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.

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。

Hong Kong Flow

May 5, 2021Chinaman Creek 2 Comments

“Highest good is like water [上善若水],” it says in Chapter VIII of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, and it is a wonderful thing to read the phrase quoted again here, 2500 years later, in the 創刊宣言 or “Publication Manifesto” of a new Hong Kong magazine called 《如水》[Flow HK].

The purpose of Flow HK is 通過歷史論述、理論框架以及對未來路線的思考，我們希望連結每位參與這場光復運動的香港兒女，為他們作思想充權 — that is, “By means of discussions of history, theoretical frameworks, and a consideration of future ways to proceed, we hope to connect with every daughter and son of Hong Kong who is taking part in this movement to liberate Hong Kong and to empower them intellectually”, and anyone concerned for the fate of Hong Kong will be stirred by the words 在每個漆黑無聲的夜晚，不要忘記還有人從未放棄心中所有 — “In every pitch-black night in which nothing stirs, one must not forget that there are still individuals who have never given up on what they hold dear in their hearts”.

The theme of the first issue is 絆 buhn6, a verb that usually means “to trip up”, and which occurs in the compound 絆腳石 or “stumbling block”. It seems like a fairly reasonable place to set out from. For more information, you can visit the Flow HK website here.

Please scroll down for the Manifesto with an English translation and notes. If you wish to check any of the Chinese in the text, please consult the Sheik Cantonese on-line dictionary.

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《創刊宣言》| Publication Manifesto

我們活在最好亦是最壞的年代。過去的抗爭讓我們看見香港人無限的可能性，亦讓我們對香港共同體生出了美好的想像。然而，中共及其設於香港的傀儡政權對港人的打壓日益趨厲，因抗爭及政見而流血及入罪者不計其數。隨著中共政權強行通過國安法，香港真正進入威權時代，縱使民間發起各種反極權的抗爭，香港人的自由空間卻不斷收窄。面對前所未有的歷史試煉，流散於各方的我們決心要維繫香港人這個獨特的共同體，希望承傳抗爭的火種。

● 共同體 guhng6 tùhng4 tái2 = community | ● 傀儡 faai3 léuih5 = a puppet; a stooge | ● 日益趨厲 yaht6 yīk1 chēui1 laih6 = gets fiercer by the day | ● 不計其數 bāt1 gai3 kèih4 sou3 = countless; innumerable | ● 強行 kéuhng5 hàhng4 = to force | ● 威權 wāi1 kyùhn4 = authority; power | ● 收窄 sāu1 jaak3 = to narrow | ● 歷史試煉 lihk6 sí2 si3 lihn6 = (?) an historical test/trial | ● 流散於各方 làuh4 saan3 yū1 gok3 fōng1 = to scatter in all directions | ● 維繫 wàih4 haih6 = to hold together | ● 承傳 sìhng4 chyùhn4 = (?) to inherit & to impart cf. 傳承 chyùhn4 sìhng4 = to impart & to inherit

We live in the best, and the worst, of times. Over the course of the past resistance, we have seen the boundless possibilities of the Hong Kong people, and this has also enabled us to have some fond imaginings about the Hong Kong community. However, the repression carried out by the Chinese Communist Party and its puppet authorities [政權] in Hong Kong is getting fiercer by the day, and the number of those who have bled or who have been charged with a criminal offence because of their resistance or their political views is too numerous to count. In the wake of the Chinese Communist Party’s forcing of the passage of the National Security Law, Hong Kong has now truly entered an era of authoritarian rule [威權時代], and even though many acts of resistance opposing totalitarian power have been initiated among the common people [民間], the space of freedom for people in Hong Kong is constantly being narrowed down. Faced with this unprecedented historical test, we (people who have left Hong Kong and now live in various countries around the world) are determined to try and hold together this unique community [made up] of Hongkongers, in the hope that we can impart and hand on the sparks of resistance.

在如此焗促不安的政治環境中，我們可以重新思索運動的初心﹕「如水」。「如水」取其義即水進杯則成杯之形，入壺則成壺之狀。反送中運動之所以能夠取得突破，正因為抗爭者能如水般靈巧應對強權的策略，既能堅穩如冰，亦能流動若水，甚或化為空氣擴散而去。但隨著政權的打壓不斷升級，我們若要延續抗爭如水的精神，必須先通澈理解我們的容器，亦即我們身處的局勢以及定義我們的思維世界。我們面對的是何樣的地緣及世界格局？我們心目中的香港及香港人是由誰的論述構成？我們所謂的「常識」有多少是滲透著中共殖民香港的意識？

● 焗促不安 guhk6 chūk1 bāt1 ōn1 = cf. 局促不安 = feel ill at ease | ● 重新思索 chùhng4 sān1 sī1 sok3 = roughly, “to rethink” (cf. 思索 = to ponder; to think deeply) | ● 初心 chō1 sām1 = one’s original intention (Sheik Cantonese: 初心 is a Japanese term that means “beginner’s mind”) | ● 取其義 chéui2 kèih4 yih6 = roughly, “to take as its meaning” | ● 靈巧 lìhng4 háau2 = dextrous; nimble; skilful; ingenious | ● 強權 kèuhng4 kyùhn4 = power; might | ● 甚或 sahm6 waahk6 = even; (go) so far as to | ● 擴散 kong3 saan3 = to spread; to diffuse | ● 通澈 tūng1 chit3 = ? (cf. 通徹to understand thoroughly) | ● 容器 yùhng4 hei3 = container; vessel | ● 地緣 deih6 yùhn6 = relations formed through geographical links; geo- (as a prefix) | ● 格局 gaak3 guhk6 = a pattern; setup; structure | ● 論述 leuhn6 seuht6 = to discuss; to expound

