Sing Tao Daily 2010-03-04 英文教材 F05 讀社論學英文

Lower expectation on result of exchange to promote understanding

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The suggestion by Legislative
Council President Jasper Tsang Yok-sing that all Legco members make a trip to the mainland

to try the Wuhan-Guangzhou high speed rail and visit the Shanghai Expo has received

positive response from the Central Government's representative in Hong Kong. Pan-

democratic camp councillors, meanwhile, have promptly stated that the proposed trip would

in no way change their position on constitutional development. Whether constitutional

reform issues would be raised during the trip would hang on whether the two sides are

willing to express goodwill to build a platform for exchange of views in the spirit of mutual

trust, so that discussions on future issues, including the constitutional reform, may be

conducted under an atmosphere of mutual respect. This would facilitate the development and

operation of the Hong Kong community. Differences in political views have created an abyss

between Beijing and many pan-democratic camp members. But as Hong Kong's political

atmosphere changes, their relationship is not always tense. For the smooth operation of the

Hong Kong community the two sides must look for common grounds despite their difference

in opinions. The community responded positively every time the Central Government offered

to break the ice with the pan-democratic camp by actions such as inviting the Legco to form

a group to visit Guangzhou or the Sichuan earthquake site. This is an indication of the

people's wishes. High-speed rail-cum-Expo trip signifies mutual goodwill .The relationship

between Hong Kong and the mainland has become closer after the handover. The mainstream

wish of the community is to maintain a good relationship with the Central Government.

While identifying with certain ideas and values espoused by the pan-democratic camp, the

people do not want a confrontation between the two parties. Their views were reflected in

election results and opinion surveys. The last proposal on constitutional reform was rejected

as it did not get the required votes in Legco, and political reforms had come to a standstill.

The support for the SAR government and the councillors both dropped, showing that

uncompromising and confrontational attitudes are not conducive to the progress of

democratization. To continue to get public support so as to have a role to play in political

reforms and other issues, the pan-democratic camp must build more channels and create

more room for communication and discussion. In the latest round of consultation on political

reforms, a rift has appeared within the pan-democratic camp over strategies. Some political

parties brought street-level tactics into the council, and barged ahead with the "referendum"

plan to quit the seats in five constituencies even before the plan was tabled for discussion.

The faction led by the Democratic Party, meanwhile, opted for a relatively moderate line, and

made suggestions formally. While the chance of reaching an agreement in the end is slim, at

least the latter has displayed a stance that allows for discussion and communication. It may

not be best to go after by-elections. The mainland trip now being proposed is expected to be

made at a time when campaigning is in progress for the five vacated seats. This would also

avoid the problem of having to include League of Social Democrats members.

Some councillors believed the trip should better be made after the resigned councillors have

returned to the council. However, the expected results may not be achieved from a political

and practical level, because on the basis of past experience, certain council members are not

interested in visiting the mainland for closed-door exchanges. To these councillors, the

highlight of these meetings is for them to shout a few slogans and walk out. As the relation

between these councillors and the Central Government has become tenser due to the

"referendum" move, any exchanges would be counterproductive. The public would,

therefore, understand if these members were not included in the visit, and may not insist on

seeing the

delegation comprising all possible council members. As council politics becomes more

radical, disruptions and storms in the process could become a good chance for pan-

democratic camp parties to rethink their roles as the opposition. The Central Government had

in the past tried to set up meetings with different parties in the Legco. However, as the results

had not been satisfactory, such exchanges have been suspended for some time.

A trip by the full council now could signify the reopening of communication, hence one
should not be too demanding on practical results. If both sides can put aside differences to

meet and achieve better understanding, it is worth doing even if the meeting brings no direct

results on the political reform proposals.

Vocabulary
promptly (adv) ———迅速地 goodwill (n) ———善意 platform (n) ———平台
atmosphere (n) ———氣氛 facilitate (v) ———促使 abyss (n) ———深淵
espouse (v) ———支持 confrontation (n) ———對抗
standstill (n) ———停滯不前 uncompromising (adj) ———不妥協的
Legislative Council President ———立法會主席
pan-democratic camp ———泛民主派 constitutional development ———政制發展
mutual respect ———互相尊重 common ground ———共通點
1.Who is proposing a trip by the Legco to the mainland?
2.According to the article, should the trip be made after the by-elections?
3.What would an exchange between Legco and the Central Government now signify?
4.Does the article suggest members of the League of Social Democrats go on the trip?
5.In Vocabulary, the word __________ means "no progress".
Answers
1. Council President Jasper Tsang Yok-sing. 2. No.
3. The reopening of communication. 4. No. 5. standstill

