This is the ugly face of anarchy in Hong Kong.
The men in the masks emerged last night when 100 rowdy (粗暴的；吵鬧的) radicals (激進分子) gate- crashed (note 2) a by-election forum in Tsim Sha Tsui and rained (note 3) dog food on Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung.
Police took away one man for questioning after a woman complained of being molested (非禮) by a protester.
The action was condemned by both Acting Chief Executive Henry Tang Ying-yen and Lam. "We are angered by this kind of behavior," Tang said, insisting that such actions did not facilitate rational discussion and undermined people's rights to express their views.
Lam said the protesters ignored (漠視) the rule of law, broke a door and injured several security guards.
The protesters, led by the League of Social Democrats and People Power, stormed into (note 4) the Science Museum where about 300 people were attending the second of a series of by-election consultations.
Two security guards attempted to block (阻撓) them but failed. The first protester into the hall held one guard by the neck for a few seconds before releasing him and running into the museum. He wore a Guy Fawkes mask popularized (普及) in the V for Vendetta movie which, it was explained, symbolizes the destruction of a totalitarian government.
The angry protesters, including LSD legislator "Long Hair" Leung Kwok- hung, demanded that Lam withdraw (收回) the four proposals by the government aimed at preventing legislators from resigning in mid-term, which is what five lawmakers did last year to trigger (觸發) a "referendum" on electoral reforms.
They accused Lam of (note 5) organizing what they called a "fake consultation."
The protesters ran up to the stage and threw papers missiles at Lam, who immediately retreated to the back of the venue, leaving his watch on the table.
From good to better English:
(note 1) unmasked=脫去假面具，現出本來面目, 暴露；揭露。
(note 2) gate-crash=不請自來, 衝進, 擅自闖入, 無票進入(戲院等)。Crash= (計劃等)失敗，破產；(飛機)墜毀。crash the headlines=成了轟動一時的頭條新聞。crash in=闖入，擅自進入。A football came crash through the window=一個足球嘩啦一聲打破窗子飛了進來。
(note 3) rain=下雨, 使像雨一樣地落下。a drizzling rain=細雨。Rain or shine=無論晴雨，風雨無阻。A heavy [light] rain=大[小]雨。
(note 4) stormed into=闖進。Storm=暴風雨，暴風雪, 騷動，動亂，風潮。Julian, we ought to face the world and brave the storm=Julian, 我們應該經風雨，見世面。 A political storm in Hong Kong is gathering [brewing]=一場政治暴風雨快來了[正在醞釀]。storm in a teacup=因為一點小事而鬧得滿城風雨。My boss Steve stormed into my office=我老闆Steve氣衝衝地進了我的辦公室。
(note 5) accused of=受指責。Accuse=譴責。把某事歸罪於Victor= (accuse Victor for)。They accused Stephen Chan of taking bribes=他們控告Stephen Chan受賄。
Victor’s View: Hong Kong is a free place and people should have the right to express their views. Gate-crashing and interrupting other people’s meetings ought to be condemned.
(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11月6日 星期日
2011年11月3日 星期四
Liver cancer subsidy (補助) urged
Subsidies are being urged for sufferers (患者) of liver cancer after a study showed many of them just cannot afford treatment.
The poll of 300 respondents conducted by the Hong Kong Liver Cancer Foundation found 62 percent of them cannot afford to have a monthly check (檢查) on tumor (腫瘤) growth, costing about HK$10,000.
The survey also indicated 32 percent have already spent about HK$50,000 on treatment, while 13 percent have shelled out (note 1) more than $200,000.
Forty-three percent of respondents report household income (note 2) of less than HK$10,000 a month, foundation chairman Ronnie Poon Tung-ping said.
Poon, clinical professor of the University of Hong Kong's department of surgery, said about 1,700 people are diagnosed (斷症為) with liver cancer annually. The study also found 62 percent were hepatitis B carriers (note 3) before being diagnosed with liver cancer.
