W hy did it take so long for it to dawn on government officials that MTR trains are overcrowded? MTR passengers have known for a long time that trains are always jam-packed (very full). Senior officials have government cars with chauffeurs (drivers). They never take the MTR. That is why it did not dawn on them sooner that trains are always jam-packed. They have now said there is not enough space on trains because passengers use too much space reading newspapers and using mobile phones. When will it dawn on these morons (idiots) that passengers who read newspapers and use mobile phones take up less space than passengers with huge backpacks and wheeled suitcases (suitcases with wheels)?
Our overpaid officials have suggested removing seats from MTR trains to create more space. I suggest MTR passengers should first remove the seats from the chauffeur-driven cars of our officials. These officials have also suggested that the MTR offer an early bird fare to ease overcrowding. An early bird is a person who gets up early and does things, such as going to work, earlier than other people. An early bird fare is a cheaper fare for those who travel before rush hour. But the MTR's chief executive officer, Jay Walder, has refused to say if he will offer passengers an early bird fare. His salary, including his bonus, is over $10 million a year. Maybe he is worried an early bird fare would reduce the profit of the MTR and, therefore, reduce his bonus.
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If you pay peanuts you get monkeys. 我以前曾經解釋過這個詞語，就是你付微薄的薪水，只能僱到無用的人或蠢材。我從前也曾說過，政府和港鐵高層都是高薪厚祿，但我們最終卻只得一群馬騮。現在就更清晰可見，這群支薪過高的馬騮有多愚笨。上星期，政府官員終於醒覺（dawned on），港鐵列車過分擠迫。dawn是日出前的曙光，但若something dawns on you，即是說你最終醒悟了某事。
為甚麼政府官員要這麼久才醒悟（dawn on），港鐵列車過份擠逼？港鐵乘客早已知道，列車常常都是水洩不通（jam-packed）。高官都有政府車和司機（chauffeurs），他們從不搭港鐵，因此他們並未及早醒覺（dawn on），列車總是擠得水洩不通（jam-packed）。他們現在說，列車上沒有足夠空間，因為乘客們在車上讀報和用手機，佔用太多空間了。這群白癡（morons）甚麼時候才醒悟（dawn on），讀報和用手機的乘客所佔用的空間，遠遠不及那些攜帶大背包和有轆行李篋（wheeled suitcases）的乘客呢？
我們那些薪金過高的官員，甚至建議拆掉港鐵列車的座椅，去騰出更多空間。那些有司機（chauffeurs）接送的官員，我建議港鐵乘客首先拆除他們座駕上的座位。這些官員又提議推出早鳥（early bird）乘車優惠，緩和車廂人滿之患。An early bird就是「早起的鳥兒」，是指較其他人早起和更早辦事的人。An early bird fare是給那些繁忙時間前搭車的乘客較優惠的票價。但港鐵行政總裁韋達誠拒絕評論，會否提供早鳥（early bird fare）票價優惠。他的薪酬，包括花紅，一年就超過一千萬。或許他是怕早鳥（early bird）票價優惠會減低港鐵的盈利，從而拖低他的花紅吧。mickchug@gmail.com
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧
Source: http://news.stheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=276839§ion_name=wtt&kw=126