Good writers needed

Time to sharpen business journalists’ weapons

Whenever I turn on the business news channel of a local TV station, I can't help but switch to another channel after two minutes. For more than two years that I have watched its business news program, the TV station's reporters (and editors) can't tell the difference between percentage and percentage point. For instance, the number of people unemployed in Hong Kong last month increased by 30,000 to 330,000. The TV reporters always would say unemployment in Hong Kong has increased by 10 percentage points. That's wrong. It has increased by 10 percent. Or, the unemployment rate has jumped by half a point to 5.5 percent.

If Hong Kong business journalists are so poorly equipped, how can the city continue to prosper as China's main financial center? Hong Kong businessmen, foreign businessmen in town and local investors need accurate and concise financial information as well as analysis to make intelligent decisions on business and investment plans.

It's time we did something to sharpen business journalists' weapons. First, the Hong Kong Journalism Education Foundation can organize and fund, say, four training workshops a year for practising journalists. Indeed, 10 local business journalists (and eight more from the mainland and Taiwan) who took part in a week-long business news-writing workshop in September, jointly run by Hong Kong Baptist University and the Thomson Reuters Foundation, found the training very useful. In a scale from 1 to 5 (5 is most useful and effective), they gave the workshop an average score of 4.5.

Second, local government-funded universities should consider offering special programs to train financial journalists. So far, only Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has business news concentrations in both its graduate-level and undergraduate-level studies. Hong Kong University's Journalism and Media Studies Center and the Chinese University's Journalism School offer only one or two courses in business news reporting. That's far from enough. These two institutions, taking a cue from HKBU, should beef up the training of aspiring business journalists.

Hong Kong will survive if it can maintain its status as China's major financial center. To keep our young people's future secure, we should strengthen all pillars and fire all engines that would consolidate and strengthen Hong Kong's role and status as a world-class financial center. Our universities produce enough accountants, investment bankers and lawyers, but we don't have adequate programs to train students, and enhance practising journalists' skills to become competent business journalists. There's no room for complacency. Let's act now.

The author is director of the MA program in international journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Mother of doctor gets five years over sex blackmail (勒索)

A doctor's mother was yesterday jailed (監禁) for five years for conspiring with (note 1) Chinese University doctoral student Cheung Ka- wo to use a sex video to extort (敲詐) HK$6.3 million from two members of a religious group.

The sentence came a year after Cheung, 27, was jailed for four years for conspiring with Dr Edwin Poon's mother, Dora Kay Li, in blackmailing the victims between April and May last year.

The court heard that Li, 59, persuaded (勸服) Cheung to take an intimate video of himself with a religious leader (宗教領袖), identified only as X, last year. The 73-minute video shows both naked and bathing and scrubbing (用力摩擦) each other's back.

The judge said it was apparent that Cheung had no intention of stopping X from fondling his genitals and spanking his backside. Li and Cheung threatened to use the video to wreak havoc (note 2) on X's reputation if they were not paid.

The court also heard they took the video to the office of Y, a senior member of X's organization, to demand money. Li told Y that if the video was made public, it would taint (note 3) his religious group.

District Court Justice Douglas Yau Tak-hong criticized Li for using X's sexual preferences (note 4) to blackmail him, describing her act as "shameful." (可恥)

The blackmail succeeded because of the religious group's stance (立場) against homosexuality, leading the judge to say the case has "inflicted unredeemable spiritual harm" (note 5) on its believers.

Yau said Li sacrificed Cheung's dignity (尊嚴) to get the money she wanted.

A recording of a conversation between Li and Cheung was played in court: "The money is still not in our pockets (note 6), meaning that we have not succeeded yet.

From good to better English:

(note 1) conspiring with=同謀, 勾結。Conspire=搞陰謀。conspire against the state= 圖謀賣國。All things conspire against me, Victor complains= Victor埋怨事事湊合起來跟他作對。

(note 2) wreak havoc= 破壞 (Disrupt, damage, destroy, cause destruction or chaos)。wreak havoc也可以用raise havoc和 play havoc代替。例句: The earthquake wrought havoc in this Japanese old town=地震把這個日本老鎮破壞了。

(note 3) taint=弄髒，污染。Mo Mo’s character is tainted by her self-seeking=Mo Mo的性格帶有利己的缺點。tainted goods=壞了的貨物。 tainted meat= 腐肉。

(note 4) sexual preferences=性傾向。Preference=優先選擇；偏愛。This is Victor’s preference=Victor喜歡這個。have a preference for=喜歡。preference of something to another=寧要某東西而不要另一物。

