Season's greetings

Season's greetings: Christmas
We wish you a heart-warming and fun-filled Christmas with your loved ones, and all the best in your endeavours in 2011! See you next year!
聖誕將至，希望大家與親友共渡一個溫馨及愉快的聖誕假期。
祝大家聖誕快樂，新年進步！

話說「教授」

Source: President’s Blog – Way to Kuo

link

在大學裏教書的，常被人稱作「教授」。在高等學府圈子之外，「教授」可以是籠統的說法，其功用好比「老闆」。顧客踏入店堂，有事要問櫃台後那位先生，可道一聲「老闆」，哪怕他看來不像是店東；夥計招呼顧客，也往往口稱「老闆」，不管對方是否生意場中人。這稱呼是禮數，卻算不上拍馬屁，也不是戴高帽；它恭而有禮，雙方都可接受。一般人隨口稱呼大學教師為「教授」，情形有點類似。


不過，在學府之內，尤其在執教於大學的行內人之間，這「教授」往往不是等閑可以混用的了。它是最高等級的大學教師的正式職稱，是頒給學識淵博、研究精深者的頭銜，是對格物致知、傳道授業而成績卓著者的表彰。要晉升為教授，須得經過申請、評議、推薦、審核、批覆等層層手續，很不簡單。尚未升到這一層次的人不敢僭號自稱，旁人也不便濫奉名銜，免得彼此尷尬。

使用「教授」稱號，在英國尤為嚴謹，因為英國的大學教師，最高級的是 Professor，其次是 Reader，再次是 Senior Lecturer （或 Senior Teaching Fellow ）和 Lecturer （或 Teaching Fellow ）。Reader 一詞頗難轉譯，英漢辭典有的說是「高級講師」，有的說是「準教授」，看來一時尚無合適的中文詞語來指稱這個既非「教授」也非「講師」的頭銜。Lecturer 是「講師」，應無疑義。在英國大學裏，唯有 Professor 才是「教授」，閑雜人不得擅用。英國人似乎服膺孔夫子，「唯名與器，不可以假人」。

在美國的大學裏，教授一詞用得很寬泛，因為美國 Professor 穿靴戴帽之後，自身繁衍出若干亞種，細辨起來很是麻煩，簡而稱之，通用 Professor 一詞，結果是「教授」滿校園。「十足」的 Professor 是 Full Professor，其次是 Associate Professor，再次有 Assistant Professor； 十分傑出的 Full Professor 可升為「 Named Chair 」(冠以人名的講座教授)，再往上有 Distinguished Professor，更高的還有 University Professor 一級。

中國在清末改良維新，廢科舉、興學校，西洋（主要是英文）詞語傳入中土；轉譯 Professor，正好用上國產千年的「教授」。「教授」一詞始於宋朝，是太學（「中央大學」）裏某些學科的教師；而且從宋元直到明清，歷朝府、州、縣各級地方政府均設學官，最高者是府的學官「教授」，須為進士出身。「教授」有歷史、夠身份，配得上 Professor，於是沿用迄今。以此類推，各級 Professor 就是正教授、副教授、助理教授、附屬（或兼任）教授、講座教授、傑出教授、學府教授等等。

舊時中國的大學有採用英國制的，也有美國制的；香港為英國殖民地，用英國制。近年來，中國大陸、台灣、香港的大學有不少轉用美國制，或英美混合制。於是乎產生種種 Professor，再加上資深、非資深 Lecturer 和 Teaching Fellow，還有一級、二級 Tutor 和 Instructor，令人眼花撩亂。

英美的學生未必把教授當回事，他們會僅用小寫的 prof 來代替 Professor，好似香港學生用「阿蛇」（阿 Sir ）來指稱一切教師。台灣有人杜撰說文解字，定義「教授」為「會叫的野獸」。在中國大陸，某時期大學教師生活困頓，自嘆「越教越瘦（授）」。大學生擔憂無出路，自嘲「多讀多輸（書）」，師生對仗工整、平仄諧調，也算是苦中作樂。相比之下，西洋人的文字戲謔失色多了。

在中國人的社會裡，通稱大學中所有的助理教授以上職稱者為教授，以示尊敬倒也無可厚非。


On "Professor"

Anyone who teaches at a university can be called "Professor". Outside institutions of higher learning, "Professor" is used in a similar way to "Boss" as a common form of address. When a customer steps into the shop, he will address the man behind the counter as "Boss", though the latter might not look like the owner of the shop. The salesman will address a customer as "Boss" irrespective of whether the latter is or isn't a businessman. This form of address is used as a kind of social etiquette. Instead of fawning on or flattering the other side, this respectful form of address is acceptable to both sides. It's a similar case to the addressing of any university teacher as "Professor".

