關於 a color of his own中文 ，我們在網路上蒐集到這些相關的討論、資訊與評價

誤譯的終結？不如等世界末日來臨
——《信仰的終結》翻譯初窺

趁時事正熱打個比方：終結不了的翻譯問題，跟宗教為人世帶來的種種災禍一樣，不可能完全根除。

彷彿語言的誤解和誤譯本身，已趕在被台灣宗教財團收攏的不肖政客通過「宗教基本法」之前，悄悄成立了宗教——The Universal Church of Miscomprehension and Mistranslation——以防人心發展出理性思考去加以干涉、甚至「迫害」。

酸話說完了。有機會，還是儘量把語言可經由理性解讀的真相呈現出來。

以下以【……】標出知名無神論者Sam Harris精彩可期的
著作The End of Faith的部分翻譯問題。

統計資料供參：

中譯是博客來上可讀到的4小頁內容，對應原文約1700字，大約每67原文字出現一個我認爲需要改正的理解與翻譯問題。原文書估計11萬6千字，在如此微小的樣本下，粗估整部中譯會有超過1700個這種語言問題。

除了以這種貌似較爲客觀、科學的計數法來判斷翻譯是否合格、過關以外，其實我認爲另一種較人性、直觀、「不科學」的方式：從「會犯哪種錯」、「該不該犯那種錯」這種「微小」地方，來得到對某譯者的整體觀感，至少是同等重要的，有時候這種「見微知著」法所揭露的事更多、更大、更不堪。

暫不一一討論問題的細節、甚至替出版社和譯者提供新的翻譯了，太費時。有興趣的人可以自行研究。問題當中肯定有的很明顯，有的較隱晦。如果你不認爲某一點有什麼問題值得大驚小怪，歡迎指出討論。也許這不失爲一種更積極的理解英語、斟酌中文、激盪思考的方法。我希望把時間花在刀口上。

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書名：The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason
信仰的終結：宗教、恐怖行動及理性的未來
作者： Sam Harris
譯者： 孔繁鐘
出版社：八旗文化
出版日期：2015/12/30

作者簡介　山姆．哈里斯（Sam Harris）

美國著名作家、哲學家、神經科學家。著有《紐約時報》暢銷書《信仰的終結》（The End of Faith，美國筆會2005年非小說類得獎著作）、《給基督教國度的一封信》（Letter to a Christian Nation），以及《道德風景》(The Moral Landscape)。他的作品以超過十五種語言出版。文章曾刊於《新聞周刊》、《紐約時報》、《洛杉磯時報》、《泰晤士報》（倫敦）、《波士頓環球報》、《大西洋月刊》、《神經學年鑑》、《外交政策》及其他許多刊物。為理智工程(Project Reason)的共同創始人與董事長，該非營利組織致力於傳播科學知識和社會中世俗價值。

史丹佛大學哲學學士。他研究東方及西方的宗教傳統以及各種靈性教派已二十年。2009年取得神經科學博士學位，研究主題為相信、不相信、及不確定的神經學基礎。請造訪他的網頁 www . smaharris . org.

譯者簡介　 孔繁鐘

衛生署玉里醫院精神科主治醫師，台大化工所畢業後考上台大醫學院學士後醫學系。為孔子第七十四代後裔，因花東地區醫療資源較缺乏，與弟弟孔繁錦長期投入當地的精神醫療，照顧病情嚴重的精神病患，並翻譯多本國內精神醫學與心理學教科書。身為精神科醫師，他相信精神醫學得本執在於人性的幫助關係，而非統計分類；因此不把自己視為一個開藥者，也定義自己為為一個充滿同理心的助人者。

================================

翻譯問題列表（依內容順序）：

The young man takes his seat beside a middle-aged couple. He will wait for the bus to reach its next stop. The couple at his side 【appears to be shopping for a new refrigerator】. The woman has decided on a model, but her husband worries that it will be too expensive. He indicates another one in a brochure that lies open on her lap.
年輕男子靠著一對中年夫婦坐下。他耐心等著公車到下一站。這對夫婦【似乎正要去買新冰箱】。妻子膝蓋上攤著一份冰箱型錄，她已經選定了要買的機型，但是丈夫嫌太貴，指著另一種機型絮絮說著。

The next stop comes into view. 【The bus doors swing】.
下一站已近在眼前。【公車搖晃著】。

The nails, ball bearings, and rat poison 【ensure further casualties on the street and in the surrounding cars.】
釘子、小鋼球和毒老鼠藥【發揮了最大的殺傷力，也造成街道上和四周車輛中其他人員大量】傷亡。

