又中又英｜Tighten the screws

Will he, or won't he? I am talking about Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po. Will he give Hong Kong people consumption vouchers in his February 22 budget? Many political parties are tightening the screws on Chan Mo-po. Some want $10,000 in consumption vouchers. Others want $5,000. I was living in Hong Kong in 2011 when John Tsang Chun-wah, who was financial secretary, gave adult citizens $6,000 because the government had too much money. He gave cash through bank accounts, not consumption vouchers. I spent my $6,000 on daily necessities.

I was in Hong Kong in 2021 when Chan Mo-po gave $5,000 in consumption vouchers. I collected part of the money before I returned to the US and spent it on wine for relatives but had left when the remaining vouchers became available. I was in the US in 2022 when he gave a further $10,000 in consumption vouchers. My nephew had suggested I mail my Octopus card to him so he could get the vouchers for me. I decided that was wrong because I was not in Hong Kong. I am still not in Hong Kong and cannot benefit but believe Chan Mo-po should give vouchers again.

I want to tighten the screws on him but hold no sway. To tighten the screws on someone means to put pressure on that person. To hold sway over someone means to be able to influence that person. I am too unimportant to hold sway over Chan Mo-po but feel he should listen to ordinary Hong Kong people who have lost jobs or struggled during the pandemic instead of wealthy politicians like Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee who oppose vouchers.

他会，还是不会呢？我说的是财政司司长陈茂波——他到底会不会在二月二十二日的财政预算案中，向香港人派发消费券呢？许多政党都在向陈茂波施加压力（tightening the screws）。有些人想要一万元消费券，另一些人则想要五千元。二零一一年我还在香港居住，当年时任财政司司长曾俊华就给过成年市民每人六千元，因为政府有太多钱。他是透过银行户口向市民派发现金，而非消费券的。我将我的六千元花了在日常用品之上。

二零二一年陈茂波发放五千元消费券时，我还在香港，回美国前我领取了部分的钱，用来买酒送给亲戚，但在余下消费券生效时我已经离开香港了。二零二二年当他另外发放一万元消费券时，我已经身处美国。我的姪子曾提议我将我的八达通寄给他，那么他就能替我领取消费券。我最后决定那是错的，因为我不在香港。现在我仍然不在香港，未能受惠，但认为陈茂波好应再派发消费券。

我也想向他施压（tighten the screws），但我对他毫无影响力（hold no sway）。To tighten the screws on someone是指向某人施加压力。To hold sway over someone是指能影响某人、对其有支配力量。我人微言轻，不足以影响（hold sway over）陈茂波，但我觉得他应该聆听那些于疫情期间失业或苦苦挣扎的香港升斗市民，而非那些反对消费券的富有政客如叶刘淑仪。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻

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