However, among the faculty of institutions of higher learning, "Professor" should never be used randomly. It is a senior professional title conferred upon erudite scholars and profound researchers. It is employed to honour those faculty members who succeed in attaining outstanding achievements in research and teaching. In order to be promoted to professorship, one has to go through the following rigid formalities: application, appraisal, recommendation, examination and approval. Those who have yet to gain this senior professional title dare not assume the title. In order to avoid embarrassment on both sides, nobody refers to him as "Professor".

In Britain one must be scrupulous in the use of the title "Professor". University teachers there are graded incrementally from the highest grade, Professor, to Reader, Senior Lecturer (or Senior Teaching Fellow) to Lecturer (or Teaching Fellow). In some English-Chinese dictionaries "Reader" is translated as 高級講師 or 準教授. No appropriate Chinese equivalent denotes the non-professor and non-lecturer titles. "Lecturer" is equivalent to 講師. In British universities, only the title "Professor" means 教授 . Nobody else deserves this professional title. English people seemly follow the Confucian principle on adopting proper forms of address.

In American universities the word "Professor" is used more loosely. "Professor" is extended to encompass Full Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor. As a result, professors can be found everywhere on campus. Outstanding "Full Professors" can be further promoted to Named Chair, Distinguished Professor or even University Professor.

During the reform and modernisation movement of the late Qing Dynasty, the imperial civil examination system was abolished and schools set up. With the introduction of titles in Western languages (mainly the English language), "Professor" was translated as 教授, a Chinese word which had existed for a thousand years. The Chinese word 教授, which originated in the Song Dynasty, meant the teachers of some courses offered in the Imperial College. Moreover, there was a position of "academic official" in the local governments at the prefecture and county levels throughout the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The highest academic official was at the prefecture level, called "教授" . Only those who passed the highest imperial civil service examination were qualified to be 教授. 教授, which had academic credentials and high social status, was a perfect match for the English word "Professor". That's why it has become the equivalent to "Professor". Different kinds of professors are hence translated as 正教授、副教授、助理教授、附屬（或兼任）教授、講座教授、傑出教授、學府教授 etc.

In the old days, some Chinese universities adopted the British system while others adopted the American system. As a former British colony, Hong Kong adopted the British system. In the past few years some mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong universities have adopted the American system or the British-American mixed system. As a result, a great variety of professors came emerged. Together with senior or non-senior lecturers and teaching fellows as well as tutors and instructors (I/II), the numerous professional titles are dazzling.

British and American students may not take "professors" too seriously. They can simply use the non-capitalised "prof" to mean "Professor", just as the students in Hong Kong tend to refer to all teachers as "阿Sir". Some people in Taiwan use homophones to define 教授 as 叫獸 ("yelling beast”). When university teachers lived under strained circumstances in the early Twentieth Century China they sometimes explained 教授 as 越教越瘦（授）("the more you teach, the thinner you become"). The university graduates were worried about their future and explained 多讀書 as 多讀多輸（書） (The more you read, the more heavily you lose.) The well-balanced, rhyming homophones invented by the teachers and students serve as a good example of enjoying life in adversity. So far as a play on words is concerned, Westerners don't stand comparison with the Chinese.

In a Chinese society all university teachers above the rank of "assistant professor" are addressed as "Professor". It's only reasonable for Chinese people to show respect for university teachers in this way.

December 9, 2008

The Chinese Internet: A Reflection of China

The Chinese Internet: A Reflection of China

by

Dr Kai-Fu Lee(李開复)

Chairman and CEO of Innovation Works

Abstract

The Father of the Internet, Vint Cerf, said: "The Internet is a mirror of the society". This talk will take the audience in a tour inside this mirror.