These are 【the facts】. This is all we know for certain about the young man.
這些都是【真人實事】。關於這位年輕男子我們確實知道的所有實情都在這裡了。

A BELIEF is a lever that, once pulled, moves almost everything else in a person’s life. Are you a scientist? A liberal? A racist? These are merely species of 【belief in action】.
信仰是一種控制桿，一旦拉動就能操縱人們生活中幾乎所有層面的每件事。你是個科學家嗎？自由主義者？種族主義者？這些不過是【依據信仰促發的行動】而做的分類罷了。

It seems that if our species ever eradicates itself through war, it will not be because 【it was written in the stars】 but because it was written in our books; 【it is what we do with words like “God” and “paradise” and “sin” in the present】 that will determine our future.
看來若人類終將經由戰爭而自我滅絕，也絕不是因為這些想法【被寫在星空中】，而是因為它被寫在某些書籍裡；【正是我們現在所看到使用「上帝」、「天堂」與「罪惡」這些字眼的那些書籍】，決定了人類的未來。

【People tend to organize themselves into factions according to which of these incompatible claims they accept】—rather than on the basis of language, skin color, location of birth, or any other criterion of tribalism.
這些書籍的主張互不相容，而【人們傾向於把接受相同主張的人歸於同一宗派】，而非依據語言、膚色、出生地、或任何其他區分部落意識的標準。

All are 【in perverse agreement】 on one point of fundamental importance, however: “respect” for other faiths, or for the views of unbelievers, is not an attitude that God endorses.
所有這些書籍都【極力堅持】一項重要基本論點：上帝絕不贊同「尊重其他信仰或不相信者的觀點」這種態度。

【While all faiths have been touched, here and there, by the spirit of ecumenicalism,】 the central tenet of every religious tradition is that all others are mere repositories of error or, at best, dangerously incomplete. Intolerance is thus intrinsic to 【every creed】. Once a person believes—really believes—that certain ideas can lead to eternal happiness, or to its antithesis, he cannot tolerate the possibility that the people he loves might be led astray by the blandishments of unbelievers. Certainty about the next life is 【simply incompatible with tolerance in this one.】
【各處各地所有的信仰都浸潤著「真神唯一」的精神】，每個宗教的傳統核心教義都是：所有其他宗教的組成都是錯誤，若非全錯，至少也是不完全且危險的。不包容正是【所有教條】的本質。某個人一旦真心相信了某種想法能導致永恆幸福或永遠不幸，他必將無法容忍他所愛的人可能會被不相信者的花言巧語所誤導。他對來世的確信，也讓他【無法對此再多包容】。

Observations of this sort pose 【an immediate problem for us, however, because】 criticizing a person’s faith is currently taboo in every corner of our culture.
但這類觀察立即帶給我們【一個問題：因為】在我們當前文化的每個角落，批評他人的信仰都屬禁忌。

But technology has 【a way of creating】 fresh moral 【imperatives】. Our technical advances in the art of war have finally rendered our religious differences—and 【hence our religious beliefs】—antithetical to our survival. We can no longer ignore the fact that billions of our neighbors believe in the metaphysics of martyrdom, or in the literal truth of 【the book of Revelation】,
可是科技【創造了】全新的道德【指令】。人類在戰爭藝術方面的技術如此精進，終於讓我們的宗教差異以及【伴隨的宗教信仰差異】危害到人類的生存。我們再也不能忽視這項事實：我們的鄰居中成億上萬的人都相信殉教的形而上學，或相信【他們聖書】表面字義所揭示的真理，

Consider the case of alchemy: it fascinated human beings for over a thousand years, and yet anyone who seriously claims to be a practicing alchemist today will have disqualified himself for most positions of responsibility in our society. Faith-based religion 【must】 suffer the same slide into obsolescence.
以煉金術為例：它曾蠱惑人類一千多年，但在當今社會，任何人若鄭重自稱是一位煉金術士，將被認為不夠資格擔任絕大多數重要職務。同樣地，以信念為基礎的宗教【必將】落入歷史廢墟之中。

What is the alternative to 【religion as we know it】? As it turns out, this is the wrong question to ask. Chemistry was not an “alternative” to alchemy; it was a wholesale exchange of 【ignorance at its most rococo】 for genuine knowledge.
那麼【就我們所知，宗教】的替代品是什麼？其實這是個錯誤的提問。化學並不是煉金術的「替代品」；它是【以極其精巧華麗的方式，把無知】整批置換成為真正的知識。

