Old Man and the Sea essays

Old Man and the Sea essays The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway is more than a simple short story about a man who catches a fish. Initially, the story doesnt seem that remarkable, but as one reads between the lines there is a deeper meaning that at first is unseen but with further scrutiny can be visualized through the symbolism that is apparent throughout the book. The main theme of this book is therefore much broader than first appears. The question of whether the main character Santiago, won or lost his battle sets the scene for the greater lessons of this novel, which relate to many of lifes lessons. Santiagos struggles are mirror images of lifes daily battles of winning and losing in order to get ahead, which can be evaluated through the metaphors of this story. One of lifes battles that are represented in this story is the battle of over coming failure. When the old man set sail for eighty-four consecutive days and never caught as much as a small fish; but perseveres and wins relates to everyday predicaments all mankind must face as well as overcome in order to be successful. Instead of giving up like any other fisherman would have he just told himself maybe tomorrow, Ill catch something tomorrow, his hope and confidence had never gone. People must continue to have faith and confidence in order to be successful. This compares to most peoples response in instances that occur in life situations. People must turn their heads from the unpleasant and strive to find success that they know can be achieved if they keep trying. Another experience that occurred for the character was his long and grueling chase of his massive prey, the marlin. This experience is similar and can be related to the daily challenges in life that seems to be impossible, the kind you just want to give up on and forget about. The characters pride in not wanting to quit shows he is more than an old man with bad hands who...

The Battle of Concepcion of the Texas Revolution

The Battle of Concepcion of the Texas Revolution The Battle of Concepcià ³n was the first major armed conflict of the Texas Revolution. It took place on October 28, 1835, on the grounds of Concepcià ³n Mission outside of San Antonio. Rebel Texans, led by James Fannin and Jim Bowie, fought off a vicious assault by the Mexican Army and drove them back into San Antonio. The victory was a huge one for the morale of the Texans and led to the subsequent capture of the town of San Antonio. War Breaks out in Texas Tensions had been simmering in Mexican Texas for some time, as Anglo settlers (the most famous of whom was Stephen F. Austin) repeatedly demanded more rights and independence from the Mexican government, which was in a chaotic state of disarray barely a decade after gaining independence from Spain. On October 2, 1835, rebellious Texans opened fire on Mexican forces in the town of Gonzales. The Battle of Gonzales, as it came to be known, marked the beginning of Texas armed struggle for Independence. Texans March on San Antonio San Antonio de Bà ©xar was the most important town in all of Texas, a vital strategic point coveted by both sides in the conflict. When war broke out, Stephen F. Austin was named head of the rebel army: he marched on the city in the hopes of putting a quick end to the fighting. The ragged rebel â€Å"army† arrived at San Antonio in late October  1835: they were heavily outnumbered by Mexican forces in and around the city but were well-armed with lethal long rifles and ready for a fight. Prelude to the Battle of Concepcion With the rebels camped outside the city, Jim Bowies connections proved vital. A one-time resident of San Antonio, he knew the city and still had many friends there. He smuggled a message to some of them, and dozens of Mexican residents of San Antonio (many of whom were every bit as passionate about independence as the Anglo Texans) surreptitiously left the town and joined the rebels. On October 27, Fannin and Bowie, disobeying orders from Austin, took some 90 men and dug in on the grounds of the Concepcià ³n Mission outside of town. The Mexicans Attack On the morning of October 28, the rebellious Texans got a nasty surprise: the Mexican army had seen that they had divided their forces and decided to take the offensive. The Texans were pinned against the river and several companies of Mexican infantry were advancing on them. The Mexicans had even brought cannons with them, loaded with lethal grapeshot. The Texans Turn the Tide Inspired by Bowie, who kept cool under fire, the Texans stayed low and waited for the Mexican infantry to advance. When they did, the rebels deliberately picked them off with their lethal long rifles. The riflemen were so skilled that they were even able to shoot the artillerymen manning the cannons: according to survivors, they even shot down a gunner who held a lighted match in his hand, ready to fire the cannon. The Texans drove off three charges: after the final charge, the Mexicans lost their spirit and broke: the Texans gave chase. They even captured the cannons and turned them on the fleeing Mexicans. Aftermath of the Battle of Concepcià ³n The Mexicans fled back into San Antonio, where the Texans dared not chase them. The final tally: some 60 dead Mexican soldiers to only one dead Texan, killed by a Mexican musket ball. It was a heady victory for the Texans and seemed to confirm what they suspected about the Mexican soldiers: they were poorly armed and trained and didnt really want to be fighting for Texas. The rebellious Texans remained camped outside of San Antonio for several weeks. They attacked a foraging party of Mexican soldiers on November 26, believing it to be a relief column loaded with silver: in reality, the soldiers were only collecting grass for the horses in the besieged city. This became known as the Grass Fight. Although the nominal commander of the irregular forces, Edward Burleson, wanted to retreat to the east (thus following the orders that had been sent from General Sam Houston), many of the men wanted to fight. Led by settler Ben Milam, these Texans attacked San Antonio on December 5: by December 9 the Mexican forces in the city had surrendered and San Antonio belonged to the rebels. They would lose it again at the disastrous Battle of the Alamo in March. The Battle of Concepcià ³n represented everything the rebellious Texans were doing right†¦and wrong. They were brave men, fighting under solid leadership, using their best weapons - arms and accuracy - to best effect. But they were also unpaid volunteer troops with no chain of command or discipline, who had disobeyed a direct order (a wise one, as it turned out) to keep clear of San Antonio for the time being. The relatively painless victory gave the Texans a great morale boost, but also increased their sense of invulnerability: many of the same men would later die at the Alamo, believing they could hold off the entire Mexican army indefinitely. For the Mexicans, the Battle of Concepcià ³n showed their weaknesses: their troops were not very skilled in war and broke easily. It also proved to them that the Texans were dead serious about independence, something that had perhaps been unclear before. Not long after, President/General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna would arrive in Texas at the head of a massive army: it was now clear that the most important advantage the Mexicans possessed was that of sheer numbers. Sources Brands, H.W. Lone Star Nation: The Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence. New York: Anchor Books, 2004. Henderson, Timothy J. A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and its War with the United States.New York: Hill and Wang, 2007.

