Divination

January 14, 2022Chinaman Creek Leave a comment

I froze a little, I admit,
too snug in routine’s tight orbit.
There, in the open kitchen door,
a python patterned urban air
with its generous, coiled sprawl.
Twining in the white grille,
it divined me, forked-tongue flickering.
I felt the dark test, the raw thrill,
the unwelcome, real invasion
of a world brought squarely home to me,
to my evasions.

One-minute Wonderful Short Cantonese Videos: Tommy’s Halfway Coffee

January 11, 2022Chinaman Creek 3 Comments

For one minute, take time out to listen to Tommy talk about his Halfway Coffee shop, where aromatic coffee is served in exquisite traditional Chinese tea-cups. That astonishing fusion between East and West at the heart of Hong Kong is the world’s most incredible and precious cultural heritage, reminding us of Elizabeth Chow’s provocative, thought-provoking words:

Look at us, and envy us, you poor, one-world people, riveted to your limitations. We are the future of the world!

And while you’re enjoying your imaginary drink, boost your stock of Cantonese vocabulary with a few new items: 巷 hohng6 = a lane; 隱約 yán2 yeuk3 = indistinct; 情懷 chìhng4 wàaih4 = feelings; 收藏 sāu1 chòhng4 = to collect; 沖茶 chūng1 chàah4 = to make tea; and of course that all-important 中西融合 Jūng1-Sāi1 yùhng4 hahp6 = roughly, “a fusion of Chinese & Western (elements)”. You can also pick-up some phrases to impress colleagues and friends, including 隱約充滿咗舊香港嘅情懷 = “filled with a faint feel of the old Hong Kong”, 成間咖啡店，我最鍾意厘個位 = “this is my favourite spot in the entire café” and, last but not least, 假如有人經過，我哋就會同佢微笑 = “if someone happens to be passing by, we smile at them” . . .

You can watch the video here.

Just take a few steps along Lascar Row and you will find this coffee shop of ours. Now this shop is on a lane way — you can come in through the front and walk out through the back [前後都打通] and it is filled with a faint feel of the old Hong Kong. Here we have collected around three hundred Chinese-style tea-cups. The cup with the fish-scale pattern on it is probably my favourite. Don’t imagine [唔好以爲] that these cups are only used for tea; actually, we can use them to make coffee in, too. Fusing Chinese and Western elements, this way of drinking coffee has a Hong Kong feel [to it]. This is my favourite spot in the entire café: when I’m making coffee here, I can look at the various customers and, if someone happens to be passing by, we smile at them and invite them in for a cup of coffee and a chat, [so that, in the process, they can] experience something of the old Hong Kong. My name is Tommy, team leader of a coffee shop.

Learning Cantonese: The Pillar of Shame at HKU

January 7, 2022Chinaman Creek Leave a comment

One direct consequence of Hong Kong’s so-called “National Security” law has been the suppression of all forms of commemoration of the June Fourth Tian’anmen Massacre, a suppression that constitutes implicit denial. Just before Christmas, on 23 December, authorities at the University of Hong Kong order the dismantling and removal of the June Fourth memorial sculpture by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt. Not long after, two other universities followed suit, removing other expressions of commemoration linked to the 1989 Pro-democracy Movement and effectively betraying the aspirations of their respective student populations.

Not surprisingly, this report on the removal of the Pillar of Shame by reporter 林彥邦 Lam Yin-pong at Stand News was itself removed from the web after police raided the offices of the organization and arrested both staff and members of its board. However, at the time of writing this, a back-up version was still available on YouTube.

In Chinese, the Pillar of Shame (was) known as 國殤之柱 gwok3 sēung1 jī1 chyúh5. In Cantonese, 殤 sēung1 is not seen very often. It means “to die young” and in the compound 國殤 has the sense of “national martyr”. The connotations of the term are linked primarily with mourning rather than with shame, which is why Lam has to explain the English meaning at the end of his report.

One useful grammatical point in this video concerns a special class of verbs known as verb-object verbs. A common instance is a verb like 睇書 tái2 syū1 = “to read”, where 睇 is the verb “to see” and 書 is the noun “book”. Since aspect markers are generally attached to verbs (or co-verbs), verb-object verbs have to “split” in two when this happens. For example, when the aspect-marker for “finishing” 完 yùhn4 is added to the verb 拆彈 = “to defuse a bomb”, the aspect-marker appears between the verb and its object: 拆完彈. In another example, when the marker 埋 màaih4 (according to Intermediate Cantonese by Yip & Matthews this can mean “in addition to all the rest”) is used with the verb 報警 bou3 gíng2 = “to report (an incident) to the police”, we get 報埋警.