OF COURSE, people of faith 【fall】 on a continuum:
當然，秉持信仰的人們【可以分布】在一個連續帶上：

they imagine that the path to peace will be paved once each of us has learned to respect the 【unjustified】 beliefs of others.
他們想像，一旦每個人都學會尊重其他人【無法證實】的信仰，和平之路就能順利展開。

Many religious moderates have taken the 【apparent high road】 of pluralism, asserting the equal validity of all faiths,
許多宗教溫和派已經奉行了多元主義的【大道】，確信所有不同的信仰都同等有效，

As long as a Christian believes that only his baptized brethren will be saved on the Day of Judgment, he cannot possibly “respect” the beliefs of others, for he knows that the flames of hell have been stoked by 【these very ideas】 and await their adherents even now.
只要基督徒相信在最後審判日唯有自家受洗的弟兄們才能得到救贖，他就不可能「尊重」其他信仰，因為他知道地獄的火已被【他們那樣的想法】所激發，正等著焚燒其追隨者呢。

Muslims and Jews generally take the same arrogant view of their own enterprises and have spent millennia passionately reiterating the errors of other faiths. It should go without saying that 【these】 rival belief systems are all equally uncontaminated by evidence.
伊斯蘭教徒和猶太教徒通常也用同樣傲慢的態度只尊崇自己的信仰，並且幾千年來一直狂熱地重申其他信仰的錯誤。但無庸置疑地，這【兩種】相互對抗的信仰系統也都同樣缺乏證據。

由於很多外國粉絲對Ziggy的身世故事很感興趣 因此重發文章採取（Chinese and English translations）：
中文版：
我是Ziggy，在我還很小的時候，跟著我的第一個爸拔，遠離摩洛哥的Casablanca， 來到台灣工作。摩洛哥爸拔非常疼愛我，幫我取名叫"Moon" 是因為我雪白的毛髮，像明亮的月亮一樣，摩洛哥爸拔只會說英文聽不懂中文，所以Ziggy以前只聽的懂英文，你們叫我Moon我會有反應，叫我月亮我就不知道你在說什麼了！ 過了幸福的6年，摩洛哥爸拔因為工作的因素要回國了，不知道什麼因素他不能帶我走，我好傷心。他把我托付給他美國的朋友 "艾力克"和"萊恩"拜託他們照顧我，說我是一隻乖巧愛乾淨的貓 名字叫做"Moon"，但是艾力克和萊恩爸拔不喜歡這個名字，就把我改名叫做"Ziggy"， 其源由是 因為我有一雙異色瞳，跟艾力克和萊恩爸拔喜歡的歌手"大衛鮑伊"眼睛很像，而他注名的歌曲 "Ziggy Stardust "艾力克和萊恩爸拔都很喜歡，便取第一個字"Ziggy" 當我的名字，於是我就跟這二個美國爸拔一起生活，後來萊恩爸拔搬家了，就由艾力克爸拔單獨照顧我。因為艾力克爸拔的中文很好，而且喜歡和Ziggy說中文，所以Ziggy就變成"雙語貓貓"中英文都能通喔！艾力克爸拔真的很愛我，有一次艾力克爸拔和女朋友到香港海洋公園玩，艾力克爸拔買了一隻很可愛的粉紅色海豚娃娃送給女朋友，他們倆個回家後，Ziggy看到海豚娃娃非常喜歡，硬是把海豚娃娃占為己有，艾力克爸拔就拜託他的女朋友把海豚娃娃送給Ziggy，就這樣渡過分分合合的2年，因為美國爸拔有時要回國，會把我託付給室友照顧。可是我不喜歡，因為我很愛乾淨，而室友爸拔只會給我吃，也不常清理貓沙，也不跟我玩，所以我的身材就慢慢微胖起來。艾力克爸拔回來，我就會一直黏著他，怕他再走掉，因為我真的很愛他，他也很愛我。就這樣過了2年，艾力克爸拔要回去美國創業，沒時間照顧我，也不放心交給他的室友。花了好多時間尋覓，好的環境，好的爸拔，如果找不到，我也可能要被送去"寵物收容中心" 好悲哀喔！終於在回美國前兩天，經過多方打聽，放心的把我交給台灣的Alan爸拔，新爸拔為我買了好多新的東西，觀景貓跳台，貓抓台，睡窩 大型貓沙盆，落沙盤，貓體功學食物架，玩具，零食……還有好多好多。 可是我想念舊的東西，艾力克爸拔幫我把舊的貓設備帶到新家，並且陪我一起到新家適應環境，陪我半天的時間，然後就離開了！我真的很想艾力克爸拔，但是新的Alan爸拔，對我很有愛心。雖然被我咬了幾次，但還是很有耐心的對我，讓我慢慢的適應新環境。現在我有新爸拔，新媽咪，新姐姐，他們都對我很好，我越來越愛他們了。常常跟他們撒嬌，晚上我喜歡和姐姐睡覺，爸拔還請人在門上做一個貓門，讓我方便進出，真是太愛新爸拔了，希望這是我最後一個家，我要和他們幸福一輩子………

