又中又英｜A leopard can’t change its spots

When I read recent media reports about a taxi driver trying to overcharge a Taiwanese tourist, I told myself I have seen this movie before. The expression “I have seen this movie before” used this way does not mean I have already seen a particular movie. It means I have seen something like this happen before. The driver tried to charge the tourist $380 to go from The Peak to Central. The normal fare is about $80. Hong Kong’s taxi drivers are known for fleecing (overcharging) tourists. The taxi industry has promised many times to discipline dishonest drivers, but a leopard can’t change its spots.

The expression “a leopard can’t change its spots” is used to describe people who can’t change their bad habits even if they pretend to. The driver’s dishonesty happened at a time when the taxi industry was threatening a five-day strike unless the government shut down ride-hailing services such as Uber. That’s laughable. Taxi drivers need to ask themselves why Uber is so popular in Hong Kong even though it costs more. Uber drivers are polite, their vehicles are clean, they are easy to book, and they don’t refuse short rides like taxi drivers.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu was right when he warned drivers the public would not support a strike. The taxi industry has had a free ride for too long. A free ride used this way does not mean a free taxi ride. It means benefitting without doing anything to deserve it. Drivers called off the strike after the government promised to regulate ride-hailing services. The government needs to remember Uber is high-tech and popular wherever operates.

当我读到最近有传媒报道，一个的士司机滥收一位台湾游客的车资，我告诉自己I have seen this movie before——习语 I have seen this movie before在这里不是说我已经看过了某出电影，它是指我见过类似的事情发生。该名司机尝试向游客索取三百八十元，由山顶驶至中环，但一般的车资不过约八十元。香港的的士司机出了名会敲诈（fleecing）游客。的士业界承诺了许多遍，会督责惩罚那些不诚实的司机，但 a leopard can’t change its spots。

习语 a leopard can’t change its spots是指江山易改，本性难移，形容人们要改掉坏习惯不是那么容易，即使他们佯装会改。当的士业界威胁要罢驶五天，除非政府取缔Uber这类叫车服务，司机的不诚实又再一次展现。真是可笑。的士司机需要问自己，为何即使Uber车资更昂贵，它在香港仍是这么受欢迎。Uber司机有礼，车辆整洁，容易预约，也不会像的士那样拒绝短途车程。

行政长官李家超警告的士司机，公众不会支持的士罢驶，他是对的。的士业界“搭便车”（a free ride）已经搭得太久了。A free ride在这里不是指免费的的士车程，它是指不劳而获，没有做过什么事却白白得到一些利益。当政府承诺会规范叫车服务时，司机们便叫停了罢驶行动。政府需要谨记，Uber经营之处，总是高科技又受欢迎的。

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