I haven't seen the article and don't know the context of the circled section. Was this an interview with Robert Chu and he was talking about his "40 Point" GuLao Wing Chun? Or maybe this is Robert Chu interviewing Jim Roselando? In the Pin Sun Wing Chun I learned I was not taught a specific breakdown of "eight basic hand techniques" or "four basic foot techniques" and there was actually very little kicking. I could make a guess and say that this was referring to Bong, Tan, Fook, Lan, etc.....and that "four basic foot techniques" refers to the basic footwork patterns. But that would just be a guess because I wasn't taught it in those categories. If "basic hand techniques" refer to the San Sik, our "level 1" or basic includes only 4 (sometimes 5), not 8.
All I can say is that when I studied with Jim Roselando, nothing was mentioned about a specific "8 basic hand techniques" or "four basic foot technqiues". When I went back years later to update what I know with Marc Kenny (under the direct supervision of Henry Mui), again, nothing was said about that kind of breakdown. But that doesn't mean it isn't used when talking about the system to others.