The Chinese Internet is a great mystery to many, because of its enormous size, unfathomable growth, government regulations, beaten American giants, and fascinating stories. In this talk, Dr Lee will explain why the foreign companies failed and local ones succeed. He will compare the Chinese Internet to the American Internet in their development, usage, and demographics. He will explain why the Chinese video, social networking, search, gaming, instant messaging, marketplace, payment, blogging/microblogging evolved in somewhat different directions from the American Internet. He will analyze the three giants (Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent) and their rise to power. He will evaluate market opportunities in e-commerce, gaming, mobility and cloud computing. And he will remark on cultural and societal implications based on these observations.

Biographical Sketch

Dr Kai-Fu Lee founded Innovation Works in September 2009. Innovation Works is a business creation platform geared to create the next wave of Chinese high-tech companies and to mentor the next-generation of Chinese entrepreneurs. It is focused on Internet, Mobile Internet, and cloud computing. Every year Innovation Works will prototype some twenty new ideas, aiming to spin off several independent companies.

Prior to starting Innovation Works, Dr Lee was a Google Vice President and the President of Google Greater China. During his tenure at Google, Dr Lee has built-up a 700-person organization with many successes.

Dr Lee spent seven years at Microsoft before joining Google and held the position as Corporate Vice President. During his days at Microsoft, he founded Microsoft Research Asia, one of the world’s top research labs, and is called “the hottest computer science laboratory” by MIT Technology Review.

Dr Lee taught as an Assistant Professor from 1988-1990 at Carnegie Mellon, where he received his PhD. His PhD thesis was the world's first speaker-independent continuous speech-recognition system. This system was selected as the "Most Important Innovation of 1988" by Business Week. He also developed an Othello-playing program that won the world championship and also defeated the human champion.

Dr Lee is the author of four best-selling books in China, and has given speeches to about half a million students in China. Dr Lee is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Vice Chairman of the Committee of 100, an elite group of Chinese Americans.

University Announcement: Message from Candidate NG Ka-ho - Election of Postgraduate Student Member to the University Council

Dear postgraduate students,

Attached please find the election platform received from one of the candidates, NG Ka-ho, who runs for the election of postgraduate student member to the University Council.

Please note that candidates are held responsible for the reliability and accuracy of the information provided in the election platform, including any URL of other websites quoted.


Council Secretariat
20 October 2010

****************************

Message from NG Ka-ho

I, NG Ka-Ho, have been studying in CityU for over 6 years (obtained my BE and MPhil and pursuing my PhD). CityU is my second home. I would like to serve and contribute to my Alma Mater.

As General Secretary of City University Postgraduate Association (CUPA), I work very hard on CUPA's 4 main fields of activities: membership, mentorship, leadership and citizenship. For example I have organized Rock Climbing Fun Days, Shenzhen University Exchange Visit, “Say No to Shark Fin Soup” Campaign, Seminar by “the first Chinese woman who conquered the World’s 7 highest mountains and the 2 Poles”, etc. since March this year. Besides, I also organized a series of hiking activities, e.g. Hiking Fun Days and Trailwalker Trainings.

I am also a member of the Board of Graduate Studies and the Academic Conduct Committee of CityU. Moreover, I am a member of the Student Complaints Panel. I attended most of the meetings of these committees, in which I spoke out the thoughts of CityU students and did my best to protect their interests.

My Election Objects:
Increase Research Studentship
More Resources on Career Development for Postgraduates
Notebook Computer Purchase Subsidy
Provide More Residence for Postgraduates
Increase Communication Channels between Students and CityU.
從本科、碩士到現在攻讀博士課程，我吳家豪已在城大超過六年。城大是我第二個家，我要盡最大努力，貢獻我的母校。

作為城大研究生會秘書，我和其他委員合力舉辦過各種活動。例如: 攀石樂趣日，深大交流團，“保護鯊魚、不吃魚翅”活動，“首位征服七大洲最高峰及兩極的華裔女性”講座等。此外，我還帶領過多次爬山及越野活動。

我亦是城大研究生院董事會、學術紀律委員會及學生投訴委員會的成員。我參加了上述各會絕大部份的會議，並在會議上積極代表研究生爭取權益。

我的競選政綱是：
提高研究生津貼
投放更多資源在研究生就業及晉升輔導
筆記本電腦購買津貼
大幅增加研究生宿位
加強及增加學生和校方溝通渠道


Disclaimer
This email (including any attachments) is solely for the use of its intended recipients and may contain confidential and privileged information. It must not be reproduced or distributed without permission of the sender. If you received this email in error, please notify the sender and delete this email from your system.

