鄧永鏘（DavidTang）中國會、上海灘創辦人
Criticismsarealwayseasierthanpraises.It'sonlylogicalasourworldisfarfromperfect,andfindingfaultbecomeseasy.
Imakethispointbecausewritersinthepress,especiallytheoccasionalcorrespondents,invariablyproffergrievancestheywishtofan.WhenIreadthenewspapereveryday,Inoticefarmorecriticismsthanpraises.Itmightwellbetruethatthisisbecausebadnews（especiallyassociatedwiththehighandmighty,orthefamousorcelebrated）sell.Butonthewhole,Idespairsometimesaboutthelackofpraises.Sotoday,IamgoingtopraiseHongKong-somethingothersandImyselfdolessoftenthannot!
Weoftenmoanaboutthisandthat,andeventhoughIgooutofmywaytoofferonlyconstructivecriticisms,Idofindbeingcriticalallthetimeratherboring.Afterall,intheyin-yangofourworld,therehavetobemanygoodthingsaswellasbadthings.
ThegreatestassetaboutHongKongistheindustryofitspeople.Weallworkhard.Thismighthavecomefromouroriginalrefugeesyndrome.Buthardlyarefugeesocietynow,stillnobodycandisputethatasacommunity,weareonthewholeveryhardworking.Forthoseofuswhohavehadexperiencesoflivingorworkingabroadinfairlycivilizedcities（bywhichImeanNewYorkorLondonorParis）,IcannottellyouwhatajoyitistobebackinHongKong.Imyselfhavebeeninvolvedwiththebusinessofbuildingshopsandrestaurantsandclubs,andallIcantellyouisthatthewest,comparedtoHongKong,isathird-world!WhenyougetunionproblemssuchasNewYork,youcouldgocrazyandendupinalunaticasylum.Onsomanyoccasions,Ihavejumpedupanddownwithdespair;despairovertheOccidentalwayofworking-andevenmoreintenselyirritating,atacostwhichcouldonlybedescribedasextortionate.NowonderChinarunssuchagargantuantradeandexportsurplusagainstthewest.Labourandresourcesaresimplymilescheaper-andlight-yearsaheadinefficiency.ForthosewhohaveahomeinCanadaorAmericaorEnglandorAustralia,theywillunexceptionallytellyouthehorroroffindingaleakinthelavatoryorkitchenathome,orhavingapieceofequipmentthatdoesnotwork.InHongKongtheproblemisusuallysolvedonthedaywithoutanyaggravation.Butabroad,somethingsmallcaninvolvesomuchtimeandeffortandconsiderablymoreexpense.InLondon,ifIwantatapfixed,Ineedtomakeanappointment,usuallyin2days'timeandtherateis£75Sterlingperhour!That'sHK$1,200anhour.Plumbersheregetpaidthatfor2days'work.Andtheyturnupstraightaway.
ThenthereisthefoodinHongKong.Thereisnowhereonearth（exceptpossiblyJapanwherefoodistreatedwithsuchclevernessandlackoffuss.Ourcuisineiswholesome,uncomplicatedanddelicious.Mostofusknowhowtomakemostfoodstastegoodwithouthavingtowatchtelevisionchefsandreadvolumesofrecipebooks.Andweareluckywithfreshproduce.ThereisnoendofgoodfoodinHongKong,especiallyCantonesefood.Thesaying"EatinCanton"isneverreallychallengeable.Weknowwhat'sgoodandwecookitandserveiteveryday.What,Iaskyou,beatsasuperbbowlofwontonnoodlesmadeof大地魚stock?Orabowlofvelvetsmooth白粥with白果and腐竹.Nothing,I'dsay!
Andourcinemas?HasanyonebeentoacinemawithbetterandmorecomfortableseatsthanthoseattheIFCorAMC?NoteveninHollywoodwouldyoucomeclose.AndourMTR-perfectlyair-conditionedandcleanandmobile-friendlyandmoreorlessfreefrommugging.It'sahugeluxury.Evenourbusesarecoolandoffertelevisions!Andourairport-Iknowsometimeswecomplainaboutthis,butwaituntilyouhavebeento,say,Heathrow,whichisanunmitigateddisaster,ormostoftheEuropeanorAmericanairports,andyouwillrealisehowspoiltwearewhenleavingandreturningtoHongKongbyair.Especiallywithallthehoo-haof"extrasecurity",ChekLapKokisasix-starairport.
EverythingworkswellinHongKong.Thelistisendless.IalwayssighasighofreliefandfeelluxuriantwhenIcomebacktoHongKong.It'snotonlymyhome,butahomeofwhichallofusshouldbeproud.Lawandorderhold;competitionisreasonablyfair（outsideofthepropertymafia）,andlastbutnotleast,acompletesenseoffreedom.Andourpopulationatlargeisadecentbunch.Wearehospitableandgenerousandalsosmart,nottomentiondiligentandreasonablywell-mannered.IcountmyselfveryluckytocountHongKongasmyhome.Handonmyheart,thereisnoothercityintheuniversethatisasefficientasHongKong!
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逢周日刊出