In such an uneasy political environment, we can rethink the “original intentions” of the movement: “to be like water” [如水]. “To be like water” means that when the water goes into a cup or glass, it takes the form of the cup/glass, and when it goes into a jug [壺] it adopts the shape of a jug. The reason why the anti-extradition movement was able to achieve a breakthrough was precisely because activists [抗爭者] were able to respond with ingenuity to the tactics of those in power, just like water — capable of being both firm and stable [堅穩], and flowing like water, and even able to evaporate and vanish away into thin air [擴散而去]. But following on from the constant escalation in repression on the part of the regime, if we wish to go on in the spirit of being like water, we must first gain a thorough understanding of our containers, that is, the state of affairs in which we find ourselves and the global setup [世界格局]. Whose discourse is it that constitutes the Hong Kong and the Hongkongers we are to have in our minds? To what extent is our “common knowledge” saturated with the mindset [意識] of a Chinese communist colonial Hong Kong?

人要如水，先要清淨如水、清空心智，審視自身的盲點及未圓之處。這並不代表我們要超越歷史或摒棄舊有的一切思想框架。反之，我們必須重新考證歷史，批判現有權威的論述，並建構我們自己對這個共同體的論述，從而思考未來可能的路線。香港的歷史長河從何而流，又應往何流去？這是時代對我們的拷問。

● 清空心智 chīng1 hūng1 sām1 ji3 = (?) to empty one’s mind | ● 審視 sám2 sih6 = to examine; to scrutinize | ● 未圓之處 meih6 yùhn4 jī1 chyu3 = roughly, “those places which are not satisfactory” | ● 摒棄 bing3 hei3 = to discard; to reject; to throw away; to abandon | ● 考證 háau2 jing3 = usu. textual criticism; textual research | ● 拷問 hāau1 mahn6 = usu. “to torture” (?) to interrogate

If we wish to be like water, we must first empty our minds and scrutinize ourselves for blind spots and imperfections [未圓之處]. That does not mean that we should try to go beyond history or set aside all the old intellectual frameworks. The opposite is true: we must once again examine [考證] history, criticize the utterances [論述] of the existing power structure, and establish our own discourse about this community, in order to reflect on future possible ways forward. Where does the long river of Hong Kong first begin to flow, and in which direction ought it to flow [next]? This is how the present era interrogates [拷問] us.

水滯則濁，流則不腐，我們若想在日後關鍵的時候能夠如水知所進退，便不能夠任由單一規範成為鐵則束縛自己。當掌權者把謊言奉為圭臬，往往殘暴地抹去相左的異議，送葬民間自由發展的可能性。集體行動若要成功，大眾團結尋找合作基礎和發展方向是不可缺少。上善若水，只有我們在革命中放下自我，攜手前行，才能澤被我們深愛的共同體。與茲同時，只有當我們願意一起積極地討論共同體的事務，令各種辯論川流不息，不同意見得以對撞契合並產生火花，香港共同體才能保持生機，為未來運動提供思想養分。

● 知所進退 jī1 só2 jeun3 teui3 = roughly, “know when to advance and when to retreat” | ● 任 yahm6 = to let; to allow; to give free rein to | ● 單一規範 dāan1 yāt1 kwāi1 faahn6 = roughly, “a single standard/norm” | ● 鐵則 tit3 jāk1 = an iron rule | ● 束縛 chūk1 bok3 = to tie; to bind up; to fetter | ● 奉為圭臬 fuhng6 wàih4 gwāi1 yiht6 = hold up as a model | ● 相左的異議 sēung1 jó2 dīk1 yih6 yíh5 = lit. 相左 = conflict with each other + 異議 = objection; dissent| ● 送葬 sung3 jong3 = to take part in a funeral procession; to attend a funeral | ● 合作基礎 hahp6 jok3 gēi1 chó2 = a foundation/basis for co-operation | ● 攜手 kwàih4 sáu2 = ① hand in hand ② to co-operate | ● 澤 jaahk6 = to benefit | ● 川流不息 chyūn1 làuh4 bāt1 sīk1 = flowing past in an endless stream; never-ending | ● 對撞契合 deui3 johng6 kai3 hahp6 = lit. 對撞 = colliding + 契合 = to agree with; to tally with

When unable to flow, water becomes turbid; when able to flow, it is never stagnant. If, during key moments in the days to come, we wish to be able to be like water — knowing when to advance and when to retreat — we cannot allow any single norm [單一規範] to become an iron rule with which to limit ourselves. When those holding power hold up telling lies as a model, as a matter of course [往往] they brutally obliterate any views that object to their own, and take part in the funeral for the possibility of the development of freedom among the people. If collective movements are to succeed, it is indispensable for public groups to seek out bases for co-operation and directions for development. Highest good is like water — only as long as we put ourselves to one side in the course of the revolution and advance hand in hand can we benefit the community we so deeply love. At the same time, it is only as long as we are willing to positively discuss issues affecting this community together that the vitality of the Hong Kong community can be maintained, providing intellectual nutrition to future movements.

