Now that your city has been in flames for more than six months, your families divided, and no end to the violence is in sight, I have decided to write this short essay, in the form of an open letter, to the young people of Hong Kong.
現在你們的城市既然已經焚燒了六個多月，你們的家庭也分裂了，但暴力的終結還未在望，我決定用公開信的形式，撰寫這篇短文給香港的年輕人。
First of all, I want to ask: Why?
首先，我想問：為什麼？
Why all this smoke and fire, anger and violence? Were your lives, before the so-called “protests”, or “riots”, really so dismal?
為什麼有這麼多煙，火，憤怒和暴力呢？在這些所謂「抗議」，或「暴動」發生之前，你們的生活真的是那麼糟糕嗎？
You have been living in one of the richest cities on Earth. Even according to Western evaluations, Hong Kong has one of the highest “freedom indexes”, higher than that of most of Western countries.
你們一直生活在地球上最富有的城市之一。就算用西方的尺度來衡量，香港的「自由指數」也是最高之一，比起大部分的西方國家還要高。
Water that comes from your taps is clean, the internet is extremely fast, and public transportation is cheap and one of the best in the world. You can enjoy an exciting cultural life, as well as great public spaces constructed along your impressive coasts.
從你們的水喉流出來的水是潔淨的，互聯網速度極高，公共交通便宜，也是世界最好之一。你們可以享受多姿多彩的文化生活，和沿著你們的令人印象深刻海岸線建設的優美公共空間。
Naturally, Hong Kong is not a perfect place, as there are no perfect places on this planet.
當然，香港不是一個完美的地方，因為這個地球上是沒有完美的地方的。
Your housing is some of the most expensive in the world. Job opportunities for college graduates are not really excellent. Some cities on the Chinese mainland are now more exciting places to live, to create, and to dream than “good old” Hong Kong. But still, it is a fascinating, solid city, with its own culture, mindset and complex history. And in many ways, it is a beautiful city; beautiful and unique.
你們的房屋是世上最昂貴之一。大學生的就業機會也真的不是那麼理想。現在， 在中國大陸的一些城市裡生活，創作，造夢，比起在香港這個「老名牌」，更帶勁。但這仍然是令人嚮往，有實質的城市，有自己的文化，思維，和錯綜複雜的歷史。
So, why? What happened? Why suddenly such anger, and such frustration?
所以，為什麼呢？發生了什麼事？為什麼突然這麼憤怒，不滿？
Should we talk? Please let’s.
我們應該對話嗎？請吧。
When waving the UK flags, nostalgically recalling your British masters and their rule over Hong Kong, do you even think about some of the most monstrous crimes committed in the history of humankind?
在揮動著英國國旗，依依不捨地懷念你們過去的英國主子和他們管有香港的時期，你們有沒有一丁點兒想過人類歷史上犯下的一些滔天大罪呢？
I have worked in around 160 countries and territories, on all continents. I have written about and filmed many wars and conflicts. I have been covering revolutions and rebellions, but also terrible riots ignited by Western countries. You probably have heard about the so-called “color revolutions”, or the “Arab Spring」.
我在所有四大洲約一百六十個國家地區工作過。我曾經製作過很多關於戰爭和糾紛的錄像和文章。我採訪過革命，叛亂，但也有西方國家煽動的可怕暴動。你們可能聽過所謂「顏色革命」，或那「阿拉伯之春」。
I have witnessed, first hand, the fate of countries that have been occupied and then thoroughly destroyed by the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization: Afghanistan and Syria, Iraq and Colombia, to name just a few. I have seen millions of ruined lives in nations where the West overthrew left-wing governments, and then injected fascism: places like Indonesia (1965), and Chile (1973). Now there is nothing left of Indonesia; its nature is thoroughly ruined and the great majority lives in misery. In Chile, people have stood up, and are proudly fighting and dying for socialism which was stolen from them by Western governments and corporations.