English version:
My name is Ziggy! When I was little, I travel with my first daddy all the way from Morocco Casablanca to Taiwan for his work. He loved me very much, and he named me “Moon” based on my fur is as white as moon. My Morocco daddy speaks only English, so I only understand English back then, which this is why I will respond to whoever called me moon in English, but not in Chinese. After 6 years, my Morocco daddy had to go back to Morocco for his work; however, based on unknown reason, he couldn’t take me back with him, which this made me very sad. Fortunately, my Morocco daddy asked his American friends “Eric” and “Ryan” to kept me for him while he left for work in Morocco. He told them that I’m a very cute, neat, and clean cat and my name is “Moon.” But both Eric and Ryan didn’t like the name that my first daddy gave me, so then they named me “Ziggy.” This seemingly odd name came from my American daddy’s favorite singer “David Bowie,” which his eye is very similar to me (the color of my left eyes is different from my right eye), and one of his song called “Ziggy Stardust” is my daddy’s favorite, so they named me Ziggy as the result. So then I start living with both my American daddy until Ryan had to move to another place to live, which this left me with Eric in the house. Eric daddy speaks Chinese really well, and he likes to talk to me in Chinese, so after a while I became a bilingual cat LOL. On one occasion, Eric daddy travel to Hong Kong’s ocean park with his girlfriend and saw a very adorable pink dolphins doll, then he bought that doll for his girlfriend as a gift. However, when they got home, I couldn’t resist but to forcefully taking that doll into my possession because it is too cute. Thanks to the fact that Eric daddy loved me very much, he asked his girlfriend if it’s okay to gave that doll to Ziggy, and he eventually succeed. Just like that, I spend a very happy 2 years with Eric daddy. But because Eric daddy had to go back to America and come back a lot, so he often asked his roommate to took care of me while he’s gone; however, I didn’t like his roommate because he didn’t know how to take care of me, he fed me but he didn’t like to play with me, so I got a little bit fat as the result. Therefore, whenever Eric daddy came back from America, I tend to sticks around him a lot because I didn't’ want him to leave again. And another 2 years gone by, just as I thought that I will be happily ever after with Eric daddy, he had to go back to America for creating his own business, which he wouldn’t have time to take care of me anymore. But he didn’t want to left me with his roommate again because he knew that I didn’t like him, so he searched a better environment and people that could potentially take care of me for a long very long time, but he couldn’t find any. And if Eric daddy couldn't’ find a place for me, I would end up in pet adaption facility, which me and Eric daddy would be very sad in that case. Fortunately, just 2 days before Eric daddy’s flight back to America, he found a perfect place through tons of friends’ recommendation, and he eventually made up his mind to left Ziggy to Alan daddy in Taiwan. My new Alan daddy bought a lots of things just for me, including my nest, toys, towers for sightseeing, food I love, and more; but I miss my old toys and stuff, so Eric daddy help carrying all my stuff into my new home and spend some time with me before he left. Just like that, Eric daddy is gone like my Morocco daddy; however, because Alan daddy took care of me with love and patience, even though I bite Alan daddy several times, he still took care of like one of his children and help me adjust to the new environment. Now, I got new daddy, mommy, sister, and brother, they are all very kind to me, which makes me love them even further as time goes by. I like to play with them, especially sleep with my sister, and they even install a door on sister room’s door just for my convenience of entering into sister’s room. I love them so much, I hope this is the last home that I’m going to spend my life in, and I want them to be happy forever.........