On the vocabulary side of things, you’ll encounter a few uses of the verb 剷 cháan2 = to shovel; to level off. In this video, it seems to have the sense of “to scrape (away)”. I have also heard it in reports of traffic accidents, where it seems to mean something like “to plough into” or perhaps “to shear”. It can also be used in soccer to denote a sliding tackle, 剷球 cháan2 kàuh4.

Please scroll down if you want the transcription, notes and rough English translation. Otherwise, you can view the video here (subtitles in Standard Written Chinese only). Since it is a YouTube video, you can slow down the playback speed if you wish: at 0.75 and 0.5, the sound quality is still good. And remember, if you want the standard jyutping romanization or to check any of the Chinese in the text, please consult the Sheik Cantonese on-line dictionary.

Welcome everyone to 3-minute Noodle Current Affairs. [Because] this edition is appearing for the first time on Christmas Day, let me first of all wish you all a Safe Christmas. Given the present festival atmosphere [佳節], I had originally planned to talk about some fairly light topics, but in this last week of the year, we Hongkongers still had no space in which to take a breather [冇鬆口氣嘅空間].

The Pillar of Shame is the work of Danish sculptor Jens Galschiøt.

Caption: Jens Galschiøt, Maker of the Pillar of Shame

For the past twenty years, it has stood [矗立] on the Haking Wong Podium at the University of Hong Kong, until the early hours of 23 December 2021, when it was dismantled in the dead of night by the authorities at HKU and taken away.

Caption: In the Early Hours of 23 December 2021, the Pillar of Shame is Dismantled & Removed

Right from the beginning, in actual fact, the Pillar of Shame has never really been welcomed by the authorities at HKU. [When we go back] to the time before the transfer of sovereignty . . .

● 護送 wuh6 sung3 = to escort; to convoy | ● 阻止 jó2 jí2 = to prevent; to stop; to hold back | ● 車閘 chē1 jaahp6 = (?) traffic barrier-gate | ● 報警 bou3 gíng2 = to report (an incident) to the police | ● 對峙 deui3 chíh5 = to stand facing each other; to confront | ● 爭執 jāng1 jāp1 = to disagree; to dispute; to stick to one’s guns | ● 一輪 yāt1 lèuhn4 = roughly, “a round” | ● 永久 wíhng5 gáu2 = permanent; perpetual; everlasting | ● 展示 jín2 sih6 = to reveal; to show; to lay bare | ● 散播 saan3 bo3 = to disseminate; to spread |● 仇恨 sàuh4 hahn6 = hatred; enmity; hostility | ● 喐手 yūk1 sáu2 = to start work; to get to work; to take action | ● 日久 yaht6 gáu2 = with the passing of time | ● 失修 sāt1 sāu1 = be in bad repair; fall into disrepair | ● 心中有數 sām1 jūng1 yáuh5 sou3 = have a pretty good idea of; know fairly well | ● 投票日 tòuh4 piu3 yaht6 = polling day | ● 擁有權 yúng2 yáuh5 kyùhn4 = (?) the right of possession; ownership

. . . after the last June Fourth Candle Vigil [六四晚會], the students of HKU escorted the Pillar of Shame back to the HKU campus. However, HKU dispatched security guards to stop them, refusing to lift the road-barrier [車閘] and reporting the matter to the police as well. There was a confrontation between HKU students and their supporters with security guards and the police. It was only after arguing the matter for a while [爭執咗輪] that the Pillar of Shame finally entered the campus. In September 1998, HKU students voted in favour of the Pillar of Shame remaining permanently on display on the Haking Wong Podium. Moving along to June this year, certain groups [團體] complained to the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force, claiming that the Pillar of Shame incited hatred [散播仇恨] and that it “might contravene the National Security Law”. Afterwards, HKU indicated that it intended to remove the Pillar of Shame. Six months later, in the small hours of the night, the university took action. The HKU board explained that the Pillar of Shame had, in the passage of time, fallen into disrepair and this quite possibly was a safety issue. In addition, there were legal risks [風險]. What the real reason was is something you all have a pretty good idea about. It is worth noticing that when voting on polling day on 19 December, the chairperson of the HKU board Arthur Li Kwok-cheung said that the issue of who owned the Pillar of Shame had not yet been resolved . . .

