responsibility towards your readers. The way you operate is a great aid to communication between editors and readers.

After reading each article in the English edition of China Today, I feel I have gained more new knowledge, particularly articles that reflect the great achievements made by our motherland in various aspects. I am determined to study harder so as to repay our motherland.

As a student who loves to study English, I have read almost every article in your magazine, and have made notes. I think this magazine serves as precious material for learning English.

ZHOU XIAOJIA
China