我是國榮。來自澳洲昆士蘭省，讀中學時成績非常好，分數已足夠在大學選讀任何一科。當時我希望成為一名醫生，因為可以幫助他人。我在新南威爾斯大學讀醫科，第一年是住在雪梨北區一個朋友家中，第二年入住大學國際宿舍，宿舍規定最少有半數是留學生，不是澳洲人。最先兩年結識了不少香港、新加玻、馬來西亞的朋友，與他們很合得來，不過最重要是入住宿舍後，便遇到了香港的流行歌曲。有一天我行經走廊時，聽到一些很悅耳的音樂，我便問同學這是甚麽歌曲及可否借給我欣賞，他便借了給我。我已忘記是Leslie還是Alan的歌，但肯定是其中一位。因為很喜歡這些歌曲，便到唐人街購買，後來一邊聽歌一邊看歌詞，因此慢慢地學識了很多中文字。
因為喜歡唱歌，所以在大學的同學活動，開始演唱中文歌，也曾參加香港學生會舉辦的歌唱比賽，參賽歌曲是「愛的根源」，結果獲得亞軍。我很清楚記得，國際宿舍為了文化交流，每年舉辦一次國際晚宴，希望不同種族的學生可以表演和分享文化。Leslie在一九八五年 唱Monica獲得獎項，那是一首我很喜歡的歌曲，所以在文化交流晚會我便選擇唱Monica。當時同學覺得很驚奇，我怎可能唱Monica。我是跟着錄影帶，學習他的舞步和唱歌技巧。我不停地在公眾地方練習，其他同學看到我很用心練習，也過來幫助我。在台上表演時有幾位同學為我伴舞，當晚演出非常成功。
一九八五年Leslie和幾位香港天皇巨星，來澳洲開演唱會。演唱會的主辦公司，需要義務司機，朋友問我能否當義務司機。我答應了，後來知道是當Leslie的司機。有一天他放假不用排練，我們便駕車往坎培拉，當日天氣多雲有微雨，甚麽也看不清楚，喝過咖啡後便離開，回程是Leslie駕駛，他的英語非常好，途中我們愉快地暢談，這次旅程對我來說是很重要的事情。
一九八六年Alan到來澳洲，我又當了他的司機。在他入住的酒店，介紹人在偶像面前，誤把我的名字說成河詠麟，當時在偶像面前我也不懂怎樣矯正。大約有兩年很多人以為我是河詠麟。他的四位女和音，知道我懂得唱他的歌，所以告訴了他，在排練那天他叫我上台一起唱。認識Leslie 和Alan兩位巨星，對我的影響很大，聽到他們的歌，和看到觀眾的反應，我開始對香港的歌唱發展很重視。
因為常常想着唐人街和唱歌，沒有用功讀書，因此醫科的第三年考試不合格，需要重讀，在一九八六年重讀了三個月便決定退學。
後來做了三份洗碗碟工作，還做了個多月砌磚的工作，我把工作一年多，所得工資儲起來，買了一張單程機票和帶了一千澳元，便到來香港發展。唯一的準備是問一個朋友能否到他的家中居住。他的父親很勉強地答應，但需要收租金。我甚麽準備也沒有，只是刻意買了一張單程機票，是因為不想遇到少許困難便放棄，返回澳洲。
初到香港時甚麼都不認識，沒有計劃，也沒有朋友。我最先是住在廣播道，但我的朋友不是在那裡居住，因為他還在讀書。初來時沒有事做，所以在外面逛了幾天，有一天意外地行到紅磡體育館，中門外有四名男士在吸煙，他們竟然叫我河詠麟。原來他們是Alan的樂隊成員，在一九八六年見過面，但相隔一年，竟然還可以記起我，這就是緣分。當時Alan正在為演唱會排練，他們帶我進去體育館，這樣便再見到Alan。一九八七年的演唱會是三十一場，我看了三十場。本來打算看足三十一場，但是有少許問題出現，因為我住的地方有規定，晚上十時半後便會關門，不會再讓人進出。但演唱會是不會這麽早便完場，每晚看完演唱會，我會行去尖沙嘴，然後再步行回廣播道，然後在公園外的石椅小睡，到五時公園開門便進去睡覺，但最終因捱不住，有一晚沒有去看演唱會。有一次Alan突然問我，今晚可否上台唱歌，我說當然可以，便成為他的嘉賓。我第一次表演Alan十分開心，但第二次他在台上介紹，有一個外國人，唱他的歌十分出色，當他呼喚河詠麟出場，因為我不在場，所以沒有出現。後來他問我為何沒有出現，我便向他解釋原因，他便安排我入住酒店，直到演唱會完結。所以便有第三次呼喚我上台，這是我第二次成為嘉賓跟他一起唱「朋友」，真是十分興奮。到八月他的生日會也有邀請我做嘉賓，其實每一件發生的事情都是有關係的。