● 離任 lèih4 yahm6 = to leave one’s post | ● 拆彈 chaak3 dáan2 = (?) to defuse a bomb | ● 趁勢 chān1 sai3 = to take advantage of a favourable situation | ● 剷 cháan2 = to shovel; to level off | ● 文宣 màhn4 syūn1 = (?) a written declaration | ● 浮雕 fàuh4 dīu1 = a relief sculpture | ● 執輸 jāp1 syū1 = to miss (a great opportunity) | ● 十字架 sahp6 jih6 gaa3 = crucifix |● 總共 júng2 guhng6 = in all; altogether |● 安然無恙 [ng]ōn1 yìhn4 mòuh4 yeuhng6 = safe & sound; (escape) unscathed

. . . and it seemed that no moves were yet being made. However, three days later, HKU [authorities] set to work and, a week later, Arthur Li Kwok-cheung left his post. Is that just a coincidence, only leaving when the bomb has been defused [拆彈]? Two days after HKU removed the Pillar of Shame, the Chinese University of Hong Kong took away its Goddess of Democracy and scraped away all the written declarations posted up on Democracy Wall. Lingnan University also scraped off its June Fourth relief sculpture as well as the mural of the Goddess of Democracy. Now was this just a coincidence, with people worried that they might “miss out” on “a golden opportunity”, or had they received a directive?

Caption: Xia Baolong Removed over 2000 Crosses from Churches

When he was secretary of the Zhejiang provincial party committee, Xia Baolong, [current] head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, removed over 2000 church crosses [教堂嘅十字架] or [other] structures. Is this [another] coincidence? Jens Galschiøt’s Pillars of Shame includes a total of six pieces [located in] Hong Kong, Rome, Mexico City, Brasilia in Brazil, Copenhagen and Berlin. In English, they are known as the “Pillars of Shame” (that is, chi yuk chue in Cantonese). When the five other Pillars of Shame remain unscathed, in Hong Kong — where the Pillar of Shame stood tall for twenty-three years before being taken away in the dead of night — couldn’t people bear keeping a place for even this work of art . . .

● 做唔落 jouh6 mh4 lohk6 = (?) cannot bear to do cf. Sheik Cantonese: 噉做會棒打鴛鴦，我做唔落 = Doing this would break the couple apart. I cannot bear to do it | ● 懷愐 wàaih4 míhn5 = (?) to cherish the memory of; to recall

. . . despite all the talk about being “an international city”? Furthermore [又或者], to dismantle and remove a pillar of shame is itself a shameful thing. Well, that’s it for this week, but before the end of the program, let us spend a little more time recalling what more we have lost within the short space of just a few days.

Learning Cantonese: Introducing the Hong Kong Shadow Parliament

January 4, 2022January 5, 2022Chinaman Creek Leave a comment

The idea for a Hong Kong Shadow Parliament was first proposed in July 2020 in response to the collapse of democracy in Hong Kong. Not long after, the following video was produced to introduce the concept of the HKSP and the plan to hold a first round of public consultations. Apart from trying to imagine an effective solution to the acute political problems facing Hong Kong, the video also presents a wealth of useful political vocabulary presented in a lively and very accessible manner.

Please scroll down if you want the transcription, notes and literal English translation. Otherwise, you can view the video here (subtitles in Standard Written Chinese and English). Since it is a YouTube video, you can slow down the playback speed if you wish: at 0.75 and 0.5, the sound quality is still good. And remember, if you want the standard jyutping romanization or to check any of the Chinese in the text, please consult the Sheik Cantonese on-line dictionary.

For more up-to-date information about the activities of the HKSP, you can check out their website here.

You can also listen to Simon Cheng Man-kit talking about plans for the Hong Kong Shadow Parliament in English here.

● 形勢 yìhng4 sai3 = situation | ● 惡化 ngok3 faa3 = to worsen; to deteriorate | ● 步入寒冬 bouh6 yahp6 hòhn4 dūng1 = lit. “to step into cold Winter” | ● 嶄新 jáam2 sān1 = brand-new; completely new | ● 秘書處 bei3 syū1 chyu3 = secretariat | ● 公正 gūng1 jing3 = just; fair; impartial | ● 常設 sèuhng4 chit3 = standing; permanent | ● 秘書長 bei3 syū1 jéung2 = secretary-general | ● 秉持 bíng2 chìh4 = to uphold; to hold fast to (cf. 秉持公心 = to uphold justice) | ● 候選人 hauh6 syún2 yàhn4 = a candidate

Voice-over: People of Hong Kong! In recent months, the political situation in Hong Kong has further deteriorated and the local democracy movement has stepped into a frigid Winter. It is our hope that, [in] putting forward a brand-new proposal here, [we can all] continue to strive for true democracy for Hong Kong. This [proposal] is the Hong Kong Shadow Parliament.

Caption: Hong Kong Shadow Parliament

In its present stage, the secretariat is a preparatory working group [籌備工作小組]. Its aim is to impartially research and to realize the scheme for a shadow parliament. Once the Shadow Parliament is born, the Secretariat will become a permanent secretariat [常設秘書處] of the Shadow Parliament, and the secretary-general of the Secretariat must promise to uphold both justice as well as the principle of neutrality. [Also, the secretary-general] cannot take part in elections for the shadow parliament. In this video, we will provide a simple introduction to five questions in order to give you a clearer understanding of the HKSP.

Caption: What is the Hong Kong Shadow Parliament?

