新聞雜評（三百三十五）

信報 2021年10月21日

Mark O’Neill EJ Insight

HK emigrants face cold winter, inflation and shortages in UK

During the spring and summer, tens of thousands of Hong Kong people moved to Britain, excited to start a new life away from the National Security Law and "patriotic education".

But, as the days get shorter, they find themselves facing a cold winter of shortages and rising prices for food and energy.

Since Britain allowed holders here of British National Overseas (BNO) passports to emigrate, more than 47,000 have had their applications approved. Most are families with children of school age.

A recent survey by Hongkongers in Britain found that 88 per cent of the migrants had a degree of undergraduate or master's level and 69.4 per cent felt financially secure through selling or renting out property here.

It also found that, as of the end of August, only 18.5 per cent had found full-time work with an employer and nearly half were unemployed.

They find themselves in a country suffering from inflation, shortages of goods and high unemployment, as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic and the decision to leave the European Union. Prices are rising faster than wages; the living standards of many people are falling.

The Office for National Statistics said that, in August, the consumer prices index rose to 3.2 per cent, up from two per cent in July. The increase of 1.2 percentage point between July and August was the largest since records began in January 1997.

Britain is short of 100,000 truck drivers, mainly because those from the European Union do not wish to come because of complex border checks and long waiting times as a result of Brexit. This has led to shortages of goods in the shops. Families may not be able to buy the toys, sweets and turkeys they normally enjoy at Christmas.

The price of meat is going up because of a lack of workers. The British Meat Processors Association said last week that, since Brexit and the pandemic, labour shortages had worsened.

"Industries are now competing with each other for a dwindling pool of workers. The labour crisis has seen workers in strategically important sectors like food manufacture and social care being enticed away by other sectors that can afford to hike wages 20 per cent or 30 per cent. Every employer, including the public sector, may have to follow suit, but it will mean consumer price inflation," it said.

Since September, Britain has suffered from petrol shortages, because of the absence of tanker drivers to resupply petrol stations. In early October, about 20 per cent of petrol stations in London and southeast England had no fuel. The government has mobilised 200 soldiers to transport oil to the stations.

This shortage hits badly those Hong Kong people who have bought or rented homes in rural areas or suburbs of cities. These areas have poor public transport; residents have to rely on private cars for their daily lives.

Migrants who have just arrived find a wealth of information on YouTube, in podcasts made by their Hong Kong compatriots, with details on many aspects of their new country.

Many praise the larger size of their home, greater green space and more relaxed school environment for their children, who can participate in more sports, arts, music and community affairs than in Hong Kong; they have less homework and "stuffed duck education".

But there are many negatives – the weather, especially during winter; British food, with too much bread, pizza, sandwiches and tastes so much blander than at home; lack of Filipino and Indonesian maids – live-in servants are a luxury for the very rich; social life built around alcohol; and a work culture to which they are unaccustomed.

The many job shortages created by the departure of thousands of EU citizens mean an upside for the Hong Kong arrivals – many vacancies in coffee shops, fast food outlets and restaurants, food packaging, nursing and social care, manual work in farms, factories and warehouses, and truck-driving.

These jobs pay less and are not as sophisticated as those the migrants did in Hong Kong. But, according to the survey by Hongkongers in Britain, the vast majority of migrants know that they will have to change industry and accept a less well-paid job. They are willing to move to sectors that need labour and use the experience to improve their English, learn new job skills and help their integration into their new country.

They did not expect to find themselves in a country with such shortages and inefficiencies. But they do not complain. They have made their choice and must live with the consequences of it.

１. A recent survey by Hongkongers in Britain found that 88 per cent of the migrants had a degree of undergraduate or master's level and 69.4 per cent felt financially secure through selling or renting out property here. It also found that, as of the end of August, only 18.5 per cent had found full-time work with an employer and nearly half were unemployed.

