又中又英｜"It's the economy, stupid."

When Bill Clinton was running for president in 1992 the US was in a severe recession. His political adviser James Carville coined (invented) the campaign slogan “It’s the economy, stupid”. Carville put a sign with the slogan in Clinton’s campaign office to remind workers they must make the failing economy the most important election issue. The slogan helped Clinton defeat President George H.W. Bush by blaming him for the recession. Bush was the father of George W. Bush who also become president after Clinton served two terms. Today I will coin a slogan for Hong Kong government officials who believe night bazaars will revive the weak economy.

The slogan is “It’s the nighttime economy, stupid.” Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, who suggested night bazaars, should put a sign with the slogan in his office. But can a night economy revive Hong Kong’s economy? I am skeptical. When I was a boy growing up in Hong Kong, I loved going to Tai Tat Tei at night in Sheung Wan. It had dai pai dongs, hawker carts, fortune tellers, and many other types of stalls. It was a true night bazaar, but the government shut it down for hygiene reasons. How will the government handle hygiene now that it wants to promote a night economy?

Government officials and politicians have suggested a mishmash of ideas, including impractical ideas such as shopping malls remaining open late and consumption vouchers for nighttime use only. Some malls have proposed free coupons during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The word “mishmash” means a confusing mixture of things. The Financial Secretary needs to propose a clear and workable plan.

当比尔‧克林顿于一九九二年角逐总统之位时，美国正处于严重经济衰退中。他的政治顾问詹姆斯‧卡维尔创造（coined）了竞选口号「问题在于经济！蠢才！」（“It’s the economy, stupid.”）卡维尔在克林顿的竞选办公室，挂起了这句口号的横额，用来提醒职员，他们必定要将衰退中的经济视为大选最重要的议题。这句口号将经济衰退归咎于时任总统乔治‧赫伯特‧华克‧布殊，从而帮助克林顿击败了他。布殊是乔治‧华克‧布殊的父亲，后者在克林顿做了两任后，继任为总统。香港政府高官们认为夜市将可复苏疲弱的经济，今天我就为他们创作（coin）一句口号。

这句口号是：「问题在于夜经济！蠢才！」（“It’s the nighttime economy, stupid.”）提议搞夜市的财政司司长陈茂波，好应将这句口号的横额挂在他的办公室。然而，夜经济是否真的能复苏香港经济？我很怀疑。我小时候在香港长大时，很爱晚上去逛上环的大笪地。那里有大牌档、小贩车、算命师，还有许多其他种类的摊档。那是一个真的夜市集，但政府却因为衞生原因而将它结束。政府现在想推广夜经济，它又会如何处理衞生的问题？

政府官员和政客建议了一堆主意大杂烩（mishmash），包括一些不切实际的主意，例如延长购物商场开放时间，和推出只能在晚间使用的消费券。一些商场也提出在中秋节期间使用的优惠券。Mishmash是指杂乱无章、混杂的一堆事物。财政司司长需要提出一个清晰而可行的计划。

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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