CUPA--Final Call for Joint-U「HalloDeen」Dressing-up Party! 聯校「哈囉癲」妖魔鬼怪召集令！

Dear Members,

*This activity is co-organized by The Postgraduate Student Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and CityU Postgraduate Association

It’s the most thrilling Halloween party ever!

You can be a super hero to fight against ghosts, or dance with crowds of monsters as you like......

You can dance with the most evil witch, or with the coolest vampire......then fall in love with her/him and whatsoever.

Dress up and join our craziest HalloDeen party! We always have ways to make you love it!

Details:
Photo-taking, memorise these moments with the creepy creatures;
Happy dancing club, figure out how ghosts and monsters dance;
Coolest dressing-up contest, choose the figure you like most;
Heating-up games, scream to your utmost;
Food and drinks served

Date: 30.10.2010
Time: 6:30pm—10:30pm (Entry at 6:00pm)
Location: Multi-function Hall B, Student Residence, Cornwall Street
Fee: $80/p
If you dress up / make up in advance, you can get a refund of $20. If not, then we will help you make up.

Admission:
Buy ticket at CUPA Office (RM R6167, 6/F Amenities Building)

Address: RM R6167, 6/F Amenities Building
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 10:30am-7:30pm (1:30-2:30 Closed)

Tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis!

For further information, please call 3442 5662.

SEE YOU AT THE PARTY!

Best Regards,
CityU Postgraduate Association


親愛的會員︰

註︰本活動由香港中文大學研究生會及香港城市大學研究生會合辦
至Fun至刺激的Halloween嘩鬼盛會驚嚇登場啦！
無試過同彊屍大戰？未見過群魔亂舞？想同最邪惡的女巫跳只舞？想遇到最cool的吸血鬼？
10月30日來我們最好玩的「哈囉癲」換裝派對，意想不到的驚喜等著你！這裡鬼火通明，妖氣沖天，保證你high足全場，癲到抽筋！

一於齊來「癲」囉喂！

活動詳情：
影相紀念，全場衰鬼妖怪任影唔嬲；
群魔亂舞dancing club，讓你盡情妖嬈；
最具妖氣換裝大比拼，選出你心目中最cool的妖怪裝扮；
新奇趣怪小遊戲，包你癲到最盡；
提供小食及飲品

日期︰10月30日 (星期六)
時間：晚上6時半至10時半 (晚上6時開始入場)
地點：歌和老街22號香港城市大學學生宿舍綜合禮堂B
費用：每人$80；若事先化妝（妖怪妝等另類裝扮）或穿著適合主題的衣服到場，可退回$20。若無帶妝出席，則由工作人員代化。


購票辦法：
請到研究生會辦公室購票。

地址︰ 康樂樓6樓R6167室
辦公時間︰ 星期一至五 早上十時半至晚上七時半 (1:30-2:30pm 休息)

查詢︰3442 5662

名額有限，快點來搶位啦!


香港城市大學研究生會
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tel: 3442 5662
Fax: 3442 0221
Email: cupapo@cityu.edu.hk

