Idioms

Yesterday I had forty winks in the train. I wake up15 minutes later and smelt a rat. I looked around and found that my bag fell off the back of a lorry! At that moment, I got butterflies in my stomach and lost my tongue. I believe that I must tighten my belt for the rest of the month.

Idioms Story

John and Mary got on like a house on fire last year. However, Peter always liked playing gooseberry. Therefore, John was down in mouth and asked Mary to marry him. Mary was very happy about that and promised to marry him. John arranged a stag party and Peter was a gate-crasher in the party. At that night, everybody was giving him the cold shoulder.

AT 500

Dear sir / madam

I am the purchasing manager of ABC Co, a large chain of computer stores in Hong Kong & China.

We would like to order 4000 units of new model computers AT500. I found the price in the website is HK$8000, are shipping costs included in the price? We would be appreciated if a 20% discount is offered.

For a better marketing strategy, we request an exclusive agreement for this model in the first year. We are sure our extensive branches are able to boost the sales volume.

Moreover, is there a Cantonese version manual included? What is the guarantee period? We expect a minimum guarantee of 12 months.

Regarding the terms of payment, we would like to pay 30% pre-payment, 30% on delivery & 40% 3 months after delivery. If all the above terms are acceptable, please confirm the best available delivery time. We are sure we can do business with you in the future.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully

John Chan
ABC Co.

Conference in London

Thank you for your help. The conference was really interesting. Please give my best regards to your UK sales team. There are plans to bring some UK staff over to Dubai at the end of the year. I look forward to seeing you.

Baltic States Market developments

Thanks for your information. I’ve forwarded your mail to Krista Kilvet who is taken over from Doris Kareva. Would you please give a presentation at our Head office on the whole political and economic background in the region? The Board should be interested as we may be making some large investment in the near future.

Confirmation of the next meeting on 4 Jan

Re our conversation, let’s meet in lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel TST at 2pm.
Be my guest for dinner. See you there.

Short report of local tour guide

Since 2004, the number of tourists from mainland has increased sharply. They come to Hong Kong for both shopping and sight-seeing. However, there are many complaints about the bad attitude of local tour guides. They take the tourists to many shopping centres and force them to buy a minimum amount of souvenirs. If they refuse to buy, they can’t go back to their hotels.

These incidents damage the reputation of Hong Kong tourism. Many mainlanders prefer to go Hong Kong by themselves instead of joining the tours. Some of them even switch to go to other Asian countries. We must face the problem seriously.

Firstly, the Tourism Board should provide the industry participants regular training and seminars in order to reinforce their ethics. Secondly, the government should implement the guidelines for conducting the business of travel agents. Finally, the regular monitors should be conducted and disclose the name of agents violating the guideline.

Edwina & Wai

Hi ! Mary

How’s your presentation in Shanghai? Was it successful??

It is a pity that we could not go to conference last weekend together. It was very interesting. Anyway, I will tell you more about that and give you the brochure during the dinner.

I heard that your company has problem with the Siemens contract as they are looking for a new supplier. Right? Is the problem solved now? Well, I believe your company will win the contract eventually as you have long-term relationship with the Siemens.

I am OK to have a dinner with you on 23 December. It’s been long times we haven’t gather each other. Let’s think where and when you want to go on that day!

Hope to see you soon.


Peter

Edwina & Wai

Hi! Peter

How are you these days? I am sorry to tell you that I am not able to go to a conference with you next weekend as I will go to Shanghai on a business trip with my boss.

My boss is not a nice guy and I was just informed this morning. I am busy to prepare the presentation in these few days as it is difficult for me to find so much data. I hope I can finish it before the DEADLINE.

Do you have any dating with your lovely girlfriend at Christmas?? Let’s have a dinner on 23 December as I think that you must be busy on Christmas Eve.

Wish you have a merry Christmas!!



Best regards

Mary

Edwina & Wai

Hi! Peter

How are you these days? I am sorry to tell you that I am not able to go to a conference with you next weekend as I will go to Shanghai on a business trip with my boss.

My boss is not a nice guy and I was just informed this morning. I am busy to prepare the presentation in these few days as it is difficult for me to find so much data. I hope I can finish it before the DEADLINE.

Do you have any dating with your lovely girlfriend at Christmas?? Let’s have a dinner on 23 December as I think that you must be busy on Christmas Eve.

Wish you have a merry Christmas!!



Best regards

Mary

Edwina & Wai

Dear Peter

I am writing in connection with the current project that we are working on. The activity is chocolate sales campaign at Christmas.

The aims of this activity are to promote our brand name and increase our sales volume. The extra resources include varieties of chocolate favours, marketing costs, rental expenses and labour costs.

The financial budget is prepared as follows:

Chocolate ($50,000)
Package ($10,000)
Rent ($40,000)
Labour ($20,000)

Total costs are $120,000.

In general, chocolate will be delivered from Belgium by next Monday and they will be packed by our department staff immediately. We are recruiting sales staff and suitable candidates will be selected shortly.

However, it is difficult to find a suitable place to promote and sell our products as most of the shopping malls are reserved by other companies during Christmas. It leads the large increase of rent. Would you please give the past event’s information for us to find a suitable place as soon as possible?

We are looking forward to receiving your reply. Feel free to discuss if you have any problem.



Best regards

Mary