2013-05-09
Source: http://news.hkheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=237166§ion_name=wtt&kw=126
The disgraced former ICAC commissioner, Timothy Tong Hin-ming, has finally broken his silence on the scandal about his wasteful spending of public money. Tong issued a short, written statement last week agreeing that he needed to give the public an explanation. But he said it was not the right time yet to explain. I hope he will hurry up. I am waiting for his explanation with bated breath. To wait for something with bated breath means to wait for it excitedly, eagerly, or anxiously. If a person is disgraced, it means he has lost his reputation or the respect of others. To break your silence means to say something after keeping quiet for a long time.
I
am waiting for Tong Hin-ming's explanation with bated breath because I am dying to know how he spent nearly $300,000 on dinners and gifts while he was the ICAC commissioner. If you are dying to know something, it means you are very eager or curious to know. I am especially dying to know how he spent $48,000 on mooncakes and cookies. I hope Tong Hin-ming will reveal (make known) the brand name of the cookies he gave as gifts. The cookies must be delicious (very tasty) to cost so much. I am dying to try some but don't think I can afford it! If you are dying to try something, it means you are very eager or anxious to try it.
I found out from doing Google research that a rare (uncommon, not often seen or available) tin of William Crawford and Sons cookies from the 1920s, which originally cost US$150, was auctioned in London for US$32,000. But I don't think Tong bought that because US$32,000 is far more than HK$48,000. I also found out about a book called The Most Expensive Cookies in the World. Maybe he bought that book to look for expensive cookies. But I think he just bought cookies from Jenny Bakery in Hong Kong. They are popular but quite expensive. Mr Tong, please don't wait too long to give the public an explanation. I am dying to know about your favourite cookies.
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名譽掃地（disgraced）的前廉政專員湯顯明，終於打破沉默（broken his silence），回應自己浪費公帑的醜聞。湯在上星期發表簡短書面聲明，認同自己應該向公眾交代，卻又說現階段還不是回應的適當時候。我希望他快一點吧，我正屏息靜氣地（with bated breath）等待他的解釋。To wait for something with bated breath即是興奮、熱切或緊張地等待某事。若以disgraced形容某人，即是說他很丟臉，不再被人尊重。To break your silence即是長時間緘默後首度開腔。
我對湯顯明的解說屏息（with bated breath）以待，因為我很渴望知道（dying to know）他當廉政專員時，到底如何花掉三十萬元作的餽贈酬酢。Dying to know即是你很好奇或想知道得要死，我尤其想知道（dying to know）他怎樣花四萬八千元在月餅和曲奇上，我希望湯顯明會披露（reveal）他用來送禮的曲奇是哪個牌子。曲奇可以賣得這樣貴，一定特別美味（delicious）。我很渴望試試（dying to try），只怕我未必買得起！Dying to try即是你很渴望或急於要試。
我在Google搜尋一下，一盒一九二○年代William Crawford and Sons的矜貴（rare）曲奇罐，原價一百五十元美金，在倫敦拍賣時賣得三萬二千元美金。我不認為是湯買的，因為三萬二千元美金遠高於四萬八千元港幣。我還找到一本名為《世上最貴曲奇》的書，或許他買了這本書，好能尋得貴價曲奇。不過我相信他只是從香港的珍妮曲奇購買，他們的曲奇很受歡迎，亦很昂貴。湯先生，請你別拖太久，快快向公眾交代。我真的好想知道（dying to know）你的至愛曲奇是甚麼來頭呢。mickchug@gmail.com
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