降低會面門檻旨在溝通了解

立法會主席曾鈺成提出全體議員試搭武廣高速鐵路及參觀上海世界博覽會，獲得中央駐港代表積極回應，
泛民議員迅速表明這不會影響其政制發展立場。無論此行會否觸及政制問題，關鍵在於雙方能否釋出善
意，構建互信溝通的平台，令政制以至日後其他問題，都能夠在互相尊重的氣氛下溝通協商，理順本港
社會的發展運作。
由於政見上的分歧，中央和不少民主派議員隔 鴻溝，但關係時鬆時緊，隨 本地的政治氣氛變化。從
香港運作的整體利益來考慮，雙方存異之外亦宜求同。每次中央與本港民主派有破冰舉動，例如邀請立
法會組團訪問廣州和考察四川地震災區，本港社會普遍反應良好，反映民心所向。

高鐵世博之旅互釋善意
香港回歸，中港兩地關係日益密切，社會主流願望是與中央保持良好關係，在認同民主派所代表一些觀
念價值之餘，不欲兩者勢成水火，這可以從選舉結果和民調反映出來。
本港上次政制發展建議得不到立法會足夠票數，令政制原地踏步，政府和議員民望皆跌，證明硬崩崩的
對抗無助達到政制朝民主化方向前進的目的，兩敗俱傷。民主派要繼續贏取市民的支持，發揮其在政制
以至其他議題上的影響力，需要拓展溝通協商的渠道和空間。
在新一輪的政改諮詢，泛民陣營出現策略上的分歧，部分政黨把議會政治和街頭政治結合，以五區請辭
提出變相的「公投」，未談判已把桌子掀翻。民主黨為首的主力則採取相對溫和的策略，正正式式提交
建議，雖然最後達成妥協的難度甚高，但是至少能夠有商有量，表達了溝通的姿態。

補選之後成行未必最好
今次高鐵和世博之旅，初步預計在立法會五席位出缺的空隙，減少了社民連這絆腳石，又在補選拉票之
際。有議員認為應該在補選結束後請辭議員重返議會後成行，但捆綁之舉無論從政治上或實際上都未必
可以收到預期的效果，因為從過去經驗，個別議員對於北上閉門交流缺乏興趣，會面「戲肉」是呼喊口
號而後離場，尤其今次變相公投令雙方立場趨向緊張，會面非但難有成果，反易惹起枝節，而主流民意
亦會明白體諒，未必有此集體北上的堅持。
在議會政治日趨激化的今天，政制問題上討價還價的過程，經歷的種種干擾和風雨，也是一個契機，讓
民主派政黨思考其在野策略。過去，中央嘗試和立法會不同黨派會面，覺得效果平平，溝通一度中止，
這次如果全體議員能夠北上，有了重啟溝通之門的含意，所以對成果門檻不必訂得太高，如果大家能夠
擺下成見進行接觸，真正能做到增加了解，就算最後對爭取政改沒有直接幫助，都已經算是一件好事。

Ming Pao Daily News 2010-03-04 通通識-英文 E08 Editorial

Innovative businesses
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AS this newspaper reported yesterday, twounderground or semi semi--underground small
bikeracing tracks have been in operation in YuenLong and Tin Shui Wai for some years.
Thegovernment "controls" them through zoning but doesnothing about their safety or other
matters concerningthem. Bike racing there is not regulated. We havepublished the story about
those operations not to urgethe government to use its powers to crack down onthem but to
call on it to cherish economic vitality thatmay result from citizens' innovations.

Bike racing is quite dangerous. Bike racing racing--relatedaccidents are frequent in the
world. Nevertheless, it isclassified as a healthy sport. Many fewer people havetaken up this
sport than others. It is hardly popular inHong Kong as the government has never promoted
it.Nevertheless, some have risked their money to set upand operate bike racing tracks in Tuen
Mun (BlackPoint), Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai. That shows bikeracing facilities are in
demand here. This being thecase, it does not meet real needs for the governmentto "control"
them by means of its power to zone land. Itshould look at the issue from an "industry"
perspective.It is time the government put it on the agenda toconsider introducing a licensing
system for regulatingsmall bike racing tracks.

If the government allows investors to run bikeracing tracks on agricultural land in rural areas,
notonly will the demand be met for such facilities, buteconomic activity in those places will
be encouraged.

Some years ago, many racked their brains to find waysto increase economic activity in Tin
Shui Wai so thatresidents could find work in the district. There hasbeen much cry and little
wool wool. Now the three "illicit". bike racing tracks do help increase economic activity
intheir districts. Their investors are already a few steps infront of the government. The
government should obtainlegislation that would require bike racing trackoperators to meet
environmental protection, safety anddrainage standards. It can, simply by doing so, kill
twobirds - promote bike racing and increase economicactivity in their districts.