ＢＮＯ黃人移民多是中剷，學歷高係意料之內，但只有１８.５％搵到全職工作就有啲出乎意料之外（即係絕大部分 BNOers 一係失業一係炒散？）。不過，更出乎意料之外的是有６９.４％ BNOers 對自身經濟情況唔擔心（估唔到咁多中剷已財自），佢地去到米國租屋住唔出奇，但 felt financially secure through selling property 呢一部分魔術師就真係唔太明。唔通咁多傷民買定米國樓，到埗即沽？

２. The Office for National Statistics said that, in August, the consumer prices index rose to 3.2 per cent, up from two per cent in July....The price of meat is going up because of a lack of workers....Since September, Britain has suffered from petrol shortages, because of the absence of tanker drivers to resupply petrol stations....This shortage hits badly those Hong Kong people who have bought or rented homes in rural areas or suburbs of cities. These areas have poor public transport; residents have to rely on private cars for their daily lives...the weather, especially during winter; British food, with too much bread, pizza, sandwiches and tastes so much blander than at home; lack of Filipino and Indonesian maids – live-in servants are a luxury for the very rich; social life built around alcohol; and a work culture to which they are unaccustomed.

汽油又無，豬牛肉又無，通脹又高，嘢食又寡，就連「外傭姐姐」都係「奢侈品」，咁嘅世界對中剷黃人來講又真係幾難捱！不過「social life built around alcohol」應該幾受巷女歡迎，大可搵 pat pat 同啲洋腸打多啲招呼是也！

３. Many praise the larger size of their home, greater green space and more relaxed school environment for their children, who can participate in more sports, arts, music and community affairs than in Hong Kong; they have less homework and "stuffed duck education".

呢個真！魔術師之前都提過的前同事勁黃巷婦Ｄ移咗民（不過好似唔係米國），又係成日貼埋啲親子家庭照上ＦＢ話個花園點點點，同阿仔一齊油欄杆等等，真係快人一步，理想達到。

又，勁黃巷婦Ｄ都有返些少姿色，後生時仲係巷女的時候，時常着埋啲跌膊衫返工（不過呢啲庸脂俗粉，當然入唔到魔術師法眼）。魔術師見佢ＦＢ有一段離職 post 係話「為免辦公室閒言閒語，雖然係 last day 但都唔好跟同事抱抱了...」唔通真係結咗婚生咗兩件都仲姣騰騰？

４. according to the survey by Hongkongers in Britain, the vast majority of migrants know that they will have to change industry and accept a less well-paid job. They are willing to move to sectors that need labour and use the experience to improve their English, learn new job skills and help their integration into their new country.

咁願意去屈就做埋啲「勞力師」工種，就唔會有一半傷巷移民失業喇！更搞笑的是要改善英語，又話有成８８％最少有學士學位嘅？

＊＊＊

林鄭手傷後復工　論壇上指以前政府無見識、膽量規劃未來　認為未來施政會稱心滿意 2021-10-25 22:31:35

【有線新聞】行政長官林鄭月娥手肘受傷休假六天後復工，繼續宣傳北部都會區發展。她說以前政府無膽量、無見識規劃未來，房屋土地政策要花長時間撥亂反正，但相信政府在下一個五年施政會做得更加稱心滿意。

林鄭月娥復工第一場活動出席灼見名家周年論壇，手肘骨「崩」了的右手仍然包紮，主禮時旁邊的替她扶著塊牌。

論壇主題談香港下一個五年發展，林鄭月娥五年前在這個周年論壇談過對香港的八大願景，三星期後宣布參選特首。林鄭月娥：「今日我說任何說話亦不是競選連任政綱，大家可視之為一位、經歷磨練四年多的一位行政長官的肺腑之言。」

