First-half net profit hit (達至) HK$91.1 million at Sing Tao News Corporation (1105), publishers of The Standard, Headline Daily and Sing Tao Daily.
Earnings per share were 10.47 HK cents, and interim dividend was boosted to 4.5 HK cents a share from 3.5 HK cents a year back.
Revenue (收入) reached HK$1.15 billion in the six months to June 30 on strong development of the media business, which booked a 6 percent growth in turnover to HK$985.9 million.
Headline Daily remained the major profit contributor (note 1), extending its market lead as average daily circulation crossed 800,000, and average readership numbers touched 1.69 million.
Chairman Charles Ho Tsu-kwok said increased competition is as much an opportunity (機會) as it is a challenge.
"Free newspapers now account for (note 2) less than a third of the total newspaper advertising pie (note 3), and we expect their share to grow to 50 percent or more," Ho said.
"Our vision is for Headline Daily to be the biggest winner in a large advertising market for free newspapers and to become the most prevalent (廣泛流行) newspaper."
With average cost of newsprint surging 25 percent and labor costs rising 4 percent, profit from the media segment totaled HK$97.4 million - compared with HK$106.2 million a year back.
The Standard continued to mark steady growth in readership, outdoing its nearest rival (note 4), which recorded a decline in reader numbers, advertising volume and average page rates.
The magazine business, which includes East Week, East Touch, JET and PC Market, enjoyed robust growth (note 5) during the period.
Shares rose 3.1 percent to HK$1.68 yesterday.
Meanwhile, CITIC Securities has obtained approval from Beijing to list in Hong Kong.
China's largest broker (經紀) can sell up to 1.14 billion shares.
From good to better English:
(note 1) major profit contributor=主要盈利貢獻來源。Contributor=捐助者，贈送者, 投稿人。例句: Victor is a contributor to the Standard newspaper= Victor是<<虎報>>投稿人之一。
(note 2) account for=佔有。account for =說明,解析 (Explain or justify)。例句: Julian was upset because her boyfriend couldn't account for the three hours between his last class and his arrival at home= Julian感到很煩亂因為她的男朋友不能交代下課後幾小時去了哪裡。accounts payable=應付帳款, 應付款項。accounts receivable= 應收帳款, 應收款項。give a good account of oneself= 為自己辯護。give an account of=講述。 on one's own account=為自身利益, 靠自己。take into account=重視,,考慮。
(note 3) advertising pie=廣告總額。Pie=餡餅。a pie in the sky=烏托邦；渺茫的幸福。 (as) easy as a pie=〕極容易。 eat humble pie=忍辱含垢。 have a finger in the pie=干預，插手。 put one's finger into another's pie=多管閒事。
(note 4) rival=對手 (虎報的對手是南華早報)。a rival in love=情敵。 without a rival=無與匹敵，無敵。
(note 5) robust growth=強壯的，強健的增長。robust 的同義詞有able-bodied, iron, lusty, red-blooded, strapping, sturdy, vigorous, vital等。
Victor’s View: It is impressive to see that Sing Tao’s earnings in the first half topped $91 million. It wasn’t easy in a tough media market. The chairman’s prediction that more advertising dollars will flow to free papers might turn some paid-papers’ bosses into insomniacs.
(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)
2011年9月28日 星期三
2011年9月24日 星期六
an update on Dean Fung
Victor Fung Keung, author-university lecturer
What I’m listening to: Recently I love these two songs: “Glad You Came “ (The Wanted) and “Set Fire to the Rain “ (Adele). I try practicing singing “Glad you came”) with my guitar and plan to sing to the 80 new students who have enrolled in my master’s program in journalism this year.
What I’m watching: I love watching two American TV series: “the Mentalist” and “Bones”. They make me think of the meaning of love and the suffering in losing someone we love.
What I’m reading: “Double Cross” by James Patterson. Patterson is arguably the best writer in the world. I always encourage young people to read his novels to improve their English writing.
Where I’m surfing: I visit the <<New York Times>> site on a daily basis. In particular, I love reading its columns on the media and health.
What gets me moving: It’s my mission to help young people in Hong Kong improve their English skills. I have written four books on English-enhancement, and plan to finish six more by the end of 2012. I can’t emphasise more how important English is to one’s life. Writing gives me joy. It’s like preaching the gospel.
What I’m listening to: Recently I love these two songs: “Glad You Came “ (The Wanted) and “Set Fire to the Rain “ (Adele). I try practicing singing “Glad you came”) with my guitar and plan to sing to the 80 new students who have enrolled in my master’s program in journalism this year.
What I’m watching: I love watching two American TV series: “the Mentalist” and “Bones”. They make me think of the meaning of love and the suffering in losing someone we love.
What I’m reading: “Double Cross” by James Patterson. Patterson is arguably the best writer in the world. I always encourage young people to read his novels to improve their English writing.
Where I’m surfing: I visit the <<New York Times>> site on a daily basis. In particular, I love reading its columns on the media and health.
What gets me moving: It’s my mission to help young people in Hong Kong improve their English skills. I have written four books on English-enhancement, and plan to finish six more by the end of 2012. I can’t emphasise more how important English is to one’s life. Writing gives me joy. It’s like preaching the gospel.
2011年9月22日 星期四
Anger as blue chips (藍籌股票) suspended (停牌)
The local bourse (交易所) operator was severely criticized (受批評) yesterday after suspending eight listed companies, including three blue-chip stocks, from trading following the breakdown (note 1) of its announcement e-platform.
"Our current assessment is that this is a result of a malicious (惡意) attack by outside hacking (note 2)," said Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (0388) chief executive Charles Li Xiaojia.
Investors failed to cash out (note 3) from HSBC Holdings (0005), HKEx (0388) itself, Cathay Pacific (0293), China Resources Microelectronics (0597), China Power International Development (2380), Dah Sing Banking Group (2356), Dah Sing Financial Holdings (0440), and a bond (4517), which were halted (停牌) from trading (even as the market rallied (勁升) yesterday after six session of losses. )
Some of the companies, including bourse operator HKEx, were set to announce interim results (中期業績) yesterday - to be available on HKExnews.hk - the sole (note 4) platform for all announcements of listed companies.
Cathay Pacific chairman Christopher Pratt said he was upset (不舒服) that investors could not trade its stock yesterday.
Dah Sing Bank executive director Gary Wang Pak-Ling said HKEx decided the suspension after his bank negotiated with the bourse operator. He urged the bourse to review the trading suspension arrangement.
More than 400 related derivatives (note 5) worth about HK$200 million were also suspended from trading. The exchange did not report possible hacking to the police until late evening.
Haitong International Wealth Management associate director Alan Leung Wai-lun criticized the suspension, saying investors have to bear the risk (note 6) overnight and investors have missed the chance to realize profits yesterday.
The platform was down at 11.45am and was temporarily fixed during the lunch break, but it failed again. Li defended (辯護) the suspension decision which, he said, was fair and equally bad for everyone.
From good to better English:
(note 1) breakdown=故障；失敗，挫折；中斷, 衰退。Working too hard led to Mo Mo suffering from a nervous breakdown=工作太辛苦令Mo Mo產生 神經衰弱。the breakdown of communication=聯絡中斷。a breakdown of data=資料的分類。
(note 2) outside hacking=外面駭客入侵電腦並進行破壞。Hacking=亂砍, 胡亂刪改。take a hack at=嘗試。
(note 3) cash out=套現 (出售股票)。Cash=現款，現金。be short of cash=現金不足。cash on delivery= 貨到收款[略稱 C.O.D.]。cash in=賺到錢，抓到賺錢的機會。cash a check=把支票兌現。
(note 4) sole=單獨的，單一的，唯一的。Victor was Julian’s sole confident= Victor 是Julian唯一信任的人。sole reason=唯一的理由。
(note 5) related derivatives=相關的衍生工具。股票的相關衍生工具包括期權 (options)、輪 (warrants)、期貨 (futures)等。
(note 6) bear the risk=承受風險。Bear=負擔，負載，負荷；承擔。Bear a loss=承擔損失。Bear a resemblance to it=跟它相似。Co Co’s letter to Victor bears no date=Co Col給Victor的信沒註明日期。
Victor’s View: Computer hacking is a serious matter. People could lose a lot of money or make less money if trading is suspended because of a security breach. Laws against hackers should be toughened.
(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)
"Our current assessment is that this is a result of a malicious (惡意) attack by outside hacking (note 2)," said Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (0388) chief executive Charles Li Xiaojia.
Investors failed to cash out (note 3) from HSBC Holdings (0005), HKEx (0388) itself, Cathay Pacific (0293), China Resources Microelectronics (0597), China Power International Development (2380), Dah Sing Banking Group (2356), Dah Sing Financial Holdings (0440), and a bond (4517), which were halted (停牌) from trading (even as the market rallied (勁升) yesterday after six session of losses. )
Some of the companies, including bourse operator HKEx, were set to announce interim results (中期業績) yesterday - to be available on HKExnews.hk - the sole (note 4) platform for all announcements of listed companies.
Cathay Pacific chairman Christopher Pratt said he was upset (不舒服) that investors could not trade its stock yesterday.
Dah Sing Bank executive director Gary Wang Pak-Ling said HKEx decided the suspension after his bank negotiated with the bourse operator. He urged the bourse to review the trading suspension arrangement.
More than 400 related derivatives (note 5) worth about HK$200 million were also suspended from trading. The exchange did not report possible hacking to the police until late evening.
Haitong International Wealth Management associate director Alan Leung Wai-lun criticized the suspension, saying investors have to bear the risk (note 6) overnight and investors have missed the chance to realize profits yesterday.