A few months ago, some attempted to set uprooftop barbecue venues in downtown areas. As
fire isused, safety at such a venue is indeed a concern.

Furthermore, fumes and noises from such a venuemay be a nuisance to people who live near
it. Nosooner had bureaucrats called their attempts"outrageous" than they aborted.
Nevertheless, itcannot be denied that the idea of operating rooftopbarbecue venues in
downtown areas is very innovativeindeed. People who have come up with the idea havetried
to start innovative businesses. They should berewarded rather than punished. To bureaucrats,
it isconvenient to crack down on activities impermissibleunder the laws in force. They can, if
they do so, avoidcarrying the can can. However, if safety and noise. problems of rooftop
barbecue venues can besatisfactorily solved, life in Hong Kong would be 3 3--DDrather than
just 2 2--D, and the city's landscape willsuddenly become quite different.

Innovations are essential to social progress andeconomic development. However, innovations

arelikely to be at odds with rules or regulations in force. Itis not bureaucrats' job to foster
economicdevelopment. It is therefore totally understandable forthem to remain in a rut or do
things by the book.
However, Hong Kong desperately needs innovationsthat may help make it more colourful
and invigorateand diversify its economy. Bureaucrats must changetheir minds. It is important
that, even if they are neithercreative nor innovative, they must not rashly stranglechanges that
may result from citizens' innovations.Even though they cannot contribute to progress,
theymust try not to impede progress. That is whatbureaucrats must bear in mind.
2010.03.03 明報社評

賽車場應扶持非扼殺宜新思維看創意創業

本報昨日報道元朗和天水圍兩個小型電單車賽車場，多年來以地下或半地下形式經營，
政府除了透過土地規劃「管理」，其他例如安全等，並無法定監管，形成一項「冇王
管」的活動。本報披露這兩個賽車場的營運情，不是要催促政府祭起公權力置他們
於死地，而是要政府正視並珍惜民間創意所激發經濟活力。

賽車就全球範圍而言，雖然風險較高，意外頻生，總的來說還是被定義為健康運動，
其實際參與人數，與其他運動相比也屬少數。在香港，缺乏政府推動下，賽車運動更
是無從談起。但是由本港在屯門龍鼓灘、元朗和天水圍都有人甘冒風險，投下資金，
建設和營運賽車場，顯示本港市民對於賽車運動場地有一定需求。在這種情下，政
府僅以土地批出權來「管理」賽車場，肯定未能符合實際需要，以產業角度看待此事，
研議透過發牌規管小型賽車場，應該提上政府的議事日程。

批准投資者在鄉郊農地開設、營運賽車場，除了滿足需求，還可以活躍地區經濟。數
年前，不少有心人為搞活天水圍經濟、協助當地居民當區工作，出謀劃策，一度雷聲
大，雨總是下不來。現在這 3 個偷偷摸摸營運的賽車場，其實符合搞活地區經濟的目
標，投資者已較政府走前幾步，只要政府將之納入規管，制訂法例，要經營者滿足環
保、安全、排水等要求，就可以達到推動賽車運動、又符合搞活地區經濟的目標。

數月前，有人曾經嘗試在鬧區大廈的天台，營運燒烤場地，由於涉及火器，安全隱患
確實是大問題，另外燒烤所衍生油膩和噪音對周遭居民影響，也是問題，官僚一個
「可怒也」，這個嘗試就夭折。但是不能否認， 在鬧市大廈天台開設燒烤場，極具創
意，想到這個點子的人，以創新來創業，應該得到讚賞而非懲罰。對於官僚而言，封
殺了現行法規條例未容許的「創意」經營，當然最方便，又不會「 鑊」，但是試想，
若天台燒烤的安全、噪音等技術問題能夠找到妥善辦法處理，則香港社會的生活不再
停留在平面，而是立體起來，整體城市景觀頓時不一樣。

推動社會進步、發展經濟，離不開創意、創新，而創意創新則經常與現行規定有所扞
格，官僚的角色和職能，並無推動經濟發展的責任，因此官僚因循、按本子辦事，完
全可以理解。但是香港亟需創意創新，刺激經濟活力，使經濟更趨多元化，為香港增
添色彩，官僚們需要換腦袋了。最重要的是：官僚即使沒有創意、不懂創新，也不要
輕易就扼殺了市民的創意創新可能帶來改變。縱使不成為進步的助力，也不要成為進
步的阻力──這是官僚需要緊記的。