● 心聲 sām1 sīng1 = heartfelt wishes; aspiration | ● 透明度 tau3 mìhng4 douh6 = transparency | ● 包容性 bāau1 yùhng4 sing3 = (?) inclusiveness | ● 旨在 jí2 joih6 = for the purpose of | ● 流亡政府 làuh4 mòhng4 jing3 fú2 = government in exile | ● 仿效 fóng2 haauh6 = to imitate; to follow the example of | ● 職能 jīk1 nàhng4 = a function | ● 規管 kwāi1 gún2 = (?) to regulate

The HKSP is a civil [non-governmental] organization that reflects the aspirations of the people of Hong Kong, not an official organ in another form. It is a platform with a high degree of transparency [充滿透明度], inclusiveness [包容性] and accountability. It will enable elected representatives to speak out freely on behalf of Hongkongers on the international stage [喺國際上]. The purpose of the Hong Kong Shadow Parliament is to enable Hongkongers to elect their representatives in a free and fair manner. It is not a government in exile, nor will it [seek to] emulate the functions of a state [in] regulating or determining issues relating to Hong Kong or in matters between Hong Kong people.

Caption: Why Do We Now Need a Shadow Parliament?

Hong Kong’s democratic movement has gradually come to lose any legally-sanctioned room in which to exist, both in terms of the parliamentary avenue and on the streets [議會路線同街頭路線]. With the advent of a new Cold War, the international front will play a more important role . . .

● 賦權予 fu3 kyùhn4 yúh5 = roughly, “to vest power in (sb.)” | ● 連結 lìhn4 git3 = to connect | ● 凝聚 yìhng4 jeuih6 = (?) (to make) more cohesive | ● 陣線 jahn6 sin3 = a front; ranks; an alignment | ● 變革 bin3 gaak3 = to transform; to change | ● 議辯 yíh5 bihn6 = (?) to discuss | ● 培養 pùih4 yéuhng5 = to foster; to train; to develop | ● 視覺 sih6 gok3 = vision (usu. in the sense of “eyesight”)

. . . in Hong Kong’s democratic movement.

Caption: What Will the Functions of the Shadow Parliament Be?

It can provide a secure place to express the true voices of all Hongkongers in a democratic fashion. 2. To provide a platform on which Hongkongers in exile who have been deprived of [their] legitimate political rights can go on having a voice [發聲]. 3. To give power to overseas Hongkongers by means of the election of representatives and to strengthen their connections with Hongkongers still in Hong Kong. 4. To make the international front more cohesive, so that it can serve an ever increasingly important revolutionary force in Hong Kong’s democracy movement. 5. To give Hongkongers a free space in which to debate issues [so as] to foster the ability to analyse public policy and to provide education in democracy. 6. To provide an alternative vision, enabling more Hongkongers to gain an understanding of problems with the current Hong Kong government and inadequacies in the political system. 7. To establish . . .

● 問責 mahn6 jaak3 = to call to account | ● 機制 gē1 jai3 = a mechanism | ● 意願 yi3 yuhn6 = a wish; a desire; an aspiration | ● 認可 yihng6 hó2 = to approve | ● 確立kok3 laahp6 = to establish | ● 正當性 jing3 dong3 sing3 = (?) legitimate cf. 正當 jing3 dong3 = proper; appropriate; legitimate | 倡議團體 cheung3 yíh5 tyùhn4 tái2 = (?) advocacy group cf. 倡議 = 1. to propose 2. initiative| ● 私隱安全 sī1 yán2 [ng]ōn1 chyùhn4 = (?) safety & privacy | ● 必要 bīt1 yiu3 = necessary; essential; indispensable | ● 遙距 yìuh4 kéuih5 = roughly, “[at a] remote [distance]” | ● 擬專用網絡 yíh5 jyūn1 yuhng6 móhng5 lok3 = virtual private network (VPN)

. . . a transparent, inclusive and accountable [問責] mechanism for the various parties in the international front in order to ensure that they represent the true aspirations of the Hong Kong people. 8. To become a platform approved of, and supported by, the general public, as well as establishing and/or strengthening the democratic legitimacy of the various advocacy groups.

Caption: Where Will the Shadow Parliament Conduct Its Affairs [舉行]?

With regard to the Secretariat of the Shadow Parliament, the most important thing is the security of personal information of Hong Kong citizens. Bearing these risks in mind, the Secretariat of Shadow Parliament will adopt the necessary measures to ensure the safety of citizens taken part in the work of the Shadow Parliament. With regard to voting, because setting up polling stations in Hong Kong is too risky, the whole voting process will the carried out on-line. The Secretariat will work together with experts on internet security and remote voting [同與遙距投票] to establish a secure voting platform. We will also encourage Hongkongers to [vote] by using . . .