The platform was down at 11.45am and was temporarily fixed during the lunch break, but it failed again. Li defended (辯護) the suspension decision which, he said, was fair and equally bad for everyone.
From good to better English:
(note 1) breakdown=故障；失敗，挫折；中斷, 衰退。Working too hard led to Mo Mo suffering from a nervous breakdown=工作太辛苦令Mo Mo產生 神經衰弱。the breakdown of communication=聯絡中斷。a breakdown of data=資料的分類。
(note 2) outside hacking=外面駭客入侵電腦並進行破壞。Hacking=亂砍, 胡亂刪改。take a hack at=嘗試。
(note 3) cash out=套現 (出售股票)。Cash=現款，現金。be short of cash=現金不足。cash on delivery= 貨到收款[略稱 C.O.D.]。cash in=賺到錢，抓到賺錢的機會。cash a check=把支票兌現。
(note 4) sole=單獨的，單一的，唯一的。Victor was Julian’s sole confident= Victor 是Julian唯一信任的人。sole reason=唯一的理由。
(note 5) related derivatives=相關的衍生工具。股票的相關衍生工具包括期權 (options)、輪 (warrants)、期貨 (futures)等。
(note 6) bear the risk=承受風險。Bear=負擔，負載，負荷；承擔。Bear a loss=承擔損失。Bear a resemblance to it=跟它相似。Co Co’s letter to Victor bears no date=Co Col給Victor的信沒註明日期。
Victor’s View: Computer hacking is a serious matter. People could lose a lot of money or make less money if trading is suspended because of a security breach. Laws against hackers should be toughened.
(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)
Welcome awaits likely (極有可能) leader
Vice Premier Li Keqiang will visit Hong Kong next week to learn about the economic situation (經濟情況) and the people's livelihood (民生).
An SAR government spokesman said Li, considered the likely successor (接班人) to Premier Wen Jiabao, will be here from Tuesday to Thursday at the invitation of the administration.
The 56-year-old Li will attend a forum (note 1) on the 12th Five- Year Plan and Economic, Trade and Financial Co- operation and Development between Hong Kong and the mainland as well as celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the University of Hong Kong.
He also plans to visit community facilities (社會建設) and financial institutions (金融機構), including Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing and the monetary authority. Arrangements are being made for Li to meet lawmakers, including pan- democrats (note 2), though it is not clear if he will take part in a ribbon-cutting (剪綵) for the new government headquarters at Tamar.
Li is scheduled to open the World University Games in Shenzhen (大學運動會) on Friday before his trip to Hong Kong.
Political commentator Willy Lam Wo-lap said the visit of the vice premier, who oversees (note 3) economic affairs, indicates the central government is concerned about Hong Kong's economic development.
The trip will provide people with an opportunity to better understand a likely member of the "fifth generation" (第五代) of China's leaders to be elected in March in 2013.
Li graduated from Peking University with a PhD (博士學位) in economics in the early 1980s. Before he rose to become a top lieutenant (note 4) of Wen, he served as the governor of Henan in 1998, and then as Liaoning party chief, an office that made him first- in-charge (note 5) there, in 2004.
He advanced (note 6) to national level politics at the 17th party congress in 2007 when he became a member of the Politburo Standing Committee.
From good to better English:
(note 1) forum=論壇 (A public meeting place for open discussion)。the forum of conscience=良心的制裁。the forum of public opinion=輿論的評判。forum 的同義詞有 meeting, conference, assembly, congress, gathering,, rally, convention等。
(note 2) pan- democrats=泛民主派。Pan=拍攝全景。pan out ill=結果不好。How did it pan out? Victor asks=Victor問，結果怎麼樣？flash in the pan=曇花一現。leap out of the frying pan into the fire =跳出鍋裡落進火裡(才脫身小困難，又落入大災難)。
(note 3) oversee=管理(watch over and direct; supervise)。Oversight=看漏，錯過。oversee的同義詞有supervise, control, manage, direct, handle, conduct, look after,
(note 4) top lieutenant=左右手, 副官 (an assistant or deputy)。Lieutenant=陸軍中尉，海軍上尉。the triad boss Victor and his lieutenants= 黑幫[大老]Victor和他的左右手。
(note 5) first- in-charge=內地說的[第一把手]。In charge= 領導 (In a position of leadership or supervision)。in charge of=負責 (Having control over or responsibility for)。例句: Julian is in charge of making the salad=Julian負責做沙律。
(note 6) advance=晉升。Advance in knowledge=增進知識。Advance Victor a month's salary=老闆預支給Victor一個月的薪水。
Victor’s View: Mr Li Keqiang knows economics as he holds a doctoral degree in economics. That’s good for Hong Kong if he gets promoted to premier because we need someone at the top who understands how a financial center ticks.
(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)
An SAR government spokesman said Li, considered the likely successor (接班人) to Premier Wen Jiabao, will be here from Tuesday to Thursday at the invitation of the administration.
The 56-year-old Li will attend a forum (note 1) on the 12th Five- Year Plan and Economic, Trade and Financial Co- operation and Development between Hong Kong and the mainland as well as celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the University of Hong Kong.
He also plans to visit community facilities (社會建設) and financial institutions (金融機構), including Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing and the monetary authority. Arrangements are being made for Li to meet lawmakers, including pan- democrats (note 2), though it is not clear if he will take part in a ribbon-cutting (剪綵) for the new government headquarters at Tamar.
Li is scheduled to open the World University Games in Shenzhen (大學運動會) on Friday before his trip to Hong Kong.
Political commentator Willy Lam Wo-lap said the visit of the vice premier, who oversees (note 3) economic affairs, indicates the central government is concerned about Hong Kong's economic development.
The trip will provide people with an opportunity to better understand a likely member of the "fifth generation" (第五代) of China's leaders to be elected in March in 2013.
Li graduated from Peking University with a PhD (博士學位) in economics in the early 1980s. Before he rose to become a top lieutenant (note 4) of Wen, he served as the governor of Henan in 1998, and then as Liaoning party chief, an office that made him first- in-charge (note 5) there, in 2004.
He advanced (note 6) to national level politics at the 17th party congress in 2007 when he became a member of the Politburo Standing Committee.
From good to better English:
(note 1) forum=論壇 (A public meeting place for open discussion)。the forum of conscience=良心的制裁。the forum of public opinion=輿論的評判。forum 的同義詞有 meeting, conference, assembly, congress, gathering,, rally, convention等。
(note 2) pan- democrats=泛民主派。Pan=拍攝全景。pan out ill=結果不好。How did it pan out? Victor asks=Victor問，結果怎麼樣？flash in the pan=曇花一現。leap out of the frying pan into the fire =跳出鍋裡落進火裡(才脫身小困難，又落入大災難)。
(note 3) oversee=管理(watch over and direct; supervise)。Oversight=看漏，錯過。oversee的同義詞有supervise, control, manage, direct, handle, conduct, look after,
(note 4) top lieutenant=左右手, 副官 (an assistant or deputy)。Lieutenant=陸軍中尉，海軍上尉。the triad boss Victor and his lieutenants= 黑幫[大老]Victor和他的左右手。
(note 5) first- in-charge=內地說的[第一把手]。In charge= 領導 (In a position of leadership or supervision)。in charge of=負責 (Having control over or responsibility for)。例句: Julian is in charge of making the salad=Julian負責做沙律。
(note 6) advance=晉升。Advance in knowledge=增進知識。Advance Victor a month's salary=老闆預支給Victor一個月的薪水。
Victor’s View: Mr Li Keqiang knows economics as he holds a doctoral degree in economics. That’s good for Hong Kong if he gets promoted to premier because we need someone at the top who understands how a financial center ticks.
(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)
2011年9月20日 星期二
Bargain-hunting (note 1) cyber fans to party
Large discounts (折扣) and HK$1 bargains will only be some of the sops (便宜貨) on offer as Sham Shui Po cyber shops (note 2) try to draw (吸引) buyers to their annual computer festival starting on Friday.
Sellers are doubly (雙重) keen as they will be vying (競爭) with a similar festival by the Chamber of Hong Kong Computer Industry kicking off (note 3) at the convention and exhibition center next week.
A co-organizer of the 11-day Sham Shui Po event, the Hong Kong Computer Association, said representatives went as far as Jinan University in Shenzhen to hand out 6,000 coupons to be exchanged for 8GB USB memory sticks (記憶片) worth HK$109 each, in order to draw students. This will be the first time for the Wan Chai Computer Centre to join the infotech festival - jointly organized (合辦) by the Computer Association and Golden Computer Arcade.
"The annual Computer and Communication Festival at the convention center seriously affects sales at Sham Shui Po and the Wan Chai Computer Centre," association chairman Ip King-ki said. "We hope the earlier opening of our festival will help draw more customers." The chamber-backed (note 4) festival will run from August 19 to 22.
The rival organizers may even extend the Sham Shui Po festival, depending on attendance and the tactics (策謀) adopted by the chamber.
About one million visitors are expected this year, against last year's 620,000. Likely hot sellers include 10-inch Acer tablets (平面電腦) for just HK$4,000, and internet routers (無線上網器) worth HK$39 to HK$1,299 up for grabs (note 5) at HK$1 daily.
Anyone donating (note 6) an old LCD monitor of 15 inches or above can buy a Dell laptop at the bargain price of HK$2,999.
