2009-03-06
迪士尼吸本地客推4款酒店套票
迪士尼吸本地客推4款酒店套票
(明報)3月6日 星期五
Travel Agency
【明報專訊】農曆年過後，本港酒店業進入淡季，市區部分四、五星酒店的入住率跌至四成，不少酒店紛紛推出優惠價搶港客市場。迪士尼 樂園兩間酒店昨日起加入搶港客行列，推出4款酒店套票，最高減幅逾三成。據了解，迪士尼兩間酒店入住率維持理想，推出優惠是要吸納減少外遊的港人。
酒店連購物套票省33％
迪士尼樂園酒店和好萊塢酒店昨日起推出4款住宿優惠，套票包括購物、晚餐、門票和水療等，4月30日前入住可享優惠。減幅最大的，應是酒店連購物套票，1420元可享雙人一晚住宿（包括10％服務費）及500元商品消費額，較原價1820元節省33％。
另一款連自助晚餐套票，減幅亦高達兩成。若二人到迪士尼樂園酒店住一晚，並到該酒店的翠樂庭餐廳享用自助晚餐，優惠價2192元，較原本單住酒店要 1700元加10％服務費及約900元的雙人晚餐便宜逾兩成；到好萊塢酒店住宿及到米奇廚師餐廳吃晚餐，更只需1492元，減幅至少15％（見表）。
優惠限周日至周四
本報記者昨日曾致電酒店熱線查詢，上述價錢僅限周日至周四，周五、六及公眾假期價錢普遍貴數百元；目前房間供應較緊張的日子是復活節假期前後及平日。
全年入住率約八成
迪士尼樂園兩間酒店近年全年平均入住率約八成，據了解，此次推出優惠，並非入住率不理想。消息人士指出，兩所酒店的入住率仍較市區酒店佳，周末有不少內地旅客，「但當然無八成啦」。他解釋，現時經濟下滑，不少港人減少外出，會在本地找地方度周末，故推出這些優惠套票，希望吸引他們入住，而購物、水療等套票，相信對女士較具吸引力。
樂園於暑假期間亦會推出以迪士尼公主為主題的活動，吸引小女孩。
樂園早前已推出「星級款待」計劃，5月30日前，賓客在樂園內只要多付數十元起，便可享額外體驗。
人民幣在港結算好事近
人民幣在港結算好事近
(星島)3月6日
Magazines Subscription
(星島日報報道)國務院總理溫家寶昨天在政府工作報告中表示，全力支援香港積極應對國際金融危機，加強合作鞏固香港國際金融中心地位；同時加快推進與港澳地區貨物貿易的人民幣結算試點。曾蔭權 則指在港進行人民幣結算，已到了最後討論階段。
溫家寶昨天在全國人大會議上發表政府工作報告時表示，中央政府將堅定不移地貫徹「一國兩制」、「港人治港」、「澳人治澳」、高度自治的方針，全力支持香港、澳門 兩個特別行政區積極應對國際金融危機，保持繁榮穩定。
他說，進一步加強內地與港澳的合作，鞏固香港國際金融中心地位，促進澳門經濟適度多元發展。加快推進與港澳地區貨物貿易的人民幣結算試點。不斷拓展粵港澳三地合作的深度和廣度。加快推動港珠澳大橋、港深機場鐵路、廣深港高速鐵路等基礎設施建設。擴大內地服務業對港澳的開放。採取有效措施支持港澳在內地企業特別是中小企業發展，緩解經營困難。
溫總說，「偉大祖國永遠是香港、澳門的堅強後盾。我們堅信，香港、澳門同胞一定能够克服面臨的困難，開創更加美好的明天！全力支援香港積極應對國際金融危機，保持繁榮穩定。」
特首曾蔭權對於國務院總理溫家寶，昨日在政府工作報告中，再次肯定香港作為國際金融中心的地位，表示歡迎；並對於中央政府表明會採取有效措施，支持香港在內地的企業，感到高興。
他說，關於人民幣結算於香港進行一事，已經做到最後討論的階段，「我相信這件事情很快會有結果，特別是利用人民幣結算貿易方面，我相信這件事很快很快會有好消息。」
香港中聯辦 主任高祀仁表示，今次的政府工作報告是全力應對金融危機，亦為港澳提出一系列措施幫助香港，有關力度比○三年時更大，希望防止香港出現結構性的金融動盪。而今次政府工作報告對於港澳的字眼較為具體，顯示出中央政府全力支持香港的決心。
國務院港澳辦副主任張曉明則指，中央政府在制訂政府工作報告時，原定把有關港澳的部分寫得較為原則性，但溫家寶在看了有關港澳的段落時，就指為了幫助港澳應對金融危機，一定要較為具體展示中央政府對港政策的內涵，讓港澳同胞安心。
行政會議召集人梁振英則指，今次的政府工作報告中，提出大量關於擴大消費性內需的措施，而從事零售業的內地港資，如時裝及化裝品，可以有相當大的得益，而香港的服務性的質素較高，本身亦可以有所獲益。
身兼全國政協的總商會議員林健鋒指，今次的工作報告給與香港一定的支持，希望香港內部可以團結一致。因此他認為香港本身都需要同舟共濟，應對金融海嘯。
他又指，今次的報告中，例如容許企業可以按實質需要調整工時，這與他們提出暫緩勞動合同法的理念一致。
中小企內地貸款 商會盼中央支持
中小企內地貸款 商會盼中央支持
(明報)3月6日 星期五
Credit Loans Lending
【明報專訊】多名港區全國政協委員都對總理溫家寶的報告讚好，全國政協常委戴德豐更形容這是「歷年來最好最振奮」的報告，特別是由中央政府指揮粵港澳的合作。不過，政協委員、香港中華總商會會長蔡冠深表示，希望中央對內地中小企的貸款支持計劃，可令在內地的港資中小企都同樣受惠。
蔡冠深稱，現時很多香港公司在內地銀行借貸的成功率不高，「對方都不認識你，你突然去申請，借錢不容易」。他稱，希望中央能夠在這方面協助到港資中小企渡過難關。
自由黨田北俊則認為，內地的香港中小企在減稅、退稅方面也會受惠。
前政務司長許仕仁形容總理報告非常全面、非常仔細，「亮點最重要看他關於台灣的立場和態度」。長實副主席李澤鉅則形容總理講明支持房地產發展，對醫療改革的支持他亦感到很高興。
財赤9500億力退海嘯
財赤9500億力退海嘯
(星島)3月6日 星期五
Investment
(星島日報報道)全國人民代表大會全體會議昨天上午開幕，溫家寶向兩千多名人大代表發表政府工作報告。受國際金融海嘯打擊，中國面臨內憂外患，去年第四季度GDP增速僅有六點八個百分點。溫家寶警告，國際金融危機還在蔓延、仍未見底，「經濟增速持續下滑已成為影響全局的主要矛盾。」
