Angry moms on the march (note 1)

Angry moms on the march (note 1)

Monday, October 24, 2011 page 2

Scores (note 2) of pregnant (懷胎的) women yesterday joined more than 1,000 protesters in a march to the old SAR government headquarters to oppose (反對) the growing number of (note 3) mainland women flocking (大量湧進) to Hong Kong to give birth.

Setting off from Southorn Playground in Wan Chai, where they had earlier staged a one-hour sit-in (), the group chanted slogans (叫口號) accusing pregnant mainland women of causing overcrowding in Hong Kong hospitals. They also called on the SAR government not to give residency to children born in Hong Kong with mainland parents.

The government had earlier put forward seven measures to control the flood of mainland women who come to Hong Kong to give birth. Among these are a set number of places for non-local women to deliver (分娩) in public hospitals. Private hospitals have agreed to set the quota at 31,000 for next year.

But protest organiser Jocelyn Yiu said the new measures (措施) will only work in the short term (note 4). "Pregnant mainland women have been abusing our emergency room services (note 5) and these measures will not solve the problem," she said, adding many mainland mothers do not even pay their medical fees.

Hospital Authority figures show 878 non-local (非本地人) women had not paid their hospital bills over the past three years, amounting to more than HK$20 million. Last year, more than 40,000 mainland mothers gave birth in public hospitals in Hong Kong, up from 8,100 in 2000.

A pregnant woman, due to deliver in four months, and who has already secured a place in a public hospital, was among those taking part because she is worried the quality of services (note 6) could be lowered by the flood of mainland mothers.

From good to better English: It is understandable why so many mainland moms want their babies born in Hong Kong. But the interests of local moms-to-be should come first.

(note 1) on the march=遊行。March=行進；進軍，行軍。a hunger march=(失業者的)饑餓遊行。march into=長驅直入。

(note 2) Scores=許多。Score=二十，二十人。Score=得分，得勝 (against)。Score(s) of times =十次，屢次。Death pays all scores=一死百了。On a new score=重新。 On that score=因此，因那理由。Three score (years) and ten =(人生)七十年；一輩子。

(note 3) the growing number of=大批人。Grow=長大，增加，變強。grow weary= 變疲乏。 grow old [rich]=變老[富]。grow a beard=留鬍子。Victor’s book grew out of a series of lectures=Victor的書是由一系列講稿編寫而成的。grow up=長大。

(note 4) in the short term=短期內。Short=短的；短暫的, 簡略的；縮寫的, 不及的；達不到的。in short=簡單地說；總之。sell short=賣空。In speaking one should be short and to the point, Victor tells Julian= Victor 告訴Julian說話要簡捷扼要。

(note 5) abusing our emergency room services=濫用急症室服務。Abuse=濫用(職權等)，妄用，誤用(才能等), 罵, 虐待，酷待；淩辱。Drug abuse=吸毒上癮。

(note 6) the quality of services=服務水準, 質素。
Victor’s View:

(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)