From good to better English:
(note 1) Bargain-hunting=買便宜貨。Bargain=廉價品。Bargain (動詞)=談判。bargain a new wage increase =(藉由談判)達成增加工資的新協定。I did not bargain for that, Victor said=Victor說，我料不到是那樣的。
(note 2) cyber shops=電腦商店。cyber fans=電腦產品迷。cyber 源自cybernetics。
(note 3) kicking off= 開始 (Start, begin)。a kick in the butt (a kick in the pants)=給予一點壓力 (forceful encouragement to do something)。alive and kicking=滿懷熱誠地生活下去 (to continue to live or exist and be full of energy)。
(note 4) chamber-backed=商會支援的。well-backed=後臺硬的。Back=支援，資助。Back and forth=翻來覆去。I'll be back in a minute, Julian says=Julian說她馬上就回來。Keep back ! =不要過來!
(note 5) up for grabs=供人競購。Grab=攫取，抓取；抓住。grab a bus=搭公共汽車。grab hold of=抓緊。grab的同義詞有clasp, clench, clutch, grapple, grasp, grip, seize等。
(note 6) donate=捐贈，捐獻。donate blood to a blood bank=向血庫捐血。 Victor donates 1,000 dollars to an orphanage= Victor向孤兒院捐贈 1000 元。donate 的同義詞有bestow, contribute, give, chip in等。
Victor’s View: I love bargains. But two shows vying for business in the same week doesn’t make much sense to me. Can’t the organizers collaborate and do the shows one by one?
(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)
Sellers are doubly (雙重) keen as they will be vying (競爭) with a similar festival by the Chamber of Hong Kong Computer Industry kicking off (note 3) at the convention and exhibition center next week.
A co-organizer of the 11-day Sham Shui Po event, the Hong Kong Computer Association, said representatives went as far as Jinan University in Shenzhen to hand out 6,000 coupons to be exchanged for 8GB USB memory sticks (記憶片) worth HK$109 each, in order to draw students. This will be the first time for the Wan Chai Computer Centre to join the infotech festival - jointly organized (合辦) by the Computer Association and Golden Computer Arcade.
"The annual Computer and Communication Festival at the convention center seriously affects sales at Sham Shui Po and the Wan Chai Computer Centre," association chairman Ip King-ki said. "We hope the earlier opening of our festival will help draw more customers." The chamber-backed (note 4) festival will run from August 19 to 22.
The rival organizers may even extend the Sham Shui Po festival, depending on attendance and the tactics (策謀) adopted by the chamber.
About one million visitors are expected this year, against last year's 620,000. Likely hot sellers include 10-inch Acer tablets (平面電腦) for just HK$4,000, and internet routers (無線上網器) worth HK$39 to HK$1,299 up for grabs (note 5) at HK$1 daily.
Anyone donating (note 6) an old LCD monitor of 15 inches or above can buy a Dell laptop at the bargain price of HK$2,999.
From good to better English:
(note 1) Bargain-hunting=買便宜貨。Bargain=廉價品。Bargain (動詞)=談判。bargain a new wage increase =(藉由談判)達成增加工資的新協定。I did not bargain for that, Victor said=Victor說，我料不到是那樣的。
(note 2) cyber shops=電腦商店。cyber fans=電腦產品迷。cyber 源自cybernetics。
(note 3) kicking off= 開始 (Start, begin)。a kick in the butt (a kick in the pants)=給予一點壓力 (forceful encouragement to do something)。alive and kicking=滿懷熱誠地生活下去 (to continue to live or exist and be full of energy)。
(note 4) chamber-backed=商會支援的。well-backed=後臺硬的。Back=支援，資助。Back and forth=翻來覆去。I'll be back in a minute, Julian says=Julian說她馬上就回來。Keep back ! =不要過來!
(note 5) up for grabs=供人競購。Grab=攫取，抓取；抓住。grab a bus=搭公共汽車。grab hold of=抓緊。grab的同義詞有clasp, clench, clutch, grapple, grasp, grip, seize等。
(note 6) donate=捐贈，捐獻。donate blood to a blood bank=向血庫捐血。 Victor donates 1,000 dollars to an orphanage= Victor向孤兒院捐贈 1000 元。donate 的同義詞有bestow, contribute, give, chip in等。
Victor’s View: I love bargains. But two shows vying for business in the same week doesn’t make much sense to me. Can’t the organizers collaborate and do the shows one by one?
(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)
Record high (歷史性高峰) fears (恐慌) in July's inflation level
Record high (歷史性高峰) fears (恐慌) in July's inflation level
Economists expect China's consumer price index (note 1) for July - due out today - to hit a record high of 6.5 percent from a year back.
They also fear further rises are in store (note 2) for the index this year.
This is contrary (相反) to some official forecasts that point to a fall in consumer prices during July.
If readings for a 6.5 percent rise in July are on the mark (note 3), Lu Zhengwei, chief economist at Industrial Bank, told the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post, then it would follow that the CPI "might not have reached its peak (頂點) this year."
Economists Shirla Sum at Goldman Sachs and Sun Chi at Nomura are among those expecting the CPI to rise to 6.5 percent.
"Although food prices moderated (和緩) in the last 10 days of July, rising prices earlier last month still drove up (刺激) inflation," said Sun. Yet Xinhua News Agency said last week that the index for July was likely to up (note 4) by 6.3 percent.
As it is, the People's Bank of China is being tipped (估計) to increase interest rates one more time this year, and action is expected by some people as soon as tomorrow.
While that may be just too soon, Lu sees rates hiked (增加) before month's end, while the reserve requirement ratio for banks will be unchanged.
But Sun at Nomura said the possibility of a rate rise is slim (note 5) given market volatility amid the US debt re-rating. "China might be cautious about the gloomy global market, and the cycle of rate hikes may have ended," noted Sun.
The central bank has raised rates three times this year, taking the one-year benchmark (note 6) deposit rate to 3.5 percent and the one-year loan rate to 6.56 percent.
From good to better English:
(note 1) consumer price index=消費物價指數，簡稱cpi或inflation rate (通脹率)。
(note 2) in store= 準備出台 (In readiness, in preparation for future use)。Store(動辭)=貯藏，貯存。I don't know what the future has in store for us, Victor tells Mo Mo= Victor 告訴Mo Mo他不曉得將來他們究竟會怎麼樣。lay in stores for= 為某目的準備著。
(note 3) on the mark=準確。on the mark 的相反是off the mark (Inaccurate, wrong)。例句: Julian’s answers on the test were just wide of the mark= Julian考試的答案錯得很厲害。
(note 4) up (動辭)=上升。She was already up.=她已經起床了。stay up all night=通夜未睡。From $50 up =從50元起。Start up the engine=把機器開動起來。
(note 5) slim=機會微弱。Slim也解做無價值的；不充實的。a slim excuse=理由不充分的藉口。 very slim chances of success=成功的希望很渺茫。The chance for Victor to win a Pulitzer Prize in journalism is slim= Victor取得普立支獎的機會很渺茫。
(note 6) benchmark=標準, 指標性的 (a standard, norm, or yardstick)。Benchmark的同義詞還有criterion, gauge, mark, measure, standard。
Victor’s View: If inflation on the mainland goes up, it will cascade into prices of products shipped to Hong Kong. That will hurt the livelihood of many citizens. We should try our best to keep inflation from running away.
(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)
Economists expect China's consumer price index (note 1) for July - due out today - to hit a record high of 6.5 percent from a year back.
They also fear further rises are in store (note 2) for the index this year.
This is contrary (相反) to some official forecasts that point to a fall in consumer prices during July.
If readings for a 6.5 percent rise in July are on the mark (note 3), Lu Zhengwei, chief economist at Industrial Bank, told the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post, then it would follow that the CPI "might not have reached its peak (頂點) this year."
Economists Shirla Sum at Goldman Sachs and Sun Chi at Nomura are among those expecting the CPI to rise to 6.5 percent.
"Although food prices moderated (和緩) in the last 10 days of July, rising prices earlier last month still drove up (刺激) inflation," said Sun. Yet Xinhua News Agency said last week that the index for July was likely to up (note 4) by 6.3 percent.
As it is, the People's Bank of China is being tipped (估計) to increase interest rates one more time this year, and action is expected by some people as soon as tomorrow.
While that may be just too soon, Lu sees rates hiked (增加) before month's end, while the reserve requirement ratio for banks will be unchanged.
But Sun at Nomura said the possibility of a rate rise is slim (note 5) given market volatility amid the US debt re-rating. "China might be cautious about the gloomy global market, and the cycle of rate hikes may have ended," noted Sun.
The central bank has raised rates three times this year, taking the one-year benchmark (note 6) deposit rate to 3.5 percent and the one-year loan rate to 6.56 percent.
From good to better English:
(note 1) consumer price index=消費物價指數，簡稱cpi或inflation rate (通脹率)。
(note 2) in store= 準備出台 (In readiness, in preparation for future use)。Store(動辭)=貯藏，貯存。I don't know what the future has in store for us, Victor tells Mo Mo= Victor 告訴Mo Mo他不曉得將來他們究竟會怎麼樣。lay in stores for= 為某目的準備著。
(note 3) on the mark=準確。on the mark 的相反是off the mark (Inaccurate, wrong)。例句: Julian’s answers on the test were just wide of the mark= Julian考試的答案錯得很厲害。
(note 4) up (動辭)=上升。She was already up.=她已經起床了。stay up all night=通夜未睡。From $50 up =從50元起。Start up the engine=把機器開動起來。
(note 5) slim=機會微弱。Slim也解做無價值的；不充實的。a slim excuse=理由不充分的藉口。 very slim chances of success=成功的希望很渺茫。The chance for Victor to win a Pulitzer Prize in journalism is slim= Victor取得普立支獎的機會很渺茫。
(note 6) benchmark=標準, 指標性的 (a standard, norm, or yardstick)。Benchmark的同義詞還有criterion, gauge, mark, measure, standard。
Victor’s View: If inflation on the mainland goes up, it will cascade into prices of products shipped to Hong Kong. That will hurt the livelihood of many citizens. We should try our best to keep inflation from running away.
