又中又英｜High and dry

Many years ago, when I lived in a tiny top floor apartment on Robinson Road, I had a small roof with a harbour view. I watched the New Year's fireworks from the roof every year until I moved out. I now prefer New Year's Eve at Lan Kwai Fong or the FCC instead of watching fireworks. The Taipei serviced apartment where I am now staying has a view of Taipei 101, Taiwan's tallest building. It has midnight fireworks every New Year’s Eve. Friends wanted me to go to a bar on New Year’s Eve owned by my Hong Kong friend.

I declined because I knew everyone would be trying to get a taxi or Uber after midnight. The subway would be chock-a-block, which means very full. I stayed home to watch the Taipei 101 fireworks for the first time. Media reports the next day said tens of thousands of mainlanders who made day trips to Hong Kong were left high and dry after the fireworks because only one border crossing reachable by MTR remained open. Cross-border buses were full. Thousands had to spend the night at railway stations or on the streets. To be left high and dry means to be in a difficult position without any help.

That would not have happened to me if I had gone to my friend’s bar because Taiwan does not have land borders. Critics said mainlanders who make day trips on the cheap do not benefit Hong Kong’s economy. On the cheap means at low cost or spending very little money. I agree the government needs to attract mainlanders willing to at least stay in hotels overnight and spend money.

许多年前，当我在罗便臣道某个顶层极细小的单位居住时，我有一个细小的露台，能看到海景。每年我都会从露台观赏新年的烟花汇演，直至我迁走。现在我情愿在兰桂坊又或在香港外国记者会会所过除夕，多于看烟花。我现居的台北服务式住宅能看到台北一零一，它是台湾最高的大楼。每年除夕，它都有午夜烟花。朋友们希望我能去我一个香港朋友拥有的酒吧一起除夕倒数。

我拒绝了，因为我知道过了午夜，人人都会叫的士或Uber。地下铁将会是 chock-a-block，意即挤满的。我最终留在家中，第一次看台北一零一的烟花。翌日有传媒报道，数以万计即日来回香港过除夕的内地旅客，看过烟花滙演后落得孤立无援（high and dry），因为只有一个开放的过境口岸，是有通宵运作的港铁接驳得到的。过境巴士全部挤满。数以千计的人被迫在铁路站又或在街上过夜。To be left high and dry意即陷入困境中，孤立无助。

即使我那时去了朋友的酒吧，这也不会发生在我身上，因为台湾并无陆地过境关口。批评者说，那些便宜地（on the cheap）即日来回香港的内地旅客，对于香港经济没有裨益。On the cheap意即用很低成本，又或花费很小的金钱。我同意政府需要吸引愿意在酒店度宿以及花费的内地旅客。

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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