About 30 percent had cirrhosis (肝硬化) of the liver before found to have liver cancer. Only 16.5 percent did not have previous liver problems.
Poon said the cure rate was only 25.6 percent a decade ago, but has climbed to 42.4 percent now.
"The main reason is that there are more advanced tomography imaging systems (note 4), so patients are diagnosed earlier. The progress (進步、好轉) made on treatments is also a reason for the higher successful cure rate."
But Poon said government medical subsidy schemes such as the Community Care Fund and Samaritan Fund do not cover (包括) liver cancer medication, making it a huge burden (note 5) for the patients.
He said medication costs between HK$30,000 and HK$40,000 a month. For treatment to be effective, patients have to take the drugs for about a year, amounting to (note 6) nearly HK$500,000.
Poon urged the government to subsidize at least half the cost to liver cancer patients.
From good to better English:
(note 1) shell out=付出, 付款，捐獻 [To distribute (money) as payment]。shell out 的同義詞有disburse, expend, give, lay out, outlay, pay out, spend. fork out 等。as easy as shelling peas=非常容易。The shell of an egg=蛋殼。Julian comes out of her shell=Julian不再羞怯沈默。
(note 2) household income=家庭總入息。Household=家眷，家屬，家裡人；家庭，戶。The number of households=戶數。Household expenses=家庭開支。
(note 3) hepatitis B carriers=乙形肝炎帶菌者。Carrier=信差，郵差；送報人。Aircraft carrier=航空母艦。
(note 4) tomography imaging systems=斷層攝影影像系統。Tomo=一小段 (a section, a cutting)。 Image=形像，典型, 概念，意象；心象。Chris is the image of his father=Chris活像他父親。thinking in terms of images=形像思維。
(note 5) a huge burden=嚴重負擔。Huge=巨大的，龐大的，極大的。Burden=負擔，包袱, 責任。financial burden=財政上的負擔。 the burden of leadership=領導者的重任。burden of proof=【法律】舉證責任。
(note 6) amount to=總數。Amount=相當於，等於。Daisy’s answer amounts to a threat=Daisy的回答等於恐嚇。The gross amount= 約計，概數。
Victor’s View: It is heart-wrenching to see terminally-ill patients suffer just because they can’t afford the treatments. Why can’t we lend a hand and set up a special charity fund for them?
(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 poll of 300 respondents conducted by the Hong Kong Liver Cancer Foundation found 62 percent of them cannot afford to have a monthly check (檢查) on tumor (腫瘤) growth, costing about HK$10,000.
The survey also indicated 32 percent have already spent about HK$50,000 on treatment, while 13 percent have shelled out (note 1) more than $200,000.
Forty-three percent of respondents report household income (note 2) of less than HK$10,000 a month, foundation chairman Ronnie Poon Tung-ping said.
Poon, clinical professor of the University of Hong Kong's department of surgery, said about 1,700 people are diagnosed (斷症為) with liver cancer annually. The study also found 62 percent were hepatitis B carriers (note 3) before being diagnosed with liver cancer.
About 30 percent had cirrhosis (肝硬化) of the liver before found to have liver cancer. Only 16.5 percent did not have previous liver problems.
Poon said the cure rate was only 25.6 percent a decade ago, but has climbed to 42.4 percent now.
"The main reason is that there are more advanced tomography imaging systems (note 4), so patients are diagnosed earlier. The progress (進步、好轉) made on treatments is also a reason for the higher successful cure rate."
But Poon said government medical subsidy schemes such as the Community Care Fund and Samaritan Fund do not cover (包括) liver cancer medication, making it a huge burden (note 5) for the patients.
He said medication costs between HK$30,000 and HK$40,000 a month. For treatment to be effective, patients have to take the drugs for about a year, amounting to (note 6) nearly HK$500,000.
Poon urged the government to subsidize at least half the cost to liver cancer patients.