● 普羅大衆 póu2 lòh4 daaih6 jung3 = the public | ● 代表權 doih6 bíu2 kyùhn4 = representation | ● 承認 sìhng4 yihng6 = to admit; to acknowledge; to recognize | ● 身處 sān1 chyu3 = in (some place) / to be in (adversity, a difficult situation, danger, turmoil etc) / to find oneself in / placed in / surrounded by | ● 確定kok3 dihng6 = to define; to fix; to determine | ● 諮詢 jī1 seun3 = to seek advice from; to consult | ● 雛形 chō1 yìhng4 = embryonic form | ● 憧憬 chūng1 gíng2 = to long for; to look forward to | ● 引發 yáhn5 faat3 = (in chemistry) initiation | ● 陰影 yām1 yíng2 = shadow | ● 初心 chō1 sām1 = beginner’s mind; one’s original intention | ● 出一分力 chēut1 yāt1 fahn6 lihk6 = (?) to make an effort; to make a contribution to

. . . a virtual private network when voting in elections for the Shadow Parliament. With regard to taking part in the elections and the issue of representation, the Secretariat of the Shadow Parliament acknowledges that the possibility of candidates doing work in Hong Kong is low, and that the majority of candidates will be in foreign countries.

Caption: When will the Shadow Parliament Operate?

Since this is an issue closely bound up with the good of the general public, before we determine any specific, concrete [具體] plans, we will conduct a complete public consultation. At this crucial time, we are proposing the embryonic form of the idea of a HKSP in the hope of providing Hongkongers with something new to look forward to [新嘅憧憬], to spark [people’s] imaginations and to start to try thinking outside the box [喺固有框架之外思考]. At present, in the dark shadow of the National Security Law, Hongkongers can no longer struggle for democracy and freedom within the system, [and so for this reason] it is hoped that the Shadow Parliament can enable Hongkongers to maintain their original intention and to continue working towards democracy and freedom for Hong Kong.

● 協調 hip3 tìuh4 = 1. harmonious 2. to coordinate | ● 嚴謹 yìhm4 gán2 = rigorous; strict | ● 依據 yī1 geui3 = according to; in the light of; on the basis of | ● 釐定 lèih4 dihng6 = work out and stipulate (rules and regulations etc.) | ● 路線圖 louh6 sin3 tòuh4 = a route map; a roadmap | ● 有意 yáuh5 yi3 = 1. to be inclined to 2. intentionally; deliberately | ● 同道 tùhng4 douh6 = people engaged in the same pursuit | ● 企圖 kéih5 tòuh4 = to attempt; to try (usu. with a negative connotation) | ● 取代 chéui2 doih6 = to replace; to supersede; to supplant | ● 各級 gok3 kāp1 = all or different levels | ● 職能 jīk1 nàhng4 = a function | ● 二選其一 yih6 syún2 kèih4 yāt1 = (?) to choose between two options | ● 賦權 fu3 kyùhn4 = (?) to entrust with power

The Secretariat of the Shadow Parliament will undertake to hold public consultations, and its members will include members of political organizations, high-profile social activists [知名社運人士], political figures, as well as well-known legal and political scholars with experience of co-ordinating across the [political] spectrum [擁有跨光譜協調經驗]. With [their] experience on relevant issues, these scholars are of vital importance to the work of public consultation. They can help the consultation to be carried out with neutrality, thus achieving consultation outcomes that are both rigorous and representative. On the basis of the opinions [expressed] in the public consultation, we ill work out a timetable and a roadmap for the days ahead. Under no circumstances will we compete with those people who are still struggling within the system for democracy. Nor do we seek to supersede the functions of the various levels of council [議會] in Hong Kong at present. We will lend support to any force struggling for democracy within the system. We will not demand that people make a choice between councils/parliaments [議會] working within or outside the system. Our only wish is to empower Hongkongers . . .

● 資格 jī1 gaak3 = qualifications | ● 參考 chām1 háau2 = to consult; to refer to | ● 期待 kèih4 doih6 = to expect; to await; to look forward to

. . . and to provide another choice [路徑] for the safer and more effective realization of democracy. With regard to [the question of who] is eligible to vote and to stand as a candidate, [as well as] the set-up and system [制度同系統] of the elections, [we will] discuss [this] in the first round of public consultations. If you would like to know more about the details or latest information regarding the Shadow Parliament, please refer to the official website of the Shadow Parliament and other social media sites.

We thank you again for your interest in the democracy movement of Hong Kong and your support. We hope that this video has given you a clear explanation of the concept the Shadow Parliament. We look forward to providing updates about the Shadow Parliament in the near future. [In the meantime,] we will continue to strive on behalf of Hong Kong for the establishment of genuine democracy.