Perfecting a Doctoral Business Problem Statement Assignment

Perfecting a Doctoral Business Problem Statement - Assignment Example Still, IPTV and Satellite TV continue to grow exponentially as Cable TV begins to stagnate. The main problem for Cable TV has been that, while convergent and interactive applications have been used by in the OTT and IPTV environments as the main differentiators to gain competitive advantage, this has been a difficult thing to do in the traditional cable network environment (Carter, 2012). So as not to lag behind with regards to demand from the market for TV services, cable operators like Comcast, therefore, seem to have no option but to integrate interactivity applications to their clients alongside their digital signals (Cooper, 2013). However, even with this knowledge and it being more clear about the kinds of services that cable operators must make available so as to gain increased market share and regain a competitive advantage, the best path for them to attain such an objective is not clear cut. At present, cable operators are being faced with the issue of network upgrading using interactive TV. This form of TV includes social TV, time shift TV, recordings, multi-screen features, enhanced EPG, VOD content, as well as social and internet TV features. Such functionalities can be attained using various approaches for the cable TV networks. For instance, Gershon (2010) posits that cable providers could conduct an upgrade of their DOCSIS data network, which could del iver adequate and effective bandwidth to their clients, allowing for more inclusion of interactive content. In addition, such an upgrade could also enable cable providers to create an FTTx access network that would enable them to regain their competitive advantage over their major competitors (Gershon, 2010). Another approach that Eastman et al (2012) propose for cable networks to improve competitive advantage is the use of DOCSIS data path, which would be