From good to better English:
(note 1) shell out=付出, 付款，捐獻 [To distribute (money) as payment]。shell out 的同義詞有disburse, expend, give, lay out, outlay, pay out, spend. fork out 等。as easy as shelling peas=非常容易。The shell of an egg=蛋殼。Julian comes out of her shell=Julian不再羞怯沈默。
(note 2) household income=家庭總入息。Household=家眷，家屬，家裡人；家庭，戶。The number of households=戶數。Household expenses=家庭開支。
(note 3) hepatitis B carriers=乙形肝炎帶菌者。Carrier=信差，郵差；送報人。Aircraft carrier=航空母艦。
(note 4) tomography imaging systems=斷層攝影影像系統。Tomo=一小段 (a section, a cutting)。 Image=形像，典型, 概念，意象；心象。Chris is the image of his father=Chris活像他父親。thinking in terms of images=形像思維。
(note 5) a huge burden=嚴重負擔。Huge=巨大的，龐大的，極大的。Burden=負擔，包袱, 責任。financial burden=財政上的負擔。 the burden of leadership=領導者的重任。burden of proof=【法律】舉證責任。
(note 6) amount to=總數。Amount=相當於，等於。Daisy’s answer amounts to a threat=Daisy的回答等於恐嚇。The gross amount= 約計，概數。
Victor’s View: It is heart-wrenching to see terminally-ill patients suffer just because they can’t afford the treatments. Why can’t we lend a hand and set up a special charity fund for them?
(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11月2日 星期三
Family man (照顧家的人) with connections(社交圈子廣)
Father-of-four and heir (note 1) to an influential textile industrialist, Henry Tang began his political career in the early 1990s.
Both he and his father, Tang Hsiang- chien - an ex-member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference - have ties () with the central government and, it's said, former president Jiang Zemin.
His father, who hailed (note 2) from Wuxi, Jiangsi, arrived in Hong Kong in 1950 and made his name in textiles.
In 1991, Henry Tang stepped into (note 3) the political arena (舞臺) as a lawmaker with the Liberal Party and served until 1998.
When Tung Chee-hwa became the SAR's chief executive in 1997, Tang was appointed to the Executive Council and has stayed there.
He quit the Liberal Party in 2002 and joined the administration as secretary for commerce, industry and technology.
The following year, Antony Leung Kam-chung quit as financial secretary amid an uproar (哄動) over his purchase of a car just weeks before he raised taxes on new vehicles - and Tang took over.
It was on Tang's watch (note 4) in this office that Hong Kong's fiscal balance returned to a surplus.
That was in 2005 - several years ahead of the target date. But Tang's bid to bring in a sales tax was rebuffed (拒絕，受挫折). In July 2007, he was promoted to chief secretary.
But his outspokenness (note 5) has attracted regular bursts of flak (note 6). He was recently criticized for describing as "completely rubbish" suggestions that press freedom and freedom of speech were suppressed during Vice Premier Li Keqiang's visit.
There were rumbles (喧嘩) about remarks in May when he said young people should ask themselves "Why can't I become the next Li Ka-shing?" instead of complaining about the wealth and power of the SAR's richest man.
