雙語社評齊齊聽

英語 (足本收聽)

普通話 (足本收聽)

【明報專訊】CRITICS have said the "ingenious" floor numbering of 39 Conduit Road, a luxury development that has attracted local and even world attention, may "mislead consumers". If unorthodox floor numbering becomes trendy and other developers vie with one another to adopt such systems, floor numbering in Hong Kong will be very confusing. The authorities should watch closely if that may affect fire safety and lead to other problems.

英語

全城（甚至全球）矚目的港島干德道豪宅「天匯」，樓層編排之「別具匠心」，惹來「誤導消費者」的批評，其顛覆傳統的樓層編排，若成為趨勢，其他樓宇爭相仿效，則香港樓宇的樓層數目就會天下大亂，會否帶來影響消防安全等民生問題，很值得政府相關部門密切注視。

普通話

The floor numbering of 39 Conduit Road is clearly a marketing ploy. Handerson Land Development tries to draw buyers with auspicious numbers. Lee Shau-kee, its chairman, has frankly admitted it has adopted it to cater to customers' fancy.

英語

「天匯」的樓層編排，明顯是一種促銷手法，透過編排好意頭的樓層數目來吸引買家。發展商恒基地產主席李兆基坦言，這個做法是為了「迎合顧客心理」。

普通話

We feel called upon to point out that the way of numbering floors at 39 Conduit Road is at odds with ordinary people's conception. Its developer has admitted it is a marketing gimmick. Whatever it may say by way of explanation, it has offered the public information that "may easily be misunderstood". It is therefore questionable whether this way of numbering floors is desirable.

英語

我們必須指出，「天匯」樓層編排方法與一般人的認知，確實存在落差。不過，發展商既然坦承此乃促銷手法，無論怎樣解釋，都是提供了一些「讓人很易有誤解」的資料，因此，這樣的樓層編排做法，確有值得商榷之處。

普通話

In answering our enquiries, the Fire Services Department said such floor numbering would not make it harder to fight fire. If 39 Conduct Road is the only building in Hong Kong that has such floor numbering, the Fire Services Department's reply may be tenable. If ingenious floor numbering systems may greatly boost sales, developers will vie with one another to adopt them. Some might number floors very unconventionally. A developer may call a building's first floor its 18th, its second floor its 38th, and its third floor its 88th. If firemen are told that there is a fire on its 88th floor, can they tell it is actually its third that is ablaze? Will fire services not be affected? The Fire Services Department should have waited. It ought not to have jumped to its conclusion.

英語

消防當局初步答覆查詢時，認為不會影響消防救援。若「天匯」的樓層編排，全港只此一家，別無分號，則消防當局的答覆，或許可以成立，設若憑樓層編排可以促使樓盤熱賣，各個發展商爭相仿效，甚至更天馬行空地把樓層編排玩個天翻地覆，例如有人可以把1樓變成「18」層，2樓則變成「38樓」，3樓當然也可以變成「88樓」。如此類推下去，當消防接報「88樓」發生火警，他們能判斷這其實是3樓發生火警嗎？屆時全港的消防救援會不受影響？消防當局宜靜觀事態發展，不應現在就倉卒下結論。

普通話

The Buildings Department told our reporters, "We normally accept a numbering system if floor numbers are in a logical sequence." It ought to elaborate on its reply. Is there any logic in the floor numbering system of 39 Conduit Road, which its developer has admitted to be a marketing gimmick? The Buildings Department should explain its reply more clearly to citizens so that society will reach a common understanding and know what to do.

英語

至於屋宇署答覆本報記者查詢時，則說「一般來說，只要樓層編號是有邏輯性地順序編排，屋宇署就會接受」。屋宇署應該進一步解釋這個說法，因為「天匯」的樓層編排，連發展商也坦承只是為了「迎合顧客心理」，究竟其間有何邏輯性，屋宇署應該給市民講解，使香港社會就此形成共識，知所遵循。

普通話

Gimmicks developers use to sell their flats often arouse controversy. The saleable floor area controversy had persisted nearly ten years until a relatively reasonable set of guidelines that would give consumers better protection came out recently. Developers' marketing ploys have indeed made their public image even worse.

英語

近年來發展商的賣樓手法，經常引起爭議。例如實用面積，幾經爭持，歷時近10年，近期才得出較合理的可銷售面積的指引，使消費者較有保障。發展商的促銷手法，使他們在市民心目中的形象，更形負面。

普通話

Though developers have used controversial marketing gimmicks, the government has rarely exercised its powers to protect consumers. Citizens disapprove of developers. Many are convinced that some government policies are excessively favourable to them. That is why the generality of citizens have the impression that the government colludes with businesses.

英語

至於政府，即使發展商的促銷手法引起爭議，過去鮮見政府發揮公權力的職能，保障消費者的利益；其間或許有不必要誤會，但是市民對發展商的不滿情緒，認定政府政策向發展商傾斜，於是逐步在社會市民大衆之間，形成「官商勾結」的印象。

普通話

In our view, developers should sell their flats in an open and aboveboard manner. They need not rack their brains to come up with gimmicks to improve their image or change the public's perception of them. The government should put society's interests first. It must try to prevent officials from making ill-judged moves that may strengthen citizens' suspicion of government-business collusion and make it even harder for it to function.

英語

我們認為，發展商應該秉持光明磊落的心態賣樓，無必要挖空心思想什麼招數以改變市民的觀感，改善形象；政府施政則要以市民的利益為依歸，並且要慎防個別官員的思慮不周，隨時會加深大眾對官商勾結的疑慮，為政府的施政埋下更大的阻力。

普通話

明報社評2009.10.22

Presented by lecturers of Hong Kong Community College, PolyU and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Frieda Kwok

Lecturer, Hong Kong Community College

http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/index.php?lang=eng&cms=86

曾迎

香港專上學院講師

http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/index.php?cms=66&lang=big5

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