又中又英｜Better late than never

Better late than never. It’s a common English saying that means it is better to do something late than never to do it at all. The expression can also be used to say it is better to arrive late for an appointment than not arrive at all. The Hong Kong government will ban single-use plastic tableware starting April 22. The date was chosen to coincide with Earth Day. Single-use plastic tableware such as plates, cups, straws, stirrers, and cutlery cannot be sold or distributed. Better late than never! Mainland China has already banned single-use plastic tableware. So has the European Union. Some US states have banned plastic bags.

Places such as fast-food and takeout restaurants in Hong Kong will have to use plates and cutlery made with wood and paper. Restaurants will not be allowed to use foam food containers for takeout food but can use other types of plastic. The word “tableware” means knives, forks, spoons, glasses, and plates used for meals. The word “cutlery” means knives, forks, and spoons used for eating. Some eateries have complained that the new rule will lead to higher costs. They need to do their bit to protect the environment from climate change. To do your bit means to do your share, even if it is not a lot, to achieve something.

Will some eateries try to bend the rules? Eateries are places that serve food. To bend the rules means to ignore or not to be strict about following rules. Will customers complain or snitch on eateries that bend the rules? I hope so. To snitch means to secretly tell the authorities that someone is doing something bad or illegal.

Better late than never.这是一句常见的英语，意即一件事迟做总比不做好。这个习语也可以用来说“迟到好过冇到”，比约定的时间迟来总比不来要好。香港政府将由4月22日起禁止即弃塑胶餐具（tableware）。挑这日子是刻意撞上世界地球日。即用即弃的塑胶餐具（tableware）例如胶碟、杯、饮管、搅拌棒和刀叉等餐具（cutlery），都不能再销售或提供。迟做总比不做好（Better late than never）！中国内地亦已经禁止一次即弃的塑胶餐具（tableware），欧盟也是。一些美国州分亦已禁止胶袋的使用。

香港一些快餐店和外卖店，将会需要使用木制或纸制的碟和餐具（cutlery）。食肆不能使用发泡胶的容器盛载外卖食物，但可以用其他类别的塑胶。Tableware包括了用餐时使用的刀、叉、匙、玻璃杯和碟；cutlery则是指进食用的刀、叉和匙。一些餐馆（eateries）抱怨指，新例会导致成本上升。在保护环境、阻止气候变化一事上，他们需要do their bit——to do your bit是指去尽你一分力，即使只是绵力，去达成某事。

可会有些食店（eateries）尝试破坏规定（bend the rules）？Eateries就是食店。To bend the rules即是去无视规定，又或遵行得较为宽松、通融。对于那些不严厉执行规定（bend the rules）的食店（eateries），顾客们可会投诉或告发（snitch）？我希望会吧。To snitch就是暗中告密，向有关当局指出某人做了坏事或犯法的事。

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