又中又英｜Hue and cry

How many Hong Kong people separate their recyclables from their garbage? I wondered about this after the government's plan to charge for garbage disposal raised a public hue and cry. A new law requires the public to buy specially designed bags costing from 30 cents to $11 depending on size in which to put their garbage. The hue and cry began when the government announced the law, which the legislature approved in 2021, will kick in on April 1. The government said the kick in will be delayed to August 1 after many people said they could not understand how the pay-as-you-throw plan works.

To raise a hue and cry means to cause a noisy expression of disapproval or anger. If something kicks in, it means it comes into effect. The expression "pay-as-you-throw" means to pay for what you throw away. Many countries charge for garbage disposal and require households to separate garbage from recyclables. Paying for garbage disposal encourages people to reduce waste, which helps to protect the environment. Recycling also protects the environment. Hong Kong people need to understand it is their civic duty to do both. Will some people misunderstand the purpose of the specially designed garbage bags and put recyclables into them too or buy extra bags for recyclables?

The government said it will use the coming months to further explain how the pay-as-you-throw plan works. I think officials should use the coming months to make clear the pay-as-you-throw bags are not for recyclables. They should also do far more to urge people to recycle because they have done a lousy job so far.

有多少香港人会从垃圾中分出回收物来？当政府计划向垃圾弃置徵费，引起公众激烈抗议（hue and cry）后，我就不禁思忖以上这道问题。新法例要求公众购买指定设计的胶袋去弃置垃圾，胶袋价钱根据尺寸大小，由3毫至11元不等。当政府宣布这条于2021年获立法会通过的法例，将于4月1日开始生效（kick in）时，公众的大声抗议（hue and cry）便不绝于耳。当许多人说他们并不明白这个垃圾按量收费（pay-as-you-throw）计划是如何运作后， 政府便指计划开始生效（kick in）日期将会延至8月1日。

To raise a hue and cry是指大声呐喊以表达反对或者愤怒。若某事物kicks in，那即是它开始推行。习语"pay-as-you-throw"是指你丢弃多少就付多少费用。许多国家都有就垃圾弃置徵费，亦要求各家各户做好垃圾和回收分类。为自己所弃置的垃圾付费，可以鼓励人们减少制造废物，从而保护环境。回收也能保护环境。香港人需要明白，做这两件事是他们的公民责任。会不会有些人误会了指定垃圾袋的用途，连回收物也放在内？又或者，去为回收物额外购置胶袋？

政府说，它会用接下来的几个月，进一步解释这个垃圾按量收费（pay-as-you-throw）是如何运作的。我认为，官员们好应利用这几个月，清楚指明这个按量收费（pay-as-you-throw）的垃圾袋并非用来盛载回收物的。他们也应该更落力，劝吁市民回收，因为到目前为止他们的表现实在太不堪了。

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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