又中又英｜Think before you speak

Think before you speak. This means people should choose their words carefully before talking. Otherwise, they risk saying something stupid. Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus chairman Chow Kwok-keung did not think before speaking recently. He said banning Uber in Hong Kong would improve the quality of taxi drivers and encourage more people to use taxis. He was serious, but his words made me laugh. Banning Uber would worsen rather than improve the quality of taxi drivers because they will have no competition. Without competition, taxi drivers can choose customers and refuse to accept short distance rides.

The reputation of Hong Kong’s taxi trade is beyond redemption. If something is beyond redemption, it means the quality is so bad that it cannot improve, or there is no way to save it. The taxi trade has asked the government to allow a fare increase, in addition to banning ride-hailing services such as Uber. Chow Kwok-keung said a fare increase would not make more people use Uber because Uber fares are higher. He is again speaking without thinking. People are willing to pay more for Uber because the drivers are polite, the cars are clean, and the service is convenient.

Passengers do not have to wait on the streets for a vacant taxi to pass by. They can order a car using the Uber app. Uber drivers usually arrive very quickly. The government will throw passengers under the bus if it bans Uber. To throw someone under the bus means to do something harmful to that person to gain an advantage for yourself. Banning Uber gives the government an advantage because the taxi trade would stop criticizing it.

Think before you speak. 这句话的意思是叫人三思而后言，说话之前要小心想清楚用词，不然就会冒上说蠢话的风险。香港的士小巴商总会理事长周国强最近就没有三思而后言（think before speaking）了。他说，在香港禁制Uber便可以改善的士司机的服务水准，以及鼓励更多人搭的士。他是认真的，但他这番话却令我忍不住发笑。禁制Uber只会令的士司机的服务水准变差而不是变好，因为他们会失去竞争。没有了竞争对手，的士司机可以挑选搭客，和拒载短途的车程。

香港的士业界的声誉可谓 beyond redemption——若某事情是 beyond redemption，意即它的水平差得无法改善了，基本上是无可救药、不可挽回了。的士业界向政府申请容许他们加价，以及禁止网约、叫车服务，例如Uber。周国强说，加价不会令更多人使用Uber，因为Uber的车资更高。他又再一次没有好好想清楚便说话（speaking without thinking）。人们愿意付更高车资去搭Uber，因为司机更有礼、车厢更清洁，服务亦方便。

乘客们不用在街上等待一辆空的的士驶过，而可以在Uber的手机程式上叫车。Uber司机通常很快便到达。政府若全面禁止Uber，只会是throw passengers under the bus——to throw someone under the bus是指为了个人利益而牺牲那人。禁制Uber可为政府带来好处，因为的士业界终于可以停止批评政府了。

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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