有些英文..不要不懂装懂

` sporting house 妓院（不是“体育室”） -

` dead president 美钞（上印有总统头像）（并非“死了的总统”） -

` lover 情人（不是“爱人”）

` busboy 餐馆勤杂工（不是“公汽售票员”）

` busybody 爱管闲事的人（不是“大忙人”）

` dry goods （美）纺织品；（英）谷物（不是“干货”）

` heartman 换心人（不是“有心人”） -

` mad doctor 精神病科医生（不是“发疯的医生”）`

` eleventh hour 最后时刻（不是“十一点”） -

` blind date （由第三者安排的）男女初次会面（并非“盲目约会”或“瞎约会”） -

` personal remark 人身攻击（不是“个人评论”） -

` sweet water 淡水（不是“糖水”或“甜水”） -

` confidence man 骗子（不是“信得过的人”） -

` criminal lawyer 刑事律师（不是“犯罪的律师”） -

` service station 加油站（不是“服务站”） -

` rest room 厕所（不是“休息室”） -

` dressing room 化妆室（不是“试衣室”或“更衣室”） -

` horse sense 常识（不是“马的感觉”） -

` capital idea 好主意（不是“资本主义思想”） -

` familiar talk 庸俗的交谈（不是“熟悉的谈话”）

` black tea 红茶（不是“黑茶”） -

` black art 妖术（不是“黑色艺术”） -

` black stranger 完全陌生的人（不是“陌生的黑人”） -

` white coal （作动力来源用的）水（不是“白煤”） -

` white man 忠实可靠的人（不是“皮肤白的人”） -

` yellow book 黄皮书（法国政府报告书，以黄纸为封）（不是“黄色书籍”） -

` red tape 官僚习气（不是“红色带子”） -

` green hand 新手（不是“绿手”） -

` blue stocking 女学者、女才子（不是“蓝色长统袜”） -

` China policy 对华政策（不是“中国政策”） -

` Chinese dragon 麒麟（不是“中国龙”） -

` American beauty 一种玫瑰，名为“美国丽人”（不是“美国美女”） -

` English disease 软骨病（不是“英国病”） -

` Indian summer 愉快宁静的晚年（不是“印度的夏日”） -

` Greek gift 害人的礼品（不是“希腊礼物”） -

` Spanish athlete 吹牛的人（不是“西班牙运动员”） -

` French chalk 滑石粉（不是“法国粉笔”） -

` pull one's leg 开玩笑（不是“拉后腿”） -

` in one's birthday suit 赤身裸体（不是“穿着生日礼服”） -

` eat one's words 收回前言（不是“食言”） -

` an apple of love 西红柿（不是“爱情之果”） -

` handwriting on the wall 不祥之兆（不是“大字报”） -

` bring down the house 博得全场喝彩（不是“推倒房子”） -

` have a fit 勃然大怒（不是“试穿”） -

` make one's hair stand on end 令人毛骨悚然—恐惧（不是“令人发指——气愤”） -

` be taken in 受骗，上当（不是“被接纳”） -

` think a great deal of oneself 高看或看重自己（不是“为自己想得很多”） -

` pull up one's socks 鼓起勇气（不是“提上袜子”） -

` have the heart to do （用于否定句）忍心做……不是“有心做”或“有意做”） -

` What a shame! 多可惜！真遗憾！（不是“多可耻”） -

` You don't say! 是吗！（不是“你别说”） -

` You can say that again! 说得好！（不是“你可以再说一遍”） -

` I haven't slept better. 我睡得好极了。（不是“我从未睡过好觉”） -

` You can't be too careful in your work. 你工作越仔细越好。（不是“你工作不能太仔细”） -

` It has been 4 years since I smoked. 我戒烟４年了。（不是“我抽烟4年了”） -

` All his friends did not turn up. 他的朋友没全到。（不是“他的朋友全没到”） -

` People will be long forgetting her. 人们在很长时间内会记住她的。（不是“人们会永远忘记她”） -

` He was only too pleased to let them go. 他很乐意让他们走。（不是“他太高兴了，不愿让他们走”） -

` It can't be less interesting. 它无聊极了。（不是“它不可能没有趣”）

時間

1.

Please note that the EE General Office will be closed at 5:00pm during the following days:
9 August 2010 - 13 August 2010 - Semester Break
16 August 2010 - 20 August 2010 - Semester Break
Thanks for your kind attention.

Why join English Debating Team (EDT)?

Why join English Debating Team (EDT)?

w Look good on resume
An experience of representing your university would add to your resume. Being in a school team means being
outstanding in that aspect. Being in the EDT means being a critical thinker and a competent speaker in English.

w Incredible International Exposure
Once selected, you may travel to different countries to compete in international tournaments with the
University’s subsidies. And in the international tournaments, you will compete with some of the smartest minds
in universities around the world. You will be able to meet foreign friends and learn from each other.

w Think smart !
Debating requires critical and logical thinking. It helps to polish your analytical skills. And you also need to
think fast, because you only have 15 minutes to prepare for your speech in BP style debates.

w Become aware of global issues
You have better chance winning if you have more knowledge of the current issues around the world. You will
then find greater motivation to read more news and get to understand different issues in more in-depth ways.

w STAND OUT from the crowd
It is nice to have good public speaking skills. You never know when you will need it.

w Brush up your English, before it gets rusted
It has been some time since your UE exam. Secondary school English is the best you can be? Think again.
YOU CAN GO FURTHER!

w Meet more friends and have fun !
Other than the members in our team, you will also be able to meet debaters from other local universities and
foreign universities through different tournaments and workshops.