她由發展北部都會區說起，說以前政府無膽量、無見識，無條件規劃未來，「凌嘉勤教授會跟大家分享，因為基本上是我與他兩人『黑箱作業』地做出來的，所以北部都會區亦不是五年光景。我們說是20年（建成），我們爭取是15年。欲速則不達，請大家有耐心。這份施政報告引來一些遐想，就是說這時候談那麼長遠規劃，豈不是打算下一個五年……事非經過不知難，做行政、施政工作往往考慮要很多、很全面，所以不可能只是紙上談兵。我們今天的房屋土地政策，就是承受了當日的一些決定，而帶來很長時間才能撥亂反正工作。」

林鄭月娥與當年競選特首辦公室發言人戴健文對談，她說現在是「做嘢」的時候，相信未來的施政會稱心滿意，「在我字典裡沒有難和易，難又是這樣做、易又是這樣做，不過分別在於稱心滿意，抑或『揼心揼肺』都是要做。我都很肯定說，下一個五年是應該會做得更加稱心滿意，換句話說以我的標準是更易看到有成績。」

戴健文：「香港下一個五年，如果你要送一句話給香港人，你會說甚麼？」林鄭月娥：「大家保持對香港信心，我覺得下一個5年、10年、15年，都是一個應該令大家稱心滿意的香港。」

林鄭月娥復工第一天早上一連出席四場活動，除了手傷未康復，膝蓋亦貼有膠布，她之後去會展中國建築主題展為展覽揭幕，中聯辦副主任盧新寧、基本法委員會前副主任梁愛詩亦有出席，林鄭月娥逗留半小時離開，期間多次扶著右手；之後再去香港殯儀館，出席鄉議局前主席張人龍大殮儀式，參與扶靈。

５. 她由發展北部都會區說起，說以前政府無膽量、無見識，無條件規劃未來...「我們今天的房屋土地政策，就是承受了當日的一些決定，而帶來很長時間才能撥亂反正工作。」

哇，果然是「官到無求膽自大」，７７７即係話董伯伯無膽量（８萬５搞到「民怨沸騰」，未能擇善固執）、貪曾無見識（停建居屋）、無條件（６８９的任期與販民在拉布中度過）；依家７７７得阿爺力撐，仲唔鬆毛鬆翼，牙斬斬敢叫日月換新天？又要放長雙眼（掃把頭腔）睇下７７７下個任期５年（一定係，除非唔係）後第一期可以點樣變革我城，令傷民更稱心滿意？

＊＊＊

信報 2021年10月23日

點票龜速 選管會歸咎不熟程序

9月19日舉行的選舉委員會界別分組一般選舉，整場選舉只有4000多人投票，但結果選管會在投票結束後約14小時，才完成整個點票程序，惹來各界猛烈抨擊。選管會周五發表調查報告，把點票過程緩慢歸咎於工作人員不熟悉程序，例如有點票人員為謹慎起見，要求投票站工作人員到中央點票站更正錯誤或補漏拾遺，才打開票箱開始點票，需時甚久。

選管會提出簡化流程等8項改善建議，不過有立法會議員認為，選管會並非首次就大型選舉點票，不應以「唔熟悉」為由作推搪。

報告指運送接收延誤

根據選管會周五發表的調查報告，指其中一個延誤出自運送票箱、選舉文件和物資。例如在荃灣雅麗珊社區中心投票站，有票站主任發現，電子選民登記冊系統平板電腦所統計的投票人數，較以選票票根計算的選票數目少了兩票。工作人員當時不敢質疑平板電腦統計數據，因此花長時間反覆核對，結果該票站需時2小時51分才將投票箱送往中央點票站。九龍公園票站亦有同類情況，有工作人員不熟習新設計的電子結算表，堅持以人手計算，填寫紙本選票結算表，因此需時2小時8分鐘才運送票箱至中央點票站。

另一個延誤原因是當票箱運抵中央點票站後，工作人員發現投票站職員填寫選票結算表有錯，點收各類選舉文件及物資過程亦有遺漏，而中央點票站人員要求投票站人員先修正，才進入下一步驟，加上點票站監督人員欠實戰經驗，未有酌情處理，令接收程序出現樽頸，交收手續花了一個多小時。