Not Built to Scale (A Giant in Hong Kong)

December 31, 2021Chinaman Creek 2 Comments

I bow down low to my office door
just to get the damned key in the lock;
and mirrors cut me clean off at the throat
in the humid, staff-only toilet.

My shoes stick out over precipice stairs;
my feet poke out at the end of the bed;
I wear my poor head like a crash-helmet.

If Misfit had an alter ego in this place it would probably have to be me . . .

Learning Cantonese: Hong Kong’s Stand News under Threat

December 29, 2021December 31, 2021Chinaman Creek Leave a comment

● 警方國安處 gíng2 fōng1 gwok3 [ng]ōn1 chyu3 = National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force | ● 副採訪主任 fu3 chói2 fóng2 jyú2 yahm6 = deputy assignment editor | 記協主席 gei3 hip3 jyú2 jihk6 = chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association | ● 署理總編輯 chyúh5 léih5 júng2 pīn1 chāp1 = acting chief editor | ● 探員 taam3 yùhn4 = detective constable | ● 董事 dúng2 sí6*2 = a board member; a director | ● 動員 duhng6 yùhn4 = to mobilize | ● 撰文 jaahn6 màhn4 = (?) to write articles

Early this morning (Wednesday 29 December), after the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force visited the Tai Wai residence of Ronson Chan Long-sing, deputy assignment editor, they took him to the home of a family-member in Tai Po to carry out a search. He has not yet been arrested. In other news, at around the same time, personnel from the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested six people who currently hold upper-level positions [現任高層] or who did so formerly, one of them being acting chief editor Patrick Lam, who was taken to the Stand News office located in Kwun Tong where a search was conducted. It is understood that Lam has already stepped down. After a search lasting nearly four hours, he was taken away. Detectives [探員] also examined and took away [撿走] several dozen [幾十] boxes of evidence, including computers and documents. Later, these were transported [from the scene] by truck. Those arrested include the former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen as well as four former directors, Denise Ho, Margaret Ng, Christine Fang and Chow Tat-chi. They are suspected of conspiracy to distribute seditious publications. In the operation, the police deployed more than 200 people. After detectives had left the scene, a number of employees returned to the office. Furthermore, Chan Pui-man, former associate editor at Apple Daily, was taken into custody from the Tai Lam Correctional Institution. She is also suspected of conspiracy to distribute seditious publications. It is believed that she contributed articles to Stand News.

《新心界》: 第八章「唔能夠再有呢個嘅自由」

December 25, 2021Chinaman Creek Leave a comment

陳之一瀏覽互聯網，見到有人引述一句難忘嘅說話：歲月會提出疑問，歲月又會給出答案。佢諗，自從香港回歸以嚟，提出嘅問題已經唔少。難道2019年將會係有答案一年？嗰日下晝喺維園草地上聚集嘅市民内心深處，或多或少、若隱若現都會有類似嘅想法。

下午一點半已經好熱，大多數遊行人士都躲喺雨傘下面，防止被太陽曬得汗流浹背，零舍難耐。維多利亞公園處處都企滿人，同時間又有一浪接一浪嘅新人不停咁湧入。阿綠覺得呢個開頭十分了不起，認為今日一定有好多人參與。等待起步時，陳之一隨便叫阿奇估一估會有幾多少示威者，阿奇就求求其其咁答：「幾多人？ . . . 應該至少一百萬！ . . . 一百萬，一定！」阿綠同陳之一聽佢咁誇張嘅估計都覺得相當離譜。然後，澳洲男人講到，世界上用「維多利亞」命名嘅地方實在太多。包括佢自己長大嘅澳洲維多利亞州，而其他地方如：阿根廷、加拿大、墨西哥、馬耳他、菲律賓同埋塞舌爾群島等等，都有名叫「維多利亞」嘅地方！另外，地圖集裏一共有三個維多利亞湖，四個維多利亞山（呢個時候，阿奇不經意答嘴話：係呀，紐西蘭都有㗎！），加上非洲嘅津巴布韋亦都有一個維多利亞瀑布。作為香港國際印徵嘅維多利亞港，在非洲某處竟然可以搵到佢嘅同名複製品，真係難以想像。

其實，陳之一覺得，由呢度出發其實唔太適合：終究「維多利亞」係「勝利」嘅意思，不過其實好難判斷呢次遊行最終會得出啲咩嘢結果，最終只可由時間去證明。阿一自己處理事情都由失敗出發，慢慢嘗試走進成功嘅方向。一諗到如果今次遊行能夠令示威者得償所願嘅話 . . . 突然間，佢哋注意到，附近有一班細路仔行緊過嚟，好認真咁練習嗌口號，一次又一次一齊整齊大嗌「林鄭講大話，因住甩大牙！」，周圍嘅大人都覺得十分得意。或者係呢班細路當中最調皮、最大膽嘅一隻「曳豬」，忽然將口號嘅後半部改成「因住甩嗮牙！因住甩嗮牙！」。之後四圍好多示威人士都好有節奏、好似唱歌咁嗌嚟嗌去，令大家暫時忘記當時猛烈嘅陽光、等待嘅苦悶。