面對政治寒冬，香港人要靈活如水，還要剛強如冰，以不屈的姿態，力求破除中國夢魘。當政權嘗試將一切公共辯論空間抹殺，作為一班流散在外的香港人以及深愛香港的人，我們決不選擇沉默。我們決定利用在海外的自由空間，建構並保存一個公共議論香港的媒介，為在香港內外的人整合各種有關香港政治、歷史、社會和文化面向的論述。通過歷史論述、理論框架以及對未來路線的思考，我們希望連結每位參與這場光復運動的香港兒女，為他們作思想充權。我們要在人類歷史中弘揚香港人追求自由之聲，要讓世界看見香港。

● 政治寒冬 jing3 jih6 hòhn4 dūng1 = roughly, “a severe political Winter” | ● 剛強 gōng1 kèuhng4 = firm; staunch; unyielding | ● 不屈 bāt wāt1 = unyielding; unbending | ● 破除 po3 chèuih4 = to do away with; to get rid of; to eradicate; to break with | ● 夢魘 muhng6 yím2 = nightmare | ● 辯論 bihn6 leuhn6 = to argue; to debate | ● 抹殺 mut3 saat3 = to remove from evidence; to expunge; to suppress; to wipe out, to obliterate (also written 抹煞) | ● 建構 gin3 kau3 = to construct | ● 整合 jíng2 hahp6 = to reorganize & consolidate | ● 面向 mihn6 heung3 = ① to turn in the direction of; to face ② be geared to the needs of; to cater to | ● 論述 leuhn6 seuht6 = to discuss; to expound | ● 連結 lìhn4 git3 = to connect | ● 作思想充權jok3 sī1 séung2 chōng1 kyùhn4 = (?) to carry out ideological/intellectual empowerment | ● 弘揚 wàhng4 yèuhng4 = to develop & expand

Faced with this severe political Winter, Hongkongers must be flexible like water, and they must also be staunch like water, striving to do away with the Chinese nightmare. When political power obliterates all space for public debate, we cannot choose silence, we Hong Kong people who are scattered abroad as well as those who deeply love Hong Kong. We have decided to make use of those spaces for freedom outside of Hong Kong to construct and maintain a medium for the public discussion of Hong Kong, as well as to reorganize and consolidate discussions geared to [面向] [issues such as] politics, history, society and culture for Hongkongers inside and outside Hong Kong. By means of discussions of history, theoretical frameworks, and a consideration of future ways to proceed [未來路線], we hope to connect with every daughter and son of Hong Kong who is taking part in this movement to liberate Hong Kong and to empower them intellectually. In the course of human history, we would like to develop and amplify the voice of Hongkongers in their quest for freedom, as well as let the world come to see Hong Kong.

歷史已經進入轉捩點，思想革命正在發生。香港是屬於香港人的香港，我們不欲成為失根的浮萍，是故絕不容許香港在我們手中白白流逝。在每個漆黑無聲的夜晚，不要忘記還有人從未放棄心中所有。黎明來臨之前，我們都會長夜相伴，以文字書寫出我們的信念和堅持，在黑夜中為大家提供希望的憑藉。爭取民主與自由是跨世代香港人的共同夙願，我們深信追求命運自主是歷史的呼聲。時代召喚我們，我們便挺身而出，不負時代，勢要讓獨裁暴政在這代終結。我們期待民主的果實在香港破土而出，遊子可以歸家，受困之人可以解困，香港人可以早日一起共建美麗新香港。這是我們共同的希冀。

● 轉捩點 jyún2 liht6 dím2 = turning point | ● 失根的浮萍 sāt1 gān1 dīk1 fàuh4 pìhng4 = roughly, “duckweed which has lost its roots/identity” | ● 白白流逝 baahk6 baahk6 làuh4 saih6 = 白白 = in vain; to no purpose; for nothing + 流逝 = (of time) to pass; to elapse | ● 漆黑 chāt1 hāk1/hāak1 = pitch-dark; pitch-black | ● 心中所有 sām1 jūng1 só2 yáuh5 = roughly, “that which is in one’s heart/mind” | ● 憑藉 pàhng4 jihk6 = to rely on; to depend on | ● 夙願 sūk1 yuhn6 = a long-cherished wish | ● 跨 kwāa1 = to cut across; to go beyond | ● 呼聲 fū1 sēng1 = a cry; a voice | ● 召喚 jiuh6 wuhn6 = to call; to summon | ● 挺身而出 tíhng5 sān1 yìh4 chēut1 = step forward bravely; come out boldly | ● 不負 bāt1 fuh6 = (?) not to betray | ● 獨裁暴政 duhk6 choih4 bouh6 jing3 = cf. 獨裁 = dictatorship + 暴政 = tyranny; despotic rule | ● 破土而出 po3 tóu2 yìh4 chēut1 = (of a seedling) break through the soil | ● 遊子 yàuh4 jí2 = a person travelling or residing in a place far away from home | ● 解困 gáai2 kwan3 = to resolve difficulties | ● 希冀 hēi1 kei3 = to hope for; to wish for; to aspire to

Notes: ① The expression 是故 has the meaning of “for this reason” in Standard Written Chinese. ② I’m not exactly sure what 勢要 sai3 yiu3 means in the phrase 勢要讓獨裁暴政在這代終結. Usually, 勢 refers to “momentum” or “tendency”; it can also mean “state of affairs; circumstances”.