(note 5) inflicted unredeemable spiritual harm=在靈性上創下無可補救的破壞。Inflict=加以打擊。inflict a wound on Chris=使Chris受傷。The terrorists inflict heavy casualties in its attack on Hung Hum=恐怖分子攻擊使紅勘區居民蒙受重大傷亡。

(note 6) in our pockets=錢已入袋, 代代平安。Pocket=衣袋；錢袋。a deep pocket=充足的財力。 An empty pocket=兩手空空；窮光蛋。Victor puts his pride in his pocket= Victor忍辱，抑制自尊心。

Victor’s View: Blackmailing is a heinous crime that should be condemned. The publicity of the case involving a religious leader can only hurt the religious group’s followers.

(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)

It's mind the sex gap as MTR perverts (變態狂) target (目標) men

Men beware! You too are not safe from gropers (note 1)

on the MTR. But women are still the main victims (受害人), says the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.

Its survey showed that while one in five women claimed to have been groped in train compartments (車廂), one in 20 men had the same complaint.

Eleven of the 221 men and 77 of the 434 women interviewed said they have been molested (非禮). Worse still (note 2), only two of the men and three women went to the police (報案). The police said they received 113 reports of molestation on the MTR in 2009 and 151 in 2010. There were 68 cases in the first six months of this year.

DAB district councillor (區議會議員) and women's affairs committee chairwoman Elizabeth Quat said victims did not report the attacks because they felt it would be hard for charges to stick (note 3). In addition, many felt embarrassed and scared (note 4).

"It is not uncommon (很普遍) for women to be molested in MTR trains, especially during peak hours (繁忙時間)," she said. "Some people like to molest the women in really crowded compartments."

Quat said the most common complaint was touching a woman's breasts (胸部) with the arms and pretending the action was unintentional (note 5). Men had their bottoms (屁股) grabbed when trains came to a stop.

Quat said she also witnessed a man pressing the lower part of his body against the bottom of a girl in uniform. The girl said nothing and may not even have realized she was being molested.

She said some male friends told her they were molested by men but were too afraid to speak up (講出來).

From good to better English:

(note 1) groper=非禮你(摸妳身體部位)的人。Grope=摸索。grope about for information=到處搜集情報。grope for a clue=找線索。grope one's way=摸著走；摸索解決辦法。

(note 2) Worse still=跟糟糕的是。Worse是〔bad, ill〕 的比較級=更壞，還要壞；病情(更重)。a change for the worse=變壞。to make the matter worse=更壞的是。for better (or) for worse=禍福與共。go from bad to worse=變本加厲。

(note 3) hard for charges to stick=很難入罪。Stick=貼，粘住，固著，不分離。Better stick to the programme=還是按照原程序較好。Stick no bills!=〔英國〕不許招貼! 〔美國說 Post no bills!〕。Victor was stuck by the teacher's question in the IELTS oral exam=在IELTS口試中，Victor被老師的提問難住了。The train has been stuck in Hong Kong for three days by bad weather=由於天氣惡劣火車在香港被困阻已有三天。

(note 4) embarrassed and scared=尷尬和害怕。Jo Jo feels embarrassed in the presence of strangers=Jo Jo 在生人面前侷促不安。The decline of sales embarrassed Keung Ki & Co.=銷路下降使強記公司陷於財政困難。

(note 5) unintentional=不是故意的。
Victor’s View: In crowded compartments of trains girls and women often fall victims to molesters. The solution is to reserve half compartments for men and half for women.

(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)

RTHK job move 'special' (特殊)

Appointing an administrative officer (政務官) to run RTHK will not become routine (常規), a top official said.

Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Elizabeth Tse Man-yee gave the assurance (note 1) to legislators amid a public outcry (note 2) over the appointment of Roy Tang Yun-kwong as the new director of broadcasting.

"This will not be a routine arrangement ... This was a special arrangement," Tse told the Legislative Council.

But her reassurance was not enough to stop information technology and broadcasting panel chairman Raymond Wong Yuk-man from deciding to convene a special meeting to look into the appointment over the objections of (note 3) pro-establishment (挺政府的) rivals. Wong said he was making the decision in response to (note 4) widespread (廣泛的) public concern and strong opposition to the appointment voiced by most RTHK staff.

Tse said as a deputy broadcasting director is a directorate grade three civil servant, the government will first consider if that person can fill the vacancy. This policy has remained unchanged.

