Moving time at Tamar (note 1)

The government starts moving into (遷進) its new headquarters (總部) at Tamar in six phases (六階段) from today.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen visited the site (地盤) yesterday along with (note 2) his wife Salina Tsang Pow Siu-mei and spent about 30 minutes checking the progress of his new office. Tsang is expected to move in later this month. The commerce, industry and tourism branch of the Commercial and Economic Development Bureau will be the first to move in as its lease (租約) at One Pacific Place expires (屆滿) early next month. The branch - with its 120 staff - will be located on the 22nd and 23rd floors of the West Wing.

Builders are working 18-hour days, between 6am and midnight, to complete the job. Chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees' General Union, Chow Luen-kiu, said he understands from workers that conditions have improved. Media coverage has raised concerns (引起關注) over whether the health of workers was being compromised (note 3) in an attempt to complete the work in time (準時) for Tsang to deliver (演說) his final policy address at the new Legislative Council in October.

More ventilation systems (通風系統) and fans have been installed and workers reminded they are not forced to work overtime, though many are willing to work long hours, Chow said. It is understood that air conditioning and electric wiring in certain floors have yet to be (note 4) completed.

"It is not the workers' responsibility whether the work can be completed on time," Chow said. "If you want to speed it up (note 5), it can be done. The workers are capable of doing it. But whether it is worth it, is another matter." The Legislative Council Commission voiced its concern over the slow progress of the new Legco complex after a second site visit last week.

From good to better English:

(note 1) Tamar=添馬艦。添馬艦位於香港香港島金鐘，在殖民地時代曾是英國海軍基地及船塢所在地，1990年代海軍基地遷往昂船洲後留空至今。添馬艦的地名來自英國皇家海軍的一艘同名軍艦（三桅運兵船）添馬艦（HMS Tamar），於1897年至1941年為駐港海軍的主力艦，停在香港的英國海軍船塢。在1941年的香港保衛戰中，添馬艦被港府炸沉免落入日軍手上。

(note 2) along with=一起、一塊兒。Come along=跟我來。Walk along=向前走。All along =始終；一直；一貫。例句: Victor all along loves to be a singer= Victor一直都希望能當歌星。Along with Julian=與Julian一道。

(note 3) health was compromised=犧牲健康。Compromised=妥協，調和，和解，損害；連累。A compromise of principles=原則上的讓步。Make compromise with Bo Bo= 和Bo Bo妥協。compromise Jo Jo’s reputation 損壞Jo Jo的名譽。

(note 4) have yet to be=還沒有。Mo Mo ‘s internet fraud was the largest yet found=Mo Mo 的網上騙局迄今為止發現之中的最大的。

(note 5) speed up=加快。Speed=速率，速度。More haste, less speed.=越急越慢，欲速不達。

Victor’s View: On one hand we’d love to see the government headquarters be completed on time. But on the other hand, workers’ health shouldn’t be compromised. Workers shouldn’t be forced to work over time.

(Victor Fung Keung, director of HK Baptist University’s M.A. in international journalism program, has published 4 books on English-enhancement [the latest, titled <<學會演說、改變你的人生>>, was published on July 18] and plans to write 6 more by the end of 2012. Write to him: deanfungenglish@gmail.com)