溫家寶重申了今年經濟增長百分之八目標，以及未來兩年四萬億元的政府投資計畫。
「在我們這樣一個十三億人口的發展中國家，要擴大城鄉就業，增加居民收入，維護社會穩定， 就必須保持一定的增長速度。只要政策對頭，措施得當，落實有力，就有可能實現這一目標。」溫家寶強調。
四萬億元經濟刺激計畫的大規模投資，需要財政赤字和銀行貸款提供資金支援。溫家寶在報告中宣布今年新增貸款五萬億以上，全國財政赤字合計九千五百億元，其中擬安排中央財政赤字七千五百億元，並有財政部代地方發行兩千億元債券。
據悉，這一赤字規模比去年擴張了五倍多，創出了新中國六十年的最高紀錄，是歷史高值的二○○三年財政赤字的近三倍。
為了保八，溫家寶提出了一攬子措施，包括大規模增加政府投資，大範圍實施調整振興產業規劃，大幅度提高社會保障水平。今年中央政府投資總額九千多億元，其中很大的比重是用於保障性住房、教育、衞生、文化等民生工程建設。
中央財政投入農業、農村將高達七千多億，增加農業補貼、提高糧食收購價；制定民工養老保險辦法，提高失業保險金；今後三年將會投入八千五百億元推行醫療改革，解決看病貴、看病難。
全國人大代表王越說，政府釋放的信號十分明顯，希望透過民生工程來保增長、擴內需、促穩定。
在教育方面，針對四川地震暴露校舍豆腐渣工程，溫家寶強調，「要把學校建成最安全、家長最放心的地方」。
過去一年，廣東官方推行「騰龍換鳥」等產業升級政策，引起包括港商在內的不少廠商不滿，認為操之過急。溫家寶在報告中強調，不能放鬆出口，要「穩步推進加工貿易轉型升級」，採取有效措施，紓緩港資中小企的經營困難。經濟不景、失業率上升，再加上今年是政治敏感年，溫家寶強調，要「健全社會穩定預警機制，積極預防好妥善處理各類群體性事件」，並且重申要堅決查處腐敗案件。
2009-03-04
Chinese Drywall Causing Massive Headaches for Homeowners News
Chinese Drywall Causing Massive Headaches for Homeowners News
February 24, 2009. By Heidi Turner
Legal Advice
Weston, FL: If you purchased a newly built home in the past 5 years or so, you may have unknowingly purchased a home that is defective. That is because some new homes were built with Chinese drywall, a product that is allegedly toxic. Issues with the Chinese drywall are now coming to light, with more and more people reporting problems in their homes. Some homeowners are now investigating lawsuits against home developers and drywall manufacturers.
New House"During the recent building boom, from 2004 to 2007, there was a shortage of US- manufactured drywall," Scott Shepherd, partner with Shepherd, Finkelman, Miller & Shah, LLP, says. "Prior to 2004, developers preferred, for economic and logistical reasons, to use drywall manufactured in the US. However, because of building demands during the boom, including the extreme drain on the system caused by Hurricane Katrina, there was a shortage of US drywall and builders began using drywall imported from China. This drywall typically was kept at sea for a few months prior to entering the US.
"It turns out that much of the Chinese drywall included fly ash, a waste material that is a byproduct from power plants using coal. The problem that has developed is that the drywall emits several sulfur gases, including, apparently, hydrogen sulfide. These gases have a strong smell, and have been causing significant damage to items in the home, such as air conditioner coils, electrical and computer wiring, plumbing and even silver picture frames and jewelry. The gases can also be harmful to humans and many reports indicate that the emissions are causing people respiratory discomfort, eye and nose irritation and headaches.
