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For the Week of April 23, 1996 |
More Info: Hong Kong students kicked out of Chinese preparatory committee meeting
Terms used in the story:
preparatory committee -- a 150-member group of people from China and Hong Kong who are discussing what the Hong Kong government will be like when China takes control of Hong Kong in 1997. (You can find more info on the takeover by visiting the NewsDEN link below.)
ushered -- led, guided
chandeliered -- A "chandeliered" room is lit by a "chandelier" -- which is a big, fancy light that hangs from a ceiling.
emblazoned -- brightly decorated
slogans -- sentences that are used often to give a message, like: "Save the whales" and "Freeze the fees"
abolish -- get rid of, do away with
legislature -- the part of a government that makes laws
brusquely -- quickly and rudely
bundled from the room -- lightly grabbed and pushed from the room -- not shoved, but not politely guided
sovereignty -- rulership, power
governance -- control, rule
circumscribed -- set out, limited
ejecting -- throwing out
consultation -- meeting to discuss ideas and decisions to be made
democracy -- a type of society in which all adults freely choose their political leaders by voting
dissent -- disagreement with the people in power
provisional legislature -- temporary law-making group
appoint -- choose
wooed and flattered -- To "woo and flatter" people is to suck up to them so you can get what you want from them.
tycoons -- a rich and important businessperson
business and financial elite -- a group of rich people who work in jobs related to business and money
thrived -- grown very successfully
benign colonial rule -- "Colonial rule," in this case, refers to Britain's rule of Hong Kong, which is due to end on July 1, 1997. "Benign" means mild and gentle -- not likely to stop the tycoons from making money.
cultivated -- made with special care
corridors of power -- opportunities to influence people with power
clamored -- loudly demanded
exclusion of dissident views -- keeping out anyone who disagrees with the government
secretariat -- office in charge of making plans and keeping records
bar association -- an organized group of lawyers
barristers -- lawyers who work in courtrooms
delegates -- a person who represents a group of other people at a meeting
exchanges -- conversations
chief executive -- head, boss, person in charge
For more information on this topic, check this out...
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