頭條日報 頭條網 - Hong Kong officials didn't even bother to say sorry. by Michael Chugani

2013-03-26

Source: http://news.hkheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=231633§ion_name=wtt&kw=126

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A mainland woman, Huang Xuejiao, is peeved with Hong Kong customs officials. When you are peeved with somebody, it means you are annoyed or angry with that person. For example, Henry Tang Ying-yen is peeved at accusations that he was trying to sell fake wine. The mainland woman is peeved at customs officials for wrongly arresting her for trying to leave Hong Kong with more than two tins of baby milk powder. Four of the six tins she had were not milk powder. She griped (grumbled, complained) to the media that the customs officials didn't even say sorry.

        I think she is right in griping that Hong Kong officials didn't even bother to say sorry. Health Secretary Ko Wing-man did apologize a day after her gripe (noun). But I want Huang Xuejiao to understand that saying sorry is a two-way street. A two-way street is a street in which traffic can go both ways. A one-way street is a street where traffic can only go in one direction. But the expression "a two-way street" also means if you do something, such as being polite to others, they should treat you in the same way. For example, helping friends in trouble should be a two-way street. You should help them when they need help and they should do the same when you need help.

        I have been pushed many times by mainlanders when I board crowded MTR trains. I always feel they should say sorry but they never do. I have often griped when mainlanders jump the queue (get ahead of the line or do not bother to line up) while waiting for a taxi. They know I am peeved when I tell them not to do it. But they never say sorry. The 12 mainlanders who were wrongly accused in recent weeks of trying to leave with more than two tins of milk powder have grumbled that Hong Kong had treated them unfairly. Ko Wing-man was right to apologize. But I hope mainlanders also treat Hong Kong people fairly by following rules, such as not jumping the queue, when they come to our city.

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        一位從內地來的黃小姐，對香港海關人員很惱怒（peeved）。Peeved with somebody即是你對某人感到很厭煩或惱怒。例如，唐英年很惱怒（peeved）那些說他售賣假酒的指控。那內地女人被海關人員錯誤檢控，指她帶多於兩罐奶粉離港，她自然對他們很憤恨。她攜帶的六罐中有四罐不是奶粉。她向傳媒訴苦（griped），海關人員甚至沒有向她道歉。

        她抱怨（griping）香港官員連一句道歉也懶得說，我認為她是對的。食衞局局長高永文在她發牢騷（gripe，名詞）之後一天道歉。但我也希望黃小姐明白，道歉是雙向（two-way street）的，two-way street可解作雙程路，one-way street就是單程路，但「a two-way street」這個習語也可解釋為，當你以禮待人時，他們亦應以禮相待。如向患難朋友伸出援手，該是雙向（a two-way street）的。他們需要幫助時，你應該幫助他們，到你需要幫助時，他們亦應樂於相助。

        當我要登上擠逼的港鐵車廂時，曾多次被內地人推撞。我認為他們應該道歉，但卻永遠欠奉。當我等的士時，我時時對插隊（jump the queue）的內地人發牢騷（griped）。當我告訴他們不能插隊時，他們也知道我很惱怒（peeved），但卻從不道歉。近日那十二名被錯誤檢控帶多於兩罐奶粉離境的內地人，抱怨（grumbled）香港對他們不公平。高永文確實應該致歉。但我也希望內地人再來時，同樣公平對待香港人，遵守規則，勿再插隊（jumping the queue）。mickchug@gmail.com

        中譯:七刻

        Michael Chugani 褚簡寧