(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)
2011年9月18日 星期日
Parents punished (處罰) for punishing girl
Should errant (犯錯) children be punished by making them stand outside their homes or classroom? Such punishment is common in Hong Kong, but in the eyes of a Tsuen Wan magistrate, it may also amount to (note 1) child abuse (虐待兒童).
Magistrate Lambert Lee Ka-chai yesterday placed a couple on probation (守行為) for one year for making their daughter, nine, stand outside their Tsing Yi home because she was late home from school.
The girl was later found wondering (遊蕩) in the building lobby by a security guard who called police. The parents were arrested and charged with child abuse.
The couple spent 17 days in custody (拘留) before being put on probation. The father, surnamed Tang, 44, and his wife Ip, 35, had earlier pleaded (note 2) guilty to one count of ill-treatment or neglect (note 3) by those in charge of a child.
Ip worked casually (note 4) for a welfare group, earning HK$2,000 for dispatching (分派) food to elderly people. Tang receives HK$4,000 Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (綜援). The couple was denied bail before sentencing.
A Social Welfare Department spokesman said a doctor and social worker followed up (note 5) the case and the girl and her parents are fine.
The court earlier heard the parents were upset (心緒煩亂) when their daughter returned home late on May 31. As a punishment, they ordered her to stand in the corridor outside their flat in Cheung Wang Estate, Tsing Yi. It was 9.30pm. She ended up (note 6) wandering in the lobby and a report was made to the police by a security guard at 2am.
The daughter wrote the court a mitigating letter, saying she hoped the family could be reunited. The magistrate noted the family was close and the decision to leave the girl outside was a moment of misjudgment.
From good to better English:
(note 1) amount to=等同於 (Be equivalent to)。例句: Twenty persons attending Victor’s concert didn’t amount to a good turnout=只有20人出席Victor的演唱會，輒對不是高出席率。
(note 2) plead=答辯。plead ignorance=以不知道情況為藉口。plead for=懇求。Victor’s boss pleads for his favour =Victor的老闆替Victor說情)。
(note 3) ill-treatment or neglect=虐待或忽略照顧。Neglect=無視，不顧。neglect of duty 失職，玩忽職守。treat with neglect 不理睬，怠慢。
(note 4) work casually=臨時工 (廣東話叫散工)，a casual work。Casually=不在意地。not to treat Mo Mo’s warning casually=不要對Mo Mo的警告等閒視之。
(note 5) follow up=跟進。Julian followed up her interview with Chris Yeung with a phone call =Julian 跟Chris Yeung面談後再打電話給他。Follow=接著，跟著發生。Spring follows winter=冬去春來。Follow the lead of Prof Huang=效法黃教授。
(note 6) end up=結果 (Arrive at, result in, finish)。例句: We don't know how Bo Bo will end up=我們不知道Bo Bo結局如何。End=末端，終點。As the summer break draws to its end=在這暑假將要結束的時候。Achieve one's end=達到目的。
ctor’s View: Parents sometimes punish their kids to let them know what’s right or wrong. But in so doing, the kids’ safety must also be of great concern to the parents. After all, all parents love their children.
(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)
Magistrate Lambert Lee Ka-chai yesterday placed a couple on probation (守行為) for one year for making their daughter, nine, stand outside their Tsing Yi home because she was late home from school.
The girl was later found wondering (遊蕩) in the building lobby by a security guard who called police. The parents were arrested and charged with child abuse.
The couple spent 17 days in custody (拘留) before being put on probation. The father, surnamed Tang, 44, and his wife Ip, 35, had earlier pleaded (note 2) guilty to one count of ill-treatment or neglect (note 3) by those in charge of a child.
Ip worked casually (note 4) for a welfare group, earning HK$2,000 for dispatching (分派) food to elderly people. Tang receives HK$4,000 Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (綜援). The couple was denied bail before sentencing.
A Social Welfare Department spokesman said a doctor and social worker followed up (note 5) the case and the girl and her parents are fine.
The court earlier heard the parents were upset (心緒煩亂) when their daughter returned home late on May 31. As a punishment, they ordered her to stand in the corridor outside their flat in Cheung Wang Estate, Tsing Yi. It was 9.30pm. She ended up (note 6) wandering in the lobby and a report was made to the police by a security guard at 2am.
The daughter wrote the court a mitigating letter, saying she hoped the family could be reunited. The magistrate noted the family was close and the decision to leave the girl outside was a moment of misjudgment.
From good to better English:
(note 1) amount to=等同於 (Be equivalent to)。例句: Twenty persons attending Victor’s concert didn’t amount to a good turnout=只有20人出席Victor的演唱會，輒對不是高出席率。
(note 2) plead=答辯。plead ignorance=以不知道情況為藉口。plead for=懇求。Victor’s boss pleads for his favour =Victor的老闆替Victor說情)。
(note 3) ill-treatment or neglect=虐待或忽略照顧。Neglect=無視，不顧。neglect of duty 失職，玩忽職守。treat with neglect 不理睬，怠慢。
(note 4) work casually=臨時工 (廣東話叫散工)，a casual work。Casually=不在意地。not to treat Mo Mo’s warning casually=不要對Mo Mo的警告等閒視之。
(note 5) follow up=跟進。Julian followed up her interview with Chris Yeung with a phone call =Julian 跟Chris Yeung面談後再打電話給他。Follow=接著，跟著發生。Spring follows winter=冬去春來。Follow the lead of Prof Huang=效法黃教授。
(note 6) end up=結果 (Arrive at, result in, finish)。例句: We don't know how Bo Bo will end up=我們不知道Bo Bo結局如何。End=末端，終點。As the summer break draws to its end=在這暑假將要結束的時候。Achieve one's end=達到目的。
ctor’s View: Parents sometimes punish their kids to let them know what’s right or wrong. But in so doing, the kids’ safety must also be of great concern to the parents. After all, all parents love their children.
(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)
2011年9月16日 星期五
2011年9月15日 星期四
Expert sees (note 1) possible 20pc dive (下調) in HK property prices
Property prices in Hong Kong could tumble (猛跌) by up to 20 percent if the general global sentiment remains negative (悲觀), CB Richard Ellis warned yesterday.
"We expect to see a correction (調整) of 5-10 percent in residential prices over the next 6-12 months. If sentiment continues to weaken, a correction of up to 20 percent would not be surprising," said Edward Farrelly, head of Hong Kong Research at the property consultancy (諮詢服務公司).
The US Federal Reserve has vowed (承諾) to maintain ultra-low (note 2) interest rates until 2013, but this is unlikely to help boost home buyers' sentiment as the market remains vulnerable (脆弱的) to credit risks, Farrelly said. However, he noted Hong Kong's property market is still in a "relatively good position" (還不錯) as growth of the territory is not expected to weaken like developed Western economies.
Also, the market is not oversupplied (note 3) and investors tend to turn their investments to emerging markets, including Hong Kong, during global downturns (向下).
Another property consultancy, Midland Realty, expects property prices to remain flat (note 4) or drop slightly for the rest of the year, after rising about 10 percent in the first seven months of the year from the same period in 2010.
Developers, meanwhile, are continuing to put new flats on (note 5) the market. The Wings, a Tseung Kwan O residential project co-developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016) and MTR Corp (0066), is expected to be available for sale soon.
Sun Hung Kai said it has not yet figured out (note 6) when to introduce (推出) the flats to the market. The pricing is expected to set a new benchmark (指標) for the district. The Wings will comprise 1,028 units, mainly between 1,000-1,400 square feet. Some larger units are more than 2,500 sq ft.
From good to better English:
(note 1) experts see=專家估計。See=看出；看破；明白；領會；領悟；認為。I see you=我明白你的意思。Well, I'll see what I can do=好的，我想想辦法看。Julian will never see twenty again=Julian已經二十(歲)出頭了。You shall see=你不久就會明白的。see justice done=設法使事情處理得公平合理。
(note 2) ultra-low=過度低。Ultra=過激的，極端的 (extreme)。Ultraist=極端主義者 (extremist)。extremist的同義詞有 fanatic, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, zealot等
(note 3) oversupplied=供應過量。Oversupply (名詞) 的同義詞有excess, fat, glut, overflow, overrun, overstock, superfluity, surplus等。
(note 4) remain flat=保持平穩。A flat rate of 3%=一律百分之三。A flat denial=斷然否認[拒絕]。The market is flat=市道蕭條。Victor’s singing falls flat on the audience=Victor的歌唱毫不動人。
(note 5) put new flats on the market=把新房子推出市場。Put on=穿上。例句: I put on my red socks=我穿上紅襪子。Put on =扮。Mo Mo put on a British accent=Mo Mo假扮有濃重的英國口音。
(note 6) figure out=決定、想好 (Discover or determine)。例句: Let's figure out a way to help Bo Bo= 容我們想辦法幫助Bo Bo。Figure out= 解決 (Solve or decipher)。例句: Can you figure out this puzzle?=你可以解釋這個迷嗎?
Victor’s View: What goes up must come down. This is the law of the market place. Investors usually know the drill. If you think the kitchen is too hot, get out of it. Never get burned, folks!
(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)
"We expect to see a correction (調整) of 5-10 percent in residential prices over the next 6-12 months. If sentiment continues to weaken, a correction of up to 20 percent would not be surprising," said Edward Farrelly, head of Hong Kong Research at the property consultancy (諮詢服務公司).