後來我在北角僑冠大厦租了一間劏房居住，有一次從北角行到中環，看到一間職業介紹公司的招聘啟示，我便前往應徵。當時職員說我可以教英文，但我不是教師，他認為沒有問題，便介紹我到一間補習社工作。在補習社工作了幾個月，有一位同事看到一張電視台的海報，需要招聘 一個西方人，但要懂得說中文。我致電應徵，他是一位獨立經紀，我說沒有經驗和廣東話也不是很好，他說沒有問題。我便去見一位電視台女監製，她給我一段英文劇本，要我讀出來。因為很緊張，五分鐘都不能出聲，我跟自己說，不嘗試會後侮一生。那一段對白是警官責備下級，責備人一定是很大聲的，所以我便很大聲說出來。當時她正在做自己的事，沒有再理會我，但我的叫聲使她大吃一驚。因為沒有其他外國人給她選擇，她無奈地聘請了我，這套劇集需要兩個西方人，另外一位是當主角，從那時開始，便在電視台工作了二十年。
二零一四年九月我在N o w T V的一個音樂節目做嘉賓，在一間音樂室裡我和三位節目主持人，唱歌和談論音樂。到最近才知道，他們三位是100毛的老闆。到聖誕100毛找我拍攝雜誌封面，我不知為何找我拍攝封面，原來三位老闆是認識我的，只是我自己不知道。
二零一五年八月他們聯絡我，他們有一首歌，問我會否願意演唱，那首歌曲我很熟悉，歌詞十分口語化，應該可以學到的。但當時是星期五，表演是在星期日，只得兩天時間作準備，所以我很用心練習。舞台是有電視屏幕可以看到歌詞，但我盡量避免看電視屏幕，只是有需要時才看一看，便可以放心地唱。能夠上台非常開心，我可以扮了演一個角色，唱一首悅耳和有趣的歌，觀眾很熱鬧和興奮，真是十分難得。我知道這是一生一次，這不是自己可以做到，是他們給我機會。那首歌很受歡迎，而且登上了流行榜。聖誕節前他們聯絡我，表示將會舉辦總選，問我會否參加，我便欣然答應了。當天每位表演者，會有兩首歌曲，在十二月廿六日接到新歌，我從沒有聽過那首歌，是一首說唱歌曲，而且歌詞很陌生，對我來說十分困難，所以我不停地練習了四百多次。當晚表演由Now T V直播，有七十萬人觀看，想不到自己能夠獲得香港區最受歡迎男歌星獎，當宣佈我的名字時，極度開心，無人能想到，唱出真香港的歌曲，是由一個西方人唱出，可以感動到別人。這是天時地利人和，超乎現實，簡直是一個奇蹟。因為那首歌不是我揀選，是別人給我的，練習這首歌時眼睛常常都會充了滿淚水和很感動。
西方人在香港發展演藝事業是十分困難的，機會不多，只能扮演一些無關重要的角色，但我從來沒有想過放棄。五年前我計劃灌錄一張唱片，因為胃酸倒流，把聲帶灼傷，使我聲音變得沙啞，這件事使我非常懊惱，因為辛苦練習多年，卻發生了這個問題，後來我矯正了唱歌方法，問題得以改善，可以繼續唱歌，現在準備為唱片再進行錄音工作。
最近有很多關於少數族裔的事情出現在我身上 ，現在我為一個港台節目做旁白，是關於少數族裔在香港。他們在本地娛樂圈發展是十分困難，因為在一個有九成是同一種族的地方，看電視或電影，也是會看自己的種族，未必會看少數族裔。如果他們幾個人合作，做一個節目，然後在網上發放，是有機會成功。香港有很多少數族裔居住，有些人的中文比我好，他們也愛香港。
我心目中的香港人，是要做香港人做的事，吃香港人吃的食物，關心香港，不看膚色，希望他們也能說廣東話，最重要是覺得香港是自己的家，這便是真正的香港人。

