I was startled to see many parallel goods traders

 

(Headline Daily P.24  27 Nov 2012) Two weeks ago I took an East Rail train on Friday from Hung Hom to Lowu.

I was startled (驚嚇地)（astonished, shocked, alarmed） to see nearly ten parallel goods traders at the front end of the platform. When the train doors opened they rushed into the front carriage to get seats. Once inside they cut open their cardboard boxes with box-cutters (開箱刀)（sharp tools to cut cardboard boxes） and removed all the goods. They then put the goods into large bags, which they placed on trolleys (手推車)（metal frames with wheels to move heavy goods）.

　　I quickly realized why they were doing this. New MTR rules to deter(以收阻嚇) （discourage, prevent） parallel goods traders make clear that boxes can only be of a certain size and weight. To follow these rules the traders put their parallel goods in many small cardboard boxes. But once on the train they put all the goods into large empty bags so it's easier to handle. The traders have found a way to beat the system. If you have found a way to beat the system(擊敗制度) it means you have found a way to avoid the rules or regulations.

　　More parallel goods traders boarded the train as it headed towards Lowu. They too transferred their goods from boxes to large bags. The government had tried to control the traders at Sheung Shui. But the traders are beating the system (打敗了制度)by boarding at Hung Hom and other　stations. The reason traders prefer the front carriage of the train is because it is nearest to the immigration checkpoint. Once we arrived at Lowu they all ran out to be first to cross the border. I saw many more traders at the checkpoint area. When I crossed the border into Shenzhen I saw even more traders delivering their parallel goods. The government says it has solved the problem of parallel goods traders. But that is a myth(信以為真). The word myth has several meanings but used this way it means something that is believed by people but not true. The problem of parallel goods traders is not as bad as before but it has not been solved.

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上兩個星期五，我乘東鐵線由紅磡前往羅湖。我驚嚇地（startled）發現在月台盡處近車頭位置，大約有十個水貨客。列車車門一開，他們立即衝進第一卡車霸座位。他們一進去，便用開箱刀（box-cutters）開他們的紙皮箱，取出內裏所有的貨物，再將貨物放進大袋中，置放在手推車（trolleys）上。

　　我迅即明白為何他們要這樣做。新港鐵條例定明了紙箱的體積和重量，以收阻嚇（deter）水貨客之效。水貨客為了能符合條例，便把水貨放在細小的紙箱中。但一上車，他們又將所有貨物放進大袋中，方便處理。水貨客找到可以擊敗制度（beat the system）的方法了。你找到門路beat the system，即是說你已經找到鑽到規則空子的方法。

　　列車愈近羅湖，便愈多水貨客上車。他們同樣把貨物轉移至大袋中。政府嘗試在上水限制水貨客，他們卻在紅磡或其他車站上車，輕易地打敗了制度（beating the system）。他們選擇上列車的第一卡車，因為那邊比較接近入境的關口。當我們一抵達羅湖，他們便爭先恐後的衝往過關。我在邊境管制站見到許多水貨客，在往深圳的邊境，我見到更多的水貨客在傳送貨物。政府說他們已經解決了水貨客的問題。但那只是一個迷思（myth）。Myth這個字有好些意思，用在這裏是指不少人信以為真，卻沒有事實根據的事。水貨客的問題沒有比以往差，卻也未得到圓滿解決。

中譯:七刻