好好彩，為咗疏導今日擁擠嘅人流，主辦單位宣佈遊行可以提早開始。公園內隨即有一小部份嘅人海，慢慢向西邊嘅高士打道幾個出口移動，速度非常緩慢；同一時間，仲有大批新到嘅示威者繼續到達起步點。不過，大多數在場人士都覺得好興奮，平時我哋每一個人都習慣各自生活喺好狹窄嘅圈子裏，對周圍存在嘅七百萬人嘅印象又抽象又模糊，甚至會有「隔岸觀火」嘅感覺。不過，社會呢一抽象嘅概念突然間變到十分具體：香港嘅真面目本應如此，係可以睇得見，摸得着；而由於炎熱令到大家都出一身汗，甚至可以聞得到！此時此刻，人人面容都不一樣，種種人生經驗差別好大，但係個個都有力量跨越獨立嘅個體，暫時團結一心，同心協力試圖按照一般人嘅願景去駕馭世界。

阿綠同陳之一都特別欣賞同行示威者嘅創造力，佢哋使用豐富嘅想象力，表達自己對香港未來嘅意見。唔少人係用最家常、最普通嘅資料去創造富於個性嘅標示牌：阿綠隔籬有人喺一塊紙板上用箱頭筆寫住「香港加油！」；遊行前方嘅遠處，亦有幾個人手持自己製作嘅黃色布橫額，親手寫有「奪回香港」四個字，就算筆跡歪歪曲曲，但意思清楚易明。走入軒尼詩道之後，行到灣仔富德樓嗰陣，大樓外牆高處展示兩條長長嘅標語，右邊係「捍衛免於恐懼的自由」，左邊對應嘅係「反動中抗惡法人人有責」。更令人鼓舞嘅係，沿途兩邊迫滿為遊行者打氣嘅路人，路邊唔少店鋪櫥窗都貼上支持返送中嘅標語。

穿過呢個人造峽谷嘅時候，示威者嗌口號嘅聲音，不停咁喺石屎大廈之間反復回蕩（「林鄭、下台！林鄭、下台！林鄭、下台！」），平時嚴重缺乏人情味嘅軒尼詩道剎那間充滿人氣、「野性」，令到通常懾服於港島威風嘅陳之一可以暫時放鬆神經。不過，佢亦都注意到四圍人群，有部份嘅參加者對於佔領主幹道嘅熱情開始冷卻，有人開始用手機睇電影或者玩遊戲機，又有人津津樂道咁討論反修例所引起嘅風波：例如如何影響本地股市甚至香港嘅整體經濟發展。澳洲馬騮乾當時認為，雖然佢哋嘅行動係主動嘅，但心態郤太過被動，未必會用盡渾身解數。諗到呢度，陳之一忽然向身邊兩個朋友提出以下嘅疑問：

「噉，除咗撤回《逃犯條例》之外，呢次運動究竟有乜嘢目的呢？」

阿綠對於澳洲男人嘅問題感到詫異。咁啱呢個時刻，佢哋背後傳嚟一片交談聲：「唔可以俾咁嘅惡法通過 . . . 賣咗香港 . . . 唔能夠再有呢種自由 . . . 香港就會變成同其他內地城市冇分別 . . . 」。話音未落，綠頭髮嘅女人就向兩個朋友回應話：

「你哋聽唔聽到？係啦，關鍵正如佢所講：香港嘅自由。呢種“自由”並非内容空洞嘅説話，而係涉及到香港呢個城市嘅各個層面，包括我哋香港人嘅社會結構啦、法律概念啦、我哋嘅本土文化啦、以粵語為主要溝通語言啦、本港特有嘅宗教信仰啦、日常生活嘅種種習慣等等。另外，仲有香港獨一無二嘅地理環境：摒棄佢就難免會發生“同其他內地城市冇分別”悲劇。」

「係啦」阿奇出於一時衝動而插嘴話：「深圳 . . . 香港 . . . 兩個一摸一樣！不過 . . . 我唔想住喺深圳，“一國兩城”，唔該阿 Sir！」

陳之一不斷點頭，表面上同意呢番説話。不過，同一時間，佢越聽就越覺得係有啲嘢唔妥：阿綠强調保存現狀，但未有提及過遠景。就算能夠成功撒回《逃犯條例》、落實雙普選嘅目標，到時有冇人敢肯定咁樣已經係最好、真係冇改進嘅餘地？事實係冇人可以肯定！佢諗：大家今次不妨盡量異想天開，敢於有願景。