The ethics of select business related social issues Research Paper

The ethics of select business related social issues - Research Paper Example Recent studies have proved that methane hydrate accounts for more than thirty times more than carbon dioxide in global warming. It is also known by the name of fire ice, which is found in the form of ice crystals where natural methane gas is locked and is mainly formed due to high pressure and low temperature. They are mainly found at the edges of continental shelves and are mainly responsible for underwater earthquake. Even though, it has been identified that in methane hydrate, there is more energy than coal, gas or oil, but using the gas as a source of energy independence is unethical for the country due to its negative consequences. In this context, a research program is conducted by the US government since 1982 that is related to the American energy independence. However, considering from the economic point of view of the US, the use of methane hydrate as a source of energy may lead to the American Energy Independence and may help the country not to be depended on other countrie s for fuel. Hence, it can provide the US with the advantage of being a major fuel exporter to different countries. Moreover, it can compete with the petroleum producing countries like Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, Kuwait, Russia and Saudi Arabia. If the world switches from petroleum as well as coal to gas, then the revenue of the petroleum producing countries will reduce, whereas America can take this competitive advantage by using methane hydrate as their source of revenue. With the help of American Energy Independence, billions of dollars of revenue can be generated, which will help in the economic development of the economy and generate job opportunities. This can only be possible when the whole world will adopt this non-petroleum form of resource from America as an alternative of petroleum and coal (Americanenergyindependence, â€Å"Journey to Energy Independence†; BBC, â€Å"Methane Hydrate: Dirty Fuel or Energy Savior?†; Bloomberg L.P., â€Å"Americans Gaining Energy I ndependence

The Negative Impact of Drugs on Sports Entertainment Essay Example for Free

The Negative Impact of Drugs on Sports Entertainment Essay The non-medical use of performance enhancing drugs among adolescents and young adults is of growing concern.   As many as half a million Americans under age 18 may be abusing anabolic/androgenic steroids to improve their athletic performance, appearance and self-image.   A growing body of evidence suggests that medically unsupervised drug use may pose severe risks to physical and psychological health (Kashkin and Kleber, 1989).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shockwaves went through the sports world when Canadian track superstar Ben Johnson was denied his gold medal at the 1988 Olympics after tests showed that he had taken anabolic steroids.    The incident called international attention to the use of anabolic steroids and in general, performance enhancing drugs among world-class athletes to gain competitive advantage.   Still, athletes and non-athletes alike persist in taking them.   And, in fact, it is known that athletes participating in the original Roman Olympic Games consumed them too (UNRV, 2003)!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are reports of male adults in physically demanding professions like law enforcement also using performance enhancing drugs to appear tougher as well as more formidable (Lombardo 1990).   What is more, as these drugs grow in popularity, so does awareness of the serious side effects of their use.   One of the most alarming side effects is the threat of AIDS; HIV — human immunodeficiency virus — can be transmitted if shared needles are used to inject the drug.   Potential harm to physical and psychological health is only one aspect of this troubling trend, though (Lombardo, 1990).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The non-medical use of performance enhancing drugs such as steroids, raises ethical and moral issues.   Engaging in steroids use is illegal and users are likely to find themselves acquiring these drugs through illicit and expensive channels. The heavy demand for anabolic steroids has given rise to black market, with sales estimated at as much as $400 million a year; moreover, supplies, which are often illegally manufactured and do not meet established standards, may be unhygienic (Miller, 1987).   Second, athletes who use these drugs are cheating because they gain an unfair advantage over opponents and violate the ban on steroids imposed by most major sports organizations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Performance enhancing drugs may be addictive.   Users of steroids demonstrate an unwillingness to give them up even in the face of possibly dire consequences to their health.   As the health risks of anabolic steroids become more apparent, efforts to curtail their use — through education, legislation, and medical practices — are intensifying.   For those already hooked, kicking the steroids habit is the best chance to escape devastating side effects; for potential users, the solution, of course, is to never take the drug at all.   There are other ways to be a winner athletically and socially without harming health, and without cheating (Miller).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The use of performance enhancing drugs is spoiling the sports entertainment business today.   It is only fair for all athletes to give up drugs, or for all of them to take the same drugs with the same dosage at the same time.   If only a few athletes consume the drugs, it would be cheating on their part.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Still, it is best for all athletes to give up drug use altogether, seeing that there are harmful side effects, both psychological and physiological, related to the use of these drugs.   Given that many athletes are using performance enhancing drugs today, while the rest are not consuming them, these drugs most definitely have a negative effect on sports entertainment. References Kashkin, K. B., and Kleber, H. D. Hooked on Hormones? An Anabolic Steroid Addiction Hypothesis. Journal of the American Medical Association, December 1989. Lombardo, J. A. Anabolic/Androgenic Steroids. NIDA Research Monograph 102, 1990. Miller, R. W. Athletes and Steroids: Playing a Deadly Game, II.† FDA Consumer, November 1987. UNRV: Roman History. Archaeological News. â€Å"Drugs, Cheating Were Part Of Original Olympics Too,† 2003. Available at http://www.unrv.com/newsletter/newsletter-edition1.php. (5 February 2007).