"Most of the drywall that came into the US between 2004 and 2006 arrived at about fifteen ports around the country, including several in Florida, New York, Texas, California and New Orleans. So far, most of the problems that we have seen, and that have been reported in the press, have been in Florida, Louisiana, Arizona and California, although I would expect we will hear more about other areas in the future. Anywhere that there was a problem getting US drywall—which means anywhere there was a high volume of home construction—we will probably hear about problems with Chinese drywall."
If you purchased a newly built home and are not sure whether or not Chinese drywall was used in your home, you may have to have a home inspection done. However, there are a few signs you can watch for that may indicate that Chinese drywall was used in your home. These signs include having to replace components in your air conditioner, plumbing piping that has corroded and turned black, corroded electrical wiring, silver jewelry or picture frames that have turned black and a rotten egg smell. You may also have noticed eye and nose irritations, headaches and respiratory problems.
How quickly these issues present themselves may have a lot to do with the drywall's exposure to moisture.
"People have reported problems for the past year although initially no one was sure what the cause of the problems were," Shepherd says. "A lot of these issues are just starting to manifest now. People may have noticed they were frequently replacing air conditioner parts but not known why, but they knew that they should not have been having these types of problems [such as air conditioner problems] in homes that are new construction."
The lawsuits thus far have been against developers and manufacturers of the drywall. At this stage, it is too soon to tell if there will turn out to be other responsible parties. The principal claim in most of the lawsuits is that the drywall has caused expensive damage to the home, that the drywall itself must be replaced and in some cases that the residents have suffered personal injuries as a result of their exposure. It has yet to be seen if there will be any effect on home values once repairs are made.