我曾親眼見證了那些被美國，北約國家佔領，隨著徹底破壞的國家的命運：阿富汗和敘利亞，伊拉克和哥倫比亞，舉幾個例。我見過一些國家的左翼政府被西方推翻，隨著注入納粹主義後，數以百萬計的人生被摧毀：像印尼(1965), 和智利 (1973)等地方。現在印尼什麼也沒有了；它的生態被徹底破壞，大部分人生活在困苦中。在智利，人民站起來，驕傲地，為被西方國家和集團盜去的社會主義奮鬥，犧牲。
I have lived and worked all over the African continent, the most devastated part of the world, colonized and terrorized first by Europe, and later by the US, for many centuries.
我曾經在非洲多處地方生活工作過。那是世上被蹂躪得最徹底的地方：多個世紀以來最初被歐洲，後來被美國施加殖民，恐怖統治。
In Hong Kong, I see you waving flags of the US. You want that country to “save you from China” — from your own nation, in essence. I have read a translation of your school curriculum. It smears China, and it glorifies the West. Were you told, ever, that in the name of that flag, consisting of the stars and stripes, tens of millions of people, worldwide, were murdered, democracies raped, and freedom of expression horrendously oppressed? Or are you reading only what is brought to you by Reuters and other Western press agencies?
在香港，我見到你們揮動著美國國旗。你們想那國家把你們「從中國拯救出來」，即是，從你們自己的國家。我曾經讀過你們學校課程的譯本。它詆毀中國，歌頌西方。它從來有沒有告訴過你們，以這星條旗的名義，數以千萬計的人在世界各地被殺戮，民主被強姦，表達自由被無情壓抑？或者你們是不是一直只是閱讀路透社和其他西方報社帶給你們閱讀的？
When waving the UK flags, nostalgically recalling your British masters and their rule over Hong Kong, do you even think about some of the most monstrous crimes committed in the history of humankind? On all continents of the world, the British Empire murdered, humiliated, violated and plundered hundreds of millions of people. Human beings were reduced to slaves. Their lives, identities were reduced to nothing.
在揮動著英國國旗，依依不捨地懷念你們過去的英國主子和他們管有香港的時期，你們有沒有一丁點兒想過人類歷史上犯下的一些滔天大罪呢？在世界所有四大洲，英國帝國殺戮，羞辱，侵犯，搶掠了數以億計的人。有尊嚴的人被貶為奴隸。他們的生命，身份被貶成一無所有。
Were you told this? Do you realize it? When you wave these flags, when your leaders are taking bribes from the US and the EU establishment, do you ever think what kind of money you are touching? Do you ever consider that this money is soaked in blood?
他們對你們有說過嗎？你們知道嗎？當你們揮動這些旗，當你們的領袖收取美國和歐盟當局的賄賂，你們有沒有想過你們碰的是什麼類型的錢？你們曾否考慮過這些錢是浸過在血中的呢？
I saw several of you demanding “independence from China”. I even witnessed some of you calling China a “terrorist” state.
我見到你們有幾個人要求「脫離中國獨立」。我甚至見證你們一些人稱中國是一個「恐怖主義」 國家。
Have you ever, seriously, compared the Chinese political system to that so-called “democracy” of the West?
你們有沒有認真地比較過中國的政治制度與西方的所謂「民主」呢？
Let me give you a simple quiz: In the last decades, how many countries have been attacked by China, and how many by the West? Just do a simple calculation, please. It is so simple; so clear. How many countries have been bombed to the ground, and thoroughly ruined by China, and how many by the West?
讓我給你們一個簡單的提問：過去幾十年，有多少國家給中國攻擊過，多少給西方攻擊過？就做一個簡單的計算吧，請。就是那麼簡單；那麼清晰。有多少國家給中國炸成平地，徹底被摧毀；多少給西方的？
And democracy? In China, the government listens to its people. In reality, democracy means nothing more than the direct translation from Greek — rule of the people. In the People’s Republic of China, the government is working to improve the lives of its citizens, while building a global infrastructure for all (the Belt and Road Initiative). Now, look at the West: Most of the citizens in North America and Europe hate their system, but cannot get rid of it. Some of you regularly travel to the West: Don’t you hear what the people are saying there?