Discuss Fitzgerald’s use of symbols within The Great Gatsby. Essays

Discuss Fitzgerald’s use of symbols within The Great Gatsby. Throughout his novel ‘The Great Gatsby’, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism. Symbols are objects, characters, figures or colours used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. The first symbol we see appears at the end of Chapter one. It is a green light, situated at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s East Egg dock and is only just visible from Gatsby’s expansive West Egg back garden. In Chapter one Nick (the narrator) describes his mysterious neighbour stretching â€Å"out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way’, this is Gatsby reaching desperately out to the green light, which represents his hopes and dreams for the future (which incidentally, involved Daisy). He associates it with Daisy and sees the green light as a guiding light to his goal. Perhaps the green light represents Daisy, the unattainable. Alike to the green light, she is so close, yet so far from Gatsby and just within his grasp. Although he is reaching out to her, he cannot in reality reach her because there is a divide, in the case of the green light it is water, but in the case of Daisy it is status (and her husband, Tom). The green light also represents the generalised ideal of the American Dream, because Gatsby’s quest for Daisy is generally connected with this. Fitzgerald’s choice of using ‘green’ as the colour of the light is very significant and symbolic in itself. Green is the colour of money and therefore wealth, this is something which Gatsby has always strived for (similarly he is reaching out and striving for the ‘light’) in order to capture Daisy’s heart, as she rejected him in the past due to his lack of wealth and status. Also, green is the colour that ... ...umping of industrial ashes. - It represents the moral and social decay that results from the uninhibited pursuit of wealth, as the rich indulge themselves with regard for nothing but their own pleasure. - It also symbolises the plight of the poor, like Wilson, who live among the dirty ashes and lose their vitality as a result. - Fitz uses the valley of the ashes as a dramatic contrast to the lives of the rich east and west egg dwellers, to really emphasise and show how large the difference between them is, despite them being so nearby. - He also uses it to highlight how superficial the rich are. They are the ‘beautiful people’ and this is reflected in where they live, however the valley of the ashes is dirty and unattractive. - The valley is actually used as a cut through road for the rich, however real people live there.

Comparing Physiology Worksheet Essay

In this assignment you describe and compare the circulatory, skeletal, and respiratory systems of sharks, iguanas, eagles, and humans. Answer each of the following questions in 25 to 50 words. Circulatory System Shark How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s circulatory system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s circulatory system work? Iguana How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s circulatory system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s circulatory system work? Eagle How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s circulatory system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s circulatory system work? Human How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s  circulatory system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s circulatory system work? What is similar in all of these circulatory systems? What is different in all of these circulatory systems? Respiratory System Shark How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s respiratory system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s respiratory system work? Iguana How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s respiratory system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s respiratory system work? Eagle How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s respiratory system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s respiratory system work? Human How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s respiratory system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s respiratory system work? What is similar in all of these respiratory systems? What is different in all of these respiratory systems? Skeletal System Shark How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s skeletal system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s skeletal system work? Iguana How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s skeletal system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s skeletal system work? Eagle How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s skeletal system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s skeletal system work? Human How would you describe the structure and function of this animal’s skeletal system? Include any unique characteristics. How does this animal’s skeletal system work? What is similar in all of these skeletal systems? What is different in all of these skeletal systems?