I am Gregory. I hail from Queensland, Australia. During my high school years, my grades were excellent. They were good enough for me to enroll in any subject that I wanted to in university. At that time, I wanted to become a doctor because I could help others. I studied Medicine at the University of New South Wales. In my first year, I lived in my friend’s home located in North Sydney. During my second year, I lived in International House at the university. It was a rule for the school campus to have at least 50 percent overseas students. They cannot be Australians. I met a lot of Hong Kong, Singaporean and Malaysian friends in my first two years. I was able to get along with them very well. But what is most important was that after living in International House, I came across Hong Kong pop music. One day I was walking along the corridors and overheard beautifully melodic music. I asked my classmate what music he was listening to and if he could lend me the music to listen to. He leant it to me.
I have forgotten whether it was the music of Leslie or Alan. But I am sure it was one of them because I really liked that kind of music. I went to Chinatown to buy it. Eventually, I listened to the music as I read the lyrics. In turn, I slowly picked up a lot of Chinese characters.
I attended many different functions to perform Cantonese songs in university because I really liked to sing. I also attended a singing competition organized by the Hong Kong student association. The competition song was ‘Root of Love’. In the end I won second runner-up. I clearly remember International House wanted to organize cultural exchanges so they held international banquets each year. Their hope was for students from different ethnic backgrounds to perform and share their culture.
In 1985, Leslie won an award for singing ‘Monica’. It was a song that I really loved. During the international cultural exchange banquet, I chose to sing ‘Monica’. At that time my classmates were very surprised. How can I sing ‘Monica’? I followed the videos to learn the dance steps and singing techniques. I kept on practicing in public. Other students witnessed how hard I was practicing and came over to help me out. A few classmates became my accompanying dancers as I danced on stage. The performance that night was extremely successful.
Leslie and a group of Hong Kong superstars visited Australia to hold concerts in 1985. The concert organizer needed a voluntary driver. My friends asked me whether I wanted to be the voluntary driver. I accepted the offer. In the end I found out that I would become Leslie’s driver. There was one day when he was on break and did not need to rehearse. We drove to Canberra. It was cloudy and there was light rain on that day. We could not see clearly. After having a coffee, we left. Leslie was next to drive. His English was very good. During the journey back we chatted happily. The trip was very important to me.
In 1986, Alan came to Australia. I was also his driver. Our mutual friend misread my name as “Ho Wing Lun” in front of my idol during his stay at the hotel. I was not able to correct him at the time because Alan (“Wing Lun”) was my idol. Many people thought I was called “Ho Wing Lun” for around two years. His four back-up singers knew I was able to sing Alan’s songs. That was why they told him about it. During rehearsal day, he told me to sing with him on stage. Knowing superstars like Leslie and Alan had a great impact on me. To be able to listen to their songs and to witness the reactions from the audience led me to become interested in a singing career in Hong Kong.
I did not put in a lot of effort in my studies because I always thought of Chinatown and singing. Consequently, I failed my medical examinations in my third year. I had to re-take my subjects. In 1986, I re-took my studies for three months but then I decided to quit school.
In the end I juggled three dish washing jobs and also many months of brick laying work. I saved up a whole year of my salary and bought a one-way ticket to Hong Kong. I also carried $1000 Australian dollars on me. I then went to Hong Kong to develop my career. I only asked my friend whether I could stay at his place as preparation to living in my new homeland. His father reluctantly agreed but had to receive rent. I did not have anything equipped or prepared. I only purposely bought a one-way ticket because I did not want to easily give up when I encountered minor difficulties and return to Australia.
When I first arrived in Hong Kong, I did not know anything. I did not have any plans. I also did not have any friends. Initially, I lived in Broadcast Drive but my friend did not live there because he was still studying. I did not have anything to do at first. That was why I hung around Hong Kong for several days. One day, by coincidence, I came across Hung Hom Coliseum. At the entrance, there were four men smoking. They noticed me and surprisingly called out “Ho Wing Lun”. They were, in fact, members of Alan’s band. We have first met in 1986. Surprisingly, they remembered me after a whole year. That is called fate. At that time, Alan was preparing for his concert. The four men brought me inside the Coliseum. I saw Alan. There were 31 shows in his 1987 concert. I watched 30 of them. I intended to watch all 31 shows but there was a slight problem. There were rules at my guest house. After ten thirty each night, the door to the home will be locked. Nobody was allowed to enter or leave the house. But concerts do not end so early. So, after watching each concert in the evening, I would walk to Tsim Sha Tsui and then walk back to Broadcast Drive. I would sleep on the concreate seats outside the park. When the park opens at five in the morning, I will go in and sleep. Eventually, I was unable to handle it. One night I cannot watch a show. Once Alan asked me “Can you sing on stage tonight?” I told him “Of course I can.” I became his special guest. Alan was extremely happy when I first performed. By the second show, he announced that: “There is a westerner who can sing my songs very well.” He called out my name “Ho Wing Lun!” But because I was not at the scene, I did not show up. Eventually, he asked me why I did not show up. I explained my reason to him. He then arranged a hotel for me to stay at until the end of the concert. That was why he was able to call me out the third time! That was my second time as special guest singing “Friends” with him. It was exhilarating. In August, he introduced me as a special guest at his birthday party. Actually, everything happens for a reason and everything is interconnected.