February 24, 2009. By Heidi Turner
Legal Advice
Weston, FL: If you purchased a newly built home in the past 5 years or so, you may have unknowingly purchased a home that is defective. That is because some new homes were built with Chinese drywall, a product that is allegedly toxic. Issues with the Chinese drywall are now coming to light, with more and more people reporting problems in their homes. Some homeowners are now investigating lawsuits against home developers and drywall manufacturers.
New House"During the recent building boom, from 2004 to 2007, there was a shortage of US- manufactured drywall," Scott Shepherd, partner with Shepherd, Finkelman, Miller & Shah, LLP, says. "Prior to 2004, developers preferred, for economic and logistical reasons, to use drywall manufactured in the US. However, because of building demands during the boom, including the extreme drain on the system caused by Hurricane Katrina, there was a shortage of US drywall and builders began using drywall imported from China. This drywall typically was kept at sea for a few months prior to entering the US.
"It turns out that much of the Chinese drywall included fly ash, a waste material that is a byproduct from power plants using coal. The problem that has developed is that the drywall emits several sulfur gases, including, apparently, hydrogen sulfide. These gases have a strong smell, and have been causing significant damage to items in the home, such as air conditioner coils, electrical and computer wiring, plumbing and even silver picture frames and jewelry. The gases can also be harmful to humans and many reports indicate that the emissions are causing people respiratory discomfort, eye and nose irritation and headaches.
"Most of the drywall that came into the US between 2004 and 2006 arrived at about fifteen ports around the country, including several in Florida, New York, Texas, California and New Orleans. So far, most of the problems that we have seen, and that have been reported in the press, have been in Florida, Louisiana, Arizona and California, although I would expect we will hear more about other areas in the future. Anywhere that there was a problem getting US drywall—which means anywhere there was a high volume of home construction—we will probably hear about problems with Chinese drywall."
If you purchased a newly built home and are not sure whether or not Chinese drywall was used in your home, you may have to have a home inspection done. However, there are a few signs you can watch for that may indicate that Chinese drywall was used in your home. These signs include having to replace components in your air conditioner, plumbing piping that has corroded and turned black, corroded electrical wiring, silver jewelry or picture frames that have turned black and a rotten egg smell. You may also have noticed eye and nose irritations, headaches and respiratory problems.
How quickly these issues present themselves may have a lot to do with the drywall's exposure to moisture.
"People have reported problems for the past year although initially no one was sure what the cause of the problems were," Shepherd says. "A lot of these issues are just starting to manifest now. People may have noticed they were frequently replacing air conditioner parts but not known why, but they knew that they should not have been having these types of problems [such as air conditioner problems] in homes that are new construction."
The lawsuits thus far have been against developers and manufacturers of the drywall. At this stage, it is too soon to tell if there will turn out to be other responsible parties. The principal claim in most of the lawsuits is that the drywall has caused expensive damage to the home, that the drywall itself must be replaced and in some cases that the residents have suffered personal injuries as a result of their exposure. It has yet to be seen if there will be any effect on home values once repairs are made.
Toxic Chinese Drywall: It Stinks in More Ways Than One
Toxic Chinese Drywall: It Stinks in More Ways Than One
February 12, 2009. By Gordon Gibb
Legal Advice
Fort Meyers, FL: You've got to be kidding. Drywall, now. Chinese drywall, that was used during the South Florida building boom starting in 2004 and is now making some people sick. Toxic drywall has been found in many homes, and Chinese drywall problems are affecting copper plumbing and air conditioning coils.
Toxic DrywallToothpaste, pet food, toys, tires, infant formula, heparin, and now drywall. When is all this going to end? Can anyone trust anything that is coming from the great, emerging economy in China?
At issue is drywall that was purchased and used in some homes during the boom building years of 2004 and 2005—especially in places like South Florida. When drywall became hard to come by, apparently some was procured and imported from China.
Drywall is drywall, right? How can you go wrong with drywall?