Police Misconception

There are many popular misconceptions about police officers. One popular misconception is that they protect their own. What people don’t understand sometimes is that police officers are properly trained, they went to police training and the trainings main goal is to ensure that officers avoid taking unnecessary risks.This means calling and waiting for back-up, and always having a partner when using direct confrontation, the way the media portrays police officers on television, in movies is like their jobs is always about protecting their own and that being a police officer is about power, when in reality police officers are trying to protect us from all the unnecessary violence and keep us safe just as much as themselves. The police officers are just like us going to work to do their responsibilities and returning home safely.A lot of people don’t realize that some police officers put their lives out on the line for them when they do cases like for example catching a mu rder, rapist, burglar, and so forth, their lives are on the line just as much as ours, maybe more. Another popular misconception that is said daily about a police officer is that they’re racist. Police officers being racist are true but not every police officer is racist, some are not. Think about it, there is racism everywhere we go, in schools, churches, stores, clubs, jobs and so forth, you meet a lot of people who are racist, not only police officers.Racism is everywhere in the world, everyone should be aware of that. Lastly, another popular misconception is traffic enforcement. People say that police officers should be arresting criminals and getting them off the streets, not writing traffic tickets but what people don’t know is that traffic enforcement identifies criminals and results in their arrests. When police officers do their routine traffic stops that’s when they find drugs, weapons, contrabands, fugitives, in the vehicles which helps get the crimin als off the street.

Canterbury Tales Essays - Canterbury, The Canterbury Tales, Miller

Canterbury Tales Essays - Canterbury, The Canterbury Tales, Miller Canterbury Tales In Chaucers Canterbury Tales there are twenty-nine plus one characters. Out of the twenty-nine plus one characters two will be compared and contrasted. The Friar and the Miller have some similarities and at the same time some differences. The Friar and the Miller show a few similarities in Canterbury Tales. They are both very strong and able to head butt things without a problem. The Friar was, strong enough to butt a bruiser down(94). The Miller was, Broad, knotty, and short-shouldered(109)he would boast he could heave any door off hinge and post, or take a run and break it with his head(101). The Friar and the Miller both played musical instruments in Canterbury Tales. The both of them also had a way of cheating people out of their money The are also a few differences the Friar and the Miller show. The Friar, for instance, was part of the church; the Miller was not. Also, the Friar has a name, Hubert. The Miller does not have a name. The instrument the Friar plays isnt the same as the Miller. The Friar, played the hurdy-gurdy,(95) and also the harp. The Miller, He liked to play his bagpipes(101) Even though they had ways of cheating people out of their money they had different ways of doing it. . The Friar would hear confessions from the wealthy for a good price and, The Friar was also the finest beggar of his hatch(95). The Miller had, A thumb of gold, by God, to gauge an oat(101)! The Miller would press down on the weighing scale to make the oat weight more. Therefore making the oat cost more. In Canterbury Tales there are twenty-nine plus one characters. Out of the twenty-nine plus one characters, the Friar and the Miller are compared and contrasted. Out of this comparison and contrasting the outcome showed how the Friar and the Miller are alike and somewhat different. Even though they do some of the same things like cheat innocent people out of their money, they do it in different ways which make them have differences.