The US Federal Reserve has vowed (承諾) to maintain ultra-low (note 2) interest rates until 2013, but this is unlikely to help boost home buyers' sentiment as the market remains vulnerable (脆弱的) to credit risks, Farrelly said. However, he noted Hong Kong's property market is still in a "relatively good position" (還不錯) as growth of the territory is not expected to weaken like developed Western economies.
Also, the market is not oversupplied (note 3) and investors tend to turn their investments to emerging markets, including Hong Kong, during global downturns (向下).
Another property consultancy, Midland Realty, expects property prices to remain flat (note 4) or drop slightly for the rest of the year, after rising about 10 percent in the first seven months of the year from the same period in 2010.
Developers, meanwhile, are continuing to put new flats on (note 5) the market. The Wings, a Tseung Kwan O residential project co-developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016) and MTR Corp (0066), is expected to be available for sale soon.
Sun Hung Kai said it has not yet figured out (note 6) when to introduce (推出) the flats to the market. The pricing is expected to set a new benchmark (指標) for the district. The Wings will comprise 1,028 units, mainly between 1,000-1,400 square feet. Some larger units are more than 2,500 sq ft.
From good to better English:
(note 1) experts see=專家估計。See=看出；看破；明白；領會；領悟；認為。I see you=我明白你的意思。Well, I'll see what I can do=好的，我想想辦法看。Julian will never see twenty again=Julian已經二十(歲)出頭了。You shall see=你不久就會明白的。see justice done=設法使事情處理得公平合理。
(note 2) ultra-low=過度低。Ultra=過激的，極端的 (extreme)。Ultraist=極端主義者 (extremist)。extremist的同義詞有 fanatic, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, zealot等
(note 3) oversupplied=供應過量。Oversupply (名詞) 的同義詞有excess, fat, glut, overflow, overrun, overstock, superfluity, surplus等。
(note 4) remain flat=保持平穩。A flat rate of 3%=一律百分之三。A flat denial=斷然否認[拒絕]。The market is flat=市道蕭條。Victor’s singing falls flat on the audience=Victor的歌唱毫不動人。
(note 5) put new flats on the market=把新房子推出市場。Put on=穿上。例句: I put on my red socks=我穿上紅襪子。Put on =扮。Mo Mo put on a British accent=Mo Mo假扮有濃重的英國口音。
(note 6) figure out=決定、想好 (Discover or determine)。例句: Let's figure out a way to help Bo Bo= 容我們想辦法幫助Bo Bo。Figure out= 解決 (Solve or decipher)。例句: Can you figure out this puzzle?=你可以解釋這個迷嗎?
Victor’s View: What goes up must come down. This is the law of the market place. Investors usually know the drill. If you think the kitchen is too hot, get out of it. Never get burned, folks!
(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)
2011年9月13日 星期二
Melco Crown mulls (深思熟慮 ) possible SAR listing
Macau casino and entertainment resort operator Melco Crown Entertainment has applied to list (note 1) on the Hong Kong main board (主板).
The Nasdaq (note 2)-listed company, which owns the casino (賭場) and hotel complex "City of Dreams" said it is evaluating (評價) a possible listing in Hong Kong.
In other action, container (貨櫃) carrier (船) China Shipping Nauticgreen Holdings postponed (擱置) its HK$1.5 billion initial public offering due to a sluggish (note 3) market. It originally planned to open its retail book (note 4) today. No future date for listing has been given.
Separately, the largest mainland brokerage, CITIC Securities, will have its listing hearing (上市聽證會) on August 18. The company will kick off (note 5) its US$2 billion (HK$15.5 billion) IPO plan soon after passing the process.
New China Life will have its listing hearing in early September. The mainland's third-largest life insurer wants to raise up to US$4 billion (HK$31.2 billion) through a dual listing (兩地同時上市) in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
And another Japanese company is hoping to list locally. Reve21 - a Japanese hair clinic operator (護髮店)- said it will sell two-thirds of its president's stake (note 6) in a global IPO in either Tokyo or Hong Kong. The Osaka-based firm operates 97 branches in Japan.
Bank of East Asia (0023), meanwhile, saw a 29 percent jump in net profit for the first half to HK$2.71 billion from a year back, thrashing (note 7) a market forecast (市場估計) of HK$1.96 billion.
Earnings per share stood at HK$1.24. An interim dividend (股息) of 43 HK cents was declared. Net interest income jumped 19.9 percent year-on- year to HK$4.40 billion while non- interest income soared 28.4 percent to HK$2.23 billion. Net interest margin stabilized at 1.73 percent compared with the end of 2010. "Our mainland business contributed one-third to the total revenue (收入)," said deputy chief executive Brian Li Man-bun.
From good to better English:
(note 1) list=上市。其他說法包括get listed, floated, become publicly-traded等等。List (名詞)= 清單，目錄，表。a black list黑名單。 a casualty list=傷亡名單。a shopping list=購物清單。 be struck off the list=被除名。Victor always passed first on the list=Victor總是以第一名通過考試。
(note 2) Nasdaq= National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System的簡寫 (美國經紀協會利用電腦全國可以買賣股票)。另一個大市場是New York Stock Exchange (紐約股票交易所)。
(note 3) sluggish=呆鈍的，不活潑的。Sluggish market=不活躍的股票市場。Sluggish的痛一次又down, dull, off, slack, slow, soft等。
(note 4) open its retail book=賣股票給散戶。投資者有散戶和機構投資者 (institutional investors), 例如基金公司。
(note 5) kick off=.開始出售 ( Start, begin)。for kicks=為了取樂。kick around =考慮。kick one's heels= 空等, 久等。kick oneself=嚴厲自責。kick the habit= 戒除嗜好kick the hell out of= 打得落花流水。kicking and screaming= 大聲抱怨。
(note 6) stake =股權。
(note 7) Thrashing=擊敗 (beating)。thrash out=詳細討論 ( discuss fully)。thrash 的通義祠有assail, assault, batter, belabor, buffet, drub, hammer, pound, pummel, smash, thresh等。
Victor’s View: The more firms coming to list in Hong Kong,the better. Although the stock market has been hammered by the downgrade of US bonds, mainland and local companies continue to seek funds from the public.
(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)
The Nasdaq (note 2)-listed company, which owns the casino (賭場) and hotel complex "City of Dreams" said it is evaluating (評價) a possible listing in Hong Kong.
In other action, container (貨櫃) carrier (船) China Shipping Nauticgreen Holdings postponed (擱置) its HK$1.5 billion initial public offering due to a sluggish (note 3) market. It originally planned to open its retail book (note 4) today. No future date for listing has been given.
Separately, the largest mainland brokerage, CITIC Securities, will have its listing hearing (上市聽證會) on August 18. The company will kick off (note 5) its US$2 billion (HK$15.5 billion) IPO plan soon after passing the process.
New China Life will have its listing hearing in early September. The mainland's third-largest life insurer wants to raise up to US$4 billion (HK$31.2 billion) through a dual listing (兩地同時上市) in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
And another Japanese company is hoping to list locally. Reve21 - a Japanese hair clinic operator (護髮店)- said it will sell two-thirds of its president's stake (note 6) in a global IPO in either Tokyo or Hong Kong. The Osaka-based firm operates 97 branches in Japan.
Bank of East Asia (0023), meanwhile, saw a 29 percent jump in net profit for the first half to HK$2.71 billion from a year back, thrashing (note 7) a market forecast (市場估計) of HK$1.96 billion.
Earnings per share stood at HK$1.24. An interim dividend (股息) of 43 HK cents was declared. Net interest income jumped 19.9 percent year-on- year to HK$4.40 billion while non- interest income soared 28.4 percent to HK$2.23 billion. Net interest margin stabilized at 1.73 percent compared with the end of 2010. "Our mainland business contributed one-third to the total revenue (收入)," said deputy chief executive Brian Li Man-bun.
From good to better English:
(note 1) list=上市。其他說法包括get listed, floated, become publicly-traded等等。List (名詞)= 清單，目錄，表。a black list黑名單。 a casualty list=傷亡名單。a shopping list=購物清單。 be struck off the list=被除名。Victor always passed first on the list=Victor總是以第一名通過考試。
(note 2) Nasdaq= National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System的簡寫 (美國經紀協會利用電腦全國可以買賣股票)。另一個大市場是New York Stock Exchange (紐約股票交易所)。
(note 3) sluggish=呆鈍的，不活潑的。Sluggish market=不活躍的股票市場。Sluggish的痛一次又down, dull, off, slack, slow, soft等。
(note 4) open its retail book=賣股票給散戶。投資者有散戶和機構投資者 (institutional investors), 例如基金公司。
(note 5) kick off=.開始出售 ( Start, begin)。for kicks=為了取樂。kick around =考慮。kick one's heels= 空等, 久等。kick oneself=嚴厲自責。kick the habit= 戒除嗜好kick the hell out of= 打得落花流水。kicking and screaming= 大聲抱怨。
(note 6) stake =股權。
(note 7) Thrashing=擊敗 (beating)。thrash out=詳細討論 ( discuss fully)。thrash 的通義祠有assail, assault, batter, belabor, buffet, drub, hammer, pound, pummel, smash, thresh等。
Victor’s View: The more firms coming to list in Hong Kong,the better. Although the stock market has been hammered by the downgrade of US bonds, mainland and local companies continue to seek funds from the public.
(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)
2011年9月11日 星期日
Duh !
我最近看了兩套電視片集，都聽到 “Duh!” 這個字。在<<覓骨尋蹤>>(Bones) 其中一集中，兩個警探在盤問一名毒犯。警探問: “You were here all night last night selling drugs?”毒販表示很不快和輕蔑地說: “Duh!”
