又中又英 | A stain on society | 褚簡寧

　　Regular readers of this column may remember I have often railed against the government for inaction regarding Hong Kong’s subdivided flats. Subdivided flats are a stain on society. To rail against something means to criticize it. If something is a stain on society, it means it damages the reputation of the society involved. Subdivided flats have damaged Hong Kong’s global image as a developed city. I have seen many foreign media reports about the living conditions of Hong Kong’s subdivided flats. The Legislative Council has now approved the government's proposed law which forces landlords to make subdivided flats suitable for living.

　　This should have been done long ago, but the government and Legco deserve much praise for finally erasing this stain on society. The issue of subdivided flats has always been an open and shut case. An open and shut case is a legal case or situation in which the facts are so clear that it can be easily decided on. The clear facts of subdivided flats are that many are unfit to live in. Many don’t have windows and private toilets and are smaller than Hong Kong’s parking spaces. Some have toilet bowls next to the cooking area or bed.

　　The new law requires subdivided flats to be at least 86 square feet, have a window that can open, separate fire detectors, and a private toilet with a door. I think 86 square feet is still too small, but it’s a good step forward. Landlords have a three-year grace period starting in 2027 to upgrade the subdivided flats or turn them back into regular flats. Those who violate the law will face heavy fines.

　　恆常讀這專欄的讀者，可能會記得我曾經常抨擊（railed against）政府，在香港劏房上的不作為。劏房是社會的污點（stain on society）。To rail against某事物就是去批評它。若某事物是stain on society，意即它損壞了相關社會的聲譽。劏房損壞了香港作為已發展城市的國際形象。我讀過許多外國媒體報道香港劏房的生活環境。立法會現已通過政府逼令業主要將劏房改裝至合理、宜居環境的草案。

  這應該在很久之前就做了，不過政府和立法會終能移除這社會的污點（stain on society），仍是值得讚賞。劏房議題一直以來都是個open and shut case——an open and shut case是一個非常清晰的案件或狀況，很容易便能作出判決。劏房明擺着的事實是，許多都不適合人居住。有許多都沒有窗戶與私人廁所，比香港的泊車位更細小。有一些劏房的坐廁，就在煮食區又或睡床旁邊。

　　新的法例要求劏房必須至少有86平方呎、一個能打開的窗戶、獨立的火警探測器，以及一個有門的私人廁所。我認為86平方呎仍是太細小，不過也是向前踏出了好的一步。業主會由2027年起有3年的寬限期，將劏房改造，又或將之還原為一般的單位。違反法例的人將會面臨巨額罰款。

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Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