民主嗎？在中國，政府聆聽人民。實際上，民主的意思就是直接從希臘文翻譯過來的－人民作主的意思。在中華人民共和國，政府致力改善自己人民的生活，同時也為所有人建造一個全球性的架構(一帶一路倡議)。現在看看西方。北美和歐洲的大部分人民都憎恨他們的政治制度，但不能革除它。你們當中有定期去西方的，你們沒有聽過那裡的人說什麼嗎？
In the last two decades, China has lifted up hundreds of millions out of poverty. In the West, the governments have buried billions of people in misery in all their colonies. Despite of the terrible plunder of the world, tens of millions are destitute at home, in both North America and Europe.
過去二十年，中國已經把數以億計的人從貧困中解救出來。而西方國家則把數以十億計的人埋葬在它們的殖民地裡。雖然他們可怕地掠奪了整個世界，北美和歐洲本土仍有數以千萬計的貧困人口。
Despite of the not-too-high GDP per capita, China has almost no misery, while tens of millions of the US citizens are living in poverty. There are many more prisoners (per capita) in the US prisons, than in the Chinese ones.
雖然人均國內生產總值不是很高，中國幾乎沒有極度貧困，但數以千萬計的美國人生活貧困。以人均計算，困在美國監獄里的囚犯要比中國的多得多。
Many US prisons are now privatized: It is a big business. The more that are held behind bars, the bigger the profit!
現在很多美國監獄已經私有化：這是一門大生意。越多人收監，盈利越高。
Is this a system in which you’d want to live? Is it, really?
你們是想生活在這個制度中嗎？是真的嗎？
I know the West very well. And I know China. These days, in Hong Kong, some of you are waving Western flags, while insulting Beijing.
我對西方很熟悉。也認識中國。這些日子裡，在香港，你們當中有些人揮動著西方旗幟，同時侮辱北京。
The West has the most powerful propaganda on Earth. It has the ability to twist everything, to call black white, and vice versa.
西方有地球上最有力的宣傳工具。它有能力扭曲任何事情，指黑為白，或相反。
But frankly, it is Beijing that has the ability and desire to help solve the problems of Hong Kong.
但坦白說，有能力和有心解決香港問題的是北京。
Do you really think that Washington, London or Berlin are genuinely interested in helping your city? I am convinced that they only want to break China, and to continue ruling over the world.
你們真的以為華盛頓，倫敦，柏林有誠意幫助你們的城市嗎？我深信他們只想打垮中國，繼續統治世界。
To conclude this letter, let me say what has to be said. After speaking to people that are now angrily waving black banners, as well as US and UK flags, I realized that they know very little about the state of the world. And, they do not want to listen to different points of view. When confronted intellectually, they become violent.
最後，讓我講一定要講的話。和一些憤怒地揮動黑橫額, 和美國英國國旗的人談過後，我發覺他們對世局認識很少。還有，他們不想聆聽不同的觀點。面對理性質詢，會變得暴力。
That is not a democratic approach; not at all.
這不是民主方式，一點也不是。
I suggest we talk. Publicly. Let us debate the very definitions of democracy. Let us discuss who has done more harm to the world: China or the West? I am ready, anytime.
我建議我們對話。公開對話。讓我們辯論民主的定義。讓我們討論誰給世界造成更大傷害：中國或西方？我準備好了，隨時。
If the leaders of Hong Kong riots, or “protests”, are confident that they are correct, let us face each other, in front of microphones and cameras.
如果香港的暴動，或「抗議者」的領袖有信心他們是對的，讓我們在咪和相機前，面對大家。
I love your city. I love Hong Kong. I love China. And I strongly believe that China and Hong Kong are one beautiful, inseparable entity.
我愛你們的城市。我愛香港。我愛中國。我還深信中國和香港是一個美麗的，不可分離的個體。
I am ready to give my best proving that point.
我已準備為證明這點，盡我的力做得最好。