But as no one working in RTHK was deemed suitable, the government launched an open recruitment (note 5).

She said the government received 26 applications but no suitable candidate was identified.

Meanwhile, about 11.3 percent or 7,600 more people got jobs in cleaning and similar services, and 7.7 percent or 16,600 more were hired in the food and beverage services sectors - despite the imposition (實施) of a minimum wage from May 1, the department said.

But the manufacturing industry hired 5 percent or 6,000 people less in June than in the same month last year.

Total vacant positions ((note 6) in June were 56,650 - up 25 percent year on year - mainly in the food services, import and export and professional and business services sectors.
From good to better English:

(note 1) give the assurance=保證, 擔保(a guarantee or pledge)。have (every) assurance of=有(一切)把握取得。with assurance=憑自信。Assurance的同義詞有 assuredness, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, positiveness, sureness, surety等。
(note 2) a public outcry=公眾譁然 (A strong protest or objection)。raise an outcry against=強烈反對[抗議]。

(note 3) over the objections of=不理會對方反對。Objection=反對；異議。There is no objection to your leaving at once=你現在即刻走也不礙事。have no objection to (doing)=不反對。Victor raises an objection to the appointment of Bo Bo as department head=Victor對任命Bo Bo為部門首長提出抗議[異議]。

(note 4) in response to=回應。Response=回答，答覆。make no response=不回答。Julian’s oratorical efforts evoked no response in his audience =Julian的雄辯在聽眾中不起反響。

(note 5) open recruitment=公開招聘。Recruit party members=吸收(黨員)。a raw recruit= 初學者，新手，生手。Victor’s band, “the Nanshan Wanderers”, has recruited six new members=Victor的樂隊吸收了6名新隊員。

(note 6) vacant positions=空缺。Vacant=空著的，沒人住的；(位置等)空缺的 (empty, unfilled)。The house is still vacant=這房子還空著。 a vacant lot=一塊空地。Vacant的同義詞有idle, inactive, unemployed, unused等。

Victor’s View: Journalists cherish press freedom and dare speak the truth. The government is determined to turn RTHK into its mouthpiece and it’s not hard to understand why they don’t want a journalist to head RTHK.
(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)

Heart sufferers (心臟病患者) told to take care in heat (酷熱天)

Heart sufferers (心臟病患者) told to take care in heat (酷熱天)

Mrs Lee, who used to hike, recalled how she once tried a new path and was climbing a hill when she started sweating profusely (大量流汗), her hands turning clammy (note 1).

It was the summer of 2003 and it was a very hot day. Lee thought she was suffering from heatstroke (中暑), so stopped and went home to take a good rest.

Days later, she went to see a doctor who confirmed heatstroke. But she kept feeling unwell, with chest pains throbbing (note 2) "like a continual stomachache."

At the end of the year, another doctor gave her a more comprehensive check, and told her she had coronary artery disease (心血管病). She underwent angioplasty (血管清理術) in 2004. Lee, 62, had been experiencing chest pains since turning 50, but didn't pay much attention.

Doctors say people should take heed (note 3)- especially in the current heat wave.

Heatstroke, due to exposure to high temperatures, may lead to chest pains among those with heart disease, cardiologist Kathy Lee Wai-fun said, stressing that many people aren't even aware they have heart disease.

"Although they [heart disease and heatstroke] share some similarities in symptoms (病徵) such as sweating and dizziness (頭暈), the distinguishable one is chest pain (note 4), which can't be seen in heatstroke, but [in] heart disease."

The confusion arises from a lack of awareness of heart disease, especially among post- menopausal (更年期後) women whose risk rises fourfold (note 5) after menopause.

"Women can hardly recognize the symptoms compared to men," said the cardiologist , as "the former carry out fewer physical activities, which commonly cause obvious symptoms such as angina (see note 4) and chest pain."

She added: "The gender ratio (note 6) of heart disease patients is four men and one woman before menopause. After [menopause], the ratio becomes one and one."