From good to better English:
(note 1) heir=繼承人。legal [right] heir=合法繼承人。the heir to the crown [throne]=王位繼承人。
(note 2) hailed=出生地是。例句：Bun Bun hails from London= Bun Bun是倫敦人。Hail(動詞)= 高呼，歡呼；致敬。hail Steve (as) King=歡呼擁立Steve為王。hail a taxi=叫出租汽車。Hail Mary!=【天主教】萬福馬利亞。
(note 3) stepped into=踏入 （Involve oneself or intervene）。in step= 步調。one step ahead = 提前一步, 搶先一步。out of step= 步調不一致。step by step= 一步一步地。step down= 辭職, 退休。step in= 插手幹預, 介入。step into someone's boots=接替某人的職位。step out of line= 出格, 越軌。stepping stone= 踏腳石。
(note 4) on Tang's watch=在唐英年監管下 （guard）。watch for = 守候, 監視, 注意。watch one's p's and q's= 謹言慎行。watch one's step= 走路小心, 謹慎。watch out= 密切注視, 提防, 當心。watch out for= 戒備。 watch over= 看守, 監視。
(note 5) outspokenness（名詞）outspoken(形容詞)=直言不諱的，坦率的；毫無保留的。outspoken criticism=坦率的批評。an outspoken person= 直率的人。
(note 6) bursts of flak=一連串批評。
Victor’s View: Henry Tang’s success in winning the chief executive’s crown hinges on his abilities to govern, not his wealthy family background.
(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)
Both he and his father, Tang Hsiang- chien - an ex-member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference - have ties () with the central government and, it's said, former president Jiang Zemin.
His father, who hailed (note 2) from Wuxi, Jiangsi, arrived in Hong Kong in 1950 and made his name in textiles.
In 1991, Henry Tang stepped into (note 3) the political arena (舞臺) as a lawmaker with the Liberal Party and served until 1998.
When Tung Chee-hwa became the SAR's chief executive in 1997, Tang was appointed to the Executive Council and has stayed there.
He quit the Liberal Party in 2002 and joined the administration as secretary for commerce, industry and technology.
The following year, Antony Leung Kam-chung quit as financial secretary amid an uproar (哄動) over his purchase of a car just weeks before he raised taxes on new vehicles - and Tang took over.
It was on Tang's watch (note 4) in this office that Hong Kong's fiscal balance returned to a surplus.
That was in 2005 - several years ahead of the target date. But Tang's bid to bring in a sales tax was rebuffed (拒絕，受挫折). In July 2007, he was promoted to chief secretary.
But his outspokenness (note 5) has attracted regular bursts of flak (note 6). He was recently criticized for describing as "completely rubbish" suggestions that press freedom and freedom of speech were suppressed during Vice Premier Li Keqiang's visit.
There were rumbles (喧嘩) about remarks in May when he said young people should ask themselves "Why can't I become the next Li Ka-shing?" instead of complaining about the wealth and power of the SAR's richest man.
From good to better English:
(note 1) heir=繼承人。legal [right] heir=合法繼承人。the heir to the crown [throne]=王位繼承人。
(note 2) hailed=出生地是。例句：Bun Bun hails from London= Bun Bun是倫敦人。Hail(動詞)= 高呼，歡呼；致敬。hail Steve (as) King=歡呼擁立Steve為王。hail a taxi=叫出租汽車。Hail Mary!=【天主教】萬福馬利亞。
(note 3) stepped into=踏入 （Involve oneself or intervene）。in step= 步調。one step ahead = 提前一步, 搶先一步。out of step= 步調不一致。step by step= 一步一步地。step down= 辭職, 退休。step in= 插手幹預, 介入。step into someone's boots=接替某人的職位。step out of line= 出格, 越軌。stepping stone= 踏腳石。
(note 4) on Tang's watch=在唐英年監管下 （guard）。watch for = 守候, 監視, 注意。watch one's p's and q's= 謹言慎行。watch one's step= 走路小心, 謹慎。watch out= 密切注視, 提防, 當心。watch out for= 戒備。 watch over= 看守, 監視。
(note 5) outspokenness（名詞）outspoken(形容詞)=直言不諱的，坦率的；毫無保留的。outspoken criticism=坦率的批評。an outspoken person= 直率的人。
(note 6) bursts of flak=一連串批評。
Victor’s View: Henry Tang’s success in winning the chief executive’s crown hinges on his abilities to govern, not his wealthy family background.
(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10月31日 星期一
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.
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.
2011年10月24日 星期一
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)
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)
2011年10月23日 星期日
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)
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)
2011年10月21日 星期五
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)
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)
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