Take my breath away.

2015/10/15 08:41:22 網誌分類: 生活

15 Oct

         Many places in the world are proud of their heritage. They strive (try very hard) to be on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. I visited Penang some months ago. It is replete with (full of) historical buildings. The people of Penang are proud that George Town, its capital city, is on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. Two weeks ago, I visited Macau. I have not been there for many years. The heritage sites and historical buildings in Macau took my breath away. When something takes your breath away, it means it impresses you very much. Even though many new hotels, casinos, and entertainment centres are being built in Macau, the government has made a point of preserving its colonial heritage.

        　　If you make a point of doing something, it means you consider something so important that you make sure you do it. The Macau government considers heritage important, so it makes sure heritage sites are preserved. The Historic Centre of Macau, which includes over twenty heritage sites and buildings, is on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. Why does Hong Kong care so little about its heritage when even Macau is so proud of its heritage? The government demolished (tore down) the historic Hong Kong side Star Ferry Pier and Queen’s Pier so that it can build a new road. It sold the historic Tsim Sha Tsui Marine Police headquarters to a property developer who has turned it into an expensive hotel and shopping mall for mainland tourists.

        　　The government also tried to demolish the old Central Police Station, Victoria Prison, and the Central Market. They are heritage sites of historical importance. Luckily, the people objected. The government now wants to cover up the colonial emblem (symbol, insignia) on 59 historic postboxes. Hong Kong does not even have one historical site on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. It is shameful. The tourist industry is complaining about the falling number of tourists visiting Hong Kong. Fewer tourists come because we only have shopping malls to attract them. Other places attract tourists with their culture and history.

        ***

         世界上的許多地方都以自己的文化遺產為榮。他們力爭（strive）上榜，躋身聯合國教科文組織的世界遺產名錄。我幾個月前到訪檳城，她就盛滿了（replete）歷史建築物。檳城的人也為其首都喬治市能登入聯合國教科文組織世界遺產名錄而感到自豪。兩星期前，我拜訪澳門。我已經多年沒有踏足過此地了。澳門的文化遺址與歷史建築實在令我歎為觀止（took my breath away）。當某事takes your breath away，即是說它令你大開眼界、印象深刻。即使澳門興建了許多新的酒店、賭場和娛樂場所，政府實在矢志（made a point of）保存其殖民地的文化遺產。

        　　若你make a point of doing something，意思就是你認為某事非常重要，自己務必要做得到。澳門政府認為文化遺產很重要，所以他們確保遺址必須得到保存。包含超過二十個歷史遺址及建築的澳門歷史城區，就登上了聯合國教科文組織的世界遺產名錄。為甚麼當澳門這麼自豪於自己的文化遺產時，香港卻懶理自己的文化遺產？政府拆除（demolished）甚富歷史性的港島天星碼頭和皇后碼頭，好能興建新路。它又將有歷史意義的尖沙咀水警總部賣了給地產發展商，商家就把它變成供內地旅客遊玩的昂貴酒店與商場。

        　　政府也嘗試拆除（demolish）舊中環警署、域多利監獄和中環街市，它們都是甚具歷史重要性的遺址。幸而有市民反對。現在，政府想遮蓋掉五十九個歷史性的郵筒上之英國皇室徽號（emblem）。

         香港連一個可登上聯合國教科文組織世界遺產名錄的歷史遺址也沒有。真的很丟臉。旅遊業界在抱怨訪港旅客的人數不斷下跌。愈來愈少遊客來港，是因為我們只得購物商場去吸引他們。其他地方，都是用自己的文化與歷史去吸引遊客的。

        mickchug@gmail.com

        中譯:七刻

        Michael Chugani 褚簡寧

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