感恩的2014年

　　Albert Schweitzer曾言：「讓自己學會感恩代表不把任何事情視為理所當然……沒有任何一件發生在你身上的事是必然的……最重要的是，永遠不能遲了或忘了道謝……」

　　這位啟發人心，榮獲歌德獎及諾貝爾獎的哲學家為我上了一課，總結我的2014年，我要衷心感謝那些一直被我視為理所當然的好人好事。

感謝香港警察

　　在任何時候，獨個兒在香港的街上行逛不成問題，感覺安穩因為我們知道即使處身在黑暗中，亦沒有太多令人生畏的人與事。以紐約為例，能夠不受接連不斷的警報聲影響，安穩入睡，已是簡單的幸福。在我們而言，安全代表在任何的事故下，你們定有人迅速展開拯救行動。感謝你們一直以來維持我城的治安，給予安全感。

　　最近的劣勢造成社會的動蕩。要制止那些瘋狂的無賴行徑，移除路障，並要在清理亂子後恢復理智，這絕不是項簡單的任務。最不堪的是那些精心部署的挑釁行動、尖酸刻薄的指責、不當的指控，以及被荒謬地扭曲的真相，這些煽動追隨者去橫行無忌的人卻惡人先告狀。感謝你們的寬宏，不會記恨在心，在我們需要幫助時與我們同在。

　　謝謝你們把以上的通通忍受過來，憑著冷靜與膽識，成功恢復社會的法治與秩序；感謝和平帶來的溫暖，我們一直把和平視為理所當然之事，不懂感恩，直至我們差點失去它才學會感激。你們值得我們的掌聲與敬意。

感謝北京中央政府

　　對於我們的市民以如此不尊重的方式對待你，我感到深深的羞愧。一直以來，你對香港的好是有目共睹的。製造事端的人只屬少數。他們包括（甲）賣國者－一班受薪搞事的人；（乙）被矇騙者－被誤導的人；（丙）煽動者－仇富但覬覦財富；鄙視名流，但渴望成名；討厭刻苦，但貪圖成功的人……那班以威嚇及暴力來贏取一切的人把個人利益置於大眾利益之上。幸好，沉默的大多數不會指鹿為馬。

　　作為一個沒有農業發展及天然資源的小島，若果你沒有以非常合理的價錢，可靠地提供日常用水、電力、煤氣、蔬菜、雞蛋、肉及一切所需，我們最基本的生活亦會受到威脅！唉！還要談獨立嗎？經歷過經濟危機及沙士一役後，有賴內地旅遊業的發展，我們的經濟才能在低處迅速回彈，只有忘本的笨蛋才會對這些恩情不以為然。

　　為減少對香港造成不利，中央政府如何在深水港、自由貿易區、金融中心上限制上海的急速發展是有目共睹的。你不但不向我們徵收分毫稅款，更讓273種免稅貨品由香港出口至內地，成為穩健香港經濟的其中一個要素。感謝你讓我們以世界級城市的身份站於各國之中，一個尊貴得使我們狂妄自大的身份。

　　我在外國讀書、工作、居住達30多年，曾於紐約、法蘭克福、倫敦等地駐足，我深信那些宣稱要為合乎「國際標準」的民主、普選而戰的人並不清楚他們所表述的是甚麼。

　　謝謝你原諒我們的愚昧，並寬恕我們那些難以諒解的行徑。最重要的是，感謝你愛我們。

　　（按：中文內容乃翻譯及撮寫版本）

Concluding 2014 With Gratitude

  “ To educate yourself about gratitude means to take nothing for granted… Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course… Above all, never delay or forget to say thank you…” 

Albert Schweitzer.

  A lesson learned from this inspiring philosopher who won both the Goethe Prize and the Nobel Prize,  I’d like to conclude 2014 by expressing  my profound gratitude  to those whose kindness and contributions I have been taking for granted. 

Thank You to the Hong Kong Police Force -

  We have always been able to walk down the streets alone at any hour, comfortable in the thought that there isn’t much lurking in the darkness. The simple pleasure of being able to sleep sound and well at night, uninterrupted by the incessant sirens of calamity as is forever the case in  New York for instance… Secure in the knowledge that in all eventualities, one of you will come to our rescue swiftly …Thank you for the sense of security you have fostered to make our world safe. 

  The recent fiasco offers a jolt to reality. The grueling task of subduing rogues possessed by madness, removing blockades, restoring sanity after clearing up the mayhem are certainly no easy task. Infinitely worse must be the orchestrated provocations, acrid scolding,  perverted accusations and the grotesque distortion of truth  where Lucifer becomes the accuser, instigating devil worshippers to run amok .. Thank you for being magnanimous, for not harboring grievances, for not abandoning us in our hour of need. 

  Above all, thank you for standing above it all, composed and courageous, successfully returning law and order to our community. Thank you for the warmth of peace we have been taking  for granted for so long and didn’t even know to appreciate it until we’ve almost lost it. We applaud you and we salute you all.

Thank You to the Central Government of Beijing

  I for one, am deeply ashamed of the disrespectful way some of our fellow citizens have been treating you. Your continued kindness to Hong Kong has not gone un-noticed. Those determined to create havoc belong to the distinct minority. They include:  (a) The traitors – people who have been paid. (b) The gullible – people who are misguided and misinformed. (c) The agitators – people who hate the rich but crave wealth; scorn the famous but yearn for fame; detest hard work but covet success…People who want to achieve everything through intimidation and violence cause their private agendas come before the common good. Thankfully, the silent majority can tell right from wrong.

  As an island with neither agriculture nor natural resources, without your very reasonably priced, dependable, daily supplies of water, electricity, gas, vegetables, eggs, meat and everything else…even our most basic sustenance would be in serious jeopardy ! Alas, what independence ??!! After the economic crisis and SARS,  it was Mainland tourism which made our quick economic rebound possible - a palpable act of kindness oblivious only to hard boiled fools.

  We are cognizant how the Central government has been restraining the breakneck development of Shanghai (deep water harbor, free trade zone, financial centre…etc.) so as not to affect Hong Kong adversely. Not only have you never exacted a cent of tax from us, 273 products have been granted export permission from Hong Kong into China tax free -  one of so many catalysts in sustaining  our economy. Thank you for including us on most international platforms to augment our position as a world class city – a prestigious status rendering our ignoramuses arrogant.

  Having spent 30 years studying, working and living in the west, rubbing shoulders with movers and shakers in New York, Frankfurt, London…and more, I am convinced that people who fight for democracy and universal suffrage by “international standards” have no idea what they are talking about.

  Thank you for forgiving our folly and pardoning our inexcusable behavior. Above all, thank you for loving us.