History is now at a turning point, and a revolution in thought is in the process of taking place. Hong Kong is the Hong Kong that belongs to the Hong Kong people — we have no wish to become [like] floating duckweed that has lost its roots, and for this reason we will absolutely not allow Hong Kong to slip out of our hands to no purpose. In every pitch-black night in which nothing stirs, one must not forget that there are still individuals who have never given up on what they hold dear in their hearts [心中所有]. Before the coming of the dawn, we will keep one another company through the long night, and with written words give expression to both our faith and our perseverance, providing in the darkness of night a basis for our common hopes. The striving for democracy and freedom is the long-cherished wish of Hongkongers cutting across a number of generations, and we are convinced that the pursuit of determining our own fate is something that History calls on us to do [追求命運自主是歷史的呼聲]. History is summoning us, so we must come out boldly, not betray the age, and continue the momentum [勢要] by which dictatorship and tyranny is coming to an end in this era. We look forward to the fruits of democracy breaking through the soil of Hong Kong, [so that] those residing far from home may return, and those in difficulty may resolve them [so that] together Hongkongers can build a beautiful new Hong Kong, as soon as possible. This is our shared aspiration.

Learning Cantonese: HK01 Interview with 林卓廷 Lam Cheuk-ting

September 21, 2020September 29, 2020Chinaman Creek Leave a comment

LegCo council-member 林卓廷 Lam Cheuk-ting was arrested on the morning of 26 August in connection with the incredible violence that took place inside the Yuen Long MTR Station on 21 July 2019 (Lam himself was badly beaten around the face in this incident), as well as a protest outside Tuen Mun Police Headquarters on 6 July connected with the protest against noise pollution and various kinds of busking (especially the so-called “dancing aunties”) in Tuen Mun Park.

Before his arrest, he recorded this 15-minute interview with a pair of HK01 journalists about the forthcoming public poll that Hong Kong’s democratic camp is conducting to determine whether it stay on in opposition in LegCo, or whether it withdraw. Apart from its intrinsic interest with regard to democracy in Hong Kong, I am presenting it here because Lam speaks so comprehensibly, pronouncing his words very clearly, and very rarely running them together as his questioners do.

To watch and listen to Lam in action, please click here. 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.

Unfortunately, because there are no subtitles with this video and because the audio for the two journalists is very poor, there are many gaps in the transcription. If any one can help fill them in for me on behalf of all those students of Cantonese, I would be very grateful! Please just contact me by writing a comment on this post!

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Caption: 民主派延任現爭拗 / 民調門檻怎樣定？

吳倬安：大家好！歡迎大家收睇財經加零一。我係你哋嘅節目主持吳倬安，喺我身邊呢，就係有《香港01》政情組總采訪主任陳小瑜 /喺度嘅。小瑜呀，噉政府啦，就因爲新冠肺炎疫情啦，就押後選舉一年啦。噉人大常委呢。爲咗，就，處理呢個選舉真空期嘅問題啦。於是，就作出決定，就將第六届立法會啦，就延任不少於一年。噉呢個決定公佈咗之後呢，其實，喺 *hei 民主派內部呢，都有好多嘅討論啦，有人認爲要留低喺議會啦，亦都有人認爲應該要杯葛嘅。噉可以話係正反雙方呢，都拳來腳往。噉其中啦，eh 有七位立法會議員嘅民主黨啦。噉佢哋就表態啦，就傾向留守議會戰線啦。噉佢哋就委托咗香港民意研究所，就進行民意調查啦，就用嚟決定佢哋嘅去留嘅。噉今日呢，我哋就請到呢民主黨立法會議員林卓廷上嚟同我哋討論吓呢個題目嘅。多謝你呀廷，接受我哋訪問呀。多謝！

● 真空期 jān1 hūng1 kèih4 = a vacuum; a vacuum period | ● 杯葛 būi1 got3 = to boycott | ● 拳來腳往 kyùhn4 lòih4 geuk3 wóhng5 = (?) to come out fighting |● 表態 bíu2 taai3 = to make one’s position known; to declare where one stands | ● 留守 làuh4 sáu2 = to stay behind & take care of things | ● 委托 wái2 tok3 = to entrust

Gist: The host Cheuk On Ng introduces himself and his colleague Chan Siu-yu, head of the political news team at HK01. He gives some background to the issue: that the LegCo elections have been postponed for a year because of the covid virus, that this postponement has sparked heated discussion in the democratic camp, and that because of this a number of democratic council members have proposed conducting a poll [民意調查 or 民調 for short] in order to determine whether they should stay on in the Council or leave.

林卓廷：多謝你呀，小瑜兄、倬安兩位。多謝你哋。

係呀，廷呀嗱一句到尾喇，你認爲呃，民主派應該係寸土必爭延任一年，定話［其］實係應該用焦土政策全面杯葛、攬炒呢？

● 寸土必爭 chuyhn tóu bīt jāng = fight for every inch of land | ● 焦土政策 jīu1 tóu2 jing3 chaak3 = scorched earth policy

Gist: Lam thanks his hosts. Chan Siu-yu asks Lam whether he thinks all the democratic councillors should stay on in LegCo, or whether they should all boycott [杯葛] it.