From good to better English:

(note 1) clammy=冰冷黏濕的 (sticky, and cold to the touch)。clammy weather=濕濕的天氣 (Damp and unpleasant)。

(note 2) throbbing=抽動的；震動的 (beat rapidly or violently)。Throb的同義詞有beat, palpitate, pound, pulsate, pulse等。Heartthrob=心儀的人, 暗戀的對象 (A sweetheart, the object of one's infatuation)。

(note 3) take heed=留心。Heed (動詞)=留意 (pay attention to; listen to and consider)。give heed=注意, 重視。pay heed to=注意, 留心。

(note 4) chest pain= 普通的胸口痛。Angina 是心臟病導致的胸口痛 (Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when an area of one’s heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood)。

(note 5) fourfold= 四倍 (Four times; quadruple)。Thrice=三倍。Twice=兩倍。Double=兩倍的, 表裏不一的，兩面派的。A double bed=雙人床。Serve a double purpose=一舉兩得。A double meaning=語義雙關。

(note 6) gender ratio=男女比例。Gender=性。the masculine [feminine] gender=腸[陰]性。grammatical gender=語法的性。Genderist=帶有性別歧視的人。Engender=惹起，釀成, 產生；形成 (bring into existence; give rise to)。Engender的同義詞有breed, create, father, hatch, make, originate, parent, procreate, produce, sire, spawn等。

Victor’s View: We should have the sense to avoid exercising under the sun in hot weather. Sudden-death cases aren’t unheard of, including healthy men in their thirties. Friends, take it easy!

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)

Speaking up

SCMP 2011/10/14

Speaking up

Victor Fung Keung says Hong Kong

must return to the days of using

English in all high schools, as befits

our role as a global financial centre

Whoever wins the chief executive race next

year needs to have the nerve and boldness

to bring Hong Kong back to the prehandover

days as far as using English as the teaching

medium in high schools is concerned. The standard

of English of our students in high schools and

universities has declined sharply in the past 14 years.

Introducing Chinese as the teaching medium in

high schools after 1997 was politically motivated.

Before 1997, most used English as the medium of

instruction. After the British rulers left, the local

government servants swiftly adopted Chinese as the

preferred language of instruction. Currently, about

300 high schools use Chinese as the teaching medium

while only around 110 schools teach in English. That’s

a huge mistake.

The present government knows that, and, under

pressure, has half-heartedly attempted to rectify its

policy. It has allowed some high schools to start

teaching in English from Form 4 in what has been

described as “fine-tuning”.

We all know that language skills are acquired and

accumulated day by day. Speaking English is not like

eating instant noodles. Pupils speak little English

from Forms 1to 3 and, suddenly, in Form 4 we expect

them to speak fluent English and have a meaningful

dialogue with teachers? It’s a joke.

The next chief executive should adopt a new

policy that all high schools in Hong Kong must use

English as the medium of instruction. Period. Let our

young people speak English from Form 1. The move

will be good for Hong Kong’s future to keep, and

strengthen, its role as China’s financial centre.

Recent research by an Oxford University scholar,

Professor Ernesto Macaro, shows that the “finetuning”

approach in high schools has made Form 4

students reluctant to ask questions and seek

clarification for difficult concepts. Lessons are less

interactive, the research indicates.

Of course, we need teachers who are confident

enough to teach in English from Form 1to Form 6. At

present, the English proficiency of some leaves much

to be desired. But if we have the will to keep Hong

Kong competitive economically, there must be many

ways to make it work. First, those teachers whose

English standard hasn’t reached an acceptable level

should undergo retraining. The government could

afford to give a subsidy as an incentive.

Second, we must have the resolve to overhaul

Hong Kong’s teaching profession. How about

doubling all high school teachers’ salaries? This

would attract more bright and talented university

graduates to join the profession. Currently, many

graduates shun teaching as the remuneration

package isn’t attractive and teachers’ social status

isn’t as high as that of investment bankers. However,

once the most talented and brightest graduates join

the teaching profession, people’s perceptions will

change and that will only encourage more highachievers

to become high school teachers.

For Hong Kong’s economic future and our

children’s job prospects, the “fine-tuning” policy

must be killed off and replaced with an Englishspeaking

environment for our young people. Our

next leader needs to be bold enough to tell the world

to do business with us because we speak the language

of international commerce.

Victor Fung Keung, based in Hong Kong, is a

commentator on education and political issues

Rules (法則) for yuan fund investment likely (有可能出台) this year

The framework (框架) for investing in China yuan funds (note 1) raised in Hong Kong could be in place by the end of this year, the territory's de facto (note 2) central bank said yesterday.

"The framework is likely to streamline (簡化) the process for firms seeking approval to invest in yuan funds [raised in Hong Kong] in their mainland projects," said Peter Pang Sing-tong, deputy chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

But all proposed investments must still go through (note 3) the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing.

Pang said new rules allow yuan to be added to the list of currencies that now includes Hong Kong and US dollars which can be invested directly in mainland projects.

