Legal wheels in motion in 'tug of love' toddler case

“Dean Fung English”

By Victor Fung

Legal wheels in motion in 'tug of love' toddler case Legal proceedings (法律程式) are under way （進行）for the return of an abducted （綁架）child to her Hong Kong mother after translated documents were handed over （交付） to French prosecutors. But James Middleton, an ex- Hong Kong police officer with expertise （專業知識） in locating crooks （騙子）who Interpol cannot find, said unless the father can be charged with an immigration or fraud offense, "I have to say at this stage (note 1) the status quo sits with the father and the odds are not good (note 2)  for the mother." At her flat in Mui Wo yesterday, Alyssa Cruz, an English language teacher who invoked（行使） the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, said she would fight to get back her two- year-old daughter, Lana Desiree Cruz Lopez. It occurred days after Lopez admitted assault（毆打） occasioning bodily harm to Cruz, for which he was bound over (note 3) for 12 months for the sum of HK$1,000. Birthday gifts for Lana now remain unopened (note 4) at her home and a cake sits in the freezer（冷凍櫃 ）awaiting her return. According to Cruz, she has physical evidence of beatings (note 5) she received in the two years she lived in France with Lopez and Lana. Pointing to a burn scar (note 6) on her right forearm, she said: "We were cooking rice and he got angry. He threw the casserole at me but told his parents it was an accident." Meanwhile, Swire Hotels said it will open three new restaurants in the second half of this year: PUBLIC and Ground PUBLIC in Taikoo Place and The Continental in Pacific Place.

From good to better English:

(note 1) at this stage=在此階段。stage=講臺、舞臺、時期、驛站；the disease now occupies the centre of the medical stage=這種病現在是醫學界的注意中心。

(note 2) the odds are not good=前景並不看好。odds=不平等、勝算、不和；the odds are against you=形勢對你不利；a good reason=正當的理由。

(note 3) bound over=簽保。Boundary=限度、邊界、區域；bound one's desires by reason=以理性約束欲望；he is over anxious=他太焦急了。

note 4) remain unopened=仍然未開封。remain=剩餘、逗留、擱置；remain at one's post=留在崗位上；unopened=沒有拆開的、封著的。

(note 5) physical evidence of beatings=毆打物證。physical= 物質的、身體的、自然的；evidence=形跡、證據、明顯；beatings=攪打、脈搏、拍打、打漿。

(note 6) a burn scar=燒傷疤痕。burn=燒傷、燒製、烙上；burn the midnight oil=做到深夜，開夜車；scar=傷痕、創傷、斑疤。

Victor’s view:

It must be heart-broken for a mother to be separated from her child. We should be grateful for the time we spend with family members, no matter how short it is.