林卓廷：首先呢，小瑜兄，我哋民主黨呢，係覺得我哋必須要堅守現代嘅議會戰線嘅。因爲我哋預計呢，嚟緊一年呢，喺立法會裏邊係會有好多嘅重大嘅議案，係涉及市民重大嘅利益，包括係 um 東大嶼嘅過萬億嘅填海計劃啦，仲有係大灣區，講緊係有15萬潛在嘅係居住内地嘅香港人【2:00】嘅投票安排。呢個絕對會呢，係嚴重咁影響到立法會同埋區議會最終嘅選舉結果，民主派可能因爲呢20萬票呢，會變成大敗嘅。令一點就係，而家香港社會好關注嘅健康碼嘅問題，日後政府會唔會借推呢個健康碼去搜集市民嘅私隱資料去追蹤我哋嘅行蹤。呢啲問題呢，都係我哋需要喺堅守住議會嘅戰線係抵抗呢個惡法。我其實亦都明白到，有好多市民，尤其我哋民主派陣營嘅支持者，對於 ah 中央政府係拒絕按《基本法》四年嘅任期係俾我哋喺九月係進行立法會選舉剝奪咗我哋市民嘅投票權係非常非常之憤怒。我哋民主黨亦都係【3:00】ah ah 激烈，激烈咁去反對有關嘅決定，不過，啫，人大已經做咗呢個決定，而佢延任一年嘅安排呢，係令到我哋民主陣營裏邊呢，而家出現極致大嘅爭拗。噉我哋為咗我哋嘅團結唔好再受損落去，所以我哋就決定，用呢個民調嘅方式，希望可以用一個市民有參與情況底下，去解決現在已經係咁嚴重嘅爭議。我哋唔想我哋成個民主陣營係因爲呢件事情呢，嗰個分裂係惡化落去。我哋强調，現在我哋成個嘅陣營呢，必須槍口對外，團結一致，去對抗現在香港面對緊嘅種種嘅惡法，以至北京政府，林鄭政府對香港人嘅打壓呢。

● 堅守 gīn1 sáu2 = to stick to; to hold fast to; to stand fast | ● 戰線 jin3 sin3 = battle line; battlefront; front | ● 嚟緊一年 lèih4 gán2 yāt1 nìhn4 = the coming year| ● 議案 yíh5 ngon3 = a proposal; a motion | ● 日後 yaht6 hauh6 = in the future; in (the) days to come | ● 私隱資料 sī1 yán2 jī1 líu2 = personal/private material | ● 追蹤 jēui1 jūng1 = to follow the trail of; to track; to trace | ● 行蹤 hàhng4 jūng1 = whereabouts; track | ● 抵抗 dái2 kong3 = to resist; to stand up to | ● 陣營 jahn6 yìhng4 = a group of people who pursue a common interest; a camp | ● 剝奪 mōk1 dyuht6 = to deprive; to expropriate | ● 投票權 tàuh4 piu3 kyùhn4 = the right to vote | ● 憤怒 fáhn5 nouh6 = indignation; anger; wrath | ● 激烈 gīk1 liht6 = intense; sharp; fierce | ● 極致 gihk6 ji3 = (?) extremely | ● 團結 tyùhn4 git3 = to unite; to rally | ● 受損 sauh6 syún2 = to be damaged | ● 爭議 jāang1 yíh5 = a dispute; a controversy | ● 惡化 [ng]ok3 faa3 = to worsen; to deteriorate | 槍口對外 chēung1 háau2 deui3 ngoih6 = (?) to point our guns outwards (rather than at ourselves) | ● 以至 yíh5 ji3 = down to; up to; and even | ● 打壓 dáa2 [ng]aat3 = to combat & suppress

Gist: Lam opens by saying he thinks they should stay, because a number of crucial issues are coming up for discussion in the coming year, including the trillion dollar plus land reclamation project proposed for eastern Lantau Island, a plan to find a way to enable the 150,000 Hong Kong people living in the Greater Bay Area [大灣區] to vote in Hong Kong elections, and the issue of the health code [健康碼] together with the collection of personal details. These are good reasons to stay, together with the fact that many in the democratic camp were angered by the decision, taken by the Central Government of the PRC, to postpone the elections in the first place. Lam goes to acknowledge that many in the democratic camp oppose staying on in LegCo, and that serious divisions have emerged that threaten to seriously undermine the unity of the democrats. A way then had to be sought to re-unify the group.

陳小瑜：嗱，阿廷呀，嗱，你呢，就解釋咗點解要 ah 用民調呀，【4:00】但係你開頭嘅時候呢，亦都講得振振有詞喎。你留喺議會嘅時候 / / 好重要嘅事情嚟㗎。噉兩件事好似有矛盾呢，既然留 / / 咁重要，點解你唔 / / 勸服你嘅其他民友一齊留喺議會呢？反而 / / 民調呢，/ / 民調萬一叫你走，你離開議會同開頭講嘅，唔係互相矛盾呀？

● 振振有詞 jan3 jan3 yáuh5 chìh4 = speak plausibly and at length | ● 勸服 hyun3 fuhk6 = to persuade | ● 民友 màhn4 yáuh5 = (?) a person sympathetic to the democratic cause

Gist: Chan Siu-yu asks Lam about the apparent contradiction in his opening statement: the coming year is indeed a very important one, so why conduct a poll that may lead to the group resigning en masse from LegCo rather than try and persuade everyone involved of the vital need to say on?