The commerce ministry remains the gatekeeper (看門人) to ensure too many yuan do not flow into the mainland at any given time, Pang said.

Previously, yuan raised in the SAR could not be invested back in the mainland.

New rules being implemented after Vice Premier Li Keqiang's visit last week will now allow that.

Also, past investments had to be approved by both the commerce ministry and the State Administration for Foreign Exchange.

Yuan investments from Hong Kong do not have to go through SAFE. But the agency will continue to vet (note 4) FDIs denominated in Hong Kong and US dollars, Pang said.

In the first half, borrowing (貸款) in the mainland currency in Hong Kong totalled 10.98 billion yuan (HK$13.38 billion). On June 30, yuan deposits in the SAR amounted to 553.6 billion yuan.

Undersecretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau Julia Leung Fung-yee said she expected more yuan-denominated (note 5) products to be launched locally as yuan deposits increase.

From good to better English:

(note 1) China yuan funds=用人民幣定價, 在香港籌集的資金或基金。 yuan 是renminbi的另一叫法。US$ (美金)的另一叫法是greenback。Fund=資金，基金。Idle funds=游資。out of funds=缺錢。

(note 2) de facto= 實際上是 (In reality or fact; actually)。A de facto government =在法律上還沒有成立, 但實際上已經在運作的政府 (例如利比亞的反對派) It is a government wherein all the attributes of sovereignty have, by usurpation, been transferred from those who had been legally invested with them to others, who, sustained by a power above the forms of law, claim to act and do really act in their stead。de jure=權利上的，法律上的。
(note 3) go through=經過批准 (Succeed, be approved)。go through=經歷 (Experience, undergo, suffer)。例句: Victor went through hell trying to find a solution to the problem= Victor經歷過不少痛苦, 設法找出答案。

(note 4) vet=審查 (examine, evaluate)。例句: vet a proposal=審查提案。Vet也是veterinarian (獸醫)的簡稱。Vet也是veteran (退役軍人)的簡稱。

(note 5) yuan-denominated=用人民幣定價。HK$-denominated, US$-denominated (用港幣或美金定價)。

Victor’s View: I am sure yuan-denominated bonds or funds will be very popular with investors as the Chinese currency will likely appreciate in the medium term. Investing in such instruments is better than stashing away your savings in bank deposits.

(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

salute to Steve Jobs

Steve taught us that we should


"Stay hungry" and "stay foolish" (求知若飢 虛懷若愚)
Let us practice what he preached.

Dean Fung

Rapist snared (被捕) by DNA after 16 years

A man was yesterday sentenced to 12 years in jail (入獄) for raping (強暴) one teenager and sexually assaulting (非禮) another 16 years ago.

Tsang Lung-wai pleaded guilty (認罪) in the High Court to three charges (note 1) of rape, assault and robbery. He was 19 at the time.

The court heard that on September 7, 1995, Tsang raped a 17-year-old girl and sexually assaulted a 16-year-old during a robbery in a flat in Sheung Shui. The victims were girlfriends of two brothers, aged 19 and 26, who ran a newsstand in Sheung Shui. One of the brothers was stabbed (note 2) in the thigh and was hospitalized (入院) for five days.

The court was told Tsang and two other men tied up the girls, ripped off (note 3) their clothes and took pictures of them.

He then touched the younger girl's private parts before raping the 17-year-old.

The girls were threatened (恐嚇) that if they reported the matter to the police, their naked pictures would be circulated (note 4).

The three also forced the brothers to provide the PIN numbers (密碼) of their ATM cards and ransacked (note 5) their stall.

Though the rape victim was ordered to wash, police managed to get a DNA (基因) sample from the semen of her attacker.

On September 2010, Tsang was arrested for a drug-related offense and his DNA led police to the 1995 case.

The two accomplices are still at large (note 6).

Under caution, Tsang told police he was "out for fun" and could not recall the details as it happened long ago.

High Court judge Maggie Poon Man-kay said it was a very serious offense. The victims were assaulted in their home - a place they considered safe. The naked pictures and the warning were additional aggravating (可惱的) factors.