麥美娟批評「唔係藉口」

此外，點票時使用光學標記閱讀機亦出現「卡紙」情況，部分選票或未疊齊而出現「卡紙」，須改用雙重人手輸入選票上的選擇以點算選票；另外裁決問題選票亦有延誤，例如3張問題選票裁決枱中，只有一張可以容納候選人較多的界別，因此須輪候。報告亦交代為何多個票站早上出現人龍，原因之一是為數不少的非投票市民到票站排隊，5個票站一共接待了逾500名非投票人，佔全日投票人數約十分一，須經票站人員解釋及查核系統，才知他們非並投票者。

立法會議員麥美娟回應稱，既然選管會知道是次選舉採用新系統，應一早做好流程安排，「工作人員唔熟悉唔係藉口」，認為高級的票站職員不可能不熟悉流程，希望選管會做好未來兩場選舉準備工作，避免再次發生同類事件。

６. 電子選民登記冊系統平板電腦所統計的投票人數，較以選票票根計算的選票數目少了兩票。工作人員當時不敢質疑平板電腦統計數據，因此花長時間反覆核對

咁即係點？反覆核對完之後，係發現平板電腦啱定係票根數目啱？差咗兩票個原因係乜？點樣改善？依家份報告淨係講個 fact 出嚟，好難釋人疑慮喎！

７. 有工作人員不熟習新設計的電子結算表，堅持以人手計算，填寫紙本選票結算表...點收各類選舉文件及物資過程亦有遺漏，而中央點票站人員要求投票站人員先修正，才進入下一步驟，加上點票站監督人員欠實戰經驗，未有酌情處理

即係廢老工作人員唔識用 Excel？又唔識分邊啲係不影響點票的小錯誤，即係少咗舊擦膠都唔俾開票箱？搞咗咁多場選舉點解都唔搵返啲有經驗的工作人員來幫手？唔通班黃人辭哂職？

８. 點票時使用光學標記閱讀機亦出現「卡紙」情況，部分選票或未疊齊而出現「卡紙」

點解選票會 jam 紙，會考DSE都係咁填法又無 jam 紙？呢啲都唔係新技術，所以唔係「要人手輸入」的問題，而係根本唔應該發生。選管會真係好難講得通。

９. 為數不少的非投票市民到票站排隊，5個票站一共接待了逾500名非投票人，佔全日投票人數約十分一

咁多人混吉，係咪黃人搞抗爭呀？

＊＊＊

伸延閱讀：

選管會調查選委選舉　指投票運票點票連環錯　促修正電子系統錯誤、簡化核對工序 2021-10-22 20:47:19

【有線新聞】上月選委會選舉花了超過半天點票，選管會調查後說，由投票、運送票箱到點票連環出現錯誤，要求選舉事務處作出多項改善。

四千多張選票，為何要花十多小時才完成點算，選管會事隔一個月發表調查報告。

投票傍晚6時結束，荃灣雅麗珊社區中心的票箱五小時後才送到會展點票中心。報告說平板電腦統計的投票人數比起票根少了兩票，所以工作人員用了長時間反覆核對。

票箱運到點票站後亦一波三折，點票站人員發現，有投票站人員填錯選票結算表，或遺漏選舉文件和物資，要求他們到點票站更正才可以開票箱。在分類時，有選票放錯入其他界別的膠箱，需時尋回。

終於到點票時，光學標記閱讀機「卡紙」，選舉事務處原本的應變方案，是改以人手點票再輸入系統。不過「卡紙」的選票，剛好是要選出較多席位的界別，選舉事務處要求承辦商即場解決。

選管會建議，選舉事務處修正電子選民登記冊系統錯誤、簡化人手工序、加強人員培訓。