林卓廷：林卓廷：喺上個星期一呢，我哋民主黨同埋多個民主派嘅朋友呢，都係公開交代咗我哋初步嘅睇法，我哋話我哋傾向係留守呢個議會嘅戰線。噉但係之後呢，我哋留意到，係喺社會上有好激烈嘅討論，尤其喺我哋自己民主陣營裏邊嘅支持者呢，已經嗰個討論係去到傷害到我哋過去一年得嚟不易嘅團結。噉所以我哋認爲呢，必須要係儘快有一個大家都可以接受嘅方法去解決呢個爭議嘅。我哋亦都【5:00】係好開心 / / 聽，市民嘅睇法究竟呢個爭議用咩辦法解決呢，我哋聽到最 / / ，就係有一個民調或者係公投嘅方式去處理呢個爭議。噉所以我哋最終考慮到時間呀、人手呀、具體操作上嘅困難等等嘅情況呢，我哋就決定用呢個民調嘅方式，希望係喺我哋成個民主陣營裏邊呢，參考最大嘅共識，係解決現在嘅爭議，重新團結返起嚟呢。

● 激烈 gihk6 liht6 = intense; sharp; fierce | ● 公投 gūng1 tàuh4 = (?) a public vote (on an issue) | ● 具體操作 geuih6 tái2 chou3 jok3 = concrete operations

Gist: Lam recalls that last Monday (24 August), various democrats expressed their view about staying during a press conference. However, the disagreements this gave rise to concerned the democratic camp about damage to group unity. In the effort to deal with this problem, Lam notes that most people argued for a poll or a public vote [公投] on the question. After considering various aspects, including time, manpower and difficulties involved in the concrete operation of any solution, it was decided that a poll be conducted to resolve the disputes and reunify the democrats.

陳小瑜：嗯，嗱，好呀。聽你 / / 講，就嚟緊嘅民調就非常重要呀。可以話，啫，影響你哋去留嘅關鍵呀。噉但係知道呢，民調點樣設計呢，就得出點樣嘅結果呢。你可唔可以同大家解釋吓，個民調大概點樣嘅方向呢？

● 去留 heui3 làuh4 = to go or to stay

Gist: Chan Siu-yu points out that the way any poll is designed can have an effect on its outcome. Therefore, he asks Lam to provide some details about how the design of the poll was negotiated.

林卓廷：Um 首先 ah 小瑜兄，你講得好啱嘅。如果我哋 ah 就【6:00】嗰個民調嘅設計嗰度呢，係有一個 ah 導向性呢，係絕對會影響到個民調嘅結果嘅。而我哋民主黨呢，喺成個民調嚟講呢，係有一個利益角色喺入便嘅。雖然我哋係好小心，好謹慎係避免我哋有任何嘅角色、利益衝突喺當中，因此呢，我哋喺上嘅星期四記者會上邊呢，我哋當時呢，係 ah 公開講，我哋會揾專業、獨立、具公信力嘅民調機構去幫我哋去設計呢啲問卷，同埋定相關嘅門檻，究竟喺點樣嘅情況底下如何調查，得出乜嘢結果，我哋亦都會服膺於呢個民調嘅結論去決定去或者留嘅。噉 ah 我哋即日呢，亦都有負責任聯絡咗 ah 香港民意研究計劃嘅【7:00】鐘庭耀博士去初步 ah 同佢傾吓傾我哋嘅諗法。噉 ah 都唔係我哋預計之内呢，阿鐘博士喺上個星期五呢，已經係自己提出咗佢有兩個門檻嘅建議，就擺咗出嚟俾公衆去知道呀。噉我哋係完全尊重阿鐘博士佢哋嘅專業同埋獨立。所以呢，就我哋咁耐以嚟 / / 鐘博士嘅溝通呢，都係希望可以澄清入便嘅細節問題。嗰個原則方向呢，我哋係會完全服膺於阿鐘博士佢嘅專業同埋獨立嘅角色。我哋唔完全能夠，亦都唔會去干預佢嗰個問卷調查嘅設計，嗰啲調查嘅方法同埋佢作所有嘅結論呢。

● 導向性 douh6 heung3 sing3 = ? cf. 導向 guidance | ● 謹慎 gán2 sàhn4 = prudent; careful | ● 記者會 gei3 jé2 wúi6*2 = press conference | ● 公信力 gūng1 seun3 lihk6 = the ability to win public trust ● 問卷 mahn6 gyún2 = a questionnaire | ● 門檻 muhn4 laahm6 = threshold| ● 服膺於 fuhk6 yīng1 yū1 = 1. to bear in mind 2. to feel deeply convinced 3. (?) subordinate to | ● 即日 jīk1 yaht6 = this or that very day | ● 鐘庭耀博士 = | ● 澄清 chìhng4 chīng1 = to clear up; to clarify | ● 干預 gōn1 yuh6 = to interfere; to intervene; to meddle

Gist: Lam acknowledges that any kind of “guidance” [導向性] in the creation of the poll would have an influence on the result, and that the democratic camp has a strong interest in the outcome. For this reason, as was announced at the press conference last Thursday, they decided to approach a professional, independent polling organization to draw up the questionnaire on their behalf and to determine the relevant thresholds. They would make the decision about whether to stay on in LegCo or leave as per the results of the poll. On that same day, they contacted Dr Robert Chung Ting Yiu of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute and had some preliminary discussion about the poll. Without there having been any discussion of the issue, Dr Chung came up with his own suggestions regarding the two thresholds and set out his ideas for everyone to be aware of. The democratic camp respects the professionalism and independence of Dr Chung’s organization and so will abide by everything it decides to do. Lam reiterates that could not and would not interfere in the design of the questionnaire, the way in which the polling is carried out, and (?) all the conclusions they reach.