上海世博創意體驗之旅 (HK Ambassadors for Shanghai Expo)

上海世博創意體驗之旅 (HK Ambassadors for Shanghai Expo)
想在上海世博中當義工，與世界各地的朋友分享你的創作和你的體驗！MaD現再公開招募香港大使，請即填妥報名表格，於8月10日前電郵至info@MaD.asia或郵寄至香港當代文化中心 (c/o九龍聯合道135號香港兆基創意書院)。

詳情：http://www.mad.asia

查詢：info@MaD.asia / 2766 3991

The MaD program, sponsored by Create HK, now recruits young people as Hong Kong Ambassadors for the Shanghai Expo. The delegates will share with the visitors their experience in HK and show them HK’s young creative energy. Deadline for application: 10 Aug 2010

Details: http://www.mad.asia

Enquiries: info@MaD.asia / 2766 3991

Student Development Services

Locker Clearance Exercise (Aug 2010) - Reminder

儲物櫃清拆工作
To : All Locker Users

Re: Reminder - Locker Clearance Exercise (Aug 2010)

Pleased be reminded that the expiry date of the use of student lockers for the academic year 2009-10 is 31 July 2010 (Saturday).

All locker users should clear their lockers and remove their padlocks on or before 31 July 2010.

The annual locker clearance exercise will be carried out in Aug 2010. Student Development Services will cut all padlocks after 3 August 2010 and all property found therein will be disposed without any notice. The University shall in no circumstances be responsible for the safe keeping of any items found in the lockers and any loss or damage in connection therewith.

Make sure you have cleared all your property and you should leave the locker empty. DO NOT LEAVE any useless items inside the lockers, and please remember to bring back your padlock.

If you have any question, please contact
Mr. Peter Wong at 2888 8888 or email at
solocker@xxx.com

Thank you for your co-operation.

Student Development Services
Enquiry: 2888 8888
Email: solocker@xxx.com

JUNE 2010

Fumigation

Fumigation

　
In order to control and prevent mosquito problem, fumigation will be carried out on 1 July 2010 (Thursday) from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the open areas of the University including the Hillside Trail, Chinese Garden and in the vicinity of the swimming pool.

To minimize the chance of exposure to pesticides, please kindly be advised not to enter the above-mentioned areas on the said date and time.

Should you have any queries, please contact our Help Desk at 2888 8888.

　
Campus Development and Facilities Office
25 June 2010

澳門人捱貴樓

Joe 剛介紹Bob 給他的朋友Nelson認識，他們準備前往吃晩飯。

Joe: 我們去哪裡食晩飯？Nelson，有沒有任何好推介？

Nelson: 沒有，我有一陣子沒有外出吃飯了。任何地方也可以，只要不是太貴。

Joe: 這樣不像你，Nelson。你以前經常外出吃飯的，也從不介意花多少錢，我以為你的工資不錯的。

Nelson: 現在情況不一樣了，我數月前買了樓，現在超過一半的月薪用來供樓，所以我不會花錢在冇必要的東西上，我知道現在很多人都跟我一樣。

Joe: 唔，我想這樣對整體經濟不太好，花錢的人少了很多。

Bob: 那麼，你要多久才把樓供完？

Nelson: 二十年！

Bob: 嘩，這眞是一個負擔，我無意冒犯你，但如果再有另一個金融危機而你又失去工作，那麼……

Nelson: 我不知道，我沒有想到那麼長遠。

Bob: 為何澳門的地產價格這麼高呢？

Joe: 我猜是與外地炒家有關。

Nelson: 正是呀，有些人認為地產價格是由其市場的供求所控制，但問題是現在的地產價格再不單是由本地居民的供求來調節，而且也有一些富有的外地炒家加入市場，改變了遊戲規則。

Joe has just introduced Bob to his friend, Nelson. They are heading to dinner now.

Joe: So, where are we going to eat？ Nelson, Any good recommendation？

Nelson: Not really. I haven't eaten out for a while. Any place is fine with me as long as it's not too expensive.

