Jostling (競爭) for position

Jostling (競爭) for position
Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai paraded in the spotlight(曝光) again yesterday as she spoke about being the next chief executive - and then immediately played down (note 1) her qualifications for the job.

Speaking after a public function, Fan said she has still not decided whether to stand (競選) next year, has no timetable and has "certain weaknesses (弱項)." But she did take a swipe (note 2) at another widely tipped candidate, Executive Council convener (行政會議召集人) Leung Chun-yin, saying it is more important to work out how to implement policies (實行政策) than to make pledges (note 3). "It's not difficult to say something the public wants to hear," Fan said. "The key is how to implement it. The public would certainly want to know how I intend to implement my policies. As such I will not comment on them casually (隨意), as I don't have a comprehensive plan yet."

She reiterated (重覆) that she has not yet decided whether to run for the top job (note 4). "I will only make an announcement after I have convinced myself that I can shoulder the burden (note 5). It's a very big responsibility and, before I consider organizing a campaign team (選舉團), I have to be confident that I won't disappoint the public too much. And, as everyone knows, I don't have such a team yet." Fan said she has some weaknesses and needs advice from experts. Meanwhile, Leung has uploaded to his blog (網誌) a transcript of a recent interview in which he said he believes the next chief executive should be "courageous (有勇氣)" and willing to sacrifice and shoulder responsibility.

From good to better English:

(note 1) play down=低調處理。Play football with them=同他們比賽足球。Play the host=作主人。Play along with=參與。Play ball=光明正大地行動。Play fast and loose=玩弄，反覆無常。 Play safe=採取穩妥謹慎的措施。

(note 2) take a swipe at=評擊。swipe =A critical remark(批評)。Swipe card=刷卡

(note 3) make pledges=許下諾言。Make the pledge=戒酒的誓約。Pledge(動詞)= 保證、抵押。under pledge=發了誓。Ivy pledges herself to secrecy=Ivy發誓守秘密。

(note 4) run for the top job=這裡的意思是競選特首一職。Top=頂部、頂端、最高位，首席。at the top of=在最高地位。come out on top=賽贏，比賽得頭名。from top to bottom=從頭到腳，完全。over the top=過度。the top notch of=最好的。

(note 5) shoulder the burden=承擔責任、承擔壓力。Shoulder(名詞)=肩，肩膀。Bo Bo taps upon my shoulder= Bo Bo拍我的肩膀。lay the blame on the right shoulders=指責應負責任的人。 shoulder to shoulder=互相幫助。

Victor’s View: Invariably politics are dirty. I just hope that candidates or potential candidates for the chief executive’s job will show us their real stuff, rather than attacking their potential rivals’ strategies or characters. We want to know our top dog’s strengths and not his/her competitors’ weaknesses. Show us what you’ve got, please?
(Victor Fung Keung, director of HK Baptist University’s M.A. in international journalism program, has published 3 books on English-enhancement and plans to write 7 more by the end of 2012. Write to him: deanfungenglish@gmail.com)