Caption: 民主派延任現爭拗 / 民調門檻怎樣定？

陳小瑜：嗱，我追問多一條呀，就係，呃我哋都明白嘅，阿鐘博士佢而家設計啦。噉佢又講過呢就係話個民調呢應該係採用呢個雙基準嘅模式嘅。咩叫雙基準呢，就係一個呢，一個門檻就係要全體嘅，呃，市民啦，過半數決定去留啦，另外一個呢就係要係民主派支持者，有三分二嘅人去決定去留。噉呢，呃，如果，如果兩邊呢，如果嗰個結果係唔同嘅話呢，可能係會畀翻你哋民主派議員自己去決定嘅。係咪咁嘅情況呀而家？？

● 基準 gēi1 jéun2 = benchmark; standard; reference

Gist: Chan’s final question deals with the issue of the two thresholds, one for ordinary citizens and one for supporters of the democratic camp. If 50% of citizens vote in favour of staying on, and two-thirds of supporters do the same, then the democracy camp will decide in favour of remaining in LegCo. But if this result is not obtained in the poll, then the democratic councillors will have to make up their own minds. Chan asks Lam to comment on this possibility.

林卓廷：嗱啊，我諗嗰個具體嘅計算方法呢，我哋交俾鐘博士去同大家介紹好啲，因爲始終我哋係有一個角色利益衝突喺度。我哋相信係聽從佢呢嘅專業民調嘅方式嘅啫。噉 ah 佢無論係定二分一嘅門檻或者三分二嘅門檻，我，我哋民主黨最終一定會尊從嘅。噉至於 ah 嗰個背後嘅設計嘅 ah 邏輯呀，佢嗰個考慮因素呀，【9:00】我諗，一定係要交返俾鐘博士去回應大家，因爲我哋唔係參與喺嗰個問卷設計同埋成個民調計劃 / / 制定方面呢。

● 計算 gai3 syun3 = 1. to count; to compute; to calculate 2. consideration; planning | ● 考慮因素 háau2 leuih6 yān1 sou3 = (?) factors that one takes into consideration

Gist: In response, Lam says that with regard to the way in which the specific calculations were worked out, it would be better to hear from Robert Chung himself. This is because of the issue of a conflict of interests for the democratic camp. He reiterates that the democrats would comply with the manner in which a professional poll was carried out. But as to the logic that lies behind the design [of the poll] [嗰個背後嘅設計嘅邏輯] or the factors that were taken into consideration [考慮因素], it would be better to hand this over to Dr Chung, for the reason that the democratic camp had nothing to do with the design or planning of the poll.

陳小瑜：明白阿廷。不過，我想你回應 / / 比較尖銳嘅問題，就係 / / 我覺得 / / 呢個咁樣調查呢個呢，設計係比較複雜哇。其實，/ / 透露，因爲最後兩邊 / / 結果唔同，噉啊交返你自己決定去留 / / 你點會 / / 避免質疑呢？

Gist: TBA

林卓廷：嗱，um 小瑜兄，我哋上星期四呢，係開記者會嘅時候，已經係公開承諾我哋會完全尊重鐘庭耀博士佢嘅獨立嘅判斷同埋佢喺民調上邊嘅專業。當時，我哋未知阿鐘博士係會接受唔接受我哋嘅邀請做呢個工作呢。噉啊我哋未 . . . ah 最終有任何決定，問佢做嘅時間禮拜五，【10:00】就自己已經提咗呢個門檻出嚟。我哋完全冇參與過佢建議二分一同埋三分二呢兩個分別嘅門檻，我哋完全冇參與過嘅。噉所以，啫，如果有人質疑話，喂，幫我度身定咗一個高嘅（陳小瑜：係呀）門檻出嚟呢，呢個唔係事實呢。不過，不過，我，我一定要澄清，有啲傳媒嘅報道呢，用一個「雙門檻」嘅 eh 表示方式。嗱，呢個我覺得會容易引起誤會呀。呢個並唔係雙門檻，係兩個獨立嘅門檻。而其中一個門檻係 ah 得到嘅票數，啊，啫唔係叫「票數」呀，係民意嘅回應呢，係多過佢門檻嘅要求嘅話，咁我哋就要根據呢個民意嘅決定呢，係離開立法會呢。

● 判斷 pun3 dyun3 = to judge; to decide; to determine | ● 質疑 jāt1 yìh4 = to call into question; to query | ● 度身 dohk6 sān1 = (?) to make to measure | ● 雙門檻 sēung1 mùhn4 laahm6 = (?) “double/paired thresholds” | ● 表示方式 bíu2 sih6 fōng1 sīk1 = a means of expression | ● 票數 piu3 sou3 = the number of votes | ● 容易引起誤會 yùhng4 yih6 yáhn5 héi2 ngh6 wuih6 = easily lead to misunderstandings

Gist: Lam begins by saying at the press conference last Thursday, that they would respect Robert Chung’s handling of the poll, although at the time they did not know whether he would accept the assignment. He then states that members of the democratic camp did not take part in the discussion about thresholds: they did not go to Chung with a request for the poll to be “made to measure” in order to get the result they wanted. Any doubts on this score have no basis in reality. Lam then states that the term 雙門檻 or “double/paired thresholds” used by some sections of the media is misleading because, in his view, the thresholds are independent of one another. Finally, he reiterates that the democratic camp will abide by the result of the poll with regard to their staying on or leaving LegCo.