The problem is what it's made with. And Dave Reid, who represents Intuitive Environmental Solutions of Fort Meyers, Florida, has concluded that at least some of the drywall imported from China was manufactured with waste materials from scrubbers on coal-fired power plants. It has been reported that while Chinese drywall meets ASTM standards, the suspicion is that the water used to mix the gypsum was wastewater that contained chemicals, including sulfur.
The chemicals have been found to leech out of the drywall and is not only a hazard to a homeowner's health, it can also play havoc with plumbing—and in South Florida, given the propensity and need for air conditioning, there is a lot of plumbing. The chemicals imbedded in the toxic Chinese drywall leech out as gasses and combine with the moisture on air conditioning coils to create sulphuric acid.
The acid in turn is suspected of weakening, and dissolving solder joints and copper tubing. The result is water leakage, the blackening of copper coils, and ultimately the failure of the system.
Not to mention the smell. Karen Kuenz is a retiree living in a house at The Legends, a subdivision located in south Lee County. She has smelled sulfur in, and around her home "for years," and while the contractor has made various attempts to locate and deal with the problem, it has never been eradicated entirely. There's still one room in her home where the "stinky sulfur is just nasty."
It's not just the smell. Kuenz has experienced coughing, and other ailments, but she could never explain it until now. The suspect now, is the drywall.
Richard Cesta is another homeowner in Lee County, Florida who has had to put up with the smell of sulfur in his condo. His air conditioning coils keep turning black, and he's had to replace them three times within just months. That kind of thing can get costly, running into the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
While drywall that smells like rotten eggs has only come to light in the past few months, it apparently is not a new problem. It has been reported that builders have been quietly settling complaints for the past 3 years.
That timeline fits in with the building boom that was prevalent in the overheated South Florida real estate market of 2004 and 2005, and into 2006. Drywall is normally sourced from US manufacturers, but a drywall shortage apparently left many installers scrambling to find alternative sources, including drywall from China. In some homes the toxic Chinese drywall was used exclusively, while in others it was mixed with drywall produced in the US.
So far, the problem appears to be isolated to South Florida and, in particular, Lee County. One prominent builder, Lennar Homes, has launched an action against the German-based Knauf Group, and its subsidiary Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China. Taishan Gypsum, another drywall manufacturer based in China, has also been implicated.
Lennar is also pursuing a collection of 12 subcontractors for installing substandard Chinese drywall in Lennar homes, allegedly without Lennar's knowledge.
The aforementioned builder has conducted various tests on its homes in South Florida through Environ International, and has found 3 sulfide gasses: carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide and dimethyl sulfide. It has been reported that the more dangerous hydrogen sulfide, which gives off a rotten-egg-like odor, was not found by Environ in air tests, but had been found previously in tests of the toxic Chinese drywall itself.
The Florida Health Department is conducting tests, and results should be known in March. Ironically, the Lieutenant Governor for the state of Florida has reportedly revealed that his home, located in Fort Meyers, was constructed with toxic Chinese drywall.
Some have made the point that after drywall is taped, sanded and sealed, the problem in theory should be mitigated. However, as countless South Florida homeowners have discovered, either the drywall has not been properly and consistently sealed—or the trapped chemicals within are too potent for the sealer, and paint to contain.
A class-action lawsuit was filed late last month in US District court in Fort Meyers.
If you are among the countless residents of newer homes in South Florida who have encountered health problems, or strange odors in your home resulting from the use of Chinese drywall, consult an attorney. You should not be made to put up with toxic drywall, and Chinese drywall problems only serve to heighten serious economic problems already prevalent in South Florida. Property values are dropping as it is. You don’t need to be chased from your home by a bad smell that is not of your doing.
Chinese Drywall Legal Help
If you have suffered losses in this case, please send your complaint to a lawyer who will review your possible [Chinese Drywall Lawsuit] at no cost or obligation.
February 12, 2009. By Gordon Gibb
Legal Advice
Fort Meyers, FL: You've got to be kidding. Drywall, now. Chinese drywall, that was used during the South Florida building boom starting in 2004 and is now making some people sick. Toxic drywall has been found in many homes, and Chinese drywall problems are affecting copper plumbing and air conditioning coils.