澳洲男人嘅呢段思路突然被阿奇打斷：「哎吔！福福福！」原來附近有人唔小心踩嚫佢隻脚，阿奇為咗發泄佢嘅不滿，便運用十分順耳嘅「福」字嚟代替一個好難聽嘅英文粗口，引得陳之一哈哈大笑。不過，事實上好少人注意到阿奇用英式廣東話嚟發脾氣，因為嗰陣時嘅軒尼詩道，口號聲已達震耳欲聾嘅地步（林鄭下台！李家超下台！鄭若驊下台！），邊有人會理呢啲鷄毛蒜皮嘅瑣事。

當行到接近金鐘嘅政府總部之際，阿綠輕輕用手踭碰一碰陳之一，趷起身喺佢耳邊話：「你睇一睇！」男人望住綠頭髮女人所指嘅方向，原來路邊有個後生仔，喺一本袖珍筆記簿上，好俾心機咁用鉛筆畫畫、寫生，快速記錄遊行嘅種種景象。佢靜止嘅姿態同四周充滿活力嘅現狀構成強烈嘅對比。阿綠見到陳之一已經望見速寫「便衣畫家」之後，就補充一句：「我哋發暗家隨時隨地都喺度活躍緊呀！」

行到政府總部之後，負責安排遊行嘅民陣，呼籲大家即時散去，以免示威區變得過份擠塞。其實，去到呢個時候，由示威者構成嘅龐大人流洶湧澎湃，正如凹頭嘅錦田河、沙田嘅城門河、上鄉嘅梧桐河、太和嘅林村河一樣，將只有引水道而冇河流、只知穩定而冇生氣嘅香港島，暫時活躍起嚟，令人感受到嗰一種不可抗拒嘅自發威力。

傍晚時份，三人返到大埔墟食晚飯，從電視新聞中得知，今日真係有一百萬人參與遊行，令到阿綠同埋陳之一萬分欽佩阿奇嘅數學能力。

Modest O’Clock

December 24, 2021Chinaman Creek Leave a comment

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Without fanfare, my whole personal
temporal sense turned suddenly
unassuming. Seconds,
minutes, hours now still remain,
but all those former
perennial favourites — weeks,
months, years (not to mention
on a grander scale decades, centuries,
aeons) — excite little interest.
I just don’t have the time.

Liisa Immonen’s Faithless Loyalty

December 20, 2021December 20, 2021Chinaman Creek Leave a comment

It has been a night of passionate love-making. Next morning, the speaker in this short poem thinks teasingly: Sinä olet minulle hiukan uskoton = You are a little unfaithful to me. She/he lies there awake, reading in the lover’s look a hint of doubt about the depths of their feelings for one another. A need for reassurance — in words — appears to be necessary . . .

This is the unspoken question runs through the heart of this poem: Do you really love me? Of course, a simple yes or no is not enough — it’s not just what answer you give but the degree of conviction you are capable of conveying. In this sense, Immonen’s poem is not just about love. It’s also about poetry. In poetry, too, it’s not just a matter of making sense but of indicating heartfeltness. Once again, Immonen demonstrates that she is equal to the task.

Within the poem itself, the speaker provides no satisfactory answer. The body has spoken, and that should be enough. But the lover’s doubts within the situation will be answered “outside” when he/she comes cross a copy of the poem, left casually in a place where it is sure to be noticed, a candid declaration in the guise of a feigned reproach.

The language of the poem is beautifully simple, the only difficulty being the word levänneenä, a part participle derived from the verb levätä, meaning “to rest, to have a rest, to repose”. Finnish past participles have both singular and plural forms (levännyt/levänneet); interestingly, the stem form is based on the plural levännee-, which can then take case endings like any other noun or adjective. Fred Karlsson gives an unforgettable example of the part participle used with case-endings in his Finsk grammatik:

Pommin löytäneelle koiralle anettiin mitali = A medal was given to the dog which found the bomb. (198)

The case in this instance is the essive, expressed by the ending –nä. The wonderous Arthur H. Whitney outlines three uses of the essive, the most relevant for this instance being “the state or temporary character of something or someone” (Finnish).

A little oddly to non-Finnish speakers, the word ruumis, meaning “body”, can also mean “corpse”, but fortunately not in this particular jewel of a poem.

…………………………………………………..

Sinä olet minulle
hiukan uskoton.
Kun herään unesta, levänneenä,
sinun katseesi kysyy minua,
etkä saa parempaa vastausta
kuin ruumiini sinulle antaa,
ja sinä epäilet,
vaikka minun ruumiini tietää
enemmän kuin luuletkaan.

You are being unfaithful to me
just that tiny little bit.
As I lie here awake
and reposed, you question me with your gaze,
wondering whether you could get a better answer
than my body gives you.
Indeed, you believe you might —
even though my body knows
much more than you think.