吳倬安：嗯，係呀。阿廷，其實，關於民調，多另外一個問題想請教吓你呀，因爲，其實，喺 *hei香港人民意研究所呢，【11:00】今個月，其實，都係17號至到20號都做過呢個關於 ah lau gam 與否嘅民調呢。噉當中去用電話隨機訪問咗一千零二十個人呢。噉當中，其實，支持留低同埋支持離開議會嘅比例呢，都相當接近，以其中 / / 喺 *hei，啫，/ / 結果就話，/ / 民主派嘅支持呢，/ / 反對留任 / / 支持留任 / / 而喺 *hei / / 非民主派支持者嗰度呢，ah 結果亦都係有啲唔同呢，咁就有五成人支持留低呢，而有 / / percent / / 支持 ah民主派離開。其實，點樣睇今次呢一個結果呢？係咪反映，就係民主派要作出一個去留嘅決定係非常之困難呢？同埋點睇，其實，一啲非民主派支持者會有五十五嘅人會支持你留任，係咪建制派嘅支持者都想你哋 / / 留低議會係 / / 【12:00】點樣睇呢個講法呢，其實，阿廷？

● 請教 = chíng2/chéng2 gaau3 = to ask for advice; to consult | ● 隨機 chèuih4 gēi1 = random; randomly; at random | ● 比例 béi2 laih6 = proportion

Gist: The host Cheuk On Ng asks about another poll that was conducted by phone between 17-20 August. According to this, numbers were virtually evenly divided on the question of whether to stay or leave. He asks Lam for a comment on this result and the idea that it reflects how difficult it will be to make a final decision. He also makes a comment regarding supporters of the pro-establishment camp [建制派]. (Parts of this are still very unclear to me.)

林卓廷：啊，首先我係冇辦法去了解啲建制派支持者佢哋嘅趨向嘅背後原因嘅。我咁耐以嚟都唔能夠代表佢哋呢。噉所以呢，我唔方便去評論佢哋嘅睇法背後嘅理由。第二呢，就係 um 喺嗰個民調結果公佈之前幾日呢，其實，香港人民意研究所計劃令一位嘅負責人呢，鐘劍華博士呢，亦都係過去講過嘅。星期五嗰個民調呢，係一個參考性嘅民調。噉啊呢個民調個民意，首先第一樣嘢一定要尊重呢，但係佢亦都係呼籲我哋一定要做一個全港性抽樣嘅係有決定性嘅民調。噉我哋係 ah 喺星期四就決定咗 ah 聽從【13:00】呢位 ah 民調嘅專家鐘劍華博士嘅建議，所以亦都宣佈我哋會進行一個 ah 全港性係決定性嘅民調。而最重要嘅，我哋今次做呢個決定呢，係對香港嘅未來極致關鍵，影響到全香港七百萬市民未來嘅生活，自由同埋人權等等嘅狀況。所以我哋認爲呢，一個咁重大決定呢，市民大衆係必須有一個充分，深入同埋廣泛嘅討論先至可以俾一個係最負責任嘅民意嘅結果俾我哋，做呢一個決定。噉所以我哋呢，唔係純粹做一個民調嘅。我哋希望喺個民調，呃，開始之前呢，我哋係會有充足嘅社會討論，包括係社會上應該係有去留嘅，呃，好重要嘅辯論，等雙方都【14:00】鋪陳嗮，大家去或者留嘅理據。大家亦都要清晰知道，如果我哋撤出議會戰線，究竟嚟緊香港未來一年，以至未來十年，究竟我哋香港人係咪已經準備好面對極致黑暗嘅歲月，大家係咪準備好嗮面對所有中共，以至林鄭政權對我哋嘅非常嚴厲嘅打壓呢？

● 趨向 chēui1 heung3 = 1. to tend to; to incline to 2. a trend; a direction | ● 評論 pìhng4 leuhn6 = to comment on; to discuss; a comment | ● 理由 léih5 yàuh4 = a reason; a ground; an argument | ● 鐘劍華博士 Jūng1 Gim3 Wàah4 bok3 sih6 = Dr Chung Kim-wah (of PORI) | ● 參考性 chāam1 háau2 sing3 = of a referential nature cf. 參考 = 1. to consult; to refer to 2. a reference | ● 呼籲 fū1 yuh6 = to appeal to; to call on | ● 全港性 chyùhn4 góng2 sing3 = Hong Kong-wide (lit. “complete Kong nature” | ● 抽樣 chāu1 yéung6*2 = a sample; sampling | ● 聽從 tīng1 chùhng4 = to obey; to comply with | ● 廣泛 g[w]óng2 faahn6 = extensive; wide-ranging | ● 純粹 sèuhn4 seui3 = pure; purely | ● 辯論 bihn6 leuhn6 = to argue; to debate | ● 鋪陳 pōu1 chàhn4 = to narrate in great detail; to describe at length; to elaborate | ● 理據 léih5 geui3 = an argument | ● 撤出 chit3 chēut1 = (?) to withdraw | ● 歲月 seui3 yuht6 = years | ● 嚴厲 yìhm4 laih6 = stern; severe

Gist: First of all, Lam declines to comment on the motivations of pro-establishment supporters. He goes on to say that the telephone poll referred to by the host was done for reference purposes: it was a 一個參考性嘅民調 = “a poll of a referential nature” done by a member of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute. It seems that as a result of this first poll, it became clear that it would be necessary to conduct a Hong Kong-wide poll [全港性]. Finally, Lam reiterates how important this decision will be in terms of issues such as the freedoms and rights of the people of Hong Kong and wonders whether individuals are prepared to face the dark days of repression ahead if the decision is made to quit LegCo.