Joe: That's not like you, Nelson. You used to eat out a lot and you never cared about how much you spent. I thought your job paid you pretty well.

Nelson: Things are different now. I bought an apartment a few months ago, and now over half of my monthly salary goes to the mortgage payment. That's why I won't spend any money on unnecessary things. I know a lot of people are just like me these days.

Joe: Hmm, I guess this is not very good for the economy in general; a lot less people are spending money.

Bob: So, how long does it take you to pay off the mortgage？

Nelson: Twenty years！

Bob: Wow, that's really a burden. I mean no offence, but what if there is another financial crisis and you lose your job？ Then…

Nelson: I don't know. I haven't thought that far.

Bob: Why are the real estate prices so high in Macao？

Joe: I guess it has to do with the foreign speculators.

Nelson: Exactly. Some think that the real estate prices are controlled by the supply and demand of its market, but the problem now is that it's no longer just the local residents' supply and demand regulating the prices, but also wealthy foreign speculators, changing the rules of the game.

收聽對話：http://english-macau.com/

De Facto Referendum or Political Farce?

“De Facto Referendum or Political Farce?”
『變相公投還是政治鬧劇？』

Guest: Mr. Alan Leong Kah-kit 梁家傑先生
(Civic Party Vice Chairman & Senior Counsel公民黨副主席及資深大律師)

Content: In this dialogue, you are invited to have conversation with Mr. Leong on the following topics:

1) When an apple is not called an apple, is that political responsibility?
把補選說成「公投」、「起義」是政治上負責任的行為嗎?

2) The path to universal suffrage: confrontation or dialogue?
爭取普選：對抗還是對話？

3) Radicalism & social responsibility: advice to university students
激進主義與社會責任：對大學生的忠告

澳門手機店多

澳門手機店多

Joe和Bob正在澳門關閘附近一條開滿手機店的街上步行。

Joe：很多港澳人都喜愛買新的手機，好像是一種潮流的表達方式，每當有新的手機推出市場，人們就會爭先購買。

Bob：美國人平均每十八個月會換手機，這裡更加快。

Joe：這是件悲哀的事，因為人們購買越多手機，最終掉進垃圾堆的手機也越多。在堆塡區，這些電子廢物會釋放出有毒物質並破壞環境。

Bob：所以現時在加州，人們要為他們買的電子產品付一筆最終循環再造的費用。

Joe：這樣做很公平。

Bob：這條法例亦鼓勵人們用他們的電子產品更長時間，因為有了這個額外的收費，他們在購買新產品前都會三思。這法例亦對製造商有好處！

Joe：等等！當更少人買他們的東西時，不是應該損失利潤嗎？

Bob：不一定，當製造商推出新產品時，他們亦會損失現有產品的營業額，所以，太快推出新產品，在長遠來說，並不一定獲得更多利潤。

Joe：有道理！

Bob：如果製造商有更長的硏發時間，推出的新產品會比舊的有更明顯的改進，而且如果人們預先知道會用一個產品較長時間，他們也會願意付更多金錢。

第112期

Joe and Bob are now walking along a street filled with cellphone shops near the Macau Border Gate with Mainland China.

Joe：Many people in Hong Kong and Macau love to buy new cellphones, which are kind of like a fashion statement these days. As soon as a new one comes onto the market, people will scramble to buy it.

Bob：Americans on average replace their cellphones every 18 months. It’s even faster here.

Joe：Which is sad because the more phones people buy, the more phones will go to the dump eventually. In land fills this electronic waste releases toxins that can damage our environment.

Bob：That’s why in California now people need to pay a fee to cover the eventual cost of recycling the electronics they buy.

Joe：That’s fair.

Bob：This law also encourages people to use their electronics longer because, with this extra cost, they will think twice before buying new ones. It can benefit the manufacturers too！

Joe：Wait！Shouldn’t they be losing profits when less people buying their stuff?

Bob：Not really. When manufacturers introduce new products, they lose sales of their existing ones. So, putting out new products too quickly does not necessarily mean more profits in the long term.

Joe：That makes sense！

Bob：If manufacturers have longer development time, the new products coming out can be much better than the previous ones. And if people anticipate using a product for longer, they are willing to pay more for it.

收聽對話：http://english-macau.com/

李啟昌