書面語”Duh”是[咄]的意思。[咄咄〕表示驚怪，如“咄咄怪事”或表示呵叱、感慨和令人感到不可理解。(Duh is used to express disdain for something deemed stupid or obvious, especially a self-evident remark.)。 用廣東話解析比較易明。毒犯的意思就是說 [你都白癡的!明知故問!]
這個”Duh” 字源於1963年。 <<The New York Times Magazine>> 解釋: [This is the standard retort (反駁) used when someone makes a conversational contribution bordering on the banal (平庸的，陳腐的)]。簡單點說就是你這句說話毫無意義 (a self-evident, unnecessary remark.)。Victor中午12時30分在中環碰見朋友Julian。Victor說: [Julian, 去吃午飯ㄚ?] Julian回答說: [Duh!]
書面語”Duh”是[咄]的意思。[咄咄〕表示驚怪，如“咄咄怪事”或表示呵叱、感慨和令人感到不可理解。(Duh is used to express disdain for something deemed stupid or obvious, especially a self-evident remark.)。 用廣東話解析比較易明。毒犯的意思就是說 [你都白癡的!明知故問!]
這個”Duh” 字源於1963年。 <<The New York Times Magazine>> 解釋: [This is the standard retort (反駁) used when someone makes a conversational contribution bordering on the banal (平庸的，陳腐的)]。簡單點說就是你這句說話毫無意義 (a self-evident, unnecessary remark.)。Victor中午12時30分在中環碰見朋友Julian。Victor說: [Julian, 去吃午飯ㄚ?] Julian回答說: [Duh!]
2011年9月8日 星期四
List surges (名單) to 43 in blackmail (勒索) sex scam (note 1)
List surges (名單) to 43 in blackmail (勒索) sex scam (note 1)
The number of government officials who received blackmail threats (恐嚇), some with composite (併合) photos of themselves in compromising positions (note 2) with women, has grown to 43, more than twice the number originally reported, police said yesterday.
All the letters demanded between HK$200,000 to HK$500,000 and were posted (郵寄) in Guangdong, said director of crime and security Stephen Lo Wai-chung, when reviewing the crime situation in the territory from January to June this year.
When asked to reveal the identities of the recipients (收件人) who were "blackmailed" and if they included the Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Lo said he could not say as the case is under investigation.
All the letters are roughly (大致) similar. The photos used in some of the letters were the same, with the faces of the intended victims superimposed (note 3) on it," Lo said. He added the incident (事件) mentioned in the letters "was the same for all the 43 people."
Officers initially said 18 officials were targeted (note 4), and on Monday that list grew to 19. A police spokesman said most, if not all (note 5), of the victims had been sent what appeared to be composite pictures of themselves in nude (裸體) or in compromising positions with women.
Lo said most of the 43 officials were men. None of the victims paid any money. Rumors are afloat (note 6) that Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok, Secretary for Education Michael Suen Ming- yeung and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So Kam-leung were among the recipients.
Lo said yesterday the letters are undergoing forensic testing (科學鑑證) and the case has been handed over (note 7) to the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau. Police in Guangdong have been asked to help identify the source (來源) of the letters.
From good to better English:
(note 1) sex scam=性詐騙 (a swindle)。Scammer=騙徒 (a petty crook or swindler)。
(note 2) in compromising positions=損傷名譽的姿勢。Compromise of principles=原則上的讓步。 Victor makes compromise with Ivy= Victor和Ivy妥協。Position=態度，觀點，立場。In my position=在我的立場。Maneuver for position=爭取有利地位。
(note 3) superimposed=加在上面、重疊上去、疊印 (add as a distinct feature, element, or quality)。例句: Julian superimposed her own interpretation when she retold the hostage-taking story= Julian在回憶人質事件時把自己的意見加上去。
(note 4) targeted=目標。a target area=轟炸目標地區。 a target ship=靶艦。target practice= 打靶，射擊演習。 hit a target= 達到指標。
(note 5) if not all=如果不是全部的話。all along= 自始至終。all but= 幾乎。all clear= 解除警報的信號。all of a sudden=出乎意料地。all over= 全部結束到處。all set = 預備好, 準備好。all the more= 更加。all told= 總共。for all he cares=他不在乎。give one's all= 全力以赴。on all fours= 四腳著地的。that's all= 結束了。
(note 6) afloat=傳播，散播。set rumours afloat=散佈謠言。
(note 7) handed over=移交(Release or relinquish to another's possession or control)。例句: Victor decided to hand the bookstore over to Mo Mo=Victor打算把書店送給 Mo Mo。
Victor’s View: Cross-border crime can only increase after Hong Kong is integrated with the mainland. Law-enforcement authorities in the district and the mainland must give up their silo mentality to cooperate and stem out such crimes.
(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)
The number of government officials who received blackmail threats (恐嚇), some with composite (併合) photos of themselves in compromising positions (note 2) with women, has grown to 43, more than twice the number originally reported, police said yesterday.
All the letters demanded between HK$200,000 to HK$500,000 and were posted (郵寄) in Guangdong, said director of crime and security Stephen Lo Wai-chung, when reviewing the crime situation in the territory from January to June this year.
When asked to reveal the identities of the recipients (收件人) who were "blackmailed" and if they included the Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Lo said he could not say as the case is under investigation.
All the letters are roughly (大致) similar. The photos used in some of the letters were the same, with the faces of the intended victims superimposed (note 3) on it," Lo said. He added the incident (事件) mentioned in the letters "was the same for all the 43 people."
Officers initially said 18 officials were targeted (note 4), and on Monday that list grew to 19. A police spokesman said most, if not all (note 5), of the victims had been sent what appeared to be composite pictures of themselves in nude (裸體) or in compromising positions with women.
Lo said most of the 43 officials were men. None of the victims paid any money. Rumors are afloat (note 6) that Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok, Secretary for Education Michael Suen Ming- yeung and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So Kam-leung were among the recipients.
Lo said yesterday the letters are undergoing forensic testing (科學鑑證) and the case has been handed over (note 7) to the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau. Police in Guangdong have been asked to help identify the source (來源) of the letters.
From good to better English:
(note 1) sex scam=性詐騙 (a swindle)。Scammer=騙徒 (a petty crook or swindler)。
(note 2) in compromising positions=損傷名譽的姿勢。Compromise of principles=原則上的讓步。 Victor makes compromise with Ivy= Victor和Ivy妥協。Position=態度，觀點，立場。In my position=在我的立場。Maneuver for position=爭取有利地位。
(note 3) superimposed=加在上面、重疊上去、疊印 (add as a distinct feature, element, or quality)。例句: Julian superimposed her own interpretation when she retold the hostage-taking story= Julian在回憶人質事件時把自己的意見加上去。
(note 4) targeted=目標。a target area=轟炸目標地區。 a target ship=靶艦。target practice= 打靶，射擊演習。 hit a target= 達到指標。
(note 5) if not all=如果不是全部的話。all along= 自始至終。all but= 幾乎。all clear= 解除警報的信號。all of a sudden=出乎意料地。all over= 全部結束到處。all set = 預備好, 準備好。all the more= 更加。all told= 總共。for all he cares=他不在乎。give one's all= 全力以赴。on all fours= 四腳著地的。that's all= 結束了。
(note 6) afloat=傳播，散播。set rumours afloat=散佈謠言。
(note 7) handed over=移交(Release or relinquish to another's possession or control)。例句: Victor decided to hand the bookstore over to Mo Mo=Victor打算把書店送給 Mo Mo。
Victor’s View: Cross-border crime can only increase after Hong Kong is integrated with the mainland. Law-enforcement authorities in the district and the mainland must give up their silo mentality to cooperate and stem out such crimes.
(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)
2011年9月7日 星期三
All riled up (note 1) at rail woes (苦惱)
Concern is growing over the safety of the Mass Transit Railway after a sudden power cut (電力中斷) disrupted (中斷) train services between Admiralty and Causeway Bay during the morning rush hour (繁忙時間) yesterday.
About 2,000 passengers on two trains were affected and thousands others packed (成群擠在一起) platforms during the 20-minute disruption.
At about 9am, a tripped (解扣，鬆開) switch(軌閘轉轍器) cut the power supply to two trains running on the tracks between Tin Hau and Admiralty stations in the direction of Sheung Wan, a spokesman for the MTR Corporation said last night.
An automatic safety system kicked in (note 2) and cut power to sections of the line between the two stations in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai.
Between 1,100 and 1,200 passengers on each train were asked to leave (被請離開) in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay and wait until services resumed (恢復).
At Wan Chai station, platforms were packed as thousands were also stopped from entering the turnstiles (入閘) during the disruption. They had to wait even longer when services resumed at about 9.20am as arriving trains were already full.
The MTR spokesman said both trains still had enough power to move to the depot. An investigation is ongoing (note 3) and he could not say what caused (引致) the power cut.
Several passengers said they saw smoke coming from a carriage (車卡) as the train entered Wan Chai station from Causeway Bay. They called the police. Firemen were on standby (note 4).
The MTR spokesman said the smoke might be caused by dust igniting (點燃) after building up (note 5) on one of the trains' high-voltage electric cables.
"The train reduced its speed abruptly before it reached Causeway Bay station," said Chan Ho-pong, who was travelling on the train from Tin Hau to Causeway Bay. "People lost their balance (note 6) as there was no announcement before the sudden stop."