From good to better English:

(note 1) three charges=三項控罪。Charge Jo Jo with theft =以竊盜罪控告Jo Jo，控告Jo Jo行竊。Charge=裝載, 保護，監督，管理。Charge a pen=(鋼筆)上墨水。I shall charge you six dollars for the Sing Tao newspaper=星島日報一份, 請付六元。A carrying charge=維修費。 A false charge=誣告。Free of charge=免費。

(note 2) stabbed=刺傷,傷害。Mother's scold stabbed Mo Mo to the heart=媽媽的責駡刺傷了Mo Mo的心。Victor never stabs someone in the back=Victor從不背後暗害[中傷]他人。

(note 3) ripped off=撕掉。Rip off=偷東西 (Steal)。例句: They fired him when they caught him ripping off items from the Hong Kong Baptist University book store。 Rip off=誤導 (Cheat, defraud)。例句: These advertising claims of weight-loss in Hong Kong have ripped off a great many consumers。 Rip off = 剽竊 (Copy, plagiarize)。例句: Jo Jo was sued for ripping off someone else's thesis。
(note 4) circulated=傳閱,流傳；流行；傳播(disseminate) 例句: Gossip about Victor tends to circulate quickly= 有關Victor的[八卦]新聞流傳得很快。Circulate的同義詞有 diffuse, disperse, disseminate, distribute, radiate, scatter, spread 等。

(note 5) ransacked=洗劫，掠奪，劫掠。

(note 6) at large=仍然在逃。

Victor’s View: Perpetrators of heinous crimes should be chased wherever they are and brought to justice no matter how long it takes. This might help deter people from committing serious crimes in Hong Kong.

(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)

Bipolar (note 1) misery (苦難) of woman with four iPhones for chats (聊天)

When the iPhone4 was introduced (推出市面) in the city, Ms C bought four of them.

She reasoned she needed four because should a phone's battery go dead (note 2), she could use the others to carry on (note 3) her conversations with her boyfriend, close friends and distant relatives (遠房親戚) for hours on end until dawn (天亮).

The 27-year-old office worker would get off (下車) a bus to talk, walk aimlessly (note 4) and refuse to take the lift, fearing her calls might be cut off (中斷).

In an average month she would run up (note 5) HK$8,000 in phone bills.

On a two-day trip to Macau, she racked up a phone bill of HK$10,000.

But there were times when she would simply lock herself in her bedroom and refuse to talk to people.

On the advice of her sister, who's a nurse, Ms C went to see a psychiatrist (精神科醫生) and was diagnosed (斷症為) with having bipolar 2 - the same mental problem that affected Welsh actress Catherine Zeta- Jones earlier this year.

Ms C was prescribed (開藥) quetiapine (精神科藥物的一種), and her mood swings (情緒波動) have stabilized.

Bipolar disorder is a problem that is often neglected (忽略) but with proper medication and counseling, sufferers may return to normal lives, said specialist in psychiatry Ricci Chang Lik-chee.

Patients who require hospitalization while in the manic (躁狂的) stage are labelled as "bipolar disorder 1" whereas those with "bipolar 2" have hypomania (輕躁狂).

A total of 31,379 newly diagnosed patients attended specialist psychiatric outpatient clinics last year, according to the Hospital Authority.

The authority does not classify specific mental problems, so it has no data on the incidence of bipolar disorder.

Chang estimates that 17 percent of the territory's population suffers from depression (note 6), and within that group 10 to 20 percent have bipolar disorder.

From good to better English:

(note 1) Bipolar= Bipolar disorder=躁鬱症。

(note 2) battery goes dead=電池沒電了。Dead=死的、無感覺的、靜寂的、精疲力竭的。Be dead and done for=死定了。Dead as a dodo=絕種了、落伍。in the dead of winter=隆冬。

(note 3) carry on=繼續Continue, progress, persevere)。I'm sure Julian can carry on without me=我相信Julian沒有我支持也可以完成她的理想。Carry-on luggage=手提行李 (luggage you take with you when you board a plane)。
(note 4) aimlessly=漫無目的、無目標的。Aim=針對, 企圖，旨在。aim at success=指望成功。aim high=胸懷大志，有志氣，力爭上游。

(note 5) run up=積累、 增加或突然增加 (Accumulate, An often sudden increase)。例句: a run-up in interest rates; a run-up in food prices; a run-up in house values (利息、物價和樓價上升)。 The Hong Kong stock market has had a good run-up in the past week=香港股市上星期上升了不少。.
(note 6) depression=抑鬱症。在經濟上, depression解做不景氣，蕭條，不振。Victor is so depressed=Victor感到很沮喪，意志消沈。

Victor’s View: It is quite alarming to learn that about 17% of people in Hong Kong suffer from depression and 20% of this group has bipolar disorder. The support of family members is very important for the sufferers, so is the government’s.

(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)