Soon after, I rented a tiny flat at a building in North Point to live in. I walked from North Point to Central once. I came across a recruitment agency looking to hire. I went in to give it a shot. At that time, the staff said I could teach English but I was not a teacher. The staff said it was not a problem and introduced me to work at a learning center. After working there for a few months, a colleague saw a TV station’s poster. They were looking to recruit a westerner but that person needs to be able to speak Cantonese. I called to give it a try. The person who answered was an independent agent. I told that agent I had no experience and my Cantonese was not very good. The agent told me it was not a problem. I went to see the TV station’s female producer. She gave me an English script and wanted me to read it out. I was so nervous that I did not utter a word in five minutes. I told myself, if I do not try, I will regret it for life. The dialogue depicted a police telling off a subordinate. When you tell someone off, you must be very loud so, I read my lines out very loudly. At that time, the female producer was doing her own work and did not care about me but because I was so loud, I frightened her! As there were no other westerners for her to choose from, she had no choice but to hire me. The TV show required two westerners. The other westerner played the main character. From then onwards, I worked at the TV station for twenty years.
In September 2014, I appeared as a guest on a NowTV music program. I was in a band room with the three show hosts. We sang and discussed music. Only recently, I found out that they were the Founders of 100 Most. When it was Christmas, 100 Most invited me to appear on the cover of their magazine. I did not know why they wanted me to do it – only to find out that the Founders of the magazine already knew who I was! It was just me who did not know that.
In August 2015, 100 Most contacted me and asked me whether I wanted to sing this particular song. I was very familiar with the song lyrics. The lyrics were very colloquial. I should be able to learn it. It was Friday. The performance was on Sunday. I only had two days to prepare for it. That was why I practiced very hard. The stage showcased the lyrics. But I tried my best not to look at them. I would only glance at them when I needed to. I felt more confident and assured as I sang.
I was extremely elated to be able to perform on stage. I can play a role singing a wonderful and amusing song. The audience was super warm and excited. It was a moment to be treasured. I know this can only happen once in my life. It cannot be done by myself. It is because I was given a chance by 100 Most. The song was very popular and hit the charts. Before Christmas, 100 Most contacted me and expressed that there would be a final election of the songs. They asked me whether I would like to participate. I was more than happy to give it a try. On the day of the show, each contestant would have two songs.
On the 26th of December, I received the new song. I have never heard of the song before. It was a rap song. I was very unfamiliar with the lyrics. I found them very difficult. That was why I kept practicing it for more than four hundred times. The show was broadcasted live by NowTV. Around seven hundred thousand people watched the broadcast. I cannot imagine winning the Best Hong Kong Male Singer. When my name was announced, I was extremely delighted. Nobody can imagine that a westerner was able to sing a song about ‘real Hong Kong’. It can touch people. It was something that happened at the right place and at the right time. It was also surreal and a complete miracle. It is because the song was not selected by me. It was given to me by others. My eyes were often wet from practicing this song. I was very touched.
It is very difficult for westerners to develop their artistry in the entertainment industry. Chances are slim. They can only play roles that are irrelevant and unimportant. But I never thought of giving up. Five years ago I planned to record my own album. But because of stomach acid reflux, my vocal chords got damaged. My voice became hoarse and coarse. It brought me a lot of frustrations because I have worked hard for many years. Then this happened. I then amended my singing techniques and the issue improved significantly. I was able to sing again. I am now working on re-recording my new album.
A lot of ethnic minority issues materialized around me as of late. I am currently the voice over for a RTHK program about ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. It is very hard for them to develop their career in the local entertainment industry. It is because when 90 percent of the people share the same skin color comes together in a particular place, those watching TV or film will tend to watch people of their own skin color. They may not watch ethnic minorities. If a group of ethnic minorities work together to create a program for the web, it may work out. There are a lot of ethnic minorities residing in Hong Kong. Some of their Chinese is better than mine. They also love Hong Kong very much.
‘Hong Kongers’, to me, are people who need to do things ‘Hong Kongers’ do. Eat Hong Kong food. Care about Hong Kong. And do not look at skin color. I hope they can also speak Cantonese. Most importantly, they should regard Hong Kong as their home. Then, they are ‘real Hong Kongers’.