Source: http://news.hkheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=228821§ion_name=wtt&kw=126
T sang earns over $300,000 a month, lives in a big mansion in Shouson Hill, has a chauffeur (driver), and flies first-class, all paid for by taxpayers. But he says he belongs to the middle-class because he watches French movies and drinks tea, which he prefers. With such a high salary, Tsang must be able to afford excellent-quality tea. Can a poor person who can only afford coffee in a "cha chaan teng" (local tea restaurant) rather than in Starbucks still join the middle-class? Tsang should hold a press conference to reassure poor people who aspire (yearn, hope, have an ambition) to join the middle-class that they can still do so even if they only drink coffee in a cha chaan teng.
The French movie Amour just won the Oscar for the best foreign-language film. Will poor people who aspire to join the middle-class get there faster if they watch Oscar-winning movies? Tsang should clarify (make clear) that too at his press conference. If the theatre staff won't allow you to bring your own coffee to a French movie you can explain that the financial secretary said that's the way to join the middle-class. Poor people who cannot afford a theatre ticket for Amour can consider buying a fake copy from Shenzhen. Is that OK, Mr Tsang ?
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我想多謝財政司司長曾俊華。他為香港一百二十萬窮人賦予希望。他在電台說明,窮人要成為中產是多麼容易的事。那只需要兩個簡單的步驟:喝咖啡和看法國電影。他定義(defined)中產為喝咖啡和看電影的人,不論收入。所以,要是你窮困,不用沮喪(despair),只消喝咖啡和看法國電影(films,movies的英式英語)便行。若你喝許多咖啡,看許多法國電影(films),你甚至可以突飛猛進(hurtle),超越中產而躋身富戶;但只要你稍一停歇,你便會急墮(tumble)做回窮光蛋一族。
曾俊華一個月賺超過三十萬,在壽臣山住大宅,有司機(chauffeur),搭頭等機,全由納稅人找數。他卻說他屬於中產階級,因為他看法國電影和喝茶——他偏好喝茶多於咖啡。以這樣的高薪厚祿,他一定負擔得起最上乘的茶葉。一個窮人只喝得起茶餐廳而非星巴克的咖啡,又能否晉升為中產?他好應開個記者招待會,確保嚮往(aspire)成為中產的窮人,仍能夢想成真,即使他們只喝得起茶餐廳的咖啡。
法國電影《愛》剛剛奪得奧斯卡最佳外語片。看奧斯卡得獎電影,可否讓有志(aspire)成為中產的窮人快一步晉級?曾也應該在記招一併澄清(clarify)。要是戲院職員不准你自攜咖啡觀賞法國電影,你大可解釋,財政司司長說那是成為中產的方法。買不起《愛》片戲票的窮人,可以考慮於深圳買翻版。曾先生,這又可以嗎?
mickchug@gmail.com
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