每日口說挑戰【經濟學人】中國與香港的關係 Hong Kong and China

[Transcript]

Hey folks, Ken here. Today we’ll be discussing the relations, or as some people might call it entanglement, between Hong Kong and China. I’ll try to cover this story as objectively as possible, feel free to skip this episode anytime you wish. Now, If you’ve been following the news, you’d know that Hong Kong has just celebrated the 25th anniversary of its handover from Britain to China in 1997. Here’s the story, in the 90s, Hong Kong was a gateway for Asia to the world. And then, Britain gave it back to China with the agreement that China's leaders would respect Hong Kong's free and open society for at least the next 50 years. However, it’s been only 25 years, Hong Kong is now a police state with thousands arrested, jailed, or forced to flee.

From the moment Hong Kong was ceded to the British in 1842, the expectation was that Hong Kong would one day be a part of China once more. Hong Kongers growing up back in the 50s and 60s all considered themselves Chinese and that Hong Kong will eventually return to China one day, because at that time, they felt colonized and their motherland didn’t really belong to them. In the 80s and 90s, rapid industrialization and free trade meant that business was booming in Hong Kong, and this tiny territory’s GDP was one-fifth of the whole Mainland China which provided crucial business connections and financial expertise that China needs as a gateway to the international community.

By the mid-2000s, the economic power balance had been well and truly reversed with China’s rapid GDP growth. In 2012, President Xi effectively became the leader of China and increased the party's grip on power. Xi introduced the national security law in the Mainland, which clamped down on any form of dissent, and then eventually set his sights on Hong Kong. To the Chinese Government, it was a time for Hong Kong, the city of economic growth, to be fully controlled by the authorities for better, centralized governance.

Since the former executive officer of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, introduced the extradition bill in 2019, students and protesters have rallied and protested in the streets of Hong Kong demanding freedom and civil rights, and pro-democracy activists have either been arrested or left Hong Kong going into exile. And now, back to the present day, the 25th anniversary. To Hong Kongers, it’s a matter of whether to stay and fight or leave to survive. For the Chinese Government, they will take all necessary initiatives to ensure and realize the ultimate Chinese reunification. And the last piece of the puzzle? Hmm, I guess I’ll leave it to you folks to decide.

[Sentence of the day]

From the moment the trading port was ceded to the British in 1842, the expectation was that Hong Kong would one day be a part of China once more.

[Vocabulary words]

1. port
a town by the sea or by a river that has a harbor

i.e. We had a good view of all the ships coming into/leaving port.
所有進／出港的輪船我們都看得很清楚。

2. cede
to give up something unwillingly or because you are forced to do so

i.e. Hong Kong was ceded to Britain after the Opium War in 1842.
鴉片戰爭後香港於1842年被割讓給英國。

3. expectation
the feeling of expecting something to happen

i.e. I have high expectations for your performance.
我對你的表現寄予厚望。


Alright, that’s all we have time for today.
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From the moment the trading port was ceded to the British in 1842, the expectation was that Hong Kong would one day be a part of China once more.

☺From the moment the trading port was ceded to the British in 1842, the expectation was that Hong Kong would one day be a part of China once more.
從1842年這個貿易港口被割讓給英國的那刻起，人們就期待著香港會再一次成為中國的一部分。
【心得】希望中國大陸有一天也能夠變成一個自由民主的國家。
■port [pɔrt] (n.C or U)港埠；港口
(n.U) (船或飛機的)左舷；波爾多葡萄酒(葡萄牙產)；姿勢、姿態
(n.Ｃ)(電腦)端口；(船的)舷窗；{澳洲英語}箱子、袋子
(vi.&vt.)轉(舵)向左
(vt.)持、握
(adv.)左舷的
(adj.)向左舷、向左
■cede [sid] (vt.) (尤指不情願地或被迫)割讓、讓予、放棄；交出；轉讓；過戶
■expectation [͵ɛkspɛkˋteʃən] (n.C 通常用複數型)期盼、希望(好事發生)
(n. C or U)預料、預期；期待(有事情會發生)
(n.P)前程、預期的事物

From the moment the trading port was ceded to the British in 1842, the expectation was that Hong Kong would one day be a part of China once more. 自從1842年香港這個貿易港口被割讓給英國的那一刻起，人們就期待著香港會再一次成為中國的一部分。
◆ cede [sid] (vt.)割讓,讓與,交出;轉讓,過戶
◆ expectation [ˌɛkspɛkˈteʃən] (n.)期待,預期;期望,預期的事物;前程
◆ port [pɔrt]
(n.)港;港市,口岸,港口;停靠點;機場,航空站;避風港,避難場所;(船,飛機的)左舷;姿勢,姿態;斜持槍姿勢;(事情的)意義,涵義;(船的)舷窗,艙口;(戰車,戰艦,工事等的)槍眼,砲眼;[機]汽門,風門,通道;[電腦]埠,端口;紅葡萄酒(原產葡萄牙的帶甜味的深紅葡萄酒)
(vt.) 持槍;轉舵向左;[電腦]移植
(vi.)轉舵向左
(adj.)左舷的
(adv.)向左舷,向左

Hey folks, Ken here. Today we’ll be discussing the relations, or as some people might call it entanglement([ɪnˋtæŋg!mənt]糾結n.), between Hong Kong and China. I’ll try to cover(報導v.) this story as objectively(客觀地) as possible, feel free to skip(跳過) this episode anytime you wish. Now, If you’ve been following the news, you’d know that Hong Kong has just celebrated the 25th anniversary of its handover(轉移n.) from Britain to China in 1997. Here’s the story, in the 90s, Hong Kong was a gateway(門戶,通道) for Asia to the world. And then, Britain gave it back to China with the agreement(協議) that China's leaders would respect Hong Kong's free and open society for at least the next 50 years. However, it’s been only 25 years, Hong Kong is now a *police state(極權統治的地區) with thousands arrested(逮捕), jailed(監禁), or *forced to flee(被迫逃亡).

# Day 1310 2022.07.12 Tuesday
Hong Kong and China
From the moment the trading port was ceded to the British in 1842, the expectation was that Hong Kong would one day be a part of China once more.

From the moment the trading port was ceded to the British in 1842, the expectation was that Hong Kong would one day be a part of China once more.
從1842年這個貿易港口被割讓給英國的那刻起，人們就期待著香港會再一次成為中國的一部分。

From the moment the trading port was ceded to the British in 1842, the expectation was that Hong Kong would one day be a part of China once more.
從1842年這個貿易港口被割讓給英國的那刻起，人們就期待著香港會再一次成為中國的一部分。

From the moment the trading port was ceded to the British in 1842, the expectation was that Hong Kong would one day be a part of China once more.