From good to better English:
(note 1) riled up=惹怒，激怒 (anger, upset)。Rile的同義詞有 aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, disturb, exasperate, fret, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, provoke。
(note 2) kick in=啟動。Kick=踢、戒除(毒癮)。Victor loves kicking around = Victor經常改變行業。Kick off=開始(某種活動)。Kick oneself =嚴厲自責。Kick out=逐出，解雇，開除。Kick the bucket=翹辮子。Kick up a fuss=引起騷擾。There is not much kick in the Kowloon Tong cocktail=這種九龍塘雞尾酒沒有多少勁兒。
(note 3) ongoing=進行中的 (In progress or evolving)。ongoing的同義詞有ceaseless, constant, continual, continuous, endless, eternal, everlasting, incessant, interminable, nonstop, perpetual, persistent, relentless, round-the-clock, timeless, unceasing, unending, unfailing, uninterrupted, unremitting。例句: Victor helped Bo Bo secure a job and is now giving her vital, ongoing support= Victor幫 Bo Bo找到工作並繼續給她支持。
(note 4) on standby=待命 (Ready and waiting)。stand by someone=支持。例句: Julian stood by Victor’s criticism of the government= Julian支持 Victor對政府的批評。
(note 5) building up=增加 (accumulate, increase)。The clouds are building up. Better close the windows, Victor tells Mo Mo= Victor告訴Mo Mo把窗門關上，因為雲層越來越黑。
(note 6) lost their balance=失去重心。
Vctor’s View: Thousands of people rely on the MTR to work and do business. It would cause so much inconvenience and loss of business opportunities if train service is disrupted for a period of time. There’s no room for complacency.
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)
About 2,000 passengers on two trains were affected and thousands others packed (成群擠在一起) platforms during the 20-minute disruption.
At about 9am, a tripped (解扣，鬆開) switch(軌閘轉轍器) cut the power supply to two trains running on the tracks between Tin Hau and Admiralty stations in the direction of Sheung Wan, a spokesman for the MTR Corporation said last night.
An automatic safety system kicked in (note 2) and cut power to sections of the line between the two stations in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai.
Between 1,100 and 1,200 passengers on each train were asked to leave (被請離開) in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay and wait until services resumed (恢復).
At Wan Chai station, platforms were packed as thousands were also stopped from entering the turnstiles (入閘) during the disruption. They had to wait even longer when services resumed at about 9.20am as arriving trains were already full.
The MTR spokesman said both trains still had enough power to move to the depot. An investigation is ongoing (note 3) and he could not say what caused (引致) the power cut.
Several passengers said they saw smoke coming from a carriage (車卡) as the train entered Wan Chai station from Causeway Bay. They called the police. Firemen were on standby (note 4).
The MTR spokesman said the smoke might be caused by dust igniting (點燃) after building up (note 5) on one of the trains' high-voltage electric cables.
"The train reduced its speed abruptly before it reached Causeway Bay station," said Chan Ho-pong, who was travelling on the train from Tin Hau to Causeway Bay. "People lost their balance (note 6) as there was no announcement before the sudden stop."
From good to better English:
(note 1) riled up=惹怒，激怒 (anger, upset)。Rile的同義詞有 aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, disturb, exasperate, fret, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, provoke。
(note 2) kick in=啟動。Kick=踢、戒除(毒癮)。Victor loves kicking around = Victor經常改變行業。Kick off=開始(某種活動)。Kick oneself =嚴厲自責。Kick out=逐出，解雇，開除。Kick the bucket=翹辮子。Kick up a fuss=引起騷擾。There is not much kick in the Kowloon Tong cocktail=這種九龍塘雞尾酒沒有多少勁兒。
(note 3) ongoing=進行中的 (In progress or evolving)。ongoing的同義詞有ceaseless, constant, continual, continuous, endless, eternal, everlasting, incessant, interminable, nonstop, perpetual, persistent, relentless, round-the-clock, timeless, unceasing, unending, unfailing, uninterrupted, unremitting。例句: Victor helped Bo Bo secure a job and is now giving her vital, ongoing support= Victor幫 Bo Bo找到工作並繼續給她支持。
(note 4) on standby=待命 (Ready and waiting)。stand by someone=支持。例句: Julian stood by Victor’s criticism of the government= Julian支持 Victor對政府的批評。
(note 5) building up=增加 (accumulate, increase)。The clouds are building up. Better close the windows, Victor tells Mo Mo= Victor告訴Mo Mo把窗門關上，因為雲層越來越黑。
(note 6) lost their balance=失去重心。
Vctor’s View: Thousands of people rely on the MTR to work and do business. It would cause so much inconvenience and loss of business opportunities if train service is disrupted for a period of time. There’s no room for complacency.
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)
2011年9月5日 星期一
Zap(嚓)! Cash handout (送現金) gives comic fair some extra punch (note 1)
This year's five-day Animation and Comics festival (動漫節) drew a record (破紀錄) 696,000 visitors - a 2.2 percent rise on last year's 680,000.
Toys exhibitors estimate profits have soared 10 to 15 percent, saying fans were not hindered (阻止，阻撓) by higher prices brought about (note 2) by inflation. Lego Hong Kong director Fung Hin-wai said business on the first day of the festival was poor (差), but it picked up (note 3) over the next four days.
Most vendors(攤販) say sales rose on the improved economy as well as promised government cash handouts (派送現金)."Since the government is to give out HK$6,000 to Hong Kong citizens, some customers were prepared to pay the higher prices for their favorite items (心愛物)," said Oriental Trading director of sales and marketing Chan Wing-leung.
"Prices have risen 10 to 15 percent due to inflation but the number of products purchased in each transaction was relatively higher than last year," said Chan, whose company sells a variety of toys for adults and children. Though about 16,000 mainlanders attended the festival, Chan said only a few (note 4) called at his stall.
Animation and comic festivals are common in the mainland, with one due to be held in Guangzhou in October. To get rid of (note 5) stock (存貨) in the closing hours (note 6) of the festival, Hong Comic Studio started auctioning (note 7) all its products, which included comic posters and stuffed toys, from 6pm for as little as HK$1. A woman employee who did not give her name said all products came from Japan. "We did not want to send them back to Japan, hence the auction," she said.
From good to better English:
(note 1) extra punch=額外吸引力。Punch (動詞)=拳打，毆打。There was not much punch in Victor’s remarks=Victor的話沒啥力量。pull the punches=故意不用力打，故意讓對手打勝。Fruit punch=多味果汁飲料。
(note 2) brought about=引致。Bring=拿來，帶來，攜來，取來。I cannot bring myself to do it=我實在不能幹那件事。The news brought Victor to his feet=這個消息使Victor驚得站了起來。Bring around=說服。Bring back= 使回憶起，使恢復。
(note 3) picked up=增加。Pick=摘，挑選，挑毛病。Pick one's teeth=剔牙。 Mo Mo picks a quarrel with Bo Bo= Mo Mo找機會和Bo Bo吵架。 Pick fault with=挑眼。 Pick pocket=扒竊。
(note 4) only a few=人數不多 (A small number of persons or things)。A few 不等於few。例句: Victor’s singing party was to end at eight, but a few stayed on= Victor 的歌唱表演8時結束，但仍有不少人留下來。 Victor’s singing party began at eight, and few attended= Victor歌唱表演8時開始，但只有3，4人到來。
(note 5) get rid of=除去，散掉。
(note 6) the closing hours=關門前數小時。at all hours=在任何時候。for hours= 好幾個鐘頭。hour after hour=連續地。
(note 7) auction=拍賣。a public auction=公開拍賣。
Victor’s View: The Animation and Comics festival is always popular among young people. The number of attendees this year wasn’t impressive, however. It’s time the authorities tried some more new gimmicks to attract customers.
(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)
Toys exhibitors estimate profits have soared 10 to 15 percent, saying fans were not hindered (阻止，阻撓) by higher prices brought about (note 2) by inflation. Lego Hong Kong director Fung Hin-wai said business on the first day of the festival was poor (差), but it picked up (note 3) over the next four days.
Most vendors(攤販) say sales rose on the improved economy as well as promised government cash handouts (派送現金)."Since the government is to give out HK$6,000 to Hong Kong citizens, some customers were prepared to pay the higher prices for their favorite items (心愛物)," said Oriental Trading director of sales and marketing Chan Wing-leung.
"Prices have risen 10 to 15 percent due to inflation but the number of products purchased in each transaction was relatively higher than last year," said Chan, whose company sells a variety of toys for adults and children. Though about 16,000 mainlanders attended the festival, Chan said only a few (note 4) called at his stall.
Animation and comic festivals are common in the mainland, with one due to be held in Guangzhou in October. To get rid of (note 5) stock (存貨) in the closing hours (note 6) of the festival, Hong Comic Studio started auctioning (note 7) all its products, which included comic posters and stuffed toys, from 6pm for as little as HK$1. A woman employee who did not give her name said all products came from Japan. "We did not want to send them back to Japan, hence the auction," she said.
From good to better English:
(note 1) extra punch=額外吸引力。Punch (動詞)=拳打，毆打。There was not much punch in Victor’s remarks=Victor的話沒啥力量。pull the punches=故意不用力打，故意讓對手打勝。Fruit punch=多味果汁飲料。
(note 2) brought about=引致。Bring=拿來，帶來，攜來，取來。I cannot bring myself to do it=我實在不能幹那件事。The news brought Victor to his feet=這個消息使Victor驚得站了起來。Bring around=說服。Bring back= 使回憶起，使恢復。
(note 3) picked up=增加。Pick=摘，挑選，挑毛病。Pick one's teeth=剔牙。 Mo Mo picks a quarrel with Bo Bo= Mo Mo找機會和Bo Bo吵架。 Pick fault with=挑眼。 Pick pocket=扒竊。
(note 4) only a few=人數不多 (A small number of persons or things)。A few 不等於few。例句: Victor’s singing party was to end at eight, but a few stayed on= Victor 的歌唱表演8時結束，但仍有不少人留下來。 Victor’s singing party began at eight, and few attended= Victor歌唱表演8時開始，但只有3，4人到來。
(note 5) get rid of=除去，散掉。
(note 6) the closing hours=關門前數小時。at all hours=在任何時候。for hours= 好幾個鐘頭。hour after hour=連續地。
(note 7) auction=拍賣。a public auction=公開拍賣。
Victor’s View: The Animation and Comics festival is always popular among young people. The number of attendees this year wasn’t impressive, however. It’s time the authorities tried some more new gimmicks to attract customers.