How to Get a Job in Public Relations with Expert Jeff Domansky

How to Get a Job in Public Relations with Expert Jeff Domansky Ed Domansky started The PR Coach as a collection of links useful to PR pros. But as it grew, it became a central resource for public relations thoughts, tips and, of course, jobs. Ed, a PR professional with more than a quarter-century of experience, talked with us about public relations, what we can learn from the industry, and job hunting tips. What are some unique challenges in finding a job in public relations?The range of skills necessary and expected of PR pros has dramatically increased to include social media, technology, and some specialized skills such as video, content marketing, curation, and community relations.Competition for PR jobs is no longer just local, but national and sometimes international. In addition, journalists, technology and social media experts now compete for PR job opportunities because the skill sets are converging. This can create challenges for both employers and job hunters.It’s also very important to note that there are many more jobs availa ble for people with PR skills in marketing, advertising, social media, and other related industries where â€Å"PR† may not be in the job title.What lessons from public relations can anybody apply to the job search?PR pros must have super research, writing, social media, and communication skills. That should mean PR people know how to research and where to look for jobs, how to prepare their resumes at a high level, and pitch themselves better than most other job hunters. These expectations are similar for all job hunters, but even higher standards are set for PR.What are a few misconceptions about public relations that are still out there?It’s surprising that some employers, clients, and young PR pros still think getting media coverage and organizing special events will be your primary job. Nothing could be further from the truth today. While media relations and event management are valuable skills, the PR profession requires a full range of other skills.Be the best w riter you can be and have evidence of it in your portfolio. You do have an online portfolio, don’t you?For example, content marketing is a unique skill set and is in demand. Journalists have the news and writing experience that many PR pros have, in addition to a wider community perspective that is often  needed  in PR.If you could give your younger self some advice about searching for a job, what would it be?Be the best writer you can be and have evidence of it in your portfolio. You do have an online portfolio, don’t you? Excel at social media and make certain all of your social media profiles stand out from the crowd, yet don’t contain any faux pas. Increase your knowledge of technology. Be incredibly well-researched about your prospective employers, their issues, industry challenges, and market opportunities.What trends should we be keeping an eye on when it comes to hiring in the public relations industry, and why?PR pros need to stay ahead of changes a nd developments in social media. In the past five years, the PR profession has been totally disrupted. The PR toolbox now contains a sometimes overwhelming number of social media tools. The learning curve is constant, and yet we still need to retain knowledge of traditional PR.Because of the impact of technology and social media, PR is no longer a 9-to-5 job. We now work in a 24/7 environment just like news media and global organizations.

What have been the costs and benefits of Hong Kongs Currency Board Essay

What have been the costs and benefits of Hong Kongs Currency Board System since 1983 - Essay Example As a result, confidence in the HK dollar and economy began to diminish’ (Hanson). Also that year, the business scenario was not good – the stock market down by 50 percent, property market experiencing downturn and there were runs on the small banks. ‘The value of the HK dollar continued to decrease throughout the year and on September 24, 1983, reached an all-time low of HK$9.55 per US dollar’ (Hanson). ‘In less than a month, following a proposal made by Hong Kong business economist John Greenwood, the government announced that it would return to a currency board system, which would pursue an anti-inflationary policy and promote currency stability’ (Schuler). The CBA is an ‘idiosyncratic system since there is actually no currency board, and bank notes are issued by a few designated commercial banks, which alone deal directly with the monetary authority at the fixed exchange rate of HK$7.80 to the US dollar’ (Shu-ki Tsang). The CBA which was ‘also known as the â€Å"linked exchange rate system† or the â€Å"link† has revolved through several stages. From October 1983 – 1987, the Hong Kong government could not even define the monetary base and the theoretical forces of bank note arbitrage and competition did not seem to work’ (Shu-ki Tsang). The exchange rate was strengthened by the government interference in the foreign exchange market and interest rate handling. ‘To provide the Exchange fund with the necessary instruments to conduct â€Å"open market operations†, the Hong Kong government embarked on a series of programs to introduce Exchange Fund Bills (from March 1990) and notes (from May 1993). On the other hand, the LAF, set up in June 1992, allowed the Exchange... This study will critically analyze the costs and benefits of Hong Kong’s currency board system since 1983. The analysis of the essay is achieved in three main sections. First, currency board arrangement is defined. Moreover, the costs and benefits of Hong Kong’s currency board system since 1983 is investigated before finally concluding. ‘Currency board arrangement is a special case of a rules-based monetary system. It is a system based on rules rather than discretion that serves to establish credibility and avoid losses resulting from decisions that can sometimes be undertaken within a myopic timescale’ (Balino 1997). Hong Kong operated a ‘sterling exchange system from 1935 – 1973, excluding the years of Japanese occupation. The sterling exchange system is a currency board with note issue back by holdings of Sterling assets’ (Crosby 2000). Then, ‘between 1972 and 1974, the HK dollar was set at a fixed rate to the US dollar. From No vember of 1974 until the return of the currency board in 1983, the HK dollar floated freely against the US dollar’ (Hanson). Hong Kong being a Special Administrative Region of China is dependent on mainland demand but its monetary system is still attached to the U.S. If ever China retaliates against pressure for the trade protectionism in the United States, then Hong Kong would be caught in between. As for its disadvantages, people may doubt the willingness and competence of the government to continue ‘perfect convertibility at the specified rate’