Toxic DrywallToothpaste, pet food, toys, tires, infant formula, heparin, and now drywall. When is all this going to end? Can anyone trust anything that is coming from the great, emerging economy in China?
At issue is drywall that was purchased and used in some homes during the boom building years of 2004 and 2005—especially in places like South Florida. When drywall became hard to come by, apparently some was procured and imported from China.
Drywall is drywall, right? How can you go wrong with drywall?
The problem is what it's made with. And Dave Reid, who represents Intuitive Environmental Solutions of Fort Meyers, Florida, has concluded that at least some of the drywall imported from China was manufactured with waste materials from scrubbers on coal-fired power plants. It has been reported that while Chinese drywall meets ASTM standards, the suspicion is that the water used to mix the gypsum was wastewater that contained chemicals, including sulfur.
The chemicals have been found to leech out of the drywall and is not only a hazard to a homeowner's health, it can also play havoc with plumbing—and in South Florida, given the propensity and need for air conditioning, there is a lot of plumbing. The chemicals imbedded in the toxic Chinese drywall leech out as gasses and combine with the moisture on air conditioning coils to create sulphuric acid.
The acid in turn is suspected of weakening, and dissolving solder joints and copper tubing. The result is water leakage, the blackening of copper coils, and ultimately the failure of the system.
Not to mention the smell. Karen Kuenz is a retiree living in a house at The Legends, a subdivision located in south Lee County. She has smelled sulfur in, and around her home "for years," and while the contractor has made various attempts to locate and deal with the problem, it has never been eradicated entirely. There's still one room in her home where the "stinky sulfur is just nasty."
It's not just the smell. Kuenz has experienced coughing, and other ailments, but she could never explain it until now. The suspect now, is the drywall.
Richard Cesta is another homeowner in Lee County, Florida who has had to put up with the smell of sulfur in his condo. His air conditioning coils keep turning black, and he's had to replace them three times within just months. That kind of thing can get costly, running into the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
While drywall that smells like rotten eggs has only come to light in the past few months, it apparently is not a new problem. It has been reported that builders have been quietly settling complaints for the past 3 years.
That timeline fits in with the building boom that was prevalent in the overheated South Florida real estate market of 2004 and 2005, and into 2006. Drywall is normally sourced from US manufacturers, but a drywall shortage apparently left many installers scrambling to find alternative sources, including drywall from China. In some homes the toxic Chinese drywall was used exclusively, while in others it was mixed with drywall produced in the US.
So far, the problem appears to be isolated to South Florida and, in particular, Lee County. One prominent builder, Lennar Homes, has launched an action against the German-based Knauf Group, and its subsidiary Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China. Taishan Gypsum, another drywall manufacturer based in China, has also been implicated.
Lennar is also pursuing a collection of 12 subcontractors for installing substandard Chinese drywall in Lennar homes, allegedly without Lennar's knowledge.
The aforementioned builder has conducted various tests on its homes in South Florida through Environ International, and has found 3 sulfide gasses: carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide and dimethyl sulfide. It has been reported that the more dangerous hydrogen sulfide, which gives off a rotten-egg-like odor, was not found by Environ in air tests, but had been found previously in tests of the toxic Chinese drywall itself.
The Florida Health Department is conducting tests, and results should be known in March. Ironically, the Lieutenant Governor for the state of Florida has reportedly revealed that his home, located in Fort Meyers, was constructed with toxic Chinese drywall.
Some have made the point that after drywall is taped, sanded and sealed, the problem in theory should be mitigated. However, as countless South Florida homeowners have discovered, either the drywall has not been properly and consistently sealed—or the trapped chemicals within are too potent for the sealer, and paint to contain.
A class-action lawsuit was filed late last month in US District court in Fort Meyers.
If you are among the countless residents of newer homes in South Florida who have encountered health problems, or strange odors in your home resulting from the use of Chinese drywall, consult an attorney. You should not be made to put up with toxic drywall, and Chinese drywall problems only serve to heighten serious economic problems already prevalent in South Florida. Property values are dropping as it is. You don’t need to be chased from your home by a bad smell that is not of your doing.
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