(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)
Why `Y generation' (note 1) needs more words of support
Members of Hong Kong's so-called "Y generation" feel they are creative (有創意) and IT savvy (note 2), but weak (軟弱) in the face of setbacks (挫折).
Some 510 youths belonging to the Y generation - those born in the 1980s and 90s - answered a survey by Love Psychological Education, a project funded by the Li Ka Shing Foundation's "Love Ideas Love HK." Another 420 respondents over age 31 were canvassed (兜攬) for their views on the younger generation.
The survey was carried out (note 3) from June 26 to July 3, with respondents comprising 52 percent male and 48 percent female. Of the Y generation, 75 percent admitted (承認) that they are weak in facing setbacks and give up (note 4) easily. They also agreed they are poor in facing criticism (面對批評) and lacking in self-management (自我管理).
However, more than 90 percent said they are creative and competent (有能力的) in information technology. Of the older generation, 75 percent shared similar views (認同) of the younger ones. About the same percentage also acknowledged that the Y generation's high creativity and ability in finding resources (資源) through the internet and other media.
"[Older people] would like to tell them [the Y generation] to be humble (謙卑), listen to their seniors, dream less and be more practical, while they rarely encourage them and say they can do it," said project initiator (倡議者) Indie Chung Cho-bun. He added that further understanding between the two generations starts with public encouragement.
"The results show that the public is not totally negative toward the Y generation. They are just highly demanding (note 5) of the young people, with much advice on improvement, but little encouragement," Chung said.
From good to better English:
(note 1) Y generation=80後和90後。X-generation 是60後和70後 (The generation following the post-World War II baby boom, especially people born in the United States and Canada from the early 1960s to the late 1970s).
(note 2) IT savvy=精明的；能幹的；有見識的。IT是information technology (電腦科技)。 savvy 得同義詞有astute, cagey, canny, knowing, perspicacious, shrewd, slick, smart。Victor is a guy known for having no public relations savvy=Victor一些公關智慧都沒有。
(note 3) carried out=進行。Victor was carried by Emily’s innocence=Victor被Emily的純真迷住。The motion is carried=這一提議業已通過。Music has carried Victor away=音樂使Victor陶醉。Mo Mo hasn't the funds to carry out his design=Mo Mo沒有落實他的計劃的資本。Carry through =堅持到底，支持到底。
(note 4) give up=放棄。give a big hand= 拍手喝采。give a hand= 提供幫助。give and take =互相讓步妥協。give away=洩露。give ground=讓步。give in = 投降、屈服。give one's word=承諾, 保證。give oneself up =自首。give rise to= 引起, 使發生。give someone a break= 給某人一次機會, 給某人一次優待。
(note 5) highly demanding=要求很高。Demand=要求，請求。demand an interview=要求會面。in demand=有需要，銷路好。present one's demands=提出要求。
Victor’s View: Many Hong Kong parents are like “tiger moms” who demand first-class performance from their children. This approach sometimes backfires and young people become rebellious. I think it’s better to use both “carrot and stick”.
(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)
Some 510 youths belonging to the Y generation - those born in the 1980s and 90s - answered a survey by Love Psychological Education, a project funded by the Li Ka Shing Foundation's "Love Ideas Love HK." Another 420 respondents over age 31 were canvassed (兜攬) for their views on the younger generation.
The survey was carried out (note 3) from June 26 to July 3, with respondents comprising 52 percent male and 48 percent female. Of the Y generation, 75 percent admitted (承認) that they are weak in facing setbacks and give up (note 4) easily. They also agreed they are poor in facing criticism (面對批評) and lacking in self-management (自我管理).
However, more than 90 percent said they are creative and competent (有能力的) in information technology. Of the older generation, 75 percent shared similar views (認同) of the younger ones. About the same percentage also acknowledged that the Y generation's high creativity and ability in finding resources (資源) through the internet and other media.
"[Older people] would like to tell them [the Y generation] to be humble (謙卑), listen to their seniors, dream less and be more practical, while they rarely encourage them and say they can do it," said project initiator (倡議者) Indie Chung Cho-bun. He added that further understanding between the two generations starts with public encouragement.
"The results show that the public is not totally negative toward the Y generation. They are just highly demanding (note 5) of the young people, with much advice on improvement, but little encouragement," Chung said.
From good to better English:
(note 1) Y generation=80後和90後。X-generation 是60後和70後 (The generation following the post-World War II baby boom, especially people born in the United States and Canada from the early 1960s to the late 1970s).
(note 2) IT savvy=精明的；能幹的；有見識的。IT是information technology (電腦科技)。 savvy 得同義詞有astute, cagey, canny, knowing, perspicacious, shrewd, slick, smart。Victor is a guy known for having no public relations savvy=Victor一些公關智慧都沒有。
(note 3) carried out=進行。Victor was carried by Emily’s innocence=Victor被Emily的純真迷住。The motion is carried=這一提議業已通過。Music has carried Victor away=音樂使Victor陶醉。Mo Mo hasn't the funds to carry out his design=Mo Mo沒有落實他的計劃的資本。Carry through =堅持到底，支持到底。
(note 4) give up=放棄。give a big hand= 拍手喝采。give a hand= 提供幫助。give and take =互相讓步妥協。give away=洩露。give ground=讓步。give in = 投降、屈服。give one's word=承諾, 保證。give oneself up =自首。give rise to= 引起, 使發生。give someone a break= 給某人一次機會, 給某人一次優待。
(note 5) highly demanding=要求很高。Demand=要求，請求。demand an interview=要求會面。in demand=有需要，銷路好。present one's demands=提出要求。
Victor’s View: Many Hong Kong parents are like “tiger moms” who demand first-class performance from their children. This approach sometimes backfires and young people become rebellious. I think it’s better to use both “carrot and stick”.
(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)
2011年9月2日 星期五
Tsang all ears (note 1) for swansong (note 2)
Tsang all ears (note 1) for swansong (note 2)
Tuesday, August 02, 2011 page 5
The outgoing chief executive's last policy address (施政報告) is expected to focus on housing, retirement planning (退休計畫) and services for the elderly (安老計畫), as well as the wealth gap (note 3).
Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, who started canvassing views (收集意見) on the address yesterday, said the people have clearly voiced (note 4) their concerns. In a video clip (錄像片段) on the government website, he spoke of being aware of public concerns over soaring property prices, a widening wealth gap, the need for more comprehensive retirement protection and care for the elderly.
"I share these concerns and I am examining (研究) these issues closely," he said. Tsang also used the opportunity to defend (抗辯) his record on governance. "Political appointees and civil servants have been working as a team for the overall interests of Hong Kong," he said.
"We will try our best to devise (制定) practical short, medium and long-term measures to address these concerns." Though his decisions will only be unveiled on October 12, Tsang said he is confident of delivering (note 5) on all the major pledges before he leaves office (離任).
Unlike earlier years, Tsang said his "consultation (諮詢) exercises" for the policy address and the budget will be combined this year to "ensure resources are allocated more efficiently and effectively (note 6) to meet policy objectives."
Views can be submitted on the government website, which is at www.policyaddress.gov.hk. The site also provides updated figures on government expenditure and fiscal reserves. Tsang and Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah met local delegates to the National People's Congress (人大代表) yesterday to hear their views.
Further discussions with political parties and civil groups will be held later in the month. Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan expressed hope that Tsang will remain pragmatic (note 7) and not "aim too high" in drafting his last policy address.
From good to better English:
(note 1) all ears=專心傾聽 (Eager to hear something, listening attentively)。Victor’s suggestion on program reform has fallen on deaf ears=Victor對課程改革的建議不被理睬，不受注意。Keep an ear to the ground=注意輿論等的動向，留心可能發生的事情。turn a deaf ear to=裝聽不見[置若罔聞]。up to the ears=深陷(債務等)。 Walls have ears=隔牆有耳。
(note 2) swansong= 退休前最後一次演講 (a farewell appearance or final act or pronouncement)
(note 3) the wealth gap=貧富差距問題。Gap=分歧；隔閡。generation gap=代溝。bridge [close, fill] a gap=填補空白，彌補缺陷。
(note 4) voiced=講出。voice opinions= 發表意見。 Voice one's discontent= 發牢騷，鳴不平。Voice (名詞)= 嗓音；呼聲。A deep voice=深沈有力的嗓音。At the top of one's voice=用最大的嗓門。With one voice，all teachers voted to make Victor the department head=老師們異口同聲，全場一致推舉Victor做系主任。
(note 5) deliver the pledges=履行諾言；不負所望。deliver Mo Mo from danger=從危險中救出Mo Mo。Deliver的同義辭有extricate from danger or confinement，rescue, save，come to the rescue of。
(note 6) efficiently and effectively: efficient (效率高的)。Effective=有效力的，實質上的。become effective=法令等生效。
(note 7) pragmatic=重實效的；實際的，實用主義的。
Victor’s View: Kudos to Donald Tsang for spending time to canvass public opinions on issues that matter the most to the people: housing, retirement etc. It makes sense to combine the collection of views on the policy speech and budget speech at one go as